Data usage calculator
Your travel day
Hours on mobile data, away from Wi-Fi
Trip length
Travel style
Activities
per day
Where your data goes
Share of your day, by activity
Sector area = data
How we count
Typical use per hour at default app settings. Your apps and video quality can make it lower or higher.
| Activity | Per hour | Per hour | 1 GB lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maps & navigationGoogle Maps, Apple Maps, Uber1 GB lasts ≈ 102 h | 10 MB | 102 h | |
| Messages & emailWhatsApp, iMessage, Gmail1 GB lasts ≈ 51 h | 20 MB | 51 h | |
| Voice calls over appsWhatsApp, FaceTime Audio1 GB lasts ≈ 26 h | 40 MB | 26 h | |
| Web browsingSearch, bookings, reviews1 GB lasts ≈ 17 h | 60 MB | 17 h | |
| Music & podcastsSpotify, Apple Music1 GB lasts ≈ 15 h | 70 MB | 15 h | |
| Social mediaInstagram, Facebook, X1 GB lasts ≈ 6 h 50 min | 150 MB | 6 h 50 min | |
| Short videosTikTok, Reels, Shorts1 GB lasts ≈ 1 h 40 min | 600 MB | 1 h 40 min | |
| Video callsFaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom1 GB lasts ≈ 1 h 40 min | 600 MB | 1 h 40 min | |
| Video streaming (HD)YouTube, Netflix1 GB lasts ≈ 40 min | 1.5 GB | 40 min |
Make your data last longer
Download maps offline
Save the city in Google Maps or Apple Maps before you go: navigation then uses almost no data.
Pause photo backup
iCloud and Google Photos can upload gigabytes in a day. Let them sync on hotel Wi-Fi.
Lower the video quality
480p uses about a third of HD. On a phone screen you'll barely notice.
Turn off autoplay
Instagram, Facebook and X play videos as you scroll. Switch on their data saver.
Questions
How much data do I need for a week abroad? +
Most travellers who use maps, messages, social media and some music use 3 to 7 GB a week. Streaming video or working remotely can take it past 10 GB.
How long does 1 GB last? +
About 100 hours of maps, 7 hours of social media, 1.5 hours of short videos or 40 minutes of HD video.
Does hotspot use more data? +
Hotspot data counts the same as on your phone, but laptops use more: cloud sync and system updates can run in the background.
What if I run out? +
You can buy another plan for the same destination in a minute and install it next to the first one.
Know your number?
Pick a plan for your destination.