How much travel data do I need?

The simplest way to choose a travel eSIM allowance is to start from how you use your phone at home, then adjust for the trip. This page gives a method, worked daily budgets and the settings that make a data allowance last.

Step 1: check what you use now

Your phone keeps a mobile-data counter. On iPhone it is in Settings › Mobile Service (or Mobile Data); on Android it is usually under Settings › Network & internet. Divide your monthly figure by 30 for a rough daily number. If you are often on Wi-Fi at home or work, expect to use more mobile data while travelling, because you are out more.

Step 2: turn a plan into a daily budget

Divide the allowance by the number of days you will use it. These are planning averages, not daily limits:

Daily plans work differently: you choose a high-speed allowance per day and the number of days. After the daily allowance is used, speed is reduced until the next day, as described on each daily plan's page.

What uses the most data

• Video streaming is the biggest use. Netflix's help centre says its Automatic mobile setting allows about 4 hours per GB and Save Data about 6 hours per GB, while its Maximum Data setting can use 1GB in 20 minutes or more.
• Video calls and sharing a hotspot with a laptop add up quickly, because a laptop downloads updates and syncs files in the background. See using a travel eSIM as a hotspot.
• Automatic photo and cloud backups can upload gigabytes in one go after a day of photos.
• Maps, ride-share and booking apps, messaging and browsing use far less, which is why a modest plan can suit a trip spent mostly on those.

Settings that make an allowance last

• iPhone Low Data Mode: Apple says it turns off Background App Refresh and automatic downloads and backups, pauses iCloud Photos updates and reduces streaming quality. With two lines, go to Settings › Mobile Service (or Mobile Data), tap the travel line and turn on Low Data Mode.
• Offline maps: Google Maps can download an area before you go (search for the place, then More › Download offline map). Google notes that driving directions work offline, but transit, cycling and walking directions do not, and that Maps tries to update offline areas on Wi-Fi when they are close to expiring.
• Streaming apps: choose a data-saving quality for mobile data and download shows on Wi-Fi.
• Backups: set photo backups to Wi-Fi only while you travel.

Still not sure?

If your trip mixes light days with heavy ones, a larger fixed plan gives one pool to share across the trip. If you use a lot of data every day, compare a daily plan. Every product page lists each plan's data, validity and AUD price; start from all destinations or a destination guide.

Travel data questions

Is 1GB a day enough?

For maps, messaging, bookings and some browsing, often yes. Streaming video, video calls and hotspot use can go past it, so plan those for Wi-Fi or choose a bigger allowance.

Does hotspot use come out of the same allowance?

Yes. Devices connected to your hotspot use your plan's data.

What happens when I run out?

A fixed-data plan's allowance is the total for its validity period: once it is used up, there is no data left on that plan, so buy another plan or contact support if you need more. On a daily plan, speed is reduced until the next day. Check the selected plan's page for its details.

Sources and last checked

Checked 16 October 2026: Netflix Help Centre, how to control how much data Netflix uses; Apple, use Low Data Mode on iPhone and iPad; Google Maps Help, download areas and navigate offline. Daily budgets are arithmetic (allowance ÷ days), not measurements.