GB, short for gigabyte, is a unit used to measure digital information sent over a mobile network to your phone. Every time you stream music, watch videos, browse the web, or send pictures, you’re consuming data measured in gigabytes. For example, 1 GB equals about 1,000 MB (megabytes), enough for a few hours of video streaming or several days of light browsing.
HOW MUCH DATA DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED EACH MONTH?
By Boost Mobile
Published February 4, 2026
Knowing how much phone data you’ll need each month can help you select the best phone plan for your needs, reduce overage fees, and stay connected to the apps and people you love.
How much cellular data you need depends on things like Wi-Fi availability during your daily routine, using apps that require large amounts of data like FaceTime or streaming services, and your average daily phone use. If you’re wondering how much data you'll need, we compiled all the facts, tricks, and tips about not only knowing how much data you’ll need, but how to reduce the amount of data you’ll use every month.
What Is Phone Data Anyway?
Mobile data is the invisible connection that keeps your phone online when you’re away from Wi-Fi. It’s what lets you scroll social media, stream your favorite shows, share photos, or send messages on the go.
Behind the scenes, mobile data travels through a clever system of cell towers and networks. Your phone sends signals to the nearest tower, which then routes that data through a larger network to reach the website, app, or service you’re trying to use. Responses travel back the same way, letting you browse, watch, or chat seamlessly. It’s a technology that works so smoothly, you rarely notice it; yet, it powers almost everything you do on your phone outside Wi-Fi.
How Much Is a GB of Data?
Anytime you purchase a cell phone plan, you’ve likely seen high-speed data caps specified in the plan details, like 20, 30 or 40GB per month. However, it can be tough to determine just how far a single GB will actually get you when using different apps.
Knowing how much screentime a GB will cover on different apps will help you make an informed decision when deciding which phone plan is best for your needs. Here’s how long you’ll be able to use a few of your favorite apps before you burn through 1GB.
| Activity | 1 GB of Data |
|---|---|
| Netflix streaming | ~20 minutes |
| FaceTime calls | ~3.3–5.5 hours |
| Instagram Reels | ~1.5–3 hours |
Note: These times are approximate and will vary based on factors like your connection speeds and video quality settings.
How Much Mobile Data Does the Average Person Use?
Smartphone users are consuming more data than ever. According to a recent study by Ericsson, the global average mobile data usage is projected to reach 22GB per month by 2025. This will be almost four times higher than usage in 2018.
Video is the main driver of overall data use, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all mobile traffic, fueled by longer viewing times, more content, and higher-resolution formats. Other activities, like downloads, messaging, app use, and audio streaming, are growing steadily too, contributing to the overall data surge.
| Traffic Type | Avg Data per Month (2018) | Avg Data per Month (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Downloads | 0.6 GB | 1.2 GB |
| Messaging | 0.5 GB | 0.9 GB |
| App Usage | 1.0 GB | 2.1 GB |
| Audio Streaming | 0.1 GB | 0.4 GB |
| Video Streaming | 3.4 GB | 16.3 GB |
| Total | 5.6 GB | 21 GB |
Data from a recent study conducted by Ericsson
Tips to Save Mobile Data
One of the easiest ways to reduce mobile data usage is by taking control of how and when apps access the internet. Many apps, especially social media and video platforms, automatically stream videos when scrolling or update content even when your phone is locked.
Users can adjust settings to disable auto-play for videos, limit background data for non-essential apps, or set apps to update only when connected to Wi-Fi. These small adjustments can significantly cut down data consumption without changing how you use your phone daily.
Another effective approach is to make smart connection choices while browsing or streaming. For example, listening to music or watching videos at lower resolutions, when high definition isn’t necessary, can save large amounts of data over time. Downloading playlists, podcasts, or videos while on Wi-Fi for offline use also helps avoid constant mobile streaming.
Best Phone Settings to Save Data
If you’re trying to make your data plan last longer, a few simple tweaks in your phone’s settings can make a big difference. Many phones will automatically use data in the background, even when you’re not actively browsing or streaming. Adjusting these settings can help you stay in control of your data and avoid surprise overages.
Here are the top settings to change:
- Enable Data Saver Mode: Automatically limits background data use and pauses updates until you’re back on Wi-Fi
- Turn off background app refresh: Stop apps from constantly updating when you’re not using them
- Disable photo and video backups over cellular: Save media uploads for when you’re connected to Wi-Fi
- Turn off Wi-Fi Assist or Smart Network Switch: Prevents your phone from switching to mobile data when you have a weak Wi-Fi signal
- Restrict mobile data for specific apps: Review which apps consume the most data and toggle off access for the ones that don’t need it
These small changes can go a long way in keeping your data usage low without affecting how you use your phone on a daily basis.
