How much mobile data do I actually need?

Key Takeaways: 

• The average cell phone data use is 22GB a month. But the amount of data you need will vary depending on whether you’re a light, medium or heavy data user. 

• Checking how much data you’ve used in the past can help you decide how much data you’ll need when selecting a phone plan. 

• Another approach to calculating your data needs is figuring out how much data your typical activities will use up in a month. 

• Make sure you figure in hotspot data usage and travel usage. 

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How much data does the average person use per month? 

The average person uses 22GB of mobile data a month, according to a 2024 Ericsson report. So, you could simply look for a plan that covers that amount. 

But you might be a little above or below average and want to tweak your phone plan to reflect that. Here's what light, medium and heavy data use looks like and the amount of data needed by each type of user. 

Light data user: 5GB or less per month 

You're probably a light data user if: 

• You’re typically on Wi-Fi rather than using mobile data.  

• Most of your phone use is for data-thrifty activities like email, text-based websites, texting. 

• You don’t spend a lot of time on data-intensive activities like social media, streaming entertainment, or gaming — or you make sure you’re on Wi-Fi when you do. 

Someone who’s a light data user can get away with a plan that provides 5GB data a month or perhaps even less. A family of four would need 20GB or maybe less.  

Medium data user: 15GB or less per month 

Here’s what a medium data user looks like: 

• Can’t always use Wi-Fi, so relies more on mobile data. 

• Phone use includes things that can be data intensive, like social media, streaming, maps and navigation, video calls. 

Medium data users probably need more like 10GB to 15GB a month for a single line. A family of four would need anywhere from 40GB to 90GB.  

Heavy data user: 30GB+ per month 

The profile of a heavy data user: 

• Rarely is on Wi-Fi and depends heavily on mobile data. 

• Spends a lot of time on data-hogs like online games, streaming entertainment, video calling, using their phone as a mobile hotspot, etc.  

If that describes you, you’re best off with an unlimited data plan that allows at least 30GB before any slowing. For a family of four, you’re in the market for 120GB a month. 

How do I know how much data do I need?  

You can also figure out your data needs by looking at your typical usage in the past. Here’s how: 

How to check my data usage 

Unless you’re brand new to cell phone use, you have a built-in way to see how much mobile data you typically use. Your phone’s settings will show you both overall and per-app usage.   

How to check data usage on Android  

An easy first step to finding out how much data you need is knowing how much data you already use. On most Android phones:  

1.  Open your phone's Settings.  

2.  Tap Network & Internet, then Internet.   

3.  Tap the Settings gear icon next to your carrier’s name to see your total usage.  

4.  Tap App data usage to see per-app use; tap the down arrow to pick a time period.  

Check data used on iPhone  

1. Open your phone's Settings.  

2. Tap on Cellular, then scroll down to Cellular Data to see overall data usage and roaming for the current period.  

3. To see per-app usage, tap on “Show All” in the Cellular Data section of the display.   

Important note: “Current period” doesn’t necessarily mean your current billing cycle! It's the period since you last reset your iPhone’s cellular usage statistics. Go to the bottom of the display and tap “Reset Statistics,” then check again in a week or a month to get a snapshot of your current data usage. 

Check with your service provider 

You can also simply connect with your current provider to see how much data you use. Try any of these:  

• If the carrier has an app, download it and log in to see your usage statistics. These apps are also a handy way to pay your bill, make changes to your plan, etc. 

• Sign into your account on the carrier’s website. 

• Read the carrier’s website to see if you can dial a number code to get a message showing data used.  

• Call customer service and ask about your data usage patterns (you might be able to get information for several months, not just the most recent one).  

Your phone and your carrier might disagree a little bit about how much data you’ve used. That can be due to different approaches to measuring (at the device level vs. at the network level), the carrier rounding up on each data usage instance, or a difference in the period being measured. 

How to predict how much data I need  

Of course, if you haven’t had a data plan before — maybe you’re getting a phone plan for the first time — you won’t have phone or carrier info to rely on. In that case, you can look at how much data your typical activities use and figure out a ballpark figure. Here’s a broad look at how much of various activities different data amounts will cover.  

