Metro by T-Mobile vs T-Mobile Prepaid:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Metro by T-Mobile had more branded searches than T-Mobile Prepaid among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. Metro by T-Mobile had about 1.2 million branded searches, while T-Mobile Prepaid had 110,000. Metro by T-Mobile made up 16% of all prepaid phone carrier searches we track, and T-Mobile Prepaid accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prepaid phone carriers, T-Mobile Prepaid appeared in three of the five answers and Metro by T-Mobile in none.
Who do people search for more?
Metro by T-Mobile, about 11 searches for every 1 for T-Mobile Prepaid
Who does AI mention more?
T-Mobile Prepaid, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Metro by T-Mobile in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
T-Mobile Prepaid, the only one of the two named
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Top prepaid phone carriers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, T-Mobile Prepaid was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both 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.
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
See every answer about prepaid phone carriers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which prepaid phone carrier should I switch to in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best prepaid phone carriers in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest good phone plan in the US for one person?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“prepaid phone plans”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best prepaid phone plans”
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 T-Mobile Prepaid more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Metro by T-Mobile and T-Mobile Prepaid 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.
Share of searches by month for Metro by T-Mobile, T-Mobile Prepaid. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Boost Mobile | Metro by T-Mobile | Straight Talk | Cricket Wireless | Consumer Cellular | Mint Mobile | Total Wireless | US Mobile | Google Fi | T-Mobile Prepaid | Tello | Visible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.4% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 13.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 6% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.66% | 0.29% |
| Nov 2025 | 25.2% | 13.7% | 16.9% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1% | 0.68% | 0.31% |
| Dec 2025 | 25.2% | 13.7% | 16.8% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 9.2% | 7.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1% | 0.68% | 0.37% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.2% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 12.7% | 7% | 10.4% | 7% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0.77% | 0.51% |
| Feb 2026 | 24% | 16% | 16% | 13.1% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.65% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.9% | 14.6% | 14.6% | 12% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 23.7% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 12.9% | 7.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.78% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 23.5% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 7.1% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.6% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 12.3% | 6.8% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 3% | 3% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 21.7% | 17.8% | 14.5% | 11.9% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.4% | 17.6% | 14.3% | 11.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.87% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.6% | 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 T-Mobile Prepaid comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Metro by T-Mobile was ahead of T-Mobile Prepaid in every measured month of the 12 months ending 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 moved from 16.3% to 16%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, T-Mobile Prepaid’s share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States moved from 1.2% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 110K.
How did search popularity change for United States prepaid phone carriers in September 2026?
1 change

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 T-Mobile Prepaid’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
T-Mobile Prepaid
1 branded search term
- t-mobile prepaid
Other head-to-heads among prepaid phone carriers

Boost Mobile vs Metro by T-Mobile: compare popularity
Boost Mobile vs Straight Talk: compare popularity
Boost Mobile vs Cricket Wireless: compare popularity
Boost Mobile vs Consumer Cellular: compare popularity
Metro by T-Mobile vs Straight Talk: compare popularity
Metro by T-Mobile vs Cricket Wireless: compare popularity

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