Data calculator
How much data do I need for my trip?
Set how long you’re away and how you use your phone. You get a total for the trip and a figure per day, worked out from the same rates as every Horizon destination page. Choose a destination as well and you’ll see the plan that covers the whole trip at its current price.
Work out your data
Maps, social media, photos and a short video call most days, about 0.5 GB a day
At about 0.5 GB a day, 14 days comes to about 7 GB.
Find the plan that covers your trip
Choose where you’re going. The plan shown holds your estimate and stays valid for the whole trip, at its current price.
How much data for a week, two weeks or a month?
Totals for the whole trip at each of the three settings in the calculator.
| Trip length | Mostly on Wi-Fi | Everyday use | Heavy use or hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 1.4 GB | 3.5 GB | 7 GB |
| 14 days | 2.8 GB | 7 GB | 14 GB |
| 30 days | 6 GB | 15 GB | 30 GB |
7 days: about 1.4 GB if you’re mostly on Wi-Fi, 3.5 GB for everyday use, or 7 GB for heavy use or hotspot sharing.
14 days: about 2.8 GB if you’re mostly on Wi-Fi, 7 GB for everyday use, or 14 GB for heavy use or hotspot sharing.
30 days: about 6 GB if you’re mostly on Wi-Fi, 15 GB for everyday use, or 30 GB for heavy use or hotspot sharing.
As a rule of thumb, a 3–4 day city break runs on about 1–3 GB, a one-week trip on 3–5 GB, a two-week multi-country tour on 8–12 GB, and working on the road takes about 1 GB a day, so 15 GB or more for two weeks.
How much data do apps use?
The same rates are behind this calculator and the data guide on every destination page.
| Activity | Data used | What 1 GB covers |
|---|---|---|
| Maps and navigation | about 5 MB an hour | about 200 hours |
| Social media and browsing | about 60 MB an hour | about 17 hours |
| Music streaming | about 80 MB an hour | about 13 hours |
| Video calls | about 340 MB an hour | about 2.9 hours |
| Photos shared | about 3 MB a photo | about 330 photos |
In total, a 1 GB data allowance covers roughly 330 shared photos, 17 hours of social media and browsing, 2.9 hours of video calls, 13 hours of music streaming, or about 200 hours of maps and navigation. Messaging apps barely use data.
What the figures assume
The rates count what you do on purpose, such as following a route on the map or making a call. Your phone also uses data in the background for app updates and photo backup, so leave some room above the estimate.
Social media and browsing at about 60 MB an hour is for reading and posting. Video in the feed uses much more, so if you watch a lot of it, treat that time as streaming.
Streaming video is the biggest variable, and the calculator leaves it out. It uses far more than anything in the table, and more again in high definition. Download films and shows on Wi-Fi before you go, or choose heavy use.
A laptop or tablet on your hotspot draws on the same data allowance as your phone. Hotspot sharing is free on every Horizon plan, so choose heavy use if you’ll work from a laptop.
Wi-Fi at the hotel or in a café lowers what you need. Maps and playlists saved for offline use on Wi-Fi bring the mobile figure down further.
How can I see how much data I use?
Your phone keeps its own count. On iPhone, open Settings, then Cellular (called Mobile Data or Mobile Service in some regions); the figure runs from the last time someone tapped Reset Statistics. On Android, open Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs, or on a Samsung, Connections and then Data usage. Compare what your phone uses at home with the figures above.
Questions about travel data
How much data do maps, social media and video calls use?
Maps and navigation use about 5 MB an hour, social media and browsing about 60 MB, and video calls about 340 MB. A shared photo is about 3 MB, and messaging apps barely use data.
Is 1 GB enough for a week?
For most trips, no. Even mostly on Wi-Fi, maps, messages and a few photos come to about 1.4 GB a week. Everyday use with social media and a short video call is nearer 3.5 GB, and a one-week trip usually takes 3 to 5 GB.
How much data do I need for two weeks in Europe?
About 7 GB at everyday use. A tour of several countries usually takes more, with more navigation, more photos and longer calls home, so plan on 8 to 12 GB for two weeks on the road.
Does hotspot use count towards my data?
Yes. A laptop or tablet on your hotspot uses the same data allowance as your phone. Hotspot sharing is free on every Horizon plan, and the heavy use setting in the calculator allows for it.
What happens when my data runs out?
The plan stops rather than slowing down. You can add data from My eSIMs when a top-up is offered for your eSIM, or buy another plan.
Can I check how much data I have left?
Yes. Sign in and open My eSIMs to see your plan, its remaining data and its validity. You can refresh usage there, but networks can report it with a delay.