How to Save Mobile Data While Traveling?

GPS navigation, hotel bookings, instant translation... Smartphones have become essential tools when traveling abroad. And with them, mobile data! The problem is, heavy data usage can lead to significant costs, especially due to roaming fees. How much data do you actually need on vacation? How can you configure your phone to limit data usage? What are the best practices to save your gigabytes? UPeSIM experts answer all your questions to help you reduce your data consumption while abroad.

How Much Data Do I Need While Traveling?

Before thinking about how to save your data, you need to ask yourself how much data you need to use your smartphone during your trip. This will help you manage your usage better and choose solutions tailored to your habits.

How Much Data Do My Apps Use?

Using GPS, browsing the web, sending a WhatsApp message, checking emails, scrolling through Instagram or streaming YouTube videos – all these apps use different amounts of data! It's important to know how much each app consumes to estimate your total data needs. Here's an estimate of data consumption per hour for each activity:

● Using GPS: between 50 MB and 100 MB per hour.

● Browsing the web: between 50 MB and 100 MB per hour.

● Checking emails: between 50 MB and 100 MB per hour.

● Using social media (viewing, posting): between 100 and 200 MB per hour.

● Streaming music: around 50 MB per hour.

● Watching YouTube videos (720p): around 500 MB per hour.

● Streaming movies or series in HD: around 1 GB per hour.

● Instant messaging: around 50 MB per hour.

● Voice calls (Facetime, WhatsApp): around 100 MB per hour.

● Video calls (Facetime, WhatsApp): between 250 and 500 MB per hour.

What Uses the Most Mobile Data?

As you may have guessed, video streaming is the biggest data consumer. Luckily, there are several ways to reduce your usage without giving up your favorite series! Our advice: select the lowest video quality when using mobile data and download videos in advance to watch offline. Downloads consume the same data per hour but finish more quickly!

Note that these are general figures – if you want to know which of your apps uses the most data daily, you can check this in your smartphone’s mobile data settings.

How Much Data Do I Need Based on My Profile?

On average, a user consumes between 10 and 20 GB of data per month – often with Wi-Fi access at home or work!

While traveling, people usually use more data due to heavier GPS usage. Here's a breakdown depending on how you use your smartphone:

● Light usage: 250 to 500 MB per day. This includes web browsing, email, messaging, and moderate GPS use.

● Moderate usage: 500 MB to 1 GB per day. Adds social media, calls, and music streaming.

● Heavy usage: 1 to 5 GB per day. Adds video streaming, video calls, and tethering to a laptop or tablet.

How to Configure My Smartphone to Save Data?

No matter your habits or apps, you can reduce data consumption by adjusting a few settings. Plus, it helps save battery!

Limit Background Data

Many apps use data even when you’re not using them – that’s background data. While useful, you can limit this during travel to save data. Go to your iPhone’s general settings or the Connections menu on Android to adjust.

Disable Auto-Sync and Notifications

Your email and social apps constantly sync and send real-time notifications. Turn off push notifications for non-essential apps while traveling.

Turn Off Automatic App Updates

Apps update automatically when a new version is available in the App Store or Google Play. You can reduce data usage by disabling automatic updates in your app store settings.

Disable Wi-Fi Assist

Wi-Fi Assist switches to mobile data when Wi-Fi is weak. But Wi-Fi is supposed to save data! Turn off this feature to avoid wasting gigabytes.

Enable Data Saver Mode

You can reduce your smartphone’s overall data usage by enabling “Low Data Mode” on iOS or Data Saver on Android. This adjusts settings like background updates and syncing to reduce your total consumption.

Use Power Saving Mode

Your phone’s power saving mode combines data-saving settings with other battery-saving adjustments. It’s very useful when you’re out exploring all day!

What Tips Can Help Me Save Data While Traveling?

Besides changing settings, there are app-level tricks to optimize your data usage.

Download Your Videos and Music

Streaming apps let you download content for offline use. Download playlists and videos over Wi-Fi before your trip to enjoy them without using data!

Download Google Maps

Plan your trip by creating a custom Google Map for your destination with all your points of interest. You can then download it for offline navigation.

Save Web Pages in Your Browser

Need to check a webpage regularly? Add it to your browser’s reading list so you can access it even without an internet connection.

Download Offline Dictionaries

Did you know? You can download offline dictionaries in Google Translate. Just download your native language and the ones you need to translate to use the app without a connection.

How to Avoid Using Mobile Data from My Regular Plan?

If your mobile plan doesn’t include international data, here are ways to reduce your mobile internet usage to zero.

Enable Airplane Mode

The safest way to avoid all data usage during your trip is by turning on airplane mode: you’ll avoid roaming charges. If you followed our advice, your maps and dictionaries will be ready on your phone. But note: you won’t be reachable – not even by phone!

Disable Data Roaming

To remain reachable while avoiding mobile internet usage, simply turn off mobile data. Disabling data roaming has the same effect and automatically reconnects you to your regular network when you’re back home.

Use Wi-Fi Only

You can still use your apps and download content by using public Wi-Fi – at hotels, cafés, restaurants, etc. However, these Wi-Fi networks can be insecure or offer an unstable connection. Luckily, there’s a better alternative that won’t use your regular mobile data!

Buy an eSIM

Travel eSIMs provide dedicated mobile data plans with no overage or roaming charges when abroad. It’s simple: pick a destination and a plan, then install your eSIM on your phone via QR code. Most modern smartphones support eSIMs!

At UPeSIM, we offer international eSIMs usable in over 200 destinations with 1, 10, or 30-day plans tailored to your needs. If you're worried about running out of data during a short stay, go for a 30-day plan for peace of mind. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t save data, but it gives you more security!