Mobile phone contracts often have a limit on how much you can download. In the real world, what can you actually do with 500MB or 1GB?
When using a smartphone, you’ll need to have a suitable tariff with a large enough data allowance.
Almost all of the functionality on a modern smartphone requires data to work. Data is consumed when browsing the internet, sending instant messages, reading e-mails, watching YouTube videos, updating Facebook and Twitter and calling friends over Skype. Every activity consumes data at a different rate.
In the UK, there’s a wide range of tariffs with varying download limits. Most contracts give you around 1GB of data per month but there’s a large variation depending on the network you choose. On lower-cost tariffs, you’ll often get 500MB per month. If you’re willing to pay more, you might get an allowance of up to 20GB per month. There’s also a network offering all-you-can-eat data.
In this article, we explain the real-world meaning of mobile download limits. We’ll ask what 500MB and 1GB of data actually correspond to in real life. We’ll also outline figures for average data consumption and we’ll explain how to measure your current data usage. Finally, we’ll provide a few tips on how to choose the right data allowance.
How much data is included on my mobile contract?
If you’re choosing a tariff for your smartphone, the chances are it’ll come with 1GB of data or more every month. For entry-level tariffs, you might have as little as 250MB or 500MB of data. This can be suitable for occasional and light users. On higher-end tariffs, you can get as much as 20GB of data every month. There’s also the option of all-you-can-eat data on Three (unlimited downloads).
The following table show typical data allowances offered by UK mobile networks:
Network
Typical Download Allowance
Other Tariffs
EE
4GB
4G tariffs: Between 500MB and 20GB
giffgaff
1GB
£7.50 Goodybag: 250MB
£10 Goodybag: 1GB
£12+ Goodybags: Unlimited
4G Goodybags: 500MB or 2GB
Gigabags: 500MB, 1GB or 3GB
O2
2GB
O2 Refresh: Between 500MB and 8GB
Tesco Mobile
500MB
Pay Monthly: Up to 8GB
Three
1GB
Pay Monthly: 2GB or Unlimited
Vodafone
1GB
3G Plans: Up to 4GB
4G Plans: Up to 13GB
As the amount of included data depends on your tariff, we strongly recommend verifying details with your network via the following links:
EE: Price Plans, Data Allowances & Network Speed
giffgaff: Goodybag Details
O2: Tariff Information & List of Data Plans
Tesco Mobile: Handset & Tariff Information
Three: Price Plan Features & Included Data Allowance
Vodafone: List of 3G/4G Price Plans & Inclusive Data Allowances
Relationship between KB, MB and GB
There are 1,000 kilobytes (KB) in 1 megabyte (MB) and 1,000 megabytes in 1 gigabyte (GB).
This means if you see a tariff advertising 500MB of data per month, you can only download half as much as you can on a 1GB per month tariff (500MB = 0.5GB).
You may occasional come across terms such as terabyte and mebibyte. These terms are rarely used within the mobile industry but Wikipedia has a good explanation in case you ever come across them.
What can I do with 500MB or 1GB of data?
It’s hard to give an exact figure. For instance, web pages differ substantially in size. Some websites are incredibly simple (mainly text with a few images) whilst others are much complex (with photos and videos embedded which increases data consumption). In order to produce the table below, we’ve taken a few averages. It should provide a rough guide on what you’re able to do with 500MB or 1GB.
500MB corresponds to…
1GB corresponds to…
Accessing Web Pages
900 pages
1,800 pages
Basic e-mail/instant message
150,000
350,000
Rich e-mail/IM (with attachments)
1,000
2,000
Downloading/streaming music
100 songs
200 songs
Downloading/streaming video
1 hour
2 hours
Skype voice call
15 hours
30 hours
Skype video call
2 hours
4 hours
Listening to online radio
8 hours
16 hours
Downloading/updating apps
40 apps
75 apps
Approximate figures for what you’re able to do with 500MB or 1GB of data. See the table below for a list of assumptions.
Please note that we’ve listed what 500MB and 1GB correspond to: this isn’t a shopping list of what you can download with a 500MB or 1GB allowance. In other words, viewing 900 web pages, watching 1 hour of video or downloading 40 apps would use up the entirety of a 500MB allowance (a 500MB allowance does not allow you to do all of them in the same month). Realistically, you’ll do a bit of everything so each activity would contribute towards your total data usage.
How much data does the average user require?
We would typically recommend choosing a tariff with at least 2GB of data per month. This is based upon statistics for average data consumption and also allows for some data usage increase over the next 24 months.
In July 2012, Three reported that the average customer used 1.1GB per month. More recently, the CEO of EE announced in a speech that average data consumption was 1.4GB per month (statistics from February 2014). Based on these figures, 2GB per month should be ample for most users. For heavy smartphone users, consider an even larger allowance: perhaps in the region of 4-5GB per month.
At present, we’d recommend EE for their wide range of generous data allowances. Compared to other networks, you’ll often get a lot more data for the same price (e.g. twice as much data for the same monthly price as offered on rival networks).