To get into specifics, here’s how fast common activities use up data. Keep in mind that there’s about 1,000MB in 1GB:  

Web browsing: Figure an average of 50MB-60MB an hour for browsing websites that are mostly text. But the data usage rate goes up if you’re on complex web pages with lots of images, videos that autoplay, or ads that pop up or play automatically.   

Email: An average of 60MB an hour is a good starting point. But if you’re uploading or downloading files, especially large ones, you’ll use data faster. Also, your email program may be using a small amount of data in the background if it’s auto refreshing your inbox regularly.  

Social media: There’s a large range here, from 120MB an hour for simple sites to 300MB-700MB an hour for video-heavy platforms. Data hogs like Facebook Live and TikTok videos can run 1GB-2GB an hour.  

Instant messaging: If you’re using a platform like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to send simple messages using only text and emoji, you could burn around 50MB an hour. If you’re sending photos, videos, or voice notes the usage rate is higher. And voice or video calls on messaging platforms eat data at a higher rate, 300MB an hour or more. 

Video calling: Using Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet can chew up data fast when on HD and depending on the number of participants — 2GB an hour or more. If you cut the video quality to SD it’s 500MB to 1GB an hour, and going with no video cuts it to around 50MB an hour. 

Music streaming: This one’s thrifty, if you’re listening to music rather than streaming music videos: 40-150MB an hour.  

Video streaming: Depending on the quality setting, you’re looking at hourly data usage of  300MB (low quality), 700MB (standard) or 1.5-4GB (HD).  

Online gaming: There’s a huge range here, depending on the type of game and how you’re running it. On the low end, mobile games run 10-300MB an hour. But if you’re streaming a game’s video from the cloud, that could run 3-10GB an hour. And it’s not just playing time you need to think about. Downloading games to your phone can run up to 1GB depending on complexity. 

Sample data usage amounts 

Sometimes it’s easier to think about the mix of activities you can expect various amounts of data to cover. Some common examples:  

How much is 1GB of data? This will cover you if you usually are on Wi-Fi or mainly use your phone for basic things like checking your email, checking bank/finance apps, browsing the web, using Google maps, etc. Here’s what else you could do during the month with 1GB data: 

• About 2 hours total of web browsing. 

• Plus about 2.5 hours total of scrolling social media.  

• Plus about 7 hours of music streaming. 

Streaming video would eat up your 1GB pretty quickly, so you’d want to limit it to when you’re on Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you could blow through 1GB with only 90 minutes of watching YouTube on standard definition or 20 minutes of HD video streaming. 

How much is 2GB of data? This is a more comfortable amount for people who mainly use their phone on Wi-Fi or for basic tasks. In addition, your 2GB of data would cover this in a month: 

• About 3 hours total of web browsing. 

• Plus about 4 hours total of scrolling social media. 

• Plus about 10-12 hours of streaming music.  

• Plus about 45 minutes of YouTube at SD or 10 minutes of HD video, such as Netflix. 

How much is 5GB of data? This is a good amount for a light data user or someone who sometimes can’t be on Wi-Fi. Your month of 5GB of data would cover: 

• 8 hours of web browsing. 

• Plus about 10 hours total of social media. 

• Plus about 27 hours of streaming music. 

• Plus a bit less than 2 hours of YouTube in SD or about 25 minutes of streaming HD video. 

How much is 10GB of data? This is a safer amount for a medium data user. This will cover basics plus quite a bit more, although for data-intensive things like streaming HD video you’ll want to be on Wi-Fi or consider downloading content ahead of time. Your month could look like this with 10GB:  

• 10 hours of web browsing. 

• Plus 16 hours of social media. 

• Plus 50 hours of music streaming. 

• Plus 3 hours of YouTube in SD. 

• Plus about 40 minutes of HD Netflix streaming.  

How much is 50GB of data? If you’re a heavy data user who’s often away from Wi-Fi, you might aim for a high data allowance like 30GB or even 50GB. With 50GB you could do this in a month:  

• 50-60 hours of web browsing. 

