How Much Mobile Data Do You Need? A Plain Guide
Every mobile plan asks you to pick an amount of data, and the numbers rarely mean much on their own. Is 2GB a lot? Is 50GB overkill? Most people end up guessing, and a fair few pay every month for far more than they’ll ever use.
The good news is that once you know what actually uses data, the right amount for you becomes clear pretty quickly. For most older Australians who have wi-fi at home, that number is smaller than the shops would have you believe. Here is how it works, in plain terms.
The quick answer
If you have wi-fi at home and mostly use your phone for calls, texts, email, browsing and the odd map or video call while you are out, a small plan of a few gigabytes a month is usually plenty. You only need a big or unlimited plan if you watch a lot of video, like Netflix or YouTube, while away from home wi-fi. The simplest way to know for sure is to check what you used last month, and we show you where to look below.
What mobile data actually is
Mobile data is the internet coming to your phone through the mobile network, the same signal that carries your calls and texts. It works anywhere you have coverage, which in Australia today means the 4G and 5G networks. The old 3G network has been switched off, so a very old phone that relied on it will not get data at all.
Here is the part that saves people the most money. When your phone is connected to wi-fi, at home or at the library or a cafe, it uses that connection instead of your mobile data. So all the browsing and video you do on the sofa at home costs you nothing from your plan. Your mobile data only ticks over when you are out and about with no wi-fi nearby. For a lot of older people, that is a small slice of the week.
What uses a little, and what uses a lot
Not all phone activities are equal. Some sip data, some gulp it. Once you can see the difference, you can guess your own needs without any maths.
The light ones are the everyday things. Sending and receiving email barely registers, well under a megabyte a message unless there are big photos attached. Reading the news or browsing web pages uses only around 60 megabytes an hour, and there are roughly a thousand megabytes in a single gigabyte, so you would browse for many hours to use up 1GB. Messaging apps, checking the weather and looking something up on a map are all in this gentle bracket.
Music streaming sits in the middle. An hour of Spotify at normal quality is about 40 megabytes, so you could listen for the best part of a day before troubling 1GB. Social media varies more. A scroll through Facebook can use anywhere from 100 to 300 megabytes an hour, and it climbs fast if you watch a lot of the videos that play as you scroll.
Video is the big one. Streaming a show on Netflix or YouTube can use around 1GB an hour at standard quality, and roughly three times that in high definition. A single film watched on mobile data can swallow more than a whole small plan. This is the activity that catches people out, so if you like to watch television on your phone or tablet while away from home, that is where your data really goes.
Video calls, like FaceTime or a Zoom with the family, land between music and video. A regular catch-up will not empty your plan, but a long daily call over mobile data adds up, so it is worth doing those on wi-fi where you can.
So what size plan suits you?
Rather than a single figure, it helps to picture which kind of user you are. Most older Australians we help sit comfortably in the first group.
| How you use your phone | Data that usually fits |
|---|---|
| Wi-fi at home. Out and about you check texts, email, the weather and a map, with the occasional video call. | A small plan, a few gigabytes a month, is plenty. |
| Out most days, regular social media, some music, the odd short video while away from wi-fi. | A medium plan of around 10GB or more gives breathing room. |
| You watch a lot of video, Netflix or YouTube, on the go and rarely think about wi-fi. | A large or unlimited plan will save you worrying about running out. |
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all offer prepaid plans that step up in this way, from small monthly allowances up to unlimited data. A prepaid plan is often the calmer choice, because you pay a set amount and cannot be stung by a surprise bill. Prices change often, so check the current plans on the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone website rather than trusting a figure you saw last year. If you hold a state Seniors Card, it’s worth asking whether a discount applies.
One handy detail to look for. Most prepaid plans from the big carriers now let you bank unused data and roll it over to the next recharge, as long as you top up on time, so a lighter month is not wasted. Little touches like these can matter more than the headline number.
How to check what you really use
Before you change anything, look at what you actually used over the last month or two. Your phone keeps a record.
- On an iPhone, open Settings, then tap Mobile Data. Scroll down and you will see a running total, plus a list of which apps used the most.
- On an Android phone, open Settings, then look for Network and internet, then Mobile network or Data usage. The wording varies a little by brand.
- Your carrier’s own app, such as the My Telstra, My Optus or My Vodafone app, shows exactly how much of your plan you have used this cycle. This is the clearest picture of all.
If you’re regularly finishing the month with plenty to spare, you’re paying for data you don’t need. If you keep running out and topping up, a slightly bigger plan will likely cost less than all those top-ups.
Simple ways to use less
If you would rather stay on a smaller plan, a few habits keep your data low without any fuss. Use wi-fi whenever it is there, at home, at family’s houses, at the library. Download a few shows, podcasts or playlists onto your device over home wi-fi before a trip, so they play later without touching your data. And in the settings of apps like Netflix or YouTube, you can turn the video quality down, which cuts data use sharply while out.
None of this means going without. It just means the heavy activities happen on wi-fi, where they are free, and your mobile data is there for when you genuinely need it.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
Where to go next
If you are still choosing a phone to go with your plan, our guide to the best simple phones for seniors in Australia is a good place to start, and how to choose a phone for an older parent walks through what matters most. It also helps to know how to back up an iPhone or iPad, since photo backups can quietly use data too.
FAQ: Mobile data
Does using wi-fi at home cost me mobile data?
No. When your phone is on wi-fi it uses your home internet, not your mobile plan. That is why the browsing and video you do at home does not count against your data.
What happens if I run out of data before the month is up?
On most prepaid plans the data simply stops until you recharge or the plan renews. You will not get a shock bill. Calls and texts usually keep working, and you can still use anything over wi-fi.
Is unlimited data worth paying for?
Only if you regularly watch video or stream a lot while away from wi-fi. If you mostly use wi-fi at home, an unlimited plan is money spent on data you will never touch.
How do I stop apps using data in the background?
In your phone’s settings, under the mobile data section, you can switch off data for individual apps. Turning off automatic updates and photo backups over mobile data helps too.
Should I choose prepaid or a monthly account?
Prepaid suits most people who want a set cost with no surprises. A monthly account can work out cheaper for heavy users, but it can also lead to extra charges if you go over, so prepaid is the safer starting point.
