Brandwave

Cricket Wireless vs Straight Talk:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Straight Talk had more branded searches than Cricket Wireless among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. Straight Talk had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Cricket Wireless had 1 million. Straight Talk made up 16% of all prepaid phone carrier searches we track, and Cricket Wireless accounted for 13.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prepaid phone carriers, Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk each appeared in one of the five answers. Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among prepaid phone carriers in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Straight Talk, about 22% more searches than Cricket Wireless

Straight Talk 1.2M searchesCricket Wireless 1M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 1 of 5 answers.

Cricket Wireless in 1 of 5Straight Talk in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Cricket Wireless first in 1Straight Talk first in 1

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Top prepaid phone carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Cricket Wireless was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Straight Talk was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Mint Mobile1st
  2. US Mobile2nd
  3. Visible3rd
  4. T-Mobile Prepaid4th
  5. Total Wireless5th
  6. Tello6th
  7. Cricket Wireless7th
  8. Straight Talk8th
  9. Boost Mobile–
  10. Metro by T-Mobile–
  11. +2 more

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

+2 more

See every answer about prepaid phone carriers

5 answers

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.

Is Cricket Wireless or Straight Talk more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 prepaid phone carriers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Straight Talk, Cricket Wireless. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBoost MobileMetro by T-MobileStraight TalkCricket WirelessConsumer CellularMint MobileTotal WirelessUS MobileGoogle FiT-Mobile PrepaidTelloVisible
Oct 202524.4%16.3%16.3%13.3%7.3%8.9%6%2.7%2.7%1.2%0.66%0.29%
Nov 202525.2%13.7%16.9%13.7%6.2%9.3%6.2%3.4%3.4%1%0.68%0.31%
Dec 202525.2%13.7%16.8%13.7%6.2%9.2%7.6%2.8%2.8%1%0.68%0.37%
Jan 202623.2%15.5%15.5%12.7%7%10.4%7%3.1%3.1%1.1%0.77%0.51%
Feb 202624%16%16%13.1%7.2%8.8%7.2%2.2%2.6%1.2%0.8%0.65%
Mar 202626.9%14.6%14.6%12%8.1%8.1%6.6%2.4%2.9%1.3%0.89%1.6%
Apr 202623.7%15.8%15.8%12.9%7.1%8.7%7.1%2.6%2.6%1.4%0.78%1.4%
May 202623.5%15.7%15.7%12.8%7.1%8.6%7.1%3.2%2.6%1.4%0.95%1.4%
Jun 202622.6%18.5%15.1%12.3%6.8%8.3%6.8%3%3%1.4%1.1%1.1%
Jul 202621.7%17.8%14.5%11.9%8%9.8%6.5%3.6%2.9%1.3%1.1%1.1%
Aug 202621.4%17.6%14.3%11.7%7.9%9.6%6.4%4.3%3.5%1.3%1.1%0.87%
Sep 202619.6%16%16%13.1%8.8%8.8%7.2%3.9%3.2%1.4%0.97%0.97%

How has the Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United States prepaid phone carriers in September 2026?

2 changes

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

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

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cricket Wireless’ and Straight Talk’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.

Cricket Wireless

1 branded search term

  • cricket wireless

Straight Talk

1 branded search term

  • straight talk

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among prepaid phone carriers

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