How much mobile data do I need when I travel?
Short answer. Measure what you use in a normal day at home (your phone's cellular data screen shows it), multiply by the trip length, then add video: Netflix uses up to 1 GB an hour in standard definition and 3 GB in HD; a 720p Zoom call uses about 1.2 Mbps each way, roughly 1 GB an hour.
How much do common apps use per hour?
| Activity | Per hour | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Low | 0.3 GB | Netflix |
| Netflix, Medium | 0.7 GB | Netflix |
| Netflix, Standard definition | up to 1 GB | Netflix |
| Netflix, HD | up to 3 GB | Netflix |
| Netflix, 4K | up to 7 GB | Netflix |
| Spotify, Normal (96 kbps) | about 43 MB | Spotify bitrate, our arithmetic |
| Spotify, Very high (320 kbps) | about 144 MB | Spotify bitrate, our arithmetic |
| Zoom 1:1 video, 720p (1.2 Mbps up and down) | about 1.08 GB | Zoom bandwidth, our arithmetic |
| Zoom audio only (60–80 kbps) | about 36 MB each way | Zoom bandwidth, our arithmetic |
Arithmetic: kbps × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8 = kilobytes per hour. 96 kbps × 3,600 ÷ 8 = 43,200 KB, about 43 MB.
What about maps, browsing and social apps?
These vary too much to quote one number, so measure yours. On iPhone, Settings > Cellular lists usage by app since the last reset; on Android, look under Settings > Network & internet (or Connections) > Data usage. Reset the counter, live a normal day, read it.
How should I turn that into a plan size?
- Daily home usage × days away.
- Add hours of video or calls you know you'll do, from the table.
- Pick the next plan size up. Topping up is usually dearer per GB than buying the right size: see any country page.
Or use the travel data calculator, which does the sums and shows the cheapest matching plan for your destination.
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