Brandwave

HEC-RAS vs QGIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, QGIS had more branded searches than HEC-RAS among civil engineering software worldwide. QGIS had about 450,000 branded searches, while HEC-RAS had 22,200. QGIS made up 15.8% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and HEC-RAS accounted for 0.78%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, HEC-RAS appeared in four of the five answers and QGIS in two. HEC-RAS was mentioned before QGIS in every answer that named either.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

QGIS, about 20 searches for every 1 for HEC-RAS

QGIS 450K searchesHEC-RAS 22.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

HEC-RAS, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, QGIS in 2

HEC-RAS in 4 of 5QGIS in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

HEC-RAS, named ahead of QGIS in 4 of 4 answers

HEC-RAS first in 4QGIS never first

Follow HEC-RAS vs QGIS and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HEC-RAS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. QGIS was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. HEC-RAS was listed before QGIS in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. AutoCAD1st
  2. Civil 3D2nd
  3. Revit3rd
  4. STAAD4th
  5. ETABS5th
  6. SAP20006th
  7. HEC-RAS7th
  8. OpenRoads8th
  9. Esri ArcGIS9th
  10. +4 more
  11. QGIS14th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • AutoCAD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Revit5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Civil 3D5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • STAAD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Esri ArcGIS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ETABS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • HEC-RAS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SAP20004 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Primavera P63 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • QGIS2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about civil engineering software

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is HEC-RAS or QGIS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for HEC-RAS and QGIS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 civil engineering software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

HEC-RAS and QGIS among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for QGIS, HEC-RAS. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAutoCADQGISRevitEsri ArcGISCivil 3DPrimavera P6ETABSHEC-RASSTAADEPANETSAP2000InfraWorksOpenRoads12d Model
Oct 202552.8%15.9%13%11.1%1.7%1.4%0.95%0.78%0.52%0.64%0.78%0.29%0.07%0.03%
Nov 202553%15.9%13%11%1.7%1.4%0.96%0.78%0.52%0.64%0.64%0.29%0.07%0.02%
Dec 202554.1%16.3%10.9%11.3%1.8%1.5%1.2%0.8%0.54%0.54%0.66%0.24%0.08%0.02%
Jan 202650.3%18.6%12.4%10.9%2%1.7%1.1%0.75%0.61%0.61%0.61%0.27%0.08%0.02%
Feb 202650.4%18.6%12.4%10.8%2%1.7%1.1%0.75%0.61%0.61%0.61%0.33%0.08%0.02%
Mar 202652.8%15.9%13%11.1%1.7%1.4%0.95%0.78%0.64%0.64%0.64%0.29%0.08%0.03%
Apr 202649%18.1%12.1%12.6%2%1.6%1.1%0.89%0.73%0.73%0.73%0.27%0.1%0.03%
May 202650%18.5%12.3%10.7%2%1.7%1.1%0.91%0.91%0.74%0.74%0.27%0.08%0.03%
Jun 202652.7%15.9%13%9.2%2.1%2.1%1.2%0.96%0.96%0.78%0.64%0.29%0.08%0.03%
Jul 202648.1%17.7%14.5%10.3%1.9%2.4%1.3%0.87%1.1%0.71%0.71%0.32%0.09%0.04%
Aug 202652.8%15.9%13%9.2%2.1%2.1%1.2%0.78%1.2%0.64%0.64%0.29%0.08%0.03%
Sep 202652.6%15.8%12.9%11.1%1.7%1.7%0.95%0.78%0.78%0.64%0.64%0.23%0.08%0.03%

How has the HEC-RAS and QGIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • QGIS was ahead of HEC-RAS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HEC-RAS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 0.78%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 22.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide moved from 15.9% to 15.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.

How did search popularity change for civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, HEC-RAS rose from 9th to 8th among civil engineering software worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HEC-RAS’s and QGIS’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

HEC-RAS

1 branded search term

  • hec ras

QGIS

1 branded search term

  • qgis

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among civil engineering software

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free