How Much Mobile Data Do I Need?

Want to get more out of your mobile plan?

Unless you use your cellphone exclusively to text and make calls, chances are you use a whole lot of mobile data. Cellular data is used for everything from browsing social media to checking your emails to streaming music.

If you're on a mobile plan with a data limit, you can incur a hefty charge for going over your monthly data usage limit. Additionally, cellular data usage when traveling often results in data roaming fees, which, too, can be costly. As such, knowing your average mobile data usage per month-and being able to identify which apps take up the most data-can help you lower your phone bill.

Here, you'll learn what mobile data is and what tasks use it. We'll also help you determine how much data you should choose when picking your phone plan. Find it all, plus details on Optimum Mobile’s unlimited data plans, below.

What is Cellular Data?

Put simply, cellular data is how your phone accesses the Internet (or Internet-connected apps) when you’re not connected to WiFi. For example, if you’re jogging around the neighborhood and listening to music on Spotify, you’re actively using data.

Checking emails, using social media, shopping online, gaming, and even checking the weather also use data. Keep in mind that you may be using data without realizing it, too. If your apps are set to update automatically or send push notifications, those apps may be using data-even when you aren't on your phone.

Different apps use different amounts of data. As a general rule, the more intensive the task, the more data is required to complete it. So, things like scrolling through Instagram or streaming shows on your phone use a ton of data because they require a constant connection to the Internet. In contrast, apps like your phone's built-in calculator and calendar typically use much smaller amounts of data.

How to check your mobile data usage?

Checking your mobile data usage can help you determine whether you need a higher or lower data plan. How exactly you do that depends on the type of cell phone you have.

For iPhone Users:

• Open Settings and tap Cellular.
• Scroll to Cellular Data to see total usage.
• View data used by each app in descending order.
• Scroll to the bottom to find Reset Statistics and track new usage.

As you continue to scroll, you'll see a list of every app installed on your phone and a number indicating how much data that app used since the last refresh. It's organized in order of most data to least, so it's easy to see where the majority of your data is going.

And if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page, you'll see a button labeled "Reset Statistics," with the date of your last reset written beneath it. So, if your data was last reset a year ago and the "current data" indicates you've used 200GB of data in that time, it breaks down to approximately 16.6GB used per month.

For Android Users on phones such as Samsungs and Motorolas:

• Open Settings, then tap Network & Internet > Internet.
• Tap the Settings icon next to your carrier.
• Select App Data Usage to see usage over different periods.

If this doesn’t work, update to the latest Android version.

Now that you’ve checked your data consumption, let’s look at ways to reduce usage.

How to reduce your mobile data usage?

If you find yourself feeling a bit alarmed when viewing your data usage and want to cut back, there are a few things that you can try:

• Use WiFi whenever possible: You only use cellular data when you’re not connected to WiFi. You can reduce your data usage by logging in to WiFi whenever you can. Just remember to consider security when using a public WiFi network or hotspot.
• Disable push notifications: Many apps automatically send out push notifications. Consider disabling push notifications in non-essential apps to help cut down on your data usage.
• Turn off background refresh: Similar to push notifications, background refresh often happens automatically, forcing you to use up data without even realizing it. Toggling this off can help preserve precious data.
• Opt for lower-quality video settings: Video and music quality can have a significant impact on how much data an app uses. Watching YouTube videos in 4K, for example, consumes approximately 1GB of data in just six minutes. Reducing your video settings to HD (720p) decreases data usage significantly, giving you about 50 minutes of watch time for 1GB. The same goes for Spotify and Netflix, too: If you can opt for lower-quality settings, it may be worth considering.
• Set a limit on scrolling: If you don't have access to WiFi and you have to use data, consider setting a limit on your screen time. This will help cut down on data usage and give you the opportunity to disconnect for a bit.

After taking a look at your mobile data usage, you should have a clearer understanding of how much data you use in an average month. If your usage is typically pretty low, you may consider looking for a phone plan with a data allowance slightly higher than your current average (to help ensure you're not hit with any overage fees in case you do end up using more data).

Optimum Mobile’s Unlimited and Unlimited Max plans both offer unlimited data, talk, and text, 5G access, and multi-line savings-meaning that the more people you add to your plan, the greater your savings will be. Plus, we offer nationwide coverage on America's largest and fastest 5G network, so you won't have to worry about data roaming unless you leave the country. Unlimited plans may be the best value for your buck-and the easiest way to ensure you can scroll in peace without worrying about what your bill will look like when the month's up.

Have a question about Optimum Mobile service? Explore our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us for answers.