--- title: "Prepaid phone carriers in the United States: Which are searched most?" description: "Compare the prepaid and low-cost phone carriers people choose for their mobile plan. Share of Search among Boost Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Cricket Wireless, Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile, Total Wireless, US Mobile, Google Fi, T-Mobile Prepaid, Tello and Visible, the prepaid phone carriers Brandwave compares in the United States, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. 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/us/categories/us-prepaid-phone-carriers" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Prepaid phone carriers in the United States: Which are searched most? Compare the prepaid and low-cost phone carriers people choose for their mobile plan. Share of Search among Boost Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Cricket Wireless, Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile, Total Wireless, US Mobile, Google Fi, T-Mobile Prepaid, Tello and Visible, the prepaid phone carriers Brandwave compares in the United States, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. 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 - **Competitive set**: Prepaid phone carriers - **Market**: United States - **Brands compared**: 12 - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **Highest Share of Search**: Boost Mobile, 19.6% ## Which brand is most popular in search among prepaid phone carriers in the United States? - In September 2026, Boost Mobile was the most searched among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, with an estimated 1.5M branded searches, 19.6% of all searches for the 12 we track. - Metro by T-Mobile is in 2nd place, 3.7 percentage points behind at 16%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Boost Mobile’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States decreased from 24.4% to 19.6%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Consumer Cellular’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States increased from 7.3% to 8.8%. - 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, US Mobile’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States increased from 2.7% to 3.9%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Fi’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States increased from 2.7% to 3.2%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Visible’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States increased from 0.29% to 0.97%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Boost Mobile’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 26.9% in March 2026 and was lowest at 19.6% in September 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Metro by T-Mobile’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 18.5% in June 2026 and was lowest at 13.7% in December 2025. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Straight Talk’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 16.9% in November 2025 and was lowest at 14.3% in August 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cricket Wireless’ share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 13.7% in November 2025 and was lowest at 11.7% in August 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Consumer Cellular’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 8.8% in September 2026 and was lowest at 6.2% in December 2025. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mint Mobile’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 10.4% in January 2026 and was lowest at 8.1% in March 2026. - 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. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, US Mobile’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 4.3% in August 2026 and was lowest at 2.2% in February 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Visible’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States peaked at 1.6% in March 2026 and was lowest at 0.29% in October 2025. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Consumer Cellular rose from 6th to 5th among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mint Mobile fell from 5th to 6th among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, US Mobile rose from 9th to 8th among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Fi fell from 8th to 9th among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile Prepaid and Tello held steady: their share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points. ## Top prepaid phone carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mint Mobile and Visible appeared every time. Mint Mobile was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five answers. US Mobile was second, and Visible was third. Boost Mobile, which ranked first in searches, was not mentioned at all. