Brandwave

Tello vs Total Wireless:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Total Wireless had more branded searches than Tello among prepaid phone carriers in the United States. Total Wireless had about 550,000 branded searches, while Tello had 74,000. Total Wireless made up 7.2% of all prepaid phone carrier searches we track, and Tello accounted for 0.97%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prepaid phone carriers, Tello and Total Wireless each appeared in one of the five answers. Tello and Total Wireless 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?

Total Wireless, about 7 searches for every 1 for Tello

Total Wireless 550K searchesTello 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 1 of 5 answers.

Tello in 1 of 5Total Wireless in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Tello first in 1Total Wireless 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, Tello was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Total Wireless was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Tello and Total Wireless 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 Tello or Total Wireless more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Tello and Total Wireless 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.

Tello and Total Wireless among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Total Wireless, Tello. 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 Tello and Total Wireless 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, Total Wireless gained share of searches among prepaid phone carriers in the United States, from 6.4% to 7.2%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Tello in the United States rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 74K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Tello’s and Total Wireless’ 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.

Tello

1 branded search term

  • tello mobile

Total Wireless

1 branded search term

  • total wireless

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among prepaid phone carriers

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