eSIM data usage calculator
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Find out how much mobile data you need for your trip, then compare plans that cover it. Tell us where you’re going, for how long and how you use your phone. You get an estimate for the whole trip with a likely range, two plan picks from the providers we track, and simple ways to use less.
How we calculate
The estimate adds up how much data each app uses in a typical day, then multiplies by the number of days in your trip. Three things shape it:
- Your traveler type. Each type switches on a set of apps at “a little” or “a lot”. You can change every app under “Fine-tune your apps”, and “What we assumed” shows the full list behind your number.
- Wi-Fi where you stay. Streaming, calls, scrolling and browsing can move to Wi-Fi, so we count half of them with Wi-Fi most nights and three quarters with Wi-Fi sometimes. Maps, ride apps, messaging and posting are never reduced, because you use them while you are out. Backups and updates mostly run on Wi-Fi when you have it.
- A range, not one number. The likely estimate sits in the middle of a range from 25% below to 25% above it, because real use changes from day to day.
How much data common apps use
| App or activity | Data used | “A little” per day | “A lot” per day | Moves to Wi-Fi? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps and navigation Google Maps, Waze | 10 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | No, used while out |
| Ride and delivery apps Uber, Bolt, Careem, inDrive | 15 MB an hour | 15 min | 1 hour | No, used while out |
| Translation Google Translate, camera mode | 30 MB an hour | 6 min | 30 min | No, used while out |
| Messaging WhatsApp, Messenger, voice notes | 20 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | No, used while out |
| Voice calls WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio | 40 MB an hour | 15 min | 1 hour | Yes |
| Video calls home WhatsApp, FaceTime | 400 MB an hour | 15 min | 1 hour | Yes |
| Instagram and Facebook Scrolling feeds and stories | 500 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | Yes |
| TikTok, Reels and Shorts Short videos | 700 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | Yes |
| Posting stories Photos and short clips | 5 MB each | 2 a day | 8 a day | No, used while out |
| Posting videos Reels and TikToks | 50 MB each | 0.3 a day | 2 a day | No, used while out |
| Web and booking apps Browsing, Booking, Airbnb | 60 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | Yes |
| Email Gmail, Outlook | 10 MB an hour | 15 min | 1 hour | Yes |
| AI assistants ChatGPT, Gemini | 30 MB an hour | 15 min | 1 hour | Yes |
| Video streaming YouTube, Netflix in standard quality | 700 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | Yes |
| Music and podcasts Spotify, Apple Music | 70 MB an hour | 30 min | 3 hours | No, used while out |
| Work video calls Zoom, Teams, Meet | 800 MB an hour | 30 min | 2 hours | Yes |
| Background and system Sync, notifications, small updates | 80 MB a day | Always | Always | No |
| Photo and video backup Only if it runs on mobile data | 300 MB a day | If on | If on | Yes, mostly |
| App updates Only if they run on mobile data | 150 MB a day | If on | If on | Yes, mostly |
| Laptop hotspot Light work / video meetings or uploads | 300 / 1000 MB an hour | You set the hours | You set the hours | Yes |
Video streaming uses Netflix’s figure for standard quality on the web (up to 0.7 GB an hour); Netflix’s mobile “Automatic” setting uses less, about 0.25 GB an hour. Music uses Spotify’s “High” quality, about 160 kbit/s. Work video calls sit between Zoom’s published 360p and 720p bandwidth for one-to-one calls. Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and map apps don’t publish official figures, so those rows are our estimates and your phone may use more or less. Sources: Netflix Help, Spotify Support, Zoom bandwidth guide. Checked 19 October 2026.
How we pick plans
- Save money is the cheapest plan that covers your likely estimate for the whole trip. It is the right pick if your estimate looks realistic and you can top up or buy more if you need it.
- Play it safe is the cheapest plan that covers the top of your range. Pick it if running out would be a real problem, for example if you rely on maps or need to stay reachable.
- Plans must last your trip. We only suggest plans valid for at least as many days as you travel. If no single plan lasts that long, we say so and suggest topping up.
- Unlimited plans are checked. If an unlimited plan slows down after a daily amount, we only suggest it when your daily estimate stays under that amount. We also show hotspot limits when you plan to share data with a laptop.
- Cheapest first, commission or not. Plans are sorted by price. We include country, regional and global plans that cover your destination. Prices come from each provider’s website with the date they were checked, and prices older than 90 days are hidden until they are checked again.
Ways to use less data abroad
- Download offline maps for the cities you’re visiting before you leave.
- Download shows, playlists and podcasts over Wi-Fi.
- Turn on data saver in Instagram and TikTok, which stops videos loading in high quality.
- Set photo backup and app updates to run on Wi-Fi only.
- Use voice calls instead of video calls when you don’t need the picture.
- If you share data with a laptop, pause cloud sync and system updates while it’s connected.
Frequently asked questions
How much data do I need for a week abroad?
With Wi-Fi where you stay, the calculator’s traveler types come out at about 2 GB for a light user (maps, chat and a little social media), 3.5 GB for someone who video calls home every day, 6 GB for a daily social media user and 9 GB for someone who streams video. Without Wi-Fi at night these numbers go up by roughly half or more. Use the calculator above to get a number for your own trip.
What uses the most data when travelling?
Video. Streaming shows, scrolling short-video apps like TikTok and Reels, and video calls use far more data than anything else on a phone. Sharing your data with a laptop through a hotspot is the other big one, because laptops load full websites and run their own updates and cloud sync.
How much data does a WhatsApp video call use?
WhatsApp does not publish an official figure. The calculator assumes about 400 MB for an hour of video calling and about 40 MB for an hour of voice calling. Switching to a voice call when you don’t need video is one of the easiest ways to save data.
Does hotel Wi-Fi make a big difference?
Yes. Streaming, video calls and long scrolling sessions often happen in the evening, so the calculator moves part of them to Wi-Fi when you say you’ll have it. Maps, ride apps, messaging and posting while you are out are never reduced, because you use them away from Wi-Fi.
Should I buy an unlimited plan instead?
Sometimes. Many unlimited travel plans slow down after a daily amount at full speed, often 3 GB or 5 GB a day in the plans we track, and some limit hotspot sharing to about 1 GB a day. The calculator checks those limits against your daily estimate and only suggests an unlimited plan when it fits how you use your phone.
What happens if I run out of data?
With most travel eSIMs your data simply stops until you add more. Some providers let you top up the same eSIM; with others you buy a new plan. The calculator tells you whether top-ups are listed for the plans it suggests.
Does an eSIM use more data than a physical SIM card?
No. An eSIM is just a digital SIM card. How much data you use depends on your apps and settings, not on the type of SIM.
Why does the calculator show a range instead of one number?
Real use changes from day to day, and apps use different amounts on different phones and networks. The likely number is our central estimate; the range runs from 25% below to 25% above it. “Save money” plans cover the likely number and “Play it safe” plans cover the top of the range.
Related tools and guides
- eSIM finder: compare every plan we track by data, days and price.
- eSIM destinations: the best plans for each country.
- eSIM comparisons: providers side by side.
- eSIM guides: how to install and set up your eSIM.