Buying travel data is a guessing game for most people. Too little and you are hunting for Wi-Fi on day four. Too much and you paid for gigabytes you never touched. Here is what things actually consume, so you can buy with confidence.
What common apps really use
- Google Maps navigation: roughly 5-10 MB per hour. A full day of heavy navigating is under 100 MB.
- Messaging (WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram): almost nothing for text, a few MB for photos.
- Social media browsing: the big one. Instagram, TikTok and similar feeds run 100-200 MB per hour because of autoplaying video.
- Music streaming: about 50-100 MB per hour.
- Video calls: 200-400 MB per hour.
- Video streaming (YouTube, Netflix): 500 MB to 3 GB per hour depending on quality. This is what burns through plans.
Three traveler profiles
The light user, about 500 MB to 1 GB per week
Maps, messages, email, a translation app, and photos uploaded on hotel Wi-Fi. If this is you, a 1 GB plan covers a week comfortably.
The everyday user, about 2-4 GB per week
Everything above plus regular social media, music on the go, and the occasional video. Most travelers are in this group, and most underestimate the social media part. A 3-5 GB plan per week of travel is the sweet spot.
The heavy user, 10 GB and up
Working remotely, video calls home, streaming shows in the evening, hotspotting a laptop. Look at 10-20 GB plans or an unlimited option, the math beats worrying.
Two tricks that stretch any plan
- Download before you fly: offline maps for your destinations and playlists or shows for the plane. This alone can halve your usage.
- Cap the background: photo backup and app updates should wait for Wi-Fi. Both iPhone and Android let you restrict background data per app.
If you get it wrong
Underbuying is not a disaster: Telisco eSIMs can be topped up from your My eSIMs page without reinstalling anything, and we email you before you run out, at 50%, 80% and 95% usage, so you are never surprised.
Check plan sizes and prices for your destination on the plans page.
Found your size?
Compare plan sizes and prices for your destination, and top up later if your trip runs long.
Browse eSIM plans →Frequently asked questions
What happens when my data runs out?
Data simply stops until you top up, there are no overage charges, ever. We email you at 50%, 80% and 95% so it never comes as a surprise.
Can I top up without reinstalling anything?
Yes, top-ups apply to the eSIM you already have, from your My eSIMs page in about a minute.
Does hotspot/tethering use more data than normal browsing?
The hotspot itself adds nothing, but laptops consume far more than phones, background updates, sync and full desktop sites add up quickly. Budget double when working from a laptop.
Do unused gigabytes roll over or get refunded?
No, a plan expires at the end of its validity period. That is why matching the size to the trip, rather than overbuying, is worth two minutes of thought.
Is "unlimited" really unlimited?
Unlimited plans have a daily high-speed allowance under a fair use policy, after which speed is reduced rather than cut off. The exact terms are shown on each plan before you buy.