Optus vs Telstra:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Telstra had more branded searches than Optus among mobile providers in Australia. Telstra had about 30,700 branded searches, while Optus had 17,700. Telstra made up 5.5% of all mobile provider searches we track, and Optus accounted for 3.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mobile providers, Telstra appeared in four of the five answers and Optus in three. Telstra was mentioned before Optus in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Telstra, about 73% more searches than Optus
Who does AI mention more?
Telstra, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Optus in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Telstra, named ahead of Optus in every answer
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Top mobile providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Telstra was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Optus was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Telstra was listed before Optus in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Telstra1st
amaysim2nd
Boost Mobile3rd
ALDI Mobile4th
Vodafone5th
Optus6th
Belong7th
Felix8th
Kogan Mobile9th
Tangerine–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- amaysim4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Telstra4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Boost Mobile3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Optus3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- ALDI Mobile2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Kogan Mobile2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Vodafone2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Belong2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Felix2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Tangerine0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about mobile providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which mobile provider should I use in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best mobile providers in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best prepaid phone plan in Australia for lots of data?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“prepaid phone plans”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sim only plans”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.
Is Optus or Telstra more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Optus and Telstra by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten mobile providers we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Telstra, Optus. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | ALDI Mobile | amaysim | Boost Mobile | Kogan Mobile | Vodafone | Telstra | Belong | Felix | Optus | Tangerine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.3% | 24.3% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 5.7% | 4% | 4% | 2.7% | 0.65% |
| Nov 2025 | 22.2% | 27.1% | 14.9% | 12.1% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 3.6% | 3% | 3% | 1.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 24% | 24% | 16.1% | 13.1% | 5.9% | 5.5% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.4% | 23.4% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 7% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 21.1% | 25.9% | 14.2% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 6% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.6% | 23.6% | 15.8% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 1.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 24.2% | 24.2% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 24.2% | 24.2% | 16.2% | 10.9% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3.2% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.9% | 22.9% | 18.6% | 12.5% | 5.6% | 5.2% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3% | 0.91% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.1% | 23% | 15.4% | 10.3% | 4.6% | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.7% | 24.7% | 16.6% | 11.1% | 5% | 5.5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.2% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.1% | 24.1% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 5.5% | 4% | 4% | 3.2% | 0.96% |
How has the Optus and Telstra comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Telstra was ahead of Optus in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Optus’ share of searches among mobile providers in Australia moved from 2.7% to 3.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 15K to 17.7K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Telstra’s share of searches among mobile providers in Australia moved from 5.7% to 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 31.5K to 30.7K.
How did search popularity change for Australia mobile providers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Vodafone overtook Telstra to rank 5th among mobile providers in Australia, with 7.2% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Optus in Australia rose 18% over 12 measured months, from 15K to 17.7K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Optus’ and Telstra’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.
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