Wireless carriers in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, T-Mobile was the most searched wireless carrier in the United States, accounting for 39.6% of all searches among the nine carriers we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T showed up in every answer. Verizon was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five responses.
T-MobileShare of searches 39.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
VerizonShare of searches 26.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
AT&TShare of searches 21.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Cricket WirelessShare of searches 4.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
Mint MobileShare of searches 2.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top wireless carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T appeared every time. Verizon was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five answers. T-Mobile was second, and AT&T was third.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Verizon1st
- T-Mobile2nd
- AT&T3rd
Visible4th- Mint Mobile5th
- Cricket Wireless6th
Xfinity7th
Google Fi8th
Spectrum9th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- T-Mobile5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Verizon5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- AT&T5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Cricket Wireless4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Mint Mobile4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Visible4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Xfinity1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Spectrum1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Google Fi1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about wireless carriers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best cell phone carrier in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which US phone carrier has the best coverage?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the main cell phone carriers in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cell phone carriers”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wireless carrier”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Which wireless carriers do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each wireless carrier by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine wireless carriers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Mint Mobile. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | T-Mobile | Verizon | AT&T | Cricket Wireless | Mint Mobile | Xfinity | Spectrum | Google Fi | Visible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 43.8% | 24.1% | 19.7% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.97% | 0.11% |
| Nov 2025 | 43.8% | 24.1% | 19.7% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.11% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.6% | 28.1% | 18.8% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.92% | 0.12% |
| Jan 2026 | 37.5% | 30.7% | 20.5% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.1% | 26.2% | 21.4% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.26% |
| Mar 2026 | 43.6% | 23.9% | 19.5% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.64% |
| Apr 2026 | 38.9% | 26% | 21.3% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1% | 0.57% |
| May 2026 | 39% | 26.1% | 21.4% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1% | 0.57% |
| Jun 2026 | 43.9% | 24% | 19.6% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.43% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.5% | 23.8% | 19.5% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.43% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.3% | 27.6% | 18.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.33% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.6% | 26.5% | 21.7% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.32% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 39.6% | 9.1M | 0% | -1.6 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 26.5% | 6.1M | 0% | -1.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 21.7% | 5M | +22.2% | +3.2 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 4.3% | 1M | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 2.9% | 673K | -18.2% | -0.8 points | |
| 6, moved from 8th to 6th | 2% | 450K | +49.5% | +0.6 pointsmoved from 8th to 6th | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.6% | 368K | +22.3% | +0.2 points | |
| 8, moved from 6th to 8th | 1.1% | 246K | -18.3% | -0.3 pointsmoved from 6th to 8th | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.32% | 74K | 0% | 0 points |
1.
T-Mobile39.6%
Held 1st. 9.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.6 points.
2.
Verizon26.5%
Held 2nd. 6.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.
3.
AT&T21.7%
Held 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3.2 points.
4.3%
Held 4th. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
2.9%
Held 5th. 673K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
6.
Xfinity2%
Moved from 8th to 6th. 450K estimated branded searches, +49.5% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
7.
Spectrum1.6%
Held 7th. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
1.1%
Moved from 6th to 8th. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
9.
Visible0.32%
Held 9th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among wireless carriers in the United States?
9 brands
In September 2026, T-Mobile was the most searched among wireless carriers in the United States, with an estimated 9.1M branded searches, 39.6% of all searches for the nine we track. Verizon is in 2nd place, 13.1 percentage points behind at 26.5%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 43.8% → 39.6% | 43.9%Jun 2026 | 37.5%Jan 2026 | 1st |
| Verizon | 24.1% → 26.5% | 30.7%Jan 2026 | 23.8%Jul 2026 | 2nd |
| AT&T | 19.7% → 21.7% | 21.7%Sep 2026 | 18.5%Aug 2026 | 3rd |
| Cricket Wireless | 4.8% → 4.3% | 5.2%Feb 2026 | 4.1%Jan 2026 | 4th |
| Mint Mobile | 3.2% → 2.9% | 3.9%Jul 2026 | 2.9%Sep 2026 | 5th |
| Xfinity | 1.8% → 2% | 2%Sep 2026 | 1.4%Aug 2026 | 6th |
| Spectrum | 1.5% → 1.6% | 1.6%Sep 2026 | 1.1%Dec 2025 | 7th |
| Google Fi | 0.97% → 1.1% | 1.4%Aug 2026 | 0.92%Dec 2025 | 8th |
| Visible | 0.11% → 0.32% | 0.64%Mar 2026 | 0.11%Oct 2025 | 9th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, T-Mobile’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States decreased from 43.8% to 39.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Verizon’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States increased from 24.1% to 26.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AT&T’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States increased from 19.7% to 21.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, T-Mobile’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States peaked at 43.9% in June 2026 and was lowest at 37.5% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Verizon’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States peaked at 30.7% in January 2026 and was lowest at 23.8% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AT&T’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States peaked at 21.7% in September 2026 and was lowest at 18.5% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cricket Wireless’ share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States peaked at 5.2% in February 2026 and was lowest at 4.1% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mint Mobile’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States peaked at 3.9% in July 2026 and was lowest at 2.9% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cricket Wireless, Mint Mobile, Xfinity, Spectrum, Google Fi and Visible held steady: their share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States wireless carriers in September 2026?
7 changes
In September 2026, Xfinity overtook Google Fi and Spectrum to rank 6th among wireless carriers in the United States, with 2% of the searches.
In September 2026, AT&T gained share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States, from 18.5% to 21.7%.
In September 2026, T-Mobile lost share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States, from 41.3% to 39.6%.
In September 2026, Verizon lost share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States, from 27.6% to 26.5%.
In September 2026, Mint Mobile lost share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States, from 3.7% to 2.9%.
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.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Cricket Wireless in the United States fell 18% over 12 measured months, from 1.2M to 1M in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
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