How popular isTotal Wireless?
In September 2026, people searched for Total Wireless by name about 550,000 times in the United States, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 7.2% of all United States prepaid phone carrier searches, placing Total Wireless seventh out of 12 carriers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prepaid phone carriers, Total Wireless appeared in one of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the 12.
Total Wireless is the seventh most searched of 12 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.
Boost MobileShare of searches 19.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Metro by T-MobileShare of searches 16%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Straight TalkShare of searches 16%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
Cricket WirelessShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
Total WirelessShare of searches 7.2%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top prepaid phone carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Total Wireless was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Total Wireless is the fifth most recommended of the 12.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Mint Mobile5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Visible5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
US Mobile3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
T-Mobile Prepaid3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Straight Talk1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Cricket Wireless1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Total Wireless1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tello1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Boost Mobile0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Metro by T-Mobile0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about prepaid phone carriers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which prepaid phone carrier should I switch to in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best prepaid phone carriers in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest good phone plan in the US for one person?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“prepaid phone plans”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best prepaid phone plans”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Which prepaid phone carriers compete with Total Wireless?
Share of searches by month for Boost Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Cricket Wireless, Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile, Total Wireless, US Mobile, Google Fi. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Boost Mobile | Metro by T-Mobile | Straight Talk | Cricket Wireless | Consumer Cellular | Mint Mobile | Total Wireless | US Mobile | Google Fi | T-Mobile Prepaid | Tello | Visible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.4% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 13.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 6% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.66% | 0.29% |
| Nov 2025 | 25.2% | 13.7% | 16.9% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1% | 0.68% | 0.31% |
| Dec 2025 | 25.2% | 13.7% | 16.8% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 9.2% | 7.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1% | 0.68% | 0.37% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.2% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 12.7% | 7% | 10.4% | 7% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0.77% | 0.51% |
| Feb 2026 | 24% | 16% | 16% | 13.1% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.65% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.9% | 14.6% | 14.6% | 12% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 23.7% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 12.9% | 7.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.78% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 23.5% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 7.1% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.6% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 12.3% | 6.8% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 3% | 3% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 21.7% | 17.8% | 14.5% | 11.9% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.4% | 17.6% | 14.3% | 11.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.87% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.6% | 16% | 16% | 13.1% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 0.97% | 0.97% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 19.6% | 1.5M | -18% | -1.8 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 16% | 1.2M | -18.7% | -1.6 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 16% | 1.2M | 0% | +1.7 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 13.1% | 1M | 0% | +1.4 points | |
| 5, moved from 6th to 5th | 8.8% | 673K | 0% | +0.9 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 5th to 6th | 8.8% | 673K | -18.2% | -0.8 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th | |
| 7, held 7th | 7.2% | 550K | 0% | +0.8 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 3.9% | 301K | -18.2% | -0.4 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 3.2% | 246K | -18.3% | -0.3 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 1.4% | 110K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 11, held 11th | 0.97% | 74K | -18.2% | -0.1 points | |
| 12, held 12th | 0.97% | 74K | 0% | +0.1 points |
19.6%
Held 1st. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.
16%
Held 2nd. 1.2M estimated branded searches, -18.7% vs prior month. Share -1.6 points.
16%
Held 3rd. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.
13.1%
Held 4th. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.
8.8%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 673K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.
8.8%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 673K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
7.2%
Held 7th. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
3.9%
Held 8th. 301K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
3.2%
Held 9th. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
1.4%
Held 10th. 110K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
11.
Tello0.97%
Held 11th. 74K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
12.
Visible0.97%
Held 12th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
Compare popularity between Total Wireless and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Total Wireless
11 comparisons
- Boost Mobile vs Total Wireless
- Consumer Cellular vs Total Wireless
- Cricket Wireless vs Total Wireless
- Metro by T-Mobile vs Total Wireless
- Mint Mobile vs Total Wireless
- Straight Talk vs Total Wireless
- Total Wireless vs US Mobile
- Google Fi vs Total Wireless
- T-Mobile Prepaid vs Total Wireless
- Tello vs Total Wireless
- Total Wireless vs Visible
How has branded search demand for Total Wireless changed in the United States over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Total Wireless in the United States held steady at 550K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Total Wireless’ share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States increased from 6% to 7.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Total Wireless’ share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 7.6% in December 2025 and was lowest at 6% in October 2025.
How did search popularity change for United States prepaid phone carriers in September 2026?
6 changes

In September 2026, Consumer Cellular overtook Mint Mobile to rank 5th among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, with 8.8% of the searches.

In September 2026, Straight Talk gained share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 14.3% to 16%.

In September 2026, Cricket Wireless gained share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 11.7% to 13.1%.

In September 2026, Total Wireless gained share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 6.4% to 7.2%.

In September 2026, Boost Mobile lost share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 21.4% to 19.6%.

In September 2026, Metro by T-Mobile lost share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 17.6% to 16%.
How are Total Wireless’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Total Wireless’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- total wireless
Who owns Total Wireless?
Total Wireless is owned by Verizon. Brandwave also tracks
Visible,
Straight Talk and
Verizon Fios, owned by the same company, in the United States.
Do you work for Total Wireless? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Is Total Wireless your brand?
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