---
title: "KiCad vs OrCAD: Which is more popular by branded search?"
description: "Which is more popular in search, KiCad or OrCAD? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the PCB design software set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/kicad-vs-orcad"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# KiCad vs OrCAD: Which is more popular by branded search?

Which is more popular in search, KiCad or OrCAD? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the PCB design software set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Compared**: KiCad and OrCAD
- **Competitive set**: PCB design software
- **Market**: Global
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **KiCad Share of Search**: 5.3%
- **OrCAD Share of Search**: 0.39%

## Which is more popular in search, KiCad or OrCAD?

- In August 2026, KiCad had more branded searches than OrCAD among PCB design software worldwide. KiCad was estimated to have 201K branded searches compared to OrCAD’s 14.8K, and held a 5.3% Share of Search versus OrCAD’s 0.39%.
- KiCad was ahead of OrCAD in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, KiCad’s estimated Share of Search among PCB design software worldwide moved from 1.2% to 5.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 201K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, OrCAD’s estimated Share of Search among PCB design software worldwide moved from 0.16% to 0.39%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 14.8K.

## How did search popularity change for PCB design software worldwide in August 2026?

- In August 2026, KiCad lost estimated Share of Search among PCB design software worldwide, from 8.7% to 5.3%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for OrCAD worldwide fell 33.3% over 11 measured months, from 22.2K to 14.8K in August 2026.

## Month by month

| Month | KiCad estimated searches | KiCad Share of Search | KiCad rank | OrCAD estimated searches | OrCAD Share of Search | OrCAD rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | 165K | 1.2% | 3 | 22.2K | 0.16% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | 165K | 1.2% | 3 | 18.1K | 0.13% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | 165K | 1.4% | 3 | 14.8K | 0.13% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | 165K | 1.7% | 3 | 18.1K | 0.19% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | 165K | 7.3% | 3 | 14.8K | 0.65% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | 201K | 6.1% | 3 | 22.2K | 0.68% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | 201K | 7.3% | 3 | 18.1K | 0.65% | 5 |
| May 2026 | 201K | 8.6% | 3 | 14.8K | 0.63% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | 165K | 7.3% | 3 | 14.8K | 0.65% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | 165K | 8.7% | 3 | 14.8K | 0.78% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | 201K | 5.3% | 2 | 14.8K | 0.39% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## How each brand is measured

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using KiCad’s and OrCAD’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.

- **KiCad**: Measured on the search term “kicad”.
- **OrCAD**: Measured on the search term “orcad”.

- [KiCad profile](/demand/global-en/brands/kicad)
- [OrCAD profile](/demand/global-en/brands/orcad)
- [All PCB design software worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/pcb-design-software): The set both shares are measured inside, 5 brands.

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is more popular in search, KiCad or OrCAD?

In August 2026, KiCad had more branded searches than OrCAD among PCB design software worldwide. KiCad was estimated to have 201K branded searches compared to OrCAD’s 14.8K, and held a 5.3% Share of Search versus OrCAD’s 0.39%.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "KiCad vs OrCAD: Which is more popular by branded search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/kicad-vs-orcad

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/kicad-vs-orcad. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.