How to Track Your Monthly Data Use
Keeping tabs on your monthly mobile data use helps you avoid running out of premium data and better understand which apps are draining your bandwidth. Whether you’re streaming, doomscrolling, or sharing, your phone gives you built-in tools to monitor your data use in real time.
Here’s how to track your current data use on iPhone, Android, and Pixel devices.
Track Data Usage on iPhone
You can easily track your mobile data usage from your iPhone’s settings. Open Settings and tap Cellular (or Mobile Data, depending on your region). Under Cellular Data, you’ll see your total data used for the current period.
Scroll down to view a breakdown by app, showing exactly which part of your daily screen time is consuming the most data.
Track Data Usage on Samsung
On most Samsung devices, open Settings, then tap Network & Internet followed by Internet. Select your carrier, then open Data usage. You’ll see your total data used, a visual chart of your activity, and details for each app. You can even set a custom date range or data limit to help you stay within your plan.
Pixel phones make it just as simple to track your current mobile data use. To check, go to Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs. At the top, you’ll see your total data use. Tap on ‘App Data Usage’ for a detailed breakdown of how much data each app has used during the current billing period. You can also adjust the date range using the dropdown arrow to monitor your usage over time.
Regularly checking your data usage can help you catch unexpected spikes and make smart adjustments, like turning on Data Saver mode or using Wi-Fi more often, to keep your monthly bill in check.
Which Phone Plan Is Best For Your Data Needs
Once you have a good idea of how much data you’ll need every month, picking your perfect plan is easy. You just pick one of our plans with the amount of premium data that best fits your daily screen time needs, device upgrade options and the add-ons or features you want.
To make it even better, all of our plans feature unlimited data at reduced speeds if you burn through your high-speed data allotment, meaning you never have to worry about losing your connection to the digital world.
Here are a few of our favorite plans, so you can decide which features and premium data amount is right for you.
Premium data: 30GB
This plan gives you a solid amount of premium high-speed data (more than the average person uses each month) perfect for everyday browsing, social media, and streaming music. This is the perfect plan for those who want to ensure they aren’t paying for more than they need. You’ll enjoy unlimited talk and text, all powered by Boost’s fast, nationwide 5G coverage.
Premium data: 50GB
If you use your phone for video streaming, online gaming, or as a hotspot, Unlimited Premium gives you a higher premium data limit for faster speeds when it matters most. You’ll get more time to video chat with friends, longer streaming sessions, and even more hotspot data, ideal for people who need to stay connected all day long.
Premium data: 30GB
Infinite Access for iPhone combines unlimited talk, text, and data paired with some amazing device deals on the latest iPhones. You’ll get 30GB of high-speed data, with unlimited data at reduced speeds once you run out. To make it even better, you’ll also be able to upgrade to the latest iPhone every 12 months! This is a perfect plan for anyone who wants plenty of mobile data and access to the cutting edge of technology from Apple.
FAQs
It depends on what you do online. With 10 GB, you could:
- Stream about 15 hours of video
- Listen to 150 hours of music
- Browse and use apps regularly for most of the month
If you stream video daily or use your phone as a hotspot, that 10 GB could go quickly. Casual users, however, may find it lasts all month. Luckily, with Boost Mobile you’ll get at least 30GB of data per month, even with our most affordable plan options.
High data use often comes from video streaming, social apps that autoplay clips, or background processes like app updates and cloud syncing.
You can reduce usage by turning on Data Saver mode, reduce video playback quality while streaming, and using Wi-Fi whenever possible. If your phone seems to be burning through more data than usual, these are all easy ways to make your data go further.
If you run low, you can usually add more data right from your carrier’s app or website. With Boost Mobile, you can purchase a data add-on for just $10 or switch to a higher-tier plan anytime. Once added, the extra data is available immediately — no waiting for your next billing cycle.
Mobile data uses a carrier’s network, the cell towers, servers, and infrastructure that keep you connected anywhere you go. Maintaining that network takes constant investment to deliver fast speeds, wide coverage, and reliable performance. Carriers charge for data to help cover those costs and to manage how much bandwidth is available for everyone using the network at once.
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