Samsung Galaxy S5 with 4GB Data
£37.99/month plus £59.99 upfront (Recommended Deal)
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
4GB of Data (Ideal for average & heavy users)
Double Speed 4G
Free return flight to Europe (until April 10th)
View Deal on EE →
Also available: Sony Xperia Z2 (£59.99 upfront) and HTC One M8 (£29.99 upfront).
Where can I get a smartphone and how much data would it come with?
All of the major networks offer tariffs which are suitable for use with a smartphone. You can either choose a tariff which comes with a smartphone or you can choose an airtime-only tariff (a SIM-only tariff).
Select a tariff for more information and to see which phones are available:
EE
(500MB – 20GB)
Pay Monthly
4G Extra
SIM Only
giffgaff
(250MB – Unlimited)
£10 and under Goodybags
£12+ Unlimited Goodybags
O2
(250MB – 8GB)
Pay Monthly
4G Plans
Simplicity
Pay As You Go
Free SIM
Three
(1GB – Unlimited)
Pay Monthly
Apple iPhone
Samsung Galaxy
SIM Only
Vodafone
(250MB – 13GB)
Pay Monthly
Red 4G Plans
SIM Only
Pay As You Go
Free SIM
Other Popular Networks: Talkmobile (100MB – 1GB), Tesco Mobile (100MB – 3GB), TPO (50MB – Unlimited)
How do different activities contribute to data consumption?
Almost all activities on a smartphone will consume data.
Almost all activities on a modern smartphone will consume data – the main exceptions being making a phone call and sending a text message.
Activities consuming data include: browsing the web, reading and sending e-mails, browsing Facebook and Twitter, sharing photos, updating your status, downloading applications, downloading music, listening to online radio and watching videos on YouTube. Instant messaging and voice over IP apps (Skype, WhatsApp, BBM, Facebook Messenger, etc) also consume data when in use.
Your phone will also consume data in the background when you’re not using it. For example, your e-mail application automatically checks for messages periodically throughout the day. Also, the weather widget on your home screen updates itself automatically by downloading the latest forecast from the internet. Your phone could also be downloading application updates automatically in the background. When choosing a data tariff, you should always allow extra for background data usage.
Table: Rates of Data Consumption
The following table gives a rough guide on how different activities contribute to data consumption:
[data-table]
Table showing how different activities contribute to data consumption. See the article footnotes for assumptions and calculations.
Data Calculator: Choose Your New Network
If you’re still in any doubt, choose the network you’re planning to join for an interactive data calculation tool:
EE Data Calculator →
O2 Data Calculator →
Three Data Calculator →
Vodafone Data Calculator →
How do I find out how much data I currently use?
Android handsets include a ‘Data Usage Monitor’.
There’s two ways to find out how much data you’re currently using: either ask your network or find out from your smartphone’s data usage monitor. In general, the most reliable figure will come from your mobile network. The easiest way to get hold of these stats is to log in to your mobile network’s website:
EE (My EE, includes Orange and T-Mobile customers)
O2 (My O2)
Three (My 3Account)
Vodafone (My Vodafone)
There may also be an app from your network: it’ll often show how much data you’ve used. Compared to the online version, the application can often be more convenient.
The second method of measuring data consumption is through your smartphone’s data usage monitor. It’s available on most Android handsets (including Samsung Galaxy, HTC One, Sony Xperia and LG handsets). Within the Settings app, choose the Data Usage option.
The data usage measured by your phone may differ slightly from your network operator’s measurement. Your charges will be based upon your network operator’s measurement. For this reason, we normally recommend consulting your network operator.
Note: If you’re buying a new phone, your current data consumption may not be a good indicator of how much data you’ll use in the future. Newer handsets often have more advanced functionality so you should expect data consumption to increase after the upgrade.
How can I reduce my data consumption?
If you’re running out of data, you can reduce your data consumption by following these tips:
Data transferred over wi-fi doesn’t count towards your mobile download limit.
Use Wi-Fi whenever you’re at home. Whenever you’re in range of a wi-fi internet connection, connecting to it will help to reduce your mobile data consumption. As your data will be routed over wi-fi, you’ll save precious mobile data for when you actually need it. You can often find free wi-fi internet at coffee shops and restaurants.
Avoid using bandwidth-intensive apps. If you’re not connected to a wi-fi network, refrain from streaming music and video from the internet. Applications such as Spotify, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, NetFlix and TVCatchup will very quickly exhaust your download allowance. You should also avoid tethering and using voice-over-IP or file sharing applications.
Disable automatic application updates. Application updates can use up a large proportion of your monthly download allowance. If you receive 10 application updates per month, this would use around 130MB. Within Google Play (Android), press the menu button followed by Settings. For the automatic update setting, either choose “Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only” or “Do not auto-update apps”.
Use bandwidth saving apps. Applications such as Onavo and Opera Mobile can reduce your data consumption. They do this by compressing data before it is transferred to you over the network.
