Everyone uses data differently, but the arithmetic is simple: hours of each activity times its typical data use per hour. This guide gives typical figures, four worked examples and ways to stretch a small plan.
Typical data use per hour
These are approximate figures. Actual use depends on the app and its quality settings.
| Activity | Data per hour |
|---|---|
| Maps and navigation | about 5 to 10 MB |
| Web browsing | about 50 to 100 MB |
| Social media | about 100 to 700 MB |
| Music streaming | about 50 to 150 MB |
| Video calls | about 300 to 800 MB |
| Video streaming (HD) | about 1.5 to 3 GB |
A gigabyte (GB) is about 1,000 megabytes (MB); see GB and MB.
How to estimate your trip
- List what you do on a typical day and for how long: for example one hour of maps, one hour of browsing and one hour of social media.
- Multiply each by the data per hour above, and add them up for a low and a high figure.
- Multiply by the number of days.
- Add a margin of about a quarter, because plans and habits change on holiday.
Four worked examples
| Trip | A typical day | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend city break, 3 days, light use | 1 h maps, 0.5 h browsing, 1 h social media | about 1 to 2 GB |
| One-week holiday, moderate use | 1 h maps, 1 h browsing, 1.5 h social media, 1 h music, a short video call | about 3 to 8 GB |
| Two weeks working remotely | 2 h video calls, 4 h browsing and email, some maps | about 14 to 30 GB |
| One month, streaming in the evenings | 1.5 h HD video plus everyday use | about 90 to 150 GB, so an unlimited plan or accommodation Wi-Fi |
The totals come from the per-hour ranges above, so they are estimates, not promises. If your figure falls between two plan sizes, choose the larger one or a plan that can be topped up.
Which plan type fits your figure
- A fixed plan suits a total you can estimate.
- A daily plan suits steady use: the allowance renews every day, then speed drops.
- An unlimited plan suits heavy or unpredictable use; read its fair use policy.
Ways to use less data
- Download offline maps, playlists and shows on Wi-Fi before you go.
- Use Wi-Fi at your accommodation for large downloads and video.
- Set video streaming to standard quality.
- Turn off automatic app updates and cloud photo upload while abroad.
- Check your phone's mobile data usage screen during the trip, and reset it before you start so the figures are for this trip only.
When you know your figure, browse plans by destination: all destinations. See also How to choose a travel eSIM.