How much data do you need for a trip?
An estimate by what you do on your phone, per day and per week, and how to use less without missing anything.
Our estimate
These are the figures the site's search uses. In the search you tick what you will do on your phone, and the estimate is the sum: maps and messages always, plus everything you ticked. They are a cautious estimate, not a measurement: better to suggest a little too much than a plan that runs out. If you know your own usage, you can type a GB amount in the search instead of the estimate.
| What you do | Per day | Per week |
|---|---|---|
| Maps, messages and emailAlways counted, even with nothing ticked | 150MB | 1GB |
| Social media and browsingFacebook, Instagram, news sites, sending photos | +450MB | +3.1GB |
| Video callsAbout half an hour a day, on WhatsApp or FaceTime | +400MB | +2.7GB |
| Watching videos and seriesAbout an hour a day of YouTube, TikTok or Netflix | +700MB | +4.8GB |
| Hotspot for a laptop and other devicesSharing the connection with a laptop or another phone, for a working day | +2.5GB | +17.8GB |
How to use less data
Before you fly, download maps for offline use, and playlists or episodes to watch.
Turn off automatic photo backup and app updates over mobile data, and leave them for the hotel Wi-Fi.
Video uses the most. An hour of video calls or streaming can use more than a whole day of maps and messages.