Disable bandwidth-hungry apps. On Android, it’s possible to see how much data each app is consuming. To do this, navigate to Settings > Data Usage. Consider removing bandwidth-heavy apps. Alternatively, restrict their ability to use background data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does data transferred over wi-fi count towards the monthly download limit?
No: your mobile network operator will only count data transferred over the mobile network. When using wi-fi, data bypasses your mobile network entirely. As such, it won’t be counted towards your download limit. To better preserve your mobile download allowance, it’s always a good idea to use wi-fi at home. This will save some of your allowance to be used later when away from the home. Wi-fi can also give a more reliable experience for data-intensive apps (e.g. listening to online radio, making a Skype video call or watching TV online).
How much data is used by tethering or portable hotspot?
Tethering or “portable hotspot” refers to the process of sharing your phone’s mobile internet connection with other devices. It’s often used to connect devices such as a tablet or laptop.
When tethering, any data consumed on your tablet or laptop will also count towards your mobile download limit. The figures given in the table above should still be broadly accurate when using other devices (simply include all of the content accessed from a tethered device). As an extra point, please bear in mind that tablet and laptop users more often use data-intensive apps (you might be watching more videos on your laptop). Also, keep an eye out for automatic updates on your PC: they can quickly use up large amounts of data. Consider disabling automatic updates before tethering from your phone.
To monitor data consumption on a tethered PC, we recommend using the free tbbMeter app (Windows only). For Mac and Linux computers, you can use the free BitMeter OS.
Does listening to radio count towards my download allowance?
Yes, but only if the radio station was received over the internet. If you’re listening to radio through an app or through the browser, it’s likely to have been received over the internet. A 500MB allowance will allow you to listen to 8 hours of online radio.
To listen to radio without consuming data, it’s sometimes possible to tune in to a FM broadcast. As FM radio is received over public airwaves, listening in will not count towards your download allowance. Unfortunately, many new smartphones lack support for a FM radio tuner (neither the iPhone 5s or Galaxy S5 support FM radio).
Can I use my download allowance abroad?
In general, your download allowance can only be used within the UK. If you’re using a smartphone abroad, there may be extra charges for connecting to the internet. Data roaming charges will depend on the network and also the country you’re visiting. In some cases, you can expect to pay up to £10/MB. To reduce the costs of using data abroad, consider taking advantage of one of the following deals:
EE Euro Roaming Data Add-On – 100MB Of Data in Europe (£3/day)
Within Europe, EE customers can use up to 100MB of data for £3/day. It’s available to customers on Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go: simply register for a Euro Roaming Data Add-On.
O2 Travel – 15MB of Data in Europe (£1.99/day)
For an extra £1.99/day, O2 will offer 15MB of data throughout Europe. It’s available to both Pay Monthly and Pay & Go customers. Simply opt in for the O2 Travel offer.
Three Feel At Home – Use Your Data Allowance in USA, Italy & 9 Other Countries (Free)
With the Feel At Home offer, customers of Three can use their UK allowance in eleven other countries at no extra charge (one caveat: all-you-can-eat data plans are capped at 25GB/month). See the Three website or read our review of the Feel At Home offering.
Three Euro Internet Pass – Unlimited Data in Europe (£5/day)
Three customers can opt-in to the £5/day Euro Internet Pass. It gives you unlimited internet in most European countries.
Vodafone EuroTraveller – Use Your Data Allowance in Europe (£3/day)
For £3/day, Vodafone Pay Monthly customers can use their UK allowances when travelling in Europe. This includes the data allowance on your contract. See the Vodafone website for more information.
More Information
For more information, please select the network you’d like to join:
Select a tariff for more information and to see which phones are available:
EE
(500MB – 20GB)
Pay Monthly
4G Extra
SIM Only
giffgaff
(250MB – Unlimited)
£10 and under Goodybags
£12+ Unlimited Goodybags
O2
(250MB – 8GB)
Pay Monthly
4G Plans
Simplicity
Pay As You Go
Free SIM
Three
(1GB – Unlimited)
Pay Monthly
Apple iPhone
Samsung Galaxy
SIM Only
Vodafone
(250MB – 13GB)
Pay Monthly
Red 4G Plans
SIM Only
Pay As You Go
Free SIM
Other Popular Networks: Talkmobile (100MB – 1GB), Tesco Mobile (100MB – 3GB), TPO (50MB – Unlimited)
Assumptions Made. Web Browsing: The average mobile web page is 558KB (as of February 2014, rounded to 600KB in the table above). Apps: The average app is 13MB in size (based on a sample of the 20 most popular Android apps). Skype Voice Call: Our testing found a mobile voice call to consume 0.55MB/minute (70kbps). Skype Video Call: Our testing found a video call to use 4MB/minute (500kbps). Online Radio: Assumes a bitrate of 128kbps. Online Video: Data consumption is between 300MB and 700MB per hour (depends on the service and the quality of video). We’ve used an average of 500MB per hour.
Related posts:
Thoughts on mobile data: 500MB isn’t enough, download limits are too confusing
The Internet in 2012: Discussing download limits, download speeds and video on demand
250MB Mobile Internet: Enough data?
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