• Plus 80 hours of social media. 

• Plus 200 hours of music streaming. 

• Plus about 15 hours of SD YouTube. 

• Plus about 3 hours of HD video streaming like Netflix. 

Hotspot usage and your data needs 

Just using your phone as a mobile hotspot doesn’t necessarily use extra data in and of itself. But keep in mind that each device connected to your phone's hotspot is using your mobile data.  

Several devices simultaneously using your data can really add up, depending on what those devices are doing. Refer to the chart and list of activities above to see how fast your data might be draining away. For example, if you’re texting or playing light online games on your phone, you’re not using a lot of data. But if you also have your laptop using your phone’s hotspot and you’re doing intensive tasks on it like streaming, video calls, downloading big files, etc. it’s using data quickly — on top of your on-phone use.   

And in some cases, activities may use a bit more data when done on a laptop or tablet than they would on a phone:  

• Web pages may load more interactive features when they detect you’re not on a phone, and those videos or high-res photos eat more data. 

• Streaming services may default to a higher quality setting than on a phone. 

• Hidden activities on your laptop or tablet can also suck up data: automatic updates and syncing with cloud storage, email, or features like Google Drive. 

How much hotspot data do I need? 

Some phone plans give you a separate allowance of hotspot data use, while others pull your hotspot use from the overall data allowance. Here’s how much hotspot data you might need per month based on the type of user you are:  

• Heavy user: If you often tether several devices to your phone hotspot and regularly do high-data activities like streaming in HD or video calling, look for a hotspot data allowance of 20GB or potentially more — 35GB or even 50GB.  

• Medium user: If you use your hotspot less regularly or don’t often tether several devices to it, and your activities aren’t super data-intensive, you can get away with 5GB-15GB. 

• Light user: If you’re rarely off Wi-Fi and don’t often need mobile hotspot, 1-3GB should suffice. 

How can I tell how much hotspot data I usually use?  

The best way is to use the app or billing portal of your current service provider. This will show how much of the allowance you’re using. If you’re routinely well under the allowance, maybe a cheaper phone plan would work.  

You can also check your phone’s settings. For Android, tap on Connections, then Data Usage. Look for Mobile Data Usage, which should show your use of hotspot data for the month (it might also be labeled “tethering”). In iPhone settings, it’s under Cellular Data and System Services, labeled Personal Hotspot. But remember: It will show all usage since the last time you remembered to reset cellular usage statistics on your iPhone — which could be some time ago. It won’t match your billing cycle unless you remember to reset usage stats when the new cycle begins. 

Travel and short-term data usage 

Here's how to figure out how much data you need for travel or other short-term situations:  

How much data do you need for travel?  

If you’re traveling outside your cell provider’s network, you might run into data roaming fees — especially when traveling abroad. And that can get expensive, so travelers often use an international SIM card to pick up coverage in the area they’re visiting.  

When choosing an international SIM card, consider how much data you should buy. Not many international SIMs offer unlimited data, but you’re not likely to need it anyway. Instead, think about how long your trip is and what you need data for. If you typically use less than 20GB a month when at home, for example, it’s reasonable to expect you could get 5GB for a weeklong trip and be fine.  

Still, consider whether you’ll likely bump up your typical usage. Maybe you plan to use your phone for maps and navigation extensively, or you plan to share a lot of photos and video on social media. If so, add a little wiggle room to your normal use.  

Short-term data usage  

Sometimes you just need a bit more data on your existing plan for a short time. Maybe you’re traveling domestically and need to work remotely, want to make video calls home, or plan to bump up your social media posting. If your plans might stretch your existing data allowance, contact your carrier to see if you can temporarily move up to a higher-level plan (prepaid plans have a lot of flexibility here) or pay to add more data by the gig.  

If not, you could look at getting a more data-heavy prepaid plan for a single month (you’ll need to switch SIMs or have a dual-SIM phone).  

Storage & backup data usage 

This one’s a little tricky, because “GB” and “data” can mean different things in different contexts.  

