How Many GB Do I Need for a Trip?

Are you planning a trip abroad and hesitating between different eSIM plans to stay connected to the internet during your stay? While the duration of your trip is a first indicator to choose the most suitable plan, you also need to consider your data needs. Although it's possible to estimate the data usage of major apps, you’ll need to compare those numbers with your internet habits, the nature of your trip, and your planned activities. Don’t worry — we’ll explain how to properly estimate the number of gigabytes you’ll need for your journey.

What Uses the Most Data on a Smartphone?

To determine how many gigabytes you’ll need for your vacation or business trip, you should understand the average data consumption of your key apps. Some apps use significantly more data than others per hour! Here are some benchmarks to help you choose the best travel eSIM:

How Much Data Does GPS Use?

Using GPS apps like Apple Maps, Waze, or Google Maps consumes between 50 MB and 100 MB per hour. That’s relatively moderate, but it can quickly add up while traveling. When exploring an unfamiliar city or driving in a foreign country, we tend to rely heavily on GPS!

How Much Data Does a Web Search Use?

Looking to book tickets for a show, reserve a table at a restaurant, or learn more about a tourist site? Keep in mind that such activity consumes between 50 and 100 MB per hour! Even though these searches take less time than GPS use, they can still contribute noticeably to your daily data usage.

How Much Data Is Used for Emails or Texts?

Checking or sending emails and text messages uses very little data: again, around 50 to 100 MB per hour. While it's difficult to measure this in terms of hours, if you spend, say, an hour each evening writing to friends and family to share your day, this can help estimate your needs.

How Much Data Does Streaming Music Use?

If you enjoy listening to music while traveling, expect to use about 50 MB per hour with streaming apps like Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music.

How Much Data Do Social Media Apps Use?

Regularly using social media significantly impacts your data consumption during a trip, with average usage ranging from 100 to 200 MB per hour. It's tricky to give an exact figure because it depends on the platforms you use and how often you post. Video-centric apps like TikTok consume more data than Instagram or Facebook. Also, posting photos or videos uses more data than simply browsing.

How Much Data Do Voice or Video Calls Use?

You can make calls with your eSIM via various messaging apps (FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc.) to avoid roaming charges. You should expect about 100 MB per hour for voice calls. If you're making video calls, be especially mindful of data use: video calling can consume between 250 and 500 MB per hour!

How Much Data Does Streaming Movies or TV Series Use?

Streaming a movie or series while traveling can quickly use up your data allowance. Watching content in standard definition (SD) generally uses about 700 MB to 1 GB per hour, while high-definition (HD) streaming can use up to 3 GB per hour. If you plan to watch Netflix, YouTube, or Disney+ during your trip, consider downloading your content in advance via Wi-Fi to avoid excessive mobile data use.