Written by Robyn Hyde, Customer Director
10 Jan 2025 : Whether you're a light user who sticks to browsing the web or someone who streams and makes video calls on the daily, figuring out how much mobile data you need can feel like a guessing game — especially with the variety of plans and data options out there.
We'll explain what mobile data is and, most importantly, help you figure out the right data allowance for your needs. So, let's dive into the world of gigabytes and data usage and make sure you're never caught short again.
Mobile data is what keeps your phone connected to the internet when you're out and about and don't have access to Wi-Fi. It works via your mobile network, using nearby phone towers to send and receive data. This means you can continue scrolling through social media or streaming music — even in the remotest parts of the country.
You've probably heard of 4G and 5G, and your phone likely uses one of the two. These are the most common types of mobile data, as 3G was decommissioned in February 2024. A 4G connection is great for most everyday tasks like browsing and streaming, while 5G is the latest and fastest version — perfect for more intensive tasks like gaming or watching high-definition videos on the move.
Before choosing a new mobile data plan, it's helpful to know what terms like MB and GB actually mean. After all, they're the key to understanding how much data you're getting.
MB stands for megabyte, and GB stands for gigabyte.
To keep things simple, think of megabytes as the smaller unit and gigabytes as the bigger one. In fact, there are around 1,000 megabytes in a single gigabyte. Likewise, a megabyte is made up of 1,000 kilobytes — an even smaller unit of measurement that you won't really need to worry about when it comes to tracking your mobile data.
The more data-heavy your online activity (like streaming an entire film versus sending a single email), the more MB or GB you'll need to get through the month.
For more details about how data is measured, check out our guide to broadband speed.
How much mobile data you need will depend on what you use your phone for and how often you're without Wi-Fi. While some users can get away with buying the minimum amount of data, others might need to look at more extensive coverage to avoid being left short.
To help make things easier, here’s a breakdown of typical data users:
Type of data user | Data used for | Data usage per month |
Minimal use | Web browsing, messaging, etc. | <2GB |
Light use | Daily social media, occasional video streaming. | 2-5GB |
Regular use | Regular video streaming, downloading apps. | 5-10GB |
Heavy use | Daily video streaming in HD, file transfers. | >10GB |
Data sharing | Regular downloads and hotspot tethering. | Unlimited |
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Virtually every app you open uses mobile data to some extent, but some are much more data-hungry than others. If you regularly stream videos, listen to music, or make video calls, it's good to know how much data these typically consume. That way, you can choose a plan that covers your needs — so there's no need to top up before your allowance renews each month.
We've also broken down the average data used for everyday tasks:
Activity | Estimated data usage |
Web browsing | ~50MB per hour or 2.33MB per page. |
Listening to music on Spotify/Apple Music | ~115MB per hour, depending on audio quality. |
Streaming a show on Netflix | ~7GB per hour, depending on video quality. |
Watching videos on YouTube | ~9GB per hour, depending on video quality. |
A 60-minute video call | ~540MB-2.5GB, depending on number of people and call quality. |
Scrolling through social media | ~2.05-6MB per minute, depending on the number of images/videos. |
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Some apps use more data than you’d expect. For example, streaming on Netflix or YouTube can quickly add up if you're using high definition (720p+). Similarly, social media apps like Instagram or TikTok can easily chew through your data allowance when you're endlessly scrolling through videos and images. Even video calls can vary wildly — with group calls using much more data than one-on-one conversations, particularly if you use apps like Zoom or FaceTime.
If you're into gaming, be prepared for some serious data usage. While casual mobile games don't require much, streaming or playing online multiplayer games can consume up to 300MB per hour.
Even messaging apps differ in data consumption, with Apple's iMessage using more data than Android's default messaging app — so it's worth bearing in mind if you send lots of photos and videos.
So, now you know how much data your apps consume — but how can you check the data you have left? The great news is that keeping an eye on your mobile data is simple, and most smartphones have built-in tools to track your usage.
On an iPhone: Go to Settings, tap 'Mobile Data', and you'll see how much you’ve used. You can also check individual app data usage by scrolling down.
For Android: Open Settings, then tap 'Network & Internet' and 'Data Usage' to see your usage and a breakdown by app.
Alternatively, if you’re struggling to find your mobile data usage in your phone settings, most mobile networks have their own apps or online accounts where you can track your data usage in real time. If you’re a UW customer, you can check your remaining data allowance by logging into your online account and heading to the ‘Mobile’ section.
Mobile data usage across the UK has been steadily rising in recent years. According to data from Ofcom, the average amount of mobile data used per month increased by 24% in 2022 — reaching 8GB — up from 5.6GB the year before.
This increase is mostly down to activities like streaming high-definition videos, making video calls, and online gaming — which have become more data-intensive as 5G becomes more widely available. While lighter users might only need a few gigabytes each month, those who regularly stream or play games can easily use 10GB or more.
