How much mobile data do I need?

The short answer is that you need as many gigabytes as you typically use in a month – no more, no less. But it’s not always easy to know in advance. Use our data calculator below to estimate how much data you might need. In this guide, you can also read more about the data usage of different apps and services, and get tips on how to save data.

Calculate how much data you need

Choose a plan based on your average usage

Whether you’re looking for a pay monthly plan, a prepaid plan, or a data only SIM for mobile broadband, the amount of data you need depends on what you do online and how often you do it.

A good tip is to check your actual usage before signing up. You can find this in your phone’s settings, on your recent bills, or by logging into your provider’s app. This quick check can save you a significant amount of money each month.

• If you buy too much data: You’ll end up paying for something you don’t use (unless your plan has data rollover).
• If you buy too little: You might get hit with extra charges or find your speeds slowed down to a crawl once you hit your limit.

Low, medium or heavy: Which type of user are you?

Low data user

• You check your Facebook or X account once or twice a day.
• You don’t really play online games or download music directly to your phone.
• You might chat on Messenger or WhatsApp and watch the occasional short video clip.
• You rarely use mobile data for more than an hour a day.
• You likely use around 2–8 GB per month.

Medium data user

• You check your emails and social media apps every day.
• You spend a fair amount of time browsing the web and downloading a few new apps or games each month.
• You watch videos on YouTube quite frequently and stream music or podcasts on your commute.
• You typically need between 30 GB and 80 GB per month.

Heavy data user

• You’re online for several hours every day.
• You send and receive large email attachments for work.
• You stream high-definition (HD) video several times a week and frequently download new games and apps.
• You rely on streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Neon, or Sky Sport Now for the big game.
• You use your mobile data as your primary way to work and stay in touch with family and friends.
• You likely need 100 GB+ or an “uncapped” speed plan.

When should you choose endless data?

Endless data is the go-to choice in New Zealand if you want to avoid “bill shock” from surprise overage charges. While these plans are often marketed as “unlimited,” they actually work on a two-tier system that is important to understand.

The two stages of an endless data plan

• Max speed data: You start the month with a set amount of data (e.g., 60 GB or 100 GB) at the fastest speed your 5G or 4G connection can provide.
• Capped endless data: Once you’ve used up your max speed allowance, your data doesn’t cut off – it simply slows down. You can still use as much as you want, but at a reduced speed for the rest of your billing cycle.

In 2026, many Kiwi providers offer different speed tiers for their “endless” portion. A cap of 1.2 Mbps is fine for basic emails and Spotify, but if you want to keep streaming YouTube or Netflix in HD after your max speed data runs out, you should look for a plan with a higher throttled speed, such as 10 Mbps or 40 Mbps.

An endless mobile plan is also a smart, flexible alternative to a fixed fibre or wireless broadband connection. If you have strong 5G coverage at home, you can use your mobile as a hotspot for your laptop or smart TV – just ensure your plan allows for “hotspotting” or “tethering” at max speeds.

How far does 1 GB of data go?

We measure data in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), but it can be hard to visualise what that actually means in 2026. Because websites are “heavier” and videos are higher resolution than they used to be, 1 GB doesn’t last quite as long as it once did.

The table below shows approximately how long 1 GB of data lasts for different activities.

Data usage for popular apps and services

Facebook 

Facebook uses roughly 100 MB per hour for basic scrolling, but this can double or triple if you watch videos in your feed. To avoid a massive data spike, it’s a good idea to turn off Autoplay for videos in your account settings.

Instagram 

Instagram is very data-intensive because it pre-loads high-definition reels and photos as you scroll. On average, expect it to use about 800 MB per hour. If you’re an active user spending an hour a day on the app, you’ll likely need at least 18 GB of data per month just for Instagram.

TikTok 

TikTok is one of the heaviest data-consuming apps due to its constant video streaming. In standard mode, it consumes about 1.2 GB to 1.5 GB per hour. You can activate “Data Saver” in the app settings, which reduces the resolution and cuts usage down to about 400 MB per hour.

Tip! Check if your provider offers social media data bonuses or ‘data clocks’ which can give you a few hours of unlimited social scrolling for a small flat fee.

Snapchat 

A basic Snap uses about 1 MB, but high-res AR filters and watching Stories or Spotlight videos will chew through data much faster. To save data, you can enable Data Saver (sometimes called Travel Mode), which prevents Snaps and Stories from loading automatically over mobile data.

How to turn on Data Saver (iOS & Android):

1. Tap the Settings (gear icon) in your Snapchat profile.
2. On iOS: Go to Manage under Additional Services and toggle Data Saver on.
3. On Android: Scroll down to Data Saver and tap to turn it on.

Spotify 

Streaming music on Spotify (at “very high” 320 kbps quality) uses about 150 MB per hour. This gives you roughly 6–7 hours of music per 1 GB. If you’re worried about data, you can set the quality to “normal” or download your favourite playlists over Wi-Fi for offline listening.

YouTube 

YouTube data usage depends heavily on your connection speed. On a fast Kiwi 5G network, the app will often default to 1080p (HD), which can burn through 2.5 GB per hour. If you want your data to last longer, you should manually set the quality to 480p in the video settings.

Netflix, Disney+ and Neon 

Streaming movies and TV shows is the fastest way to use your data allowance. On “Auto” or “High” settings, Netflix can use 3 GB per hour for HD or up to 7 GB per hour for 4K/UHD. If you’re watching on your mobile, we recommend using the Save Data setting within the app, which limits usage to about 250 MB per hour.

Google Maps 

Google Maps is relatively light, using an average of 5–10 MB per hour during active navigation. To save data and ensure you don’t get lost in areas with patchy reception (like remote State Highways or the Southern Alps), you can download “offline maps” while you’re on Wi-Fi.

FaceTime, Messenger and WhatsApp calls 

A voice-only call uses very little data (about 40–50 MB per hour). However, a high-definition video call on FaceTime or WhatsApp can use up to 300 MB per hour. Group video calls use even more as the app has to stream multiple video feeds simultaneously.

How much data does a movie consume?

Whether you’re using Netflix, Disney+, or local services like Neon or TVNZ+, the data used depends entirely on the resolution.

• Standard Definition (SD): ~0.7 GB per hour (roughly 1.5 GB for a standard movie).
• High Definition (HD): ~3 GB per hour (roughly 6 GB for a standard movie).
• 4K/Ultra HD: ~7 GB+ per hour (up to 15 GB for a single movie).

If you plan on watching movies on your commute, it’s almost always better to download them at home first.

Top tips to save mobile data

1. Look for data rollover: Many Kiwi telcos offer data rollover, which lets you keep your unused data and carry it over to the next month.
2. Standardise your video quality: Set your streaming apps to Data Saver or Standard Definition by default.
3. Turn off background app refresh: Go into your phone settings and stop apps from updating or fetching data when you aren’t using them.
4. Use Wi-Fi for downloads: Set your mobile to only perform system updates and app downloads when connected to Wi-Fi.
5. Use public Wi-Fi (with caution): Take advantage of free Wi-Fi in libraries, transport hubs, and shopping centres. Use these for heavy tasks, but always use a VPN if you’re accessing sensitive info like your banking.