Smartphones are supposed to make our lives easier by constantly connecting to the Internet. But figuring out how much data they will consume per month is no simple task.
It’s easy to count the number of text messages or add up voice minutes. But how many megabytes does it take to download a photo? How about to stream 30 minutes of music, or watch a 10-minute YouTube video?
The major wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon offer calculators on their websites that give consumers a rough estimate of how much data you need, but their measurements run the gamut. According to Verizon’s calculator, streaming music eats about a megabyte a minute. Not so, according to AT&T’s tool: It estimates a tune uses up about half that amount.
Neither company is necessarily wrong because the technology involved complicates the calculus. Download and upload speeds depend on a number of variables: the speed of the network, the phone’s operating system and the wireless signal. An AT&T spokeswoman says company engineers base those estimates on “real-world testing” on the network.
It also depends on the source of the streaming music: Internet radio service Spotify’s “extreme quality” audio setting, for instance, chews up about 1 megabyte a minute, but merely “high quality” music uses half as much. Most phone users would be hard-pressed to hear the difference.
Sounds impossible, right? Don’t despair. We have some tips to help you gauge your data consumption:
Know Your Limits
Carriers would like you to pay as much as possible for data. Sprint and T-Mobile both advertise unlimited plans, while AT&T and Verizon push plans that let customers share gigabits of data across several lines.
Most of these plans offer more data than the typical subscriber needs. The average U.S. consumer used 733 MB of data a month in the first quarter, according to Nielsen. Millions of subscribers own basic feature phones that consume hardly any data, but even smartphones have a tough time consuming more than 1 GB a month without a voracious video app.
Generally, if you use your smartphone to browse the Web, download a few apps, send emails and use Facebook or Twitter, you’re unlikely to go over 1 GB. If you also use your phone to stream music and video each day and share lots of photos, you might need 2 GB or more. You shouldn’t need more than 4 GB–or unlimited–unless you frequently stream lengthy videos, broadcasts or movies.
Remember, though, that you can save almost all of the heaviest downloads for your WiFi connection at home. Your home Internet connection is the best place to install apps, upload photos and even save an online radio playlist for later listening without burning through your wireless company’s quota.
Verizon says more than 90% of its smartphone customers make do with less than 2 GB of data, which sells for $60 a month after paying $40 a month to connect your smartphone to the network. If a data-hogging video pushes a customer over the limit, Verizon’s overage fee costs $15 per gigabyte. Extra gadgets incur more connection charges, but they share the same data allowance, which can simplify the hassle of juggling multiple devices for families and small businesses.
Monitor Your Data
You’re never chained to a data plan even with a phone contract. So be sure to check your monthly bill to see how much data you use. If you have a 2 GB plan but don’t use more than 1 GB, see if you can downgrade. Likewise, if you’re paying costly overage fees you should upgrade or clamp down on what’s hogging your data.
Your carrier may send an alert when you approach a data limit, but that doesn’t help if you’re already a couple “Candy Crush” games short of overage land. Third-party apps such as Onavo Count, 3G Watchdog and My Data Manager let you manage your usage and schedule warnings.
Most apps also include an option that restricts downloads to times when you’re on a WiFi network, and both Android and Apple devices let you turn off your mobile data connection to avoid crossing the line. It’s vital to check this option whenever possible, especially when downloading hefty videos or syncing large batches of files.
Search for the Best Plans
If you’re not in a contract, or thinking about switching carriers, check for the best data plans. You can use our handy calculator to find the cheapest data plans from one of the four major U.S. carriers.
If you own a smartphone, AT&T and Verizon tend to be more expensive than Sprint and T-Mobile. That said, high-speed networks from AT&T and Verizon cover far more ground.
Here’s a sample of what the carriers offer:
- AT&T sells 300 MB, 3 GB and 5 GB packages for individual and family plans. But it also offers “mobile share” plans with up to 50 GB of data spread across up to 10 devices. There is no unlimited option.
- Sprint offers unlimited data for $30 a month or 1 GB for $20 a month per line. The cost of a line is $50 for one and less for more.
- T-Mobile offers 500MB of data free and either 2 GB for $10/month or unlimited for $20/month for each line. Like Sprint, the cost of a line starts at $50 and is cheaper for more.
- Verizon Wireless sells shared data packages ranging from 300 MB to 50 GB, but no unlimited.
Find a Family Plan
The equation is more complex if you have a big family with varying needs. The average teen aged 13 to 17 burned through 1.2 GB per month earlier this year, 65% more than the average person, according to Nielsen.
Younger users tend to spend more time with data-intensive activities such as playing games and watching video. Video is less predictable because apps tweak their settings based on connection quality. Sites like YouTube will pick higher resolutions when they find a fast 4G connection, which results in sharper images and much higher data usage. Verizon Wireless warns that high-definition video uses nearly six megabytes a minute on its 4G network, adding up to more than a gigabyte in less than three hours.
AT&T and Verizon both push shared data plans because they convince customers to tack on more wireless hotspots and tablet computers, which means more revenue for the carriers. Their plans make sense for users who need high-quality cellular connections for several devices–as long as they’re willing to swallow steep monthly charges to connect in the first place.
Unlimited data plans from Sprint and T-Mobile offer better values to individuals and families with a few devices who are less concerned about network speeds. Both offer fast speeds in some dense urban areas, yet their speedy 4G coverage lags far behind AT&T and Verizon in less-populous areas.
Use WiFi When Possible
The most important data limiter working in consumers’ favor is WiFi, a wildcard that can turn a mountainous phone bill into a molehill. It’s also a major reason data traffic growth is actually slowing in the U.S.–hence the push by some wireless companies to convince customers to add several devices to the same plan.
Phone companies often send mixed messages about WiFi’s benefits. A free connection robs them of profitable data growth, but it also helps relieve congestion in clogged areas. The world’s WiFi connections already handle about four times as much mobile traffic as cellular networks, according to Cisco Systems Inc. Without WiFi, companies would have a harder time meeting their customers’ needs.
“We actually want people to offload when they are in their homes,” Verizon Chief Financial Officer Francis Shammo said earlier this year. “But when they’re out in public areas, they want to stay on our network because it is authenticated. It is secure.”
A cell tower connection is in fact more secure than WiFi, especially in public areas where anyone can lurk. It also happens to be a surer bet for carriers eager to charge as much as possible for their customers’ Internet addiction.
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