How much data do I need? Travel data calculator
Add what you plan to do each day. The calculator gives a range in GB for your whole trip and opens the eSIM plans that cover it.
What the calculator assumes
Each activity is a range per hour, from lower to higher quality settings. These are estimates: your apps and network decide the real amount.
| Activity | Data per hour | Why, and source |
|---|---|---|
| Maps, messages, email, browsing | 0.3 GB a day | RoamingScanner's own estimate, the same as the "Maps & chat" level in our comparison. |
| Short videos and social feeds | 300–500 MB | Counted like low-resolution video (360p to 480p). WhistleOut: YouTube data use per hour (360p 300 MB, 480p 500 MB) |
| Streaming video | 500–3,000 MB | 480p to 1080p quality. WhistleOut: YouTube data use per hour (480p 500 MB, 1080p 3 GB) |
| Video calls | 540–1,620 MB | 0.6 to 1.8 Mbps each way (sending and receiving), the bandwidth Zoom gives for one-to-one calls from high quality to 1080p. Zoom bandwidth requirements (as published by Columbia College Chicago) |
| Streaming music or podcasts | 43–144 MB | 96 to 320 kbps, Spotify's Normal to Very high quality. Android Authority: Spotify data use per quality setting |
1 GB = 1,000 MB. Total = trip days × (the daily base + hours of each activity × its data per hour).
Questions
How much data do I need for a week abroad?
With maps, messages and some social media, most travellers use about 0.8 GB a day, so about 5.6 GB for a week. Streaming video or long video calls can add 1 to 3 GB for every hour.
Why does the calculator show a range?
Data use depends on video quality, the app and the network. The low end assumes lower quality settings, the high end HD. Choose a plan near the high end if you do not want to run out.
How can I use less data?
Download maps, playlists and shows on Wi-Fi before you travel, set streaming apps to a lower quality and turn off automatic app and photo backups while you use mobile data.