How Much Cell Phone Information Do I Need?

These days, nearly everything you practice on your telephone uses information. Sending a photograph of your cute true cat to your beat? Data. Navigating with Google Maps? Data. Watching endless TikTok videos? So much data. Information puts the smart in smartphone.

So yous know you demand data. Merely the question is, how much?

That really depends. The boilerplate North American used 11.i GB per month in 2020.1 Just many people use a lot more than than that. In this commodity, we'll assistance you figure out how much yous need and how you can become a practiced bargain on a data plan that meets your needs.

How much data practise I use?

Let's talk numbers. How much data exercise you actually use? If yous have an existing data plan and a smartphone, it'due south actually pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to figure out how much yous've been using. Here'south how.

How to check your data usage

If you lot're an iPhone user, just follow these simple steps to check your data usage:

  1. Get to Settings
  2. Click on Cellular
  3. Wait at Current Period to run across how much information you've used since you concluding reset your data statistics (this is not how much data you've used since your final bill)
  4. Look at the list of apps below to come across how much information each individual app has used in the flow

If you lot're an Android user you lot can bank check your information usage like this:

  1. Open up Settings
  2. Go to Network & internet
  3. Nether the Mobile tab you'll come across your full data utilize
  4. Click on Mobile information usage to run into more detailed information and graphs about your data usage

Checking your by information usage should help y'all determine how much you apply each month. But it's not an exact science, and we would recommend overestimating your usage because people are using more than data than always. And the tendency is just going upwards.

Fifty-fifty if you don't take an existing smartphone and data plan, you can estimate what your data usage might look like past adding upwards how much fourth dimension yous think y'all'll spend on the online activities.

How much data do different activities utilize?

Your verbal data usage will depend on how exactly you apply your apps. (If you're watching a video on Facebook it will use more data than simply scrolling.) Just this list tin requite you lot a general idea of how much information many mutual activities use per hr.

How much information practice everyday cell telephone activities use?*

Activity or app

Hourly information usage

Pokémon Go ~3 MB
Google Maps ~five MB
Spotify (normal quality) ~forty MB
PUBG Mobile ~40 MB
Safari (spider web browsing) ~60 MB
Podcasts ~sixty MB
Facebook ~eighty MB
Fortnite Mobile ~100 MB
Watching Youtube (standard definition) ~300 MB
Instagram ~720 MB
TikTok ~840 MB

You can imagine how quickly data usage can add up, especially when you lot consider that kids between the ages of iv and 15 are spending an boilerplate of 85 minutes a 24-hour interval on Youtube and fourscore minutes per twenty-four hours on TikTok!2 These are amongst the apps that use the most data.

Merely you may desire to get an unlimited data plan, even if yous're non a social media–addicted teenager. Even if you don't think you use a lot now, data usage in North America is expected to spike from an boilerplate of 11.one GB of information a month to 48 GB by 2026!1

What'southward the deviation between 4G LTE and 5G information?

You may take heard of the new mobile data technology chosen 5G. Nigh mobile networks are now incorporating 5G into their service, which will mean greatly increased data speeds for those with eligible devices.

Your overall data consumption shouldn't change with 5G, even if your data speeds are faster. Just many cell phone plans do have higher data caps on 5G information usage, which means you could do a lot more with a 5G connection for the same price.

Best data plans for different kinds of users

We spend all day researching and writing nearly jail cell phone plans. While it'southward upwardly to yous to make up one's mind what kind of program you need, we've put together a list of our favorite mobile plans.  Hither are our recommendations for unlike kinds of data users.

  • All-time plan for data hogs: If y'all just want the most loftier-speed data, menses, and then there'southward one plan that actually stands out. T-Mobile'due south Magenta MAX plan has no data cap, boasts the fastest data speeds in the industry, and connects you to a big 5G network. Just it volition cost you a pretty penny.
  • Best plan for entertainment: If y'all want data for gaming and streaming video, then Verizon'southward Play More than unlimited information programme is an awesome option because it offers unlimited data and HD streaming.
  • Best cheap unlimited data plan: If you don't heed having your information slowed down occasionally, then Visible Wireless's unlimited information plan is an incredible deal at just $40 a month (even cheaper if yous add together actress lines).
  • Best plan for four–15 GB of data: Mint Mobile is a smaller jail cell phone company (yep, it's the one endemic by Ryan Reynolds) that offers unbeatable deals on express-information plans.
  • Best low-data programme: If y'all only demand a few MB or GB of data for Google Maps and Pokémon Get, and then we recommend checking out these prepaid plans.
  • Best no-information plan: No data? How retro of you. We're impressed. And yes, there are even so enough of cheap talk and text plans just for you.

No matter if y'all choose to get with AT&T, Mint Mobile, Visible Wireless, Verizon, or T-Mobile, remember that you can save bookoo money by bundling in a family plan.

How to use your data more than efficiently

Have yous ever looked at your bank argument and noticed that at that place are all kinds of random little charges on there that are bleeding your account dry out? Yes, well there'due south probably something similar happening with your phone information.

Background refresh, GPS navigation, not using Wi-Fi when you tin—these are simply some of the activities that may exist using up your data without you even noticing information technology. Bank check out our article about how to reduce your information usage for some useful tips.

Recap: How much cell phone data do I need?

To epitomize: you lot need exactly 11.7 GB of data every month ...  just kidding! We don't know exactly how much data y'all need, but y'all can figure it out past checking your phone settings or by calculation up the data usage of common activities we listed in a higher place.

Honestly, given how many apps use data, virtually people volition desire an unlimited data plan. Only even these plans have soft data caps, and if yous go over that cap, your speeds volition be reduced. So exist sure to read the fine print and find a plan that gives you what you need.

If yous're relying on your Wi-Fi to reduce your data usage, you might want to consider our advice on How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?

Sources:

Easton Smith

Written by

Easton Smith

Easton has worked equally a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human being live. When he'south not sitting in front of a reckoner, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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