Resources
Where data goes,
in plain words.
Short, practical guides to tracking your usage, finding what is eating your plan, and making it last longer.
Understand your usage
Where data goes, and how to see it on your phone, computer and Wi-Fi.
- How to Check Hotspot Data Usage on iPhone and AndroidSee how much data your hotspot used on iPhone and Android, which device used it, how much a laptop uses on a hotspot, and how to make your laptop use less.5 min read
- How to Check Data Usage on iPhoneWhere iPhone shows your cellular data, why the number is not monthly, how to reset it on your billing day, and what iPhone does not show you.4 min read
- Why Is My Data Running Out So Fast?Video, background activity, updates and other devices on your hotspot are the usual reasons a data plan runs out early. Here is how to find which one it is for you.6 min read
- How to Track Your Data UsageHow to check data usage on iPhone and Android, what the built-in counters miss, and how to track mobile data and Wi-Fi across every device you own.6 min read
- Which Device Is Using All My Wi-Fi Data? How to Find OutHitting your Wi-Fi data cap or running out of hotspot data? Three ways to find which phone, laptop or TV is using it: your hotspot settings, your router, and per-device tracking.6 min read
- Which Apps Use the Most Mobile Data?Video and social apps use far more data than anything else on a phone. See which kinds of apps are heaviest and how to find the biggest users on your own device.5 min read
By carrier
Checking your data on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and UK networks, and what they don't show.
- How to Check Verizon Data Usage (and See Which App Used It)Check Verizon data usage with #3282, the My Verizon app or website, see how usage alerts work, and find which app or device used your data on your phone.4 min read
- How to Check AT&T Data Usage (and See Which App Used It)Dial *3282# or use the myAT&T app to check AT&T data usage, set usage alerts, track hotspot data, and see which app on your phone used it.4 min read
- How to Check T-Mobile Data Usage (and See Which App Used It)Dial #932# or use the T-Life app to check T-Mobile data usage per line, understand 80% and 100% alerts, and see which app on your phone used it.4 min read
- How to Check Your Mobile Data on EE, O2, Vodafone and ThreeCheck your mobile data allowance on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three by app, online or free text code, and see which app on your phone is using your data.4 min read
App by app
What the most popular apps actually use, and the setting that tames each one.
- GTA 6 Download Size: How Much Data Does It Need?Rockstar says GTA 6 needs up to 212 GB. The preload and launch dates, what that means on a data plan, and how to download it without burning your data.3 min read
- How Much Data Does FaceTime Use?FaceTime video uses about 180 to 200 MB an hour and audio about 30 MB. How to see what each call used, what a month costs, and how to keep FaceTime on Wi-Fi.3 min read
- How Much Data Does Zoom Use?Zoom's own figures in MB per hour: about 540 MB for 1:1 video, 1.1 GB in 720p, 3 GB in 1080p and 54 to 72 MB audio only, plus the settings that save data.4 min read
- How Much Data Does Google Maps Use?Google Maps navigation uses about 2 to 10 MB an hour in tests. Offline map sizes (about 300 MB a city), satellite view, a monthly total and Apple Maps.3 min read
- How Much Data Does It Take to Download a Game?Why a game download uses about its own size in data, how big Modern Warfare 4 and GTA 6 are, what that means on a mobile plan, and how to download without burning data.4 min read
- How Much Data Does Spotify Use?Spotify's own bitrates turned into MB per hour for Low, Normal, High and Very high, what an hour a day costs a month, and the settings that save data.3 min read
- How Much Data Does Netflix Use?Netflix's own figures per hour in SD, HD and 4K, what that means for a 10 GB plan, and the settings that make streaming last on mobile data.3 min read
- How Much Data Does TikTok Use?TikTok plays video back to back and loads the next clips before you reach them, so it can use a lot of data. Here is how to measure it and how Data Saver helps.4 min read
- How Much Data Does YouTube Use?YouTube's data use depends almost entirely on video quality. How to set quality separately for mobile data and Wi-Fi, and how to measure what you actually use.4 min read
- How Much Data Does Instagram Use?Reels, Stories and autoplay make Instagram one of the heavier apps on a phone. How Instagram's data saver works and how to see what it uses on your plan.4 min read
Save data
Practical changes that make a data plan last longer.
- Can You Set a Data Limit on iPhone? What Works InsteadiPhone has no built-in data cap or usage alert. Here is what you can do instead: app switches, Low Data Mode, carrier alerts and a daily limit with an alert.5 min read
- How to Make Your Data Last the Whole MonthWork out your daily data budget, turn off the settings that spend data without asking, and get warned on day 3 instead of finding out on day 12.4 min read
- How to Save Mobile DataTwelve practical ways to make a data plan last longer on iPhone and Android, starting with the few changes that make the biggest difference.7 min read
In Nigeria? See the guides for Nigerian networks.
Stop guessing.
The guides explain where data goes. Dataly shows you where yours went, on every device you own.