Brandwave

HEC-RAS vs SAP2000:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, HEC-RAS had more branded searches than SAP2000 among civil engineering software worldwide. HEC-RAS had about 22,200 branded searches, while SAP2000 had 18,100. HEC-RAS made up 0.78% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and SAP2000 accounted for 0.64%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, HEC-RAS and SAP2000 each appeared in four of the five answers. HEC-RAS and SAP2000 were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

HEC-RAS, about 23% more searches than SAP2000

HEC-RAS 22.2K searchesSAP2000 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

HEC-RAS in 4 of 5SAP2000 in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

HEC-RAS first in 2SAP2000 first in 2

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Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HEC-RAS and SAP2000 were each mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. HEC-RAS and SAP2000 were each listed first in two of the four answers 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. EPANET10th
  11. +4 more

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
  • EPANET3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 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 SAP2000 more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for HEC-RAS and SAP2000 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 SAP2000 among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for HEC-RAS, SAP2000. 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 SAP2000 comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • HEC-RAS was ahead of SAP2000 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, SAP2000’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide moved from 0.78% to 0.64%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.

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

2 changes

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for SAP2000 worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HEC-RAS’s and SAP2000’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

SAP2000

1 branded search term

  • sap2000

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among civil engineering software

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