How much mobile data do I need? [Guide]

Have you ever run out of data halfway through the month without knowing why? Or perhaps you always have unused data left over. If so, you have probably asked yourself: “How much mobile data do I need?”

The truth is that everyone has different needs, so there is no single answer to how many GB you need per month. However, we can help you identify your usage profile and find the type of plan that suits you best.

How much data do I need per month based on my usage?

To help you work out how much data you need, let’s begin with a summary of the main user profiles and their typical mobile data usage, together with the most suitable Lowi mobile plan for each one:

This table may already have helped you answer the question “How much data do I need per month?” It can also help you determine whether you could benefit from one of the main advantages of our plans: sharing data.

That’s right! The option to share data is available with all Lowi mobile plans. If you would like to learn more, you can find all the information you need at LOSdeLOWI.

Which apps use the most data?

If you are constantly using apps such as WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram, take note: these applications can use a considerable amount of mobile data, not to mention battery power—but that is another topic.

However, data usage depends on what you do within each social network. On WhatsApp, for example, you can send text messages, photos and videos, as well as make voice and video calls.

The following table summarises the approximate data usage of each type of application per hour:

As shown above, a video call uses an average of around 5MB per minute. This means one hour could consume around 300MB, although usage may rise to 900MB during a three-way call or larger group call.

These estimates are based on real-world usage data and technical measurements. You can calculate your own usage by opening your phone’s settings and checking the Data Usage section.

How much data do I need to watch Netflix or YouTube?

If you are wondering how much data you need to watch Netflix, the answer depends on the video quality, as each level has a direct impact on your data usage:

• Low quality or data-saving mode: approximately 0.3GB per hour. The image may look slightly pixelated, but it is useful if you have limited data.
• Standard definition (SD/480p): approximately 0.7GB per hour. This is the minimum acceptable quality for a mobile screen.
• High definition (HD/1080p): between 1.5GB and 3GB per hour. A two-hour film may use between 2GB and 5GB, depending on the image quality.
• Ultra High Definition (4K/UHD): a two-hour film in 4K can use as much as 14GB.

YouTube usage can vary even more because video quality depends on each creator:

• At 720p or basic HD: approximately 1.5GB per hour.
• At 1080p or Full HD: approximately 3GB per hour.
• At 4K and 60fps: YouTube can use as much as 23GB in one hour. Yes, you read that correctly.

If you regularly stream content while away from home, we recommend choosing a generous allowance. A plan with at least 100GB will give you peace of mind, allowing you to watch your favourite series without constantly checking your remaining data.

How much data do I need to work remotely from home?

If you work remotely from home, the first step is to work out how many Mbps you need at home. Once that is clear, we can focus on less common situations where you need to use your phone for remote working.

Many professionals now use their phone as a modem, a practice known as tethering or connection sharing, to work from anywhere or as a backup when their fibre connection fails.

So, how much data do you need for remote working? Data usage when using your phone as a modem can vary according to the activities you perform:

Remote-working task	Usage per hour	Impact over eight hours
Video calls, averaging two hours per day	800MB–1.2GB	2GB
Browsing and cloud tools such as Office 365, Notion and Google Drive	150MB	1.2GB
Email and messaging through Slack, WhatsApp and email	40MB	320MB
File transfers and synchronisation	Variable	500MB–1GB
Estimated daily total	—	4–4.5GB

For lighter activities such as sending and receiving emails, making occasional voice or video calls, accessing cloud-based work platforms and browsing the web for work, average usage can be estimated at around 100–200MB per hour.

If your work involves working remotely both at home and elsewhere, Lowi’s combined fibre and mobile plans could be ideal for you. Our cheapest fibre and mobile plan allows you to work inside or outside your home whenever you need to.

How much mobile data do I need if I use my phone at home?

This is a complicated question because the answer changes completely depending on whether you have fibre at home. Let’s look at the different scenarios:

Scenario A – Fibre and mobile bundle: if you have fibre-optic Internet at home, most of your data usage will go through WiFi. Streaming on your television, downloading files on your computer and updating your games console will not use your mobile data.

How much mobile data do you need in this case? An allowance of 20GB or 50GB should be more than enough, as a typical technology user consumes between 15GB and 25GB per month while away from home.

Scenario B – Mobile data as your main connection: this profile is becoming more common among people who live alone, students and highly mobile professionals. In this case, the smartphone is used as the main router to provide Internet access to a Smart TV, laptop and even a tablet.

How much data do you need in this scenario? The absolute minimum is 100GB, while 300GB or an unlimited plan is the only option likely to provide an experience comparable to fibre.

If you do not have fibre and depend entirely on your phone, we recommend going directly for Lowi’s 300GB plan. Do not risk choosing a smaller allowance. A portable WiFi (MiFi) router is another way to share that connection with all your devices.

Factors that use up your mobile data without you noticing

The amount of mobile data you need each month can vary depending on several factors. These are some of the main reasons why your data allowance may run out sooner than expected:

• Automatic video quality: watching videos in HD or 4K uses considerably more data than standard definition. The problem is that many apps, including YouTube and Netflix, automatically increase the resolution when they detect a fast 5G connection.
• Automatic downloads and updates: modern operating systems frequently release security updates of between 1GB and 2GB. If the option to allow updates over mobile data is enabled, a single update can use up a small allowance.
• Heavy use of social media and your favourite apps: frequency matters. If you use your smartphone throughout the day to browse the Internet, use apps, stream videos, listen to music and make video calls, you will probably need a larger monthly data allowance.
• Using your smartphone for work: if you use your smartphone for remote working, including sharing files, sending emails and making video calls, you will need a plan with plenty of data.

Frequently asked questions about how much mobile data you need