Data Usage Abroad
- Updated: March 11, 2023 | Published: January 1, 2023
As you plan for your upcoming holiday abroad, it’s important to consider how much data you will need for your trip. Whether you’re using your phone for navigation, streaming music and video, or staying in touch with loved ones, having a good data plan is essential.
Here’s a breakdown of the data usage for common activities and a calculation to help you estimate your needs:
Breakdown of Common Activities
Social Media
Internet Browsing
GPS
Spotify
Sending emails typically uses very little data, with each message using around 0.1MB. However, if you plan to send or receive a lot of emails with large attachments, your usage may be higher.
Video Streaming
Skype or Video Calls
Online Gaming
Downloading Apps or Updates
If you plan to download apps or updates while you’re abroad, you can expect to use a significant amount of data. The exact usage will depend on the size of the download, but it’s not uncommon for apps to be several hundred megabytes in size.
Online Gaming
Calculating Your Total Data Needs
To calculate your total data needs for your trip, add up the data usage for each activity you plan to do. For example, if you plan to use your phone for social media, GPS navigation, and streaming music for 2 hours per day, you can expect to use around 206.4MB – 306.4MB per day.
As you can see, there are many activities that can use data while you’re abroad. By considering all of the activities you plan to do and estimating your usage, you can ensure you have enough data for your trip.
Remember to overestimate your needs to be safe, and consider purchasing a local SIM card or data plan if you think you will need more data than your current plan allows. With the right data plan, you can enjoy all of your favorite activities and stay connected while you’re away from home.
Find local & regional eSIMs
Search over 7200 eSIM data plans in 210+ countries
How To Order an eSIM
Compare eSIMs
Compare and find the most suitable travel eSIM for your needs and purchase it directly with the provider.
Receive eSIM via email/app
You will receive the eSIM profile within a few minutes in a separate e-mail or you can directly access it in the provider’s app.
Install eSIM
Scan the eSIM QR code in the mail with the camera function of your smartphone and follow the instructions on the screen. The profile will be set up automatically.
Free roaming abroad
You can now use the eSIM abroad!
Search over 7200 eSIM data plans from 210+ countries
Why Choose an eSIM?
Sustainable
The eSIM works digitally only, so fewer resources are used than with the classic SIM card.
Digital
The new eSIM can easily be digitally uploaded to your smartphone. It’s quick and saves the environment.
Fast Installation
Your eSIM profile is sent easily and conveniently by email. This means you will receive your digital eSIM much faster than a physical SIM Card by post.
English (United States) 
German (Formal) 
Spanish (Spain) 
Portuguese (Brazil) 
Thai