How much mobile data do I need?

The short answer is that you should have as much data as you typically use in a month—no more, no less. However, it’s not always easy to know your requirements in advance. Use our quick data calculator below to estimate how many gigabytes (GB) you might need. You can also learn about the data consumption of different apps and discover tips on how to save on your monthly usage.

Calculate how much data you need

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Choose a plan based on your average usage

Whether you are looking for a bring your own phone plan (BYOP), a prepaid plan, or mobile internet plan, your choice should depend on what you do online and how often you do it.

To make an informed decision, take a moment to review your actual usage. You can check this directly in your phone’s settings, on your recent wireless bills, or by logging into your provider’s My Account portal. This simple bit of research can save you a significant amount of money on your monthly statement.

In Canada, data overage charges can be steep. If you buy more data than you need, you’re paying for “ghost” gigabytes. Conversely, if your plan’s limit is too low, you may find yourself paying high “top-up” fees or facing throttled speeds once you hit your cap.

Which type of user are you: Low, medium or heavy?

Low data user

  • You occasionally browse the web and check your emails.
  • You check social media (like Facebook or X) once or twice a day.
  • You rarely play online games or download music/podcasts over 5G/5G+.
  • You mainly use your phone for texting and calling, with the occasional video clip.
  • Verdict: A small 20 GB to 30 GB plan is likely more than plenty for you.

Medium data user

  • You sync your emails (like Gmail or Outlook) to your phone daily.
  • You spend a fair amount of time browsing and downloading a few new apps each month.
  • You watch YouTube or TikTok videos frequently and stream music during your commute.
  • Verdict: You should look for a plan in the 50 GB to 100 GB range.

Heavy data user

  • You send and receive large email attachments daily for work.
  • You stream high-definition video several times a week and frequently download games.
  • You are a regular user of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify.
  • You rely on your mobile data for work, video conferencing, and staying connected with family.
  • Verdict: You are a prime candidate for a high-capacity 5G+ plan with 150 GB+ or a ‘Total Unlimited’ tier.

When should you choose “unlimited” data?

Unlimited data plans are a cost-effective option for Canadians who want “bill certainty.” With these plans, you never have to worry about a surprise charge if you go over your limit.

A plan with unlimited data is also a smart solution if you don’t have fixed home internet and use your phone as a personal hotspot or use a mobile broadband device as your primary connection.

A note on unlimited plans in Canada

Most Canadian carriers offer “unlimited” plans that provide a bucket of max-speed data (often on 5G or 5G+ networks). If you exceed that amount, your speeds will be throttled (slowed down to roughly 512 Kbps or 1 Mbps). 

While you won’t see overage charges, these throttled speeds are usually too slow for HD video streaming but fine for emails and basic navigation.

What does 1 GB of data actually get you?

Data is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), but it can still be tricky to know how far 1 GB will take you. In the table below, you can see approximately what 1 GB of data equates to in actual internet activities.

ActivityData usage per hour1 GB has been used after
Play online games200 MB5 hours
Using social media200 MB (has increased due to auto-play video)5 hours
Stream music150 MB (High Quality/Lossless)6–7 hours
Receive/send emails40 MB per 100 emails2,500 emails

How much data does web browsing use?

When it comes to web browsing, there are two rules of thumb: it’s estimated to be about 1 MB per page or 2 MB per minute, which means approximately 120 MB in an hour. Therefore, 1 GB should be enough for over 8 hours of active browsing.

How much data popular apps and services use

Facebook 

Facebook consumes approximately 80 MB per hour, but usage increases significantly if you regularly watch video clips. If you want to avoid your data usage skyrocketing, curtailing the number of videos you watch in your feed is a good idea.

Instagram 

While Instagram hasn’t officially announced consumption rates, independent measurements show it can use up to 400 MB in an hour. This means your usage could amount to approximately 12 GB per month if you use the app for just one hour a day.

TikTok 

As expected, TikTok is a data-heavy app. However, it features a “Data Saver” option that can more than halve consumption. In Data Saver mode, consumption is about 360 MB per hour, compared to approximately 840 MB in normal mode.

Snapchat 

Without video and filters, a single snap uses about 1 MB. Adding video and filters increases this significantly. Like TikTok, Snapchat offers a “Data Saver” setting that prevents snaps and stories from downloading automatically over mobile data.

Adjust Data Saver on iOS

  1. Tap the gear icon in your Snapchat profile.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Select Manage under Additional Services.
  4. Toggle Data Saver on or off.

Adjust Data Saver on Android

  1. Tap the gear icon in your Snapchat profile.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Scroll down and select Data Saver.
  4. Tap to turn Data Saver on or off.

Spotify 

Streaming music on Spotify uses approximately 100 MB per hour, meaning you can listen for up to 10 hours with 1 GB. The exact amount can vary slightly depending on your chosen sound quality settings.

YouTube 

Watching YouTube in standard quality (480p) uses about 500 MB per hour, so 1 GB lasts about two hours. If you watch for an hour a day, you’ll use about 15 GB per month. 

Consumption varies wildly based on video quality:

  • 240p: 200 MB/hour
  • 360p: 300 MB/hour
  • 480p: 500 MB/hour
  • 720p (HD): 1.5 GB/hour

Netflix 

Streaming movies and series is data-intensive. On Netflix, you can expect to use approximately 300 MB per hour at the lowest quality, while streaming in UHD (Ultra High Definition) uses about 7 GB per hour.

Google Maps 

On average, Google Maps uses about 5 MB per hour during active use. To keep usage low, use satellite view only when necessary and download maps for offline use while connected to Wi-Fi. You can also reduce map quality and disable automatic updates in the app settings.

Skype and FaceTime 

Voice calls use approximately 40 MB per hour, while video calls can jump up to 270 MB per hour depending on the connection quality.

How much data does a movie consume?

Regardless of the service, a movie in the lowest quality consumes about 300 MB/hour, and medium quality about 700 MB/hour. Choosing HD or UHD resolution will consume approximately 3 GB and 7 GB per hour, respectively.

How to save on data

  • Choose a plan with data rollover: Look for plans that let you save unused data for the following month.
  • Get to know your apps: Check your settings to see which apps consume the most data.
  • Adjust quality settings: Lower the audio and video quality in your apps, and modify the settings to disable automatic video playback.
  • Close apps and websites: Make sure to close tabs and apps when you’re not using them.
  • Check for 5G video optimization: Some Canadian providers have settings in their apps that cap video at 480p or 720p to save your data. Make sure this is toggled on if you want to stretch your gigabytes.
  • Connect to Wi-Fi: Whenever possible, use Wi-Fi for free data (however, be cautious with public networks and only connect if you know they are secure).