• Storage: Your phone has a specified amount of capacity to store data such as for the operating system software that runs it, your apps, photos, downloads, etc. In this case, GB means how much storage was built into your phone — it doesn’t have anything to do with how much mobile data you can use. Your phone’s settings will show how much storage you have and how much of it is used. A phone with 64GB storage is enough only for light users or those who rely on cloud storage for photos, etc. — but 128GB is a better starting point for most people. And 256GB or more is for those who want to store a lot of photos, high-res videos, downloads, games, etc. 

• Backup: This is a copy of what you have stored on your phone, in case of loss or theft. An example here is backing up photos to cloud storage so you can access them even if you lose your phone. When your phone backs up its data to cloud storage, that uses data if you’re not on Wi-Fi.  

Note: In your phone’s settings, you can choose to limit backups to only when you’re on Wi-Fi.  

On an iPhone: Go to Settings -> iCloud -> iCloud Backup and then toggle off “Back Up Over Cellular.”  

On an Android: Open the app you want to limit (such as Google Photos or Google Drive) and go to Settings -> look for Backup & Sync or Data Usage -> toggle off “use cellular data” or toggle on “transfer only over Wi-Fi.”   

Things to pay attention to when calculating your data usage 

Here are some things to consider as you pin down how much data you use or need:  

• As mentioned above, you might see different data use levels on your phone versus what your carrier says you’ve used. Carriers often round up on each instance of data usage, for example, which adds up over time. And carriers take into account network-level data usage, not just data to and from the phone. 

• Remember that “hidden” things can use data even when you’re not actively doing anything: apps that refresh and sync data in the background, automatic updates, cloud and photo syncing, location services. 

• If your plan has Wi-Fi assist or network switching, it automatically switches to using cellular data when your Wi-Fi connection is weak. 

• Using VPN for privacy can boost data use by 15%-20% because it’s working to encrypt your activity.  

• The streaming quality you select can make a big difference, with HD or ultra HD hoovering up the most data. Streaming on standard or using the data-saver mode on various apps can help. 

• Using your phone as a mobile hotspot can eat up data faster because all the devices you connect to it are using your mobile data allowance. 

Data usage for jobs 

Some types of jobs depend on using your phone and its mobile data to complete tasks, communicate with clients or co-workers, etc.  

How much data do ride-share drivers need? 

Uber advises drivers that the app will use less than 3GB a month, while Lyft doesn’t give a guideline. But the rideshare app might be the least data-greedy thing you’re using during ride share shifts. Navigation apps can consume a fair amount of data, especially ones that continuously update traffic conditions like Waze. You might want to stream music, too, plus all the other typical uses of your phone.  

Judging from posts on Reddit, many drivers choose an unlimited data plan so they don’t have to worry about running out and missing driving days. Alternatively, you could look for a reasonably priced 10GB-20GB plan. Prepaid plans make it easy to trade up or down month to month, and they tend to be cheaper than postpaid plans as well.  

When selecting a phone plan, also consider coverage in your driving area so you’re not running into dead zones.  

How much data does a food delivery person need?  

You’ll need mobile data to do food delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats in order to run the apps (which track your location), communicate with customers, and take photos of drop-offs. Keep in mind you’ll also be using navigation, perhaps streaming music, etc.  

With a number of reasonable postpaid plans at $25 a month or less, it makes sense to get at least 10GB of data if you’re trying to be economical, and at least see if a cheap unlimited plan might be in your budget.  

Before choosing a plan, check the coverage in your driving area to make sure dead zones won’t make service spotty. 

How much data do small business owners need?  

How much mobile data you need for your small business can vary widely, with lots of variables to consider: 

Number of users: Are you covering only yourself or providing cell phone coverage for employees?  

Type of activity: Do you simply need talk & text communication with customers, or are you routinely doing data-heavy activities like video conferencing, file sharing, etc.?  

Location of use: Is Wi-Fi typically accessible, or does your business need reliable cellular coverage away from the office or in remote areas? 