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Mint Mobile | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | US Mobile | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Visible | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | T-Mobile Prepaid | 4th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Total Wireless | 5th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Tello | 6th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Cricket Wireless | 7th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Straight Talk | 8th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Boost Mobile | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Metro by T-Mobile | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Consumer Cellular | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Google Fi | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about prepaid phone carriers - Asked ChatGPT "Which prepaid phone carrier should I switch to in the US?": 1. US Mobile, 2. Visible, 3. Mint Mobile - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best prepaid phone carriers in the US?": 1. US Mobile, 2. Visible, 3. Mint Mobile, 4. Cricket Wireless, 5. T-Mobile Prepaid - Asked ChatGPT "What's the cheapest good phone plan in the US for one person?": 1. US Mobile, 2. Tello, 3. Mint Mobile, 4. Visible - Searched Google, AI Overview "prepaid phone plans": 1. Mint Mobile, 2. Total Wireless, 3. Visible, 4. T-Mobile Prepaid, 5. Straight Talk - Searched Google, AI Overview "best prepaid phone plans": 1. Mint Mobile, 2. Visible, 3. T-Mobile Prepaid Not named in any answer: Boost Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Consumer Cellular and Google Fi. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in United States on October 22, 2026. ## Compare search popularity between leading brands - [Boost Mobile vs Metro by T-Mobile: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/boost-mobile-vs-metro-by-t-mobile): 19.6% against 16% Share of Search. - [Boost Mobile vs Straight Talk: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/boost-mobile-vs-straight-talk): 19.6% against 16% Share of Search. - [Boost Mobile vs Cricket Wireless: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/boost-mobile-vs-cricket-wireless): 19.6% against 13.1% Share of Search. - [Boost Mobile vs Consumer Cellular: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/boost-mobile-vs-consumer-cellular): 19.6% against 8.8% Share of Search. - [Metro by T-Mobile vs Straight Talk: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/metro-by-t-mobile-vs-straight-talk): 16% Share of Search each. - [Metro by T-Mobile vs Cricket Wireless: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/cricket-wireless-vs-metro-by-t-mobile): 16% against 13.1% Share of Search. - [Metro by T-Mobile vs Consumer Cellular: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/consumer-cellular-vs-metro-by-t-mobile): 16% against 8.8% Share of Search. - [Straight Talk vs Cricket Wireless: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/cricket-wireless-vs-straight-talk): 16% against 13.1% Share of Search. - [Straight Talk vs Consumer Cellular: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/consumer-cellular-vs-straight-talk): 16% against 8.8% Share of Search. - [Cricket Wireless vs Consumer Cellular: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/consumer-cellular-vs-cricket-wireless): 13.1% against 8.8% Share of Search. ## How did search popularity change for United States prepaid phone carriers in September 2026? - 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%. - In September 2026, Mint Mobile lost share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 9.6% to 8.8%. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Visible in the United States rose 173.1% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 74K in September 2026. ## Share of Search ranking | Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Boost Mobile | 19.6% | 1.5M | -18.0% | EchoStar | | 2 | Metro by T-Mobile | 16% | 1.2M | -18.7% | T-Mobile | | 3 | Straight Talk | 16% | 1.2M | 0.0% | Verizon | | 4 | Cricket Wireless | 13.1% | 1M | 0.0% | AT&T | | 5 | Consumer Cellular | 8.8% | 673K | 0.0% | Consumer Cellular | | 6 | Mint Mobile | 8.8% | 673K | -18.2% | T-Mobile | | 7 | Total Wireless | 7.2% | 550K | 0.0% | Verizon | | 8 | US Mobile | 3.9% | 301K | -18.2% | US Mobile | | 9 | Google Fi | 3.2% | 246K | -18.3% | Google | | 10 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 1.4% | 110K | 0.0% | T-Mobile | | 11 | Tello | 0.97% | 74K | -18.2% | Tello | | 12 | Visible | 0.97% | 74K | 0.0% | Verizon | ## Historical estimated branded-search demand | Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | Boost Mobile | 2.2M | 24.4% | 1 | | Oct 2025 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.5M | 16.3% | 2 | | Oct 2025 | Straight Talk | 1.5M | 16.3% | 3 | | Oct 2025 | Cricket Wireless | 1.2M | 13.3% | 4 | | Oct 2025 | Mint