Accidentally going over your mobile data allowance is easy to do, but what happens next depends on your mobile plan.
For most users, your network provider will charge you for the extra data you use — which usually costs more than your usual plan. Some providers may completely cut off your mobile data connection until the next month rolls around or you purchase an additional data package.
If you regularly go over your data limit, it may be worth upgrading to a plan with a higher allowance or switching to an unlimited data plan to avoid any unexpected costs.
Discover our great-value Mobile deals, including our Essentials plan for everyday browsing or our unlimited data plan for endless surfing.
5G itself doesn't necessarily use more data, but because it's much faster than 4G, you're more likely to consume data without realising it. For example, streaming in higher resolutions is easier and quicker on 5G, so you might find yourself accidentally using more data because everything loads faster.
If you have a limited data plan, it's worth tracking your usage, especially when streaming videos or playing online games on 5G.
Yes, you can usually still use your mobile data abroad, but how much it costs and the amount of data available depends on where you're travelling and your mobile provider’s roaming policy.
If you're travelling within the EU, many mobile networks let you use your data as you would at home. Outside of the EU, it varies — with some networks charging extra, which can result in roaming costs adding up quickly. To be safe and avoid any unexpected costs, it’s best to double-check with your provider before you head on your travels.
For a detailed breakdown on roaming charges and how they work, check our comprehensive guide.
If you're regularly hitting your data limit, there are some easy ways to reduce your usage and stretch your allowance further.
Here are a few simple tips to help:
Turn off mobile data at home — Make sure you're only using mobile data when you really need it, like if you’re out and about without a secure Wi-Fi connection. If you’re at home and have access to broadband, using it instead of your mobile data can help you save on your usage.
Limit background data usage — Some apps continue using data even when you're not actively using them. Go to your phone's settings to restrict background data for apps that don't need it, like social media or email apps that can update when you're connected to Wi-Fi instead.
Download content in advance — If you know you'll be watching shows or listening to music on the go, download them over Wi-Fi beforehand. This way, you won't use data to stream while you're out and about.
Set data usage alerts — Most smartphones let you set a warning when you're approaching your data limit. This can help you stay on track and avoid going over your allowance without realising.
Use Wi-Fi for app updates and backups — Apps can automatically update or back up your data in the background, which can quickly use up your mobile data. Set your phone to only update apps and perform backups when connected to Wi-Fi.
This depends on how you use your phone. For lighter tasks like web browsing or social media, 5GB can go a long way. For example, an hour on Instagram uses around 100MB of data, meaning you could spend up to 50 hours browsing social media with a 5GB plan.
However, more data-intensive activities like video streaming will burn through 5GB fairly quickly. Watching an hour of Netflix in standard definition consumes about 1GB of data, while HD streaming jumps to 3GB — so, if you regularly stream a few shows or make regular video calls, 5GB might not last long.
25GB gives you plenty of wiggle room for most things you'd want to do on your phone. If you like to stream your favourite shows when out of the house, 25GB could get you about 8 hours of high-definition video a month, which could be boosted to somewhere around 35 hours if you stick to standard definition.
If you love scrolling through social media, you’ll be pleased to know you could browse Instagram or Facebook for up to 250 hours. Photo-heavy social media platforms like Instagram tend to use around 100MB per hour, so 25GB is more than enough to keep you connected.
And if you're a frequent music-listener, this amount of data would easily let you stream high-quality tracks on Spotify for over 160 hours.
100GB of data is pretty excessive for most people, and you'd certainly struggle to use the whole allowance before the end of the month.
With this plan, you can easily watch up to 100 hours of standard-definition Netflix or even get through 33 hours of HD streaming each month. If you're more into social media, 100GB is enough to scroll through Instagram for over 1,000 hours — so you'll be all set for the month with data left to spare by the end.
Music lovers will also be happy to know that 100GB will let you stream for over 2,300 hours at standard quality — meaning you could listen to your favourite tunes every hour, 24/7, and still have data to spare when the month ends.
250GB is a large amount of data that’s very unlikely to run out for most users — even heavy streamers.
To put things into perspective, 250GB of mobile data can easily stream about 85 hours of high-definition video each month or up to 1,500 hours if you opt for standard definition. If you're a big Spotify user, 250GB could also give you over 1,700 hours of streaming. Whether you're into gaming, video calling, or spending time on social media, 250GB is likely to cover all your needs with plenty of room to spare.
For the most part, unlimited data means you can use as much data as you need without worrying about hitting a strict limit.
However, some providers have 'fair usage' policies that could slow your speeds after a certain amount of data is used — especially if you're doing data-heavy activities like streaming in 4K or using your phone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
At UW, our unlimited data SIM allows you to use data freely while you're in the UK — so there's no need to stress about hitting any limits. However, we maintain a Fair Usage Policy of 14GB when roaming in Europe and 500GB when in the UK.
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