Your best bet is to consider the various types of business cell phone plans to assess what suits your needs. But here are some ballpark guidelines:  

• A single user needing simple phone communication or who will have good access to Wi-Fi has low mobile data needs — a cheap phone plan with 5GB or less might work.  

• A single user working in the field away from Wi-Fi and doing data-heavy activities should consider 20GB-50GB or perhaps an unlimited data plan —  and keep hotspot data needs in mind as well.  

• A business needing more than one line can look into multiline plans — many consumer cell plans allow 10 or more lines on a single account, and some allow data pooling so light users balance out heavier ones. Or, investigate business-oriented plans that provide extra features like automated call-routing, team communications and more.  

How much data does a household need? 

A rough guideline is 20GB a month for a household of four light users, 40GB-90GB for four medium data users, and 120GB+ for four heavy users. However, family phone plans vary — some give each line the same amount of data, while others let you pool data among all the lines so that light users can offset heavier ones. Think about the data habits of each user you’re including and whether a pooled plan might let you pay for less data overall. The account owner can check past data usage of each line, or if you’re adding a kid or teen you can estimate their data usage based on activities.  

How much data do students need?  

A lot depends on the student’s access to Wi-Fi and the type of activities they’ll be doing. A student who’s almost always on Wi-Fi can get away with very little data, 5GB or even less per month. But more is probably safer — 20GB or more if the student does data-intensive activities like streaming entertainment, online games, lots of social scrolling and posting. Also consider the need for hotspot use. It may be cost-effective to seek out an unlimited data plan. 

How much data do teenagers or kids need? 

Kids getting their first phone likely need very little data. You could even consider a talk & text only plan with no data if the need is simply staying in communication. Otherwise, expect their data use to be a few GB if their phone use is typically at home on Wi-Fi or running simple apps away from home.  

With teenagers, data use typically runs higher as they spend more time away from home (and Wi-Fi) and do more data-intensive streaming, scrolling and posting, gaming, etc. A good rule would be 20GB a month or perhaps looking into an unlimited data plan. 

Tips on how to save data usage 

These tips can help you conserve your mobile data, so you don’t have to spend any more than you need to. 

Try these tips to use less data on your phone:  

1. Adjust phone and app settings  

If you're looking to stay within budget, without sacrificing time on your favorite apps, you can simply adjust a few settings to save mobile data. 

• Turn on your phone’s data-saving mode. It stops apps from refreshing automatically in the background, including sending and receiving data when you’re not using them. You can exempt some apps individually (that’s helpful for apps that send you notifications and alerts). On an Android, go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> toggle on Data Saver. On an iPhone, go to Settings -> Cellular -> Cellular Data Options -> Data Mode and toggle on Low Data Mode.     

•  Toggle on the data-saving option in the settings menu of commonly used apps.  

•  Turn off certain apps so they don't use your cellular data. Go into Settings to the list of per app usage and toggle off the apps you select.  

• Limit GPS to just when you’re using the app involved, if possible (such as while using a navigation app). On iPhone go to Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services and select “when using app.” On Android, go to Settings -> Location -> App Permissions. 

•  When streaming music or video, change the quality setting to low when using mobile data and turn it back on to high when you're back on Wi-Fi.  

•  Turn off the Wi-Fi assist function if your phone has it. This feature lets your phone automatically switch to using mobile data if your Wi-Fi connection is weak. Toggle off Wi-Fi Assist on iPhone in Settings under Cellular. On Androids, look in Settings for Wi-Fi Assist, Adaptive Connectivity or Switch to Mobile Data.   

2. Use Wi-Fi whenever you can and download content in advance 

Another efficient way to save data is to prioritize Wi-Fi for data-heavy apps. This would mean that you don't watch YouTube or scroll through Instagram or TikTok unless you're connected to Wi-Fi, either at home or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot. 

 You can also download content over Wi-Fi ahead of time and then watch/listen to the downloaded content while out rather than streaming it directly. 

 These tips also can help you avoid potentially costly data roaming, especially when traveling. 

Frequently asked questions about how much data you need

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