AT&T vs T-Mobile:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, T-Mobile had more branded searches than AT&T among wireless carriers in the United States. T-Mobile had about 9.1 million branded searches, while AT&T had 5 million. T-Mobile made up 39.6% of all wireless carrier searches we track, and AT&T accounted for 21.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wireless carriers, both AT&T and T-Mobile appeared in all five answers. T-Mobile was mentioned before AT&T in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
T-Mobile, about 83% more searches than AT&T
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
T-Mobile, named ahead of AT&T in 3 of 5 answers
Follow AT&T vs T-Mobile and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top wireless carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both AT&T and T-Mobile showed up in all five answers. T-Mobile was listed before AT&T in three of them.
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.
Is AT&T or T-Mobile more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AT&T and T-Mobile 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, AT&T. 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% |
How has the AT&T and T-Mobile comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- T-Mobile was ahead of AT&T in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AT&T’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States moved from 19.7% to 21.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, T-Mobile’s share of searches among wireless carriers in the United States moved from 43.8% to 39.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.1M to 9.1M.
How did search popularity change for United States wireless carriers in September 2026?
2 changes
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%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AT&T’s and T-Mobile’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.
Other head-to-heads among wireless carriers
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.