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Mobile Phones · Free Tool

Mobile Data Calculator

Pick a mobile plan with the right amount of data and you stop overpaying or running out. Move the sliders to match a normal week, and this tool estimates the data you use per month and which size of plan fits.

Video calls

WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype

2 hours
per week

Watching video or TV

YouTube, Netflix (HD uses more)

2 hours
per week

Web browsing and email

Reading news, checking mail

5 hours
per week

Social media

Facebook, Instagram

3 hours
per week

Music streaming

Spotify, radio apps

3 hours
per week

Navigation and maps

Google Maps directions

1 hours
per week

Time spent away from home Wi-Fi

Data only counts when you are not on Wi-Fi. At home and on Wi-Fi, all of this is free. Roughly how much of the above happens when you are out and about?

Your estimate

6.7 GB

of mobile data per month

Which plan fits

A large plan

Between 6 and 15 GB a month. Pick a plan around 10 to 15 GB, especially if some months are busier.

Where your data goes

  • Video calls1.6 GB
  • Watching video or TV3.0 GB
  • Web browsing and email0.6 GB
  • Social media1.0 GB
  • Music streaming0.5 GB
  • Navigation and maps0.0 GB

Figures are rounded estimates based on typical use. Video and TV use the most, navigation the least.

One easy way to save

Do video calls and watch videos on Wi-Fi whenever you can, at home or in a cafe with free Wi-Fi. Those two activities use the most data by far, so moving them onto Wi-Fi keeps your mobile plan small and cheap.

Common questions

Does using Wi-Fi use up my mobile data?
No. When your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, at home, at a friend's house or in a cafe, it uses that internet instead of your mobile data. Your monthly mobile allowance is only touched when you are away from Wi-Fi. That is why doing video calls and watching videos on Wi-Fi keeps your usage low.
How much data does a video call use?
A video call on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype uses roughly 360 MB per hour, so about 6 MB a minute. A one-hour chat with the grandchildren is around a third of a gigabyte. Voice-only calls use far less. If you do long video calls often, try to be on Wi-Fi for them.
What uses the most data on my phone?
Watching video and TV is by far the biggest, around 700 MB per hour and more in high definition. Video calls are next. Browsing, email, music and maps use very little in comparison. Navigation in particular is tiny, only a few MB per hour, so using maps in the car is nothing to worry about.
Do I really need an unlimited plan?
Most people do not. Unlimited plans make sense if you regularly stream video or make long video calls while away from Wi-Fi, or if you use your phone as your only internet at home. If your estimate here is under about 15 GB, a normal plan is cheaper and works fine.
How do I check how much data I am actually using?
On an iPhone, open Settings, then Mobile Data, and scroll down to see the total. On Android, open Settings, then Network and internet, then Mobile network and Data usage. Your provider's own app also shows it. Check after a typical month to see how close this estimate was.

📚 Related guides

🛒 Helpful for mobile data

A few things that help if you use a lot of data or want to avoid it.

Portable WiFi hotspotShare one data plan across phone and tablet on the go.View on Amazon →Prepaid data SIMA simple top-up SIM so you only pay for what you use.View on Amazon →WiFi range extenderStronger home WiFi means less mobile data spent.View on Amazon →

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