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Data is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a mobile plan. Get too little, and you risk running out halfway through the month; but get too much, and you may pay for data you never use. Understanding your habits can help you answer the common question: how many GB of data do I need?
This guide will explain how much a GB of data is, how different activities affect your usage and how to choose the right plan for your needs.
Understanding mobile data
Mobile data allows you to connect to the internet on your phone or tablet when Wi-Fi is not available. It is measured in units called megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), with one gigabyte equal to 1,000 megabytes. Understanding these units makes it easier to compare plans and choose the right option for your usage.
How much data do common activities use?
Understanding how much data your favourite activities consume will help you decide how many GB is the right amount for you.
Social media
- Light use (scrolling and uploading a few photos a day): around 1–3GB per month
- Heavy use (daily video uploads, frequent stories, lots of scrolling): 5–10GB or more
Streaming music
- Casual listener (30 minutes a day): 1–3GB per month
- Regular listener (2–3 hours a day): 6–10GB per month
- Higher quality streaming, like Apple Music lossless, can use even more
If you often listen to music on the go, you might wonder how much 60 GB of data is in practical terms. For many people, that amount would be more than enough for regular music streaming throughout the month.
Watching video (YouTube, Netflix, etc.)
- Standard definition (SD): 1GB per hour
- High definition (HD): 3GB per hour
- 4K Ultra HD: up to 7GB per hour
A viewer watching an hour of HD video each day would need roughly 90GB per month, which helps answer the question, “Is 100GB of data enough for a month?” For most moderate video users, 100GB will be plenty.
Messaging and browsing
- Text-only messaging: very minimal, less than 500MB per month
- Browsing and email: 1–3GB per month, depending on frequency
- Image-heavy messaging apps may push usage higher
Online gaming and updates
- Playing online: 40–150MB per hour
- Large game or app updates: several GB each
If you are a gamer who downloads updates regularly, you may find yourself asking, “How much is 150GB of data?” and for you, it could be just right.
Factors that affect your data usage
Wi-Fi vs mobile data
Most people connect to Wi-Fi at home, work or school. If you use Wi-Fi often, your mobile data needs will be much lower than someone who relies solely on data connections.
Background apps
Apps can use data in the background even when you are not actively using them. Social media, email sync and cloud backups are common culprits. Switching off background refresh can reduce data drain.
Device and settings
Screen resolution and app settings can impact usage. For example, setting YouTube to default to HD instead of SD will double or triple your data use.
Travel and hotspotting
If you travel frequently or use your phone as a hotspot for your laptop, your usage will be higher. Hotspotting, especially for streaming or downloads, can eat through data quickly.
Tips to manage your data
Here are a few simple habits that can help you stretch your allowance further and avoid extra costs.
Start by keeping an eye on your usage. Ask yourself, “How many GB of data do I use?” Most phones have built-in tools that track mobile data, and you can also check your account online to see how much you have used.
Connecting to Wi-Fi at home, at work or in public spaces will also reduce the amount of mobile data you need.
It is also worth checking which apps are running in the background. Social media, email sync and cloud services can consume data even when you are not actively using them. Adjusting your settings so updates only happen on Wi-Fi can help reduce this drain.
Another useful strategy is to download content when you are on Wi-Fi. Music, podcasts, maps and even videos can be saved offline, so you do not need to stream them later using your mobile allowance.
By combining these tips, you can make sure your data lasts longer, whether you are on a smaller plan or exploring options like 60GB, 100GB or even 150GB each month.
Choose the right data plan with Telsim
Ready to take control of your mobile data? The best way to know how many GB of data you need is to track your usage and choose a plan that gives you the freedom to stream, browse and connect without limits.
With Telsim, you can pick from our list of prepaid SIMS, including monthly SIMs, 5G SIMs and eSIMs with flexible allowances, and no lock-in contracts. Find the plan that fits your lifestyle and stay connected with Telsim.