Brandwave

Metro by T-Mobile vs Straight Talk:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Metro by T-Mobile and Straight Talk were level in searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, with an estimated 1.2M branded searches each, at 16% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prepaid phone carriers, Straight Talk appeared in one of the five answers and Metro by T-Mobile in none.

Among prepaid phone carriers in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Metro by T-Mobile and Straight Talk are searched for about as often as each other.

Metro by T-Mobile 1.2M searchesStraight Talk 1.2M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Straight Talk, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, Metro by T-Mobile in 0

Straight Talk in 1 of 5Metro by T-Mobile in 0 of 5

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Top prepaid phone carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and 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. Metro by T-Mobile did not appear in any of the five answers.

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 Metro by T-Mobile or Straight Talk more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Metro by T-Mobile 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.

Metro by T-Mobile and Straight Talk among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk. 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 Metro by T-Mobile 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, Metro by T-Mobile lost share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 17.6% to 16%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Metro by T-Mobile’s 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.

Metro by T-Mobile

1 branded search term

  • metro by t-mobile

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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