How much data do I need for my trip?
For a week of typical travel, about 3.8 GB. Maps and messaging use almost nothing; video is what eats data. Work out your own number below, and see the cheapest plan that covers it.
Data calculator
How do you use your phone?
Or set hours per day
You need about
3.8 GB
for 7 days, or about 560 MB a day
Typical range 1.6 GB to 4.7 GB. We plan on the middle, plus a 20% buffer.
5 GB for 30 days
$4.49
One allowance for the whole trip. Top up any time if you need more.
See Japan plansThe quick answer
Find your trip length and how you use your phone.
| You use your phone for | 3 days | 1 week | 2 weeks | 1 month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LightMaps and chat | 230 MB | 540 MB | 1.1 GB | 2.3 GB |
| TypicalMaps, chat, some browsing | 1.6 GB | 3.8 GB | 7.7 GB | 16 GB |
| HeavySocial, video, calls | 9.1 GB | 21 GB | 42 GB | 91 GB |
Estimates from the middle of typical usage ranges plus a 20% buffer. Your apps and settings change the real figure.
What actually uses your data
The gap between activities is huge. An hour of HD video can use more than a month of maps.
Data plan, daily plan, or unlimited?
The best plan depends on how steady your use is, not just the total.
A data plan
One allowance for the whole trip, like 5 GB for 30 days. Best when you know roughly what you use, and cheapest for light and typical users.
A daily plan
Fresh full-speed data every day, like 1 GB a day. Best for steady daily use on longer trips. After the day's allowance, you stay online at a slower speed.
Unlimited
Never think about data. Best for heavy streaming, video calls, or working from a hotspot.
The calculator above compares all three for your destination and picks the cheapest one that covers you.
7 ways to make your data last
- Download offline maps. Save the area in your maps app on Wi-Fi before you go. Navigation then uses almost no data.
- Pause photo backup. Set cloud photo backup to Wi-Fi only. Holiday photos are big.
- Stop app updates on mobile data. Turn off automatic updates over mobile data in your app store settings.
- Lower streaming quality. Use data-saver quality in video apps. Netflix's save-data setting gives about 6 hours per GB.
- Download music and shows on Wi-Fi. Downloads play with no data at all.
- Turn on Low Data Mode. iPhone: Low Data Mode on the eSIM line. Android: Data Saver. Background use drops right away.
- Keep an eye on usage. Your phone's mobile data screen shows how much the eSIM line has used.
What if I run out?
A data plan simply stops when its data is used up. You buy another plan for the same country and install it the same way, paid from your balance in seconds. Daily plans refill with fresh full-speed data every day.
Using your phone as a hotspot?
A laptop uses far more data than a phone, because of updates, cloud sync, and full websites. If you plan to work from a hotspot, add a few gigabytes a day, or pick an unlimited plan.
Keep reading
Sources
Plan prices in the calculator are live and match each country page.
Data questions, answered
How much data do I need for a week abroad?+
About 3.8 GB for typical use: maps, messaging, some browsing and music, and a short video call. Light users need around 540 MB, and heavy video users 21 GB or more.
How much data do I need for 2 weeks?+
About 7.7 GB for typical use. If you mostly use maps and messaging, 1.1 GB is plenty.
How much data do I need for a month?+
About 16 GB for typical use. For a month of heavy use, a daily or unlimited plan is usually better value.
How much data does Google Maps use?+
Very little. Navigation uses around 3 to 8 MB an hour. Download offline maps before you go and it uses almost nothing.
How much data does streaming video use?+
On phones, Netflix's default setting uses about 1 GB for every 4 hours. HD can use up to 3 GB an hour, so video is what burns through a plan.
How much data does music streaming use?+
About 40 to 150 MB an hour, depending on the quality setting. Download playlists on Wi-Fi to use none.
How much data does a video call use?+
Roughly 500 MB to 1.5 GB an hour, depending on quality. Audio-only calls use far less.
Is 1 GB a day enough?+
For most travellers, yes. Maps, messaging, browsing, and music fit easily. Streaming video every day is where 1 GB a day runs short.
What happens if I run out of data?+
The plan stops. Buy another plan for the same country and install it the same way. Daily plans refill with fresh full-speed data every day.
Does using my phone as a hotspot use more data?+
Yes. A laptop uses much more than a phone: updates, cloud sync, and full websites add up fast. Budget extra if you plan to work from a hotspot.
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