How much data do you need for your trip?

Updated on November 5, 2026 · Mustapha Hamadi

Plan on about 0.25 GB a day if you stick to messaging and offline maps, about 1 GB a day with social media, music and one video call, and 3 GB a day or more if you stream shows or take long video calls. For two weeks in Japan that works out to roughly 3.5 GB, 14 GB or over 40 GB. Once you go past 1 GB a day, a daily-allowance or unlimited plan is simpler.

What your apps actually use: the official numbers

The only reliable figures are the ones the app makers publish. We converted them to megabytes per hour (1 GB = 1,000 MB, 1 byte = 8 bits) so you can add them up.

Activity	Published figure	Roughly, per hour
Spotify music, Normal quality	≈ 96 kbit/s	43 MB
Spotify music, Very high quality	≈ 320 kbit/s	144 MB
Voice call (Zoom as reference)	60–80 kbit/s	55–70 MB (up + down)
1:1 video call (Zoom, standard quality)	600 kbit/s each way	540 MB
1:1 video call in 720p (Zoom)	1.2 Mbit/s each way	1.1 GB
Netflix on mobile, Save Data	≈ 6 hours per GB	170 MB
Netflix on mobile, Automatic	≈ 4 hours per GB	250 MB
Netflix on mobile, Maximum Data	1 GB per 20 min or more	3 GB or more
Netflix in a browser, HD / 4K	up to 3 GB / 7 GB per hour	3 GB / 7 GB

Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube don't publish per-hour usage, so we won't make numbers up for them. WhatsApp and FaceTime don't state a bitrate either; Zoom's figures stand in as a benchmark for calls. Hotspot use depends entirely on what the connected laptop does: one OS update or cloud sync can outweigh a full day of phone use.

How many GB by traveler profile and trip length

The table below is an estimate, not a measurement. It starts from the sourced figures plus two assumptions: an hour of short videos on social media is counted like an hour of Netflix mobile on Automatic (250 MB), since no official figure exists; then we add 50% for everything that isn't measured (messages, photos you send, web browsing, maps, background apps).

Light — 30 min of social media (125 MB) + 30 min voice call (36 MB) = 161 MB, + 50% ≈ 0.25 GB a day.
Moderate — 1.5 h of social media (375 MB) + 30 min video call (270 MB) + 1 h of music (43 MB) = 688 MB, + 50% ≈ 1 GB a day.
Heavy — 3 h of social media (750 MB) + 1 h video call in 720p (1,080 MB) + 1 h of a show (250 MB) = 2,080 MB, + 50% ≈ 3 GB a day.

Profile	Weekend (3 days)	1 week	2 weeks	1 month
Light (≈ 0.25 GB/day)	≈ 1 GB	≈ 2 GB	≈ 3.5 GB	≈ 7.5 GB
Moderate (≈ 1 GB/day)	≈ 3 GB	≈ 7 GB	≈ 14 GB	≈ 30 GB
Heavy (≈ 3 GB/day)	≈ 9 GB	≈ 21 GB	≈ 42 GB	go unlimited

If you spend evenings on hotel Wi-Fi, drop down a row. If you plan to share your connection with a laptop, go up a row, and check the plan page first to confirm hotspot is allowed.

Total data, daily allowance or unlimited: which plan fits?

Total data (X GB over N days): spend it however you like, a little one day and a lot the next. Best for light and moderate users and for uneven days (a hiking day off-grid, then an evening of videos).
Daily allowance, then reduced speed: you get a set amount each day; once it's used, you stay connected at a slower speed. Good if your usage is steady and you don't want to burn through everything in the first days. The post-allowance speed is listed on the plan page.
Unlimited: for heavy users, long stays, or if you don't want to watch a counter. Terms of use (hotspot in particular) depend on the plan, so read the plan page before buying.

Visiting several Asian countries back to back? A multi-country plan saves you from buying one per stop. Durations run from about 1 to 30 days depending on the country.

Cut your usage: the settings that matter

Download maps before you leave: in Google Maps, search the city, open its place sheet, then More > Download offline map. Offline, there are no transit, walking or cycling directions, and offline maps aren't available in some countries, so check before you go.
Turn on Low Data Mode on iPhone: Settings > Cellular, tap your travel line, then turn on Low Data Mode. It turns off Background App Refresh and automatic downloads and pauses iCloud Photos updates.
On Android, turn on Data Saver: Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver. Most apps then use background data only over Wi-Fi.
Updates over Wi-Fi only: on iPhone, Settings > Apps > App Store and turn off Cellular Data; on Android, Google Play > profile picture > Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps > Over Wi-Fi only.
Stop video autoplay: in YouTube, profile picture > Settings > General > Playback in feeds > Wi-Fi only, and Settings > Video quality preferences > Data saver on mobile networks. In Netflix: My Netflix > profile > App Settings > Cellular Data Usage.
In WhatsApp, set media auto-download: Settings > Storage and data > Media auto-download. With a travel eSIM your phone is roaming, so the When roaming option is the one that applies.

Download shows, playlists and maps on Wi-Fi before you fly. It's the only way to enjoy video on the road without burning gigabytes. Menu names can vary with your phone and app version.

Before you buy

Our plans are data-only: no local number, no regular calls or texts, but internet calling apps work. First check that your phone supports eSIM: dial *#06#; if an EID number shows up, you're set, as long as the phone is unlocked. Install the profile on Wi-Fi before you leave and don't delete it: a deleted profile can't be reinstalled. Until it's installed, you can get a full refund.

Frequently asked questions

How much data do I need for 2 weeks in Japan?

By our estimate: about 3.5 GB if you mostly message and use offline maps, about 14 GB with social media, music and one video call a day, and over 40 GB if you stream video or take long video calls. In that last case, get an unlimited plan.

Do video calls use a lot of data?

Yes, they're among the hungriest uses. Zoom lists 600 kbit/s each way for a standard-quality 1:1 call, about 540 MB an hour, and 1.2 Mbit/s for 720p, about 1.1 GB an hour. A voice call stays under 100 MB an hour. WhatsApp and FaceTime don't publish figures.

What happens when I hit my daily allowance?

You don't get cut off: your speed drops until the next period starts. The reduced speed depends on the plan and is shown on its page. It's usually enough for messages, often not for video.

Does music streaming use much data?

Not much. Spotify says Normal quality runs at about 96 kbit/s, roughly 43 MB an hour; Very high (320 kbit/s) is about 144 MB an hour. A playlist downloaded on Wi-Fi uses nothing.

Do Google Maps offline maps work everywhere?

No. Google says offline maps aren't available in some countries or regions, give no transit, walking or cycling directions, and expire; Google Maps tries to update them on Wi-Fi.

Can I share my connection with my laptop?

It depends on the plan, so check its page before buying. And budget generously: a laptop downloads updates and syncs files in the background, using far more than a phone.

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Sources

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