How much mobile data do I need for a trip?
Maps and messaging use very little data. What adds up is video: streaming, video calls and uploading your own videos.
Rough use per activity
- Maps and navigation: about 6–12 MB an hour.
- Messaging and email: very little for text. Photos, videos, voice notes and attachments use more.
- Web browsing and social media: about 15–240 MB an hour. Feeds that play videos can use much more.
- Music streaming: about 30–150 MB an hour, depending on quality.
- Video calls: about 0.1–1.5 GB an hour for a one-to-one call, depending on quality. Group calls can use more.
- Video streaming: about 0.15–0.25 GB an hour at lower quality on a phone, and about 1–3 GB an hour in high quality.
- Uploading or backing up videos: one minute of video from an iPhone camera at its default setting is about 70–105 MB.
These are rough estimates based on figures from mobile carriers, phone makers and app makers. Real use varies by app and settings.
Rough total for one week
- About 1–3 GB: maps, messaging and an hour or two of browsing a day.
- About 3–5 GB: add an hour of social media and some photo sharing every day. Video feeds use more.
- More: each hour of video adds about 0.15–0.25 GB at lower quality, or 1–3 GB in high quality.
A laptop on your hotspot uses your eSIM's data too and may download large updates. On the laptop, set that Wi-Fi network as a metered connection (Windows) or turn on Low Data Mode for it (Mac).
Make your data last
- Before you go, download maps, music and shows on Wi-Fi where your apps allow it.
- In video and music apps, choose a data-saving quality for mobile data.
- Turn on Low Data Mode for the eSIM line (iPhone) or Data Saver (Android).
- Set photo backup and app updates to Wi-Fi only.
- In messaging apps, turn off automatic media downloads on mobile data and when roaming.
- Your phone's settings show how much data each app has used.
Running low? On plans that support it, you can add data to the same eSIM in My eSIMs.