Mobile | 823K | 8.9% | 5 | | Oct 2025 | Consumer Cellular | 673K | 7.3% | 6 | | Oct 2025 | Total Wireless | 550K | 6% | 7 | | Oct 2025 | Google Fi | 246K | 2.7% | 8 | | Oct 2025 | US Mobile | 246K | 2.7% | 9 | | Oct 2025 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.2% | 10 | | Oct 2025 | Tello | 60.5K | 0.66% | 11 | | Oct 2025 | Visible | 27.1K | 0.29% | 12 | | Nov 2025 | Boost Mobile | 2.2M | 25.2% | 1 | | Nov 2025 | Straight Talk | 1.5M | 16.9% | 2 | | Nov 2025 | Cricket Wireless | 1.2M | 13.7% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 13.7% | 4 | | Nov 2025 | Mint Mobile | 823K | 9.3% | 5 | | Nov 2025 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 6.2% | 6 | | Nov 2025 | Total Wireless | 550K | 6.2% | 7 | | Nov 2025 | Google Fi | 301K | 3.4% | 8 | | Nov 2025 | US Mobile | 301K | 3.4% | 9 | | Nov 2025 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 90.5K | 1% | 10 | | Nov 2025 | Tello | 60.5K | 0.68% | 11 | | Nov 2025 | Visible | 27.1K | 0.31% | 12 | | Dec 2025 | Boost Mobile | 2.2M | 25.2% | 1 | | Dec 2025 | Straight Talk | 1.5M | 16.8% | 2 | | Dec 2025 | Cricket Wireless | 1.2M | 13.7% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 13.7% | 4 | | Dec 2025 | Mint Mobile | 823K | 9.2% | 5 | | Dec 2025 | Total Wireless | 673K | 7.6% | 6 | | Dec 2025 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 6.2% | 7 | | Dec 2025 | Google Fi | 246K | 2.8% | 8 | | Dec 2025 | US Mobile | 246K | 2.8% | 9 | | Dec 2025 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 90.5K | 1% | 10 | | Dec 2025 | Tello | 60.5K | 0.68% | 11 | | Dec 2025 | Visible | 33.1K | 0.37% | 12 | | Jan 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 23.2% | 1 | | Jan 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 15.5% | 2 | | Jan 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 15.5% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 12.7% | 4 | | Jan 2026 | Mint Mobile | 823K | 10.4% | 5 | | Jan 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 7% | 6 | | Jan 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 7% | 7 | | Jan 2026 | Google Fi | 246K | 3.1% | 8 | | Jan 2026 | US Mobile | 246K | 3.1% | 9 | | Jan 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 90.5K | 1.1% | 10 | | Jan 2026 | Tello | 60.5K | 0.77% | 11 | | Jan 2026 | Visible | 40.5K | 0.51% | 12 | | Feb 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 24% | 1 | | Feb 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 16% | 2 | | Feb 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 16% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 13.1% | 4 | | Feb 2026 | Mint Mobile | 673K | 8.8% | 5 | | Feb 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 7.2% | 6 | | Feb 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 7.2% | 7 | | Feb 2026 | Google Fi | 201K | 2.6% | 8 | | Feb 2026 | US Mobile | 165K | 2.2% | 9 | | Feb 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 90.5K | 1.2% | 10 | | Feb 2026 | Tello | 60.5K | 0.8% | 11 | | Feb 2026 | Visible | 49.5K | 0.65% | 12 | | Mar 2026 | Boost Mobile | 2.2M | 26.9% | 1 | | Mar 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 14.6% | 2 | | Mar 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 14.6% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 12% | 4 | | Mar 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 673K | 8.1% | 5 | | Mar 2026 | Mint Mobile | 673K | 8.1% | 6 | | Mar 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 6.6% | 7 | | Mar 2026 | Google Fi | 246K | 2.9% | 8 | | Mar 2026 | US Mobile | 201K | 2.4% | 9 | | Mar 2026 | Visible | 135K | 1.6% | 10 | | Mar 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.3% | 11 | | Mar 2026 | Tello | 74K | 0.89% | 12 | | Apr 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 23.7% | 1 | | Apr 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 15.8% | 2 | | Apr 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 15.8% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 12.9% | 4 | | Apr 2026 | Mint Mobile | 673K | 8.7% | 5 | | Apr 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 7.1% | 6 | | Apr 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 7.1% | 7 | | Apr 2026 | Google Fi | 201K | 2.6% | 8 | | Apr 2026 | US Mobile | 201K | 2.6% | 9 | | Apr 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.4% | 10 | | Apr 2026 | Visible | 110K | 1.4% | 11 | | Apr 2026 | Tello | 60.5K | 0.78% | 12 | | May 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 23.5% | 1 | | May 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 15.7% | 2 | | May 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 15.7% | 3 | | May 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 12.8% | 4 | | May 2026 | Mint Mobile | 673K | 8.6% | 5 | | May 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 7.1% | 6 | | May 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 7.1% | 7 | | May 2026 | US Mobile | 246K | 3.2% | 8 | | May 2026 | Google Fi | 201K | 2.6% | 9 | | May 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.4% | 10 | | May 2026 | Visible | 110K | 1.4% | 11 | | May 2026 | Tello | 74K | 0.95% | 12 | | Jun 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 22.6% | 1 | | Jun 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.5M | 18.5% | 2 | | Jun 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 15.1% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 12.3% | 4 | | Jun 2026 | Mint Mobile | 673K | 8.3% | 5 | | Jun 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 550K | 6.8% | 6 | | Jun 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 6.8% | 7 | | Jun 2026 | Google Fi | 246K | 3% | 8 | | Jun 2026 | US Mobile | 246K | 3% | 9 | | Jun 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.4% | 10 | | Jun 2026 | Tello | 90.5K | 1.1% | 11 | | Jun 2026 | Visible | 90.5K | 1.1% | 12 | | Jul 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 21.7% | 1 | | Jul 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.5M | 17.8% | 2 | | Jul 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 14.5% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 11.9% | 4 | | Jul 2026 | Mint Mobile | 823K | 9.8% | 5 | | Jul 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 673K | 8% | 6 | | Jul 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 6.5% | 7 | | Jul 2026 | US Mobile | 301K | 3.6% | 8 | | Jul 2026 | Google Fi | 246K | 2.9% | 9 | | Jul 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.3% | 10 | | Jul 2026 | Tello | 90.5K | 1.1% | 11 | | Jul 2026 | Visible | 90.5K | 1.1% | 12 | | Aug 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.8M | 21.4% | 1 | | Aug 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.5M | 17.6% | 2 | | Aug 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 14.3% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 11.7% | 4 | | Aug 2026 | Mint Mobile | 823K | 9.6% | 5 | | Aug 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 673K | 7.9% | 6 | | Aug 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 6.4% | 7 | | Aug 2026 | US Mobile | 368K | 4.3% | 8 | | Aug 2026 | Google Fi | 301K | 3.5% | 9 | | Aug 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.3% | 10 | | Aug 2026 | Tello | 90.5K | 1.1% | 11 | | Aug 2026 | Visible | 74K | 0.87% | 12 | | Sep 2026 | Boost Mobile | 1.5M | 19.6% | 1 | | Sep 2026 | Metro by T-Mobile | 1.2M | 16% | 2 | | Sep 2026 | Straight Talk | 1.2M | 16% | 3 | | Sep 2026 | Cricket Wireless | 1M | 13.1% | 4 | | Sep 2026 | Consumer Cellular | 673K | 8.8% | 5 | | Sep 2026 | Mint Mobile | 673K | 8.8% | 6 | | Sep 2026 | Total Wireless | 550K | 7.2% | 7 | | Sep 2026 | US Mobile | 301K | 3.9% | 8 | | Sep 2026 | Google Fi | 246K | 3.2% | 9 | | Sep 2026 | T-Mobile Prepaid | 110K | 1.4% | 10 | | Sep 2026 | Tello | 74K | 0.97% | 11 | | Sep 2026 | Visible | 74K | 0.97% | 12 | ## What is being compared - **Boost Mobile**: Measured on the search term “boost mobile”. - **Consumer Cellular**: Measured on the search term “consumer cellular”. - **Cricket Wireless**: Measured on the search term “cricket wireless”. - **Google Fi**: Measured on the search term “google fi”. - **Metro by T-Mobile**: Measured on the search term “metro by t-mobile”. - **Mint Mobile**: Measured on the search term “mint mobile”. - **Straight Talk**: Measured on the search term “straight talk”. - **T-Mobile Prepaid**: Measured on the search term “t-mobile prepaid”. - **Tello**: Measured on the search term “tello mobile”. - **Total Wireless**: Measured on the search term “total wireless”. - **US Mobile**: Measured on the search term “us mobile”. - **Visible**: Measured on the search term “visible wireless”. - [Boost Mobile](/demand/us/brands/boost-mobile) - [Consumer Cellular](/demand/us/brands/consumer-cellular) - [Cricket Wireless](/demand/us/brands/cricket-wireless) - [Google Fi](/demand/us/brands/google-fi) - [Metro by T-Mobile](/demand/us/brands/metro-by-t-mobile) - [Mint Mobile](/demand/us/brands/mint-mobile) - [Straight Talk](/demand/us/brands/straight-talk) - [T-Mobile Prepaid](/demand/us/brands/t-mobile-prepaid) - [Tello](/demand/us/brands/tello-mobile) - [Total Wireless](/demand/us/brands/total-wireless) - [US Mobile](/demand/us/brands/us-mobile) - [Visible](/demand/us/brands/visible-wireless) ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which brand is most popular in search among prepaid phone carriers in the United States? In September 2026, Boost Mobile was the most searched among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, with an estimated 1.5M branded searches, 19.6% of all searches for the 12 we track. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Prepaid phone carriers in the United States: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/categories/us-prepaid-phone-carriers This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/categories/us-prepaid-phone-carriers. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.