To check how much data you have left, on Android go to Settings → Connections → Data usage, and on iPhone go to Settings → Mobile Data. You’ll see your usage for the period and a breakdown by app. You can also check it from your carrier’s app.
But that number alone doesn’t tell you much. What you actually need to know is how far it will get you. In this guide you’ll find how to check your data on each system and carrier, the full hourly consumption table for every app, and how much 1 GB really buys you.
Knowing how much data you have left is useless if you don’t know what it buys.
On Android you check it in Settings → Connections → Data usage; on iPhone, in Settings → Mobile Data. That gives you a number. What almost nobody explains is what it means: 1 GB is 16 hours of Spotify… or 8 minutes of Netflix in 4K.
Below you’ll find the full hourly consumption table and how far each GB goes depending on what you do. That’s the difference between checking your data and actually controlling it.
How to check your remaining data on Android and iPhone
On Android
- Open Settings and tap Connections (on some devices it’s Network & Internet).
- Select Data usage, then Mobile data usage.
- At the top you’ll see the total used in the period; below, the breakdown by app.
On iPhone (iOS)
- Open Settings and go to Mobile Data.
- Under Current Period you’ll see your total accumulated usage.
- Scroll down to see how much each installed app has used.
Watch out for a detail that confuses almost everyone: iOS does not reset that counter on its own. If you’ve never reset it, the number you’re looking at is the total since you set up the phone — not this month’s. At the bottom of the list there’s a Reset Statistics option: use it at the start of each billing cycle.
How to check it with your carrier
- Telcel: the Mi Telcel app shows your balance, available data and package expiry. It’s the most direct route for both prepaid and plan customers.
- AT&T Mexico: the Mi AT&T app shows cycle usage and remaining GB.
- Movistar: the Mi Movistar app shows used gigabytes instantly. In some countries you can also dial *72536.
- Claro: the Mi Claro app breaks down data, calls and messages. In Peru, using Mi Claro on the Claro network doesn’t consume data.
- Entel: the Mi Entel app, or the “Consumo” section on entel.cl. Prepaid users can also call 144.
If you’re using an eSIM, it works differently: you check usage from the provider’s dashboard, not from your carrier.
Data usage table: how much each app uses per hour
This is the data missing from almost every guide. Knowing you have 2 GB left means nothing until you know that’s 40 minutes of Netflix in HD… or 33 hours of Spotify.
| Activity | Data per hour | 1 GB gets you | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix in 4K / Ultra HD | 7 GB | 8 minutes | Netflix |
| Netflix in HD | 3 GB | 20 minutes | Netflix |
| Zoom video call in 1080p | 1.2 GB | 50 minutes | Industry benchmark |
| Netflix in standard definition (SD) | 1 GB | 1 hour | Netflix |
| Microsoft Teams group meeting | 500 MB – 1 GB | 1 to 2 hours | Industry benchmark |
| YouTube Music on high quality (256 kbps) | 750 MB | 1 h 20 min | YouTube Music |
| Google Meet in HD | 500 MB | 2 hours | Industry benchmark |
| Zoom 1:1 call in 480p | 400 MB | 2 h 30 min | Industry benchmark |
| Watching TikTok videos | ≈ 400 MB | 2 h 30 min | Instagram & TikTok |
| YouTube Music on normal quality (128 kbps) | 250 MB | 4 hours | YouTube Music |
| Google Meet audio only | 90 MB | 11 hours | Industry benchmark |
| Spotify on standard quality | 60 MB | 16 hours | Industry benchmark |
Estimated consumption per hour, per device. Netflix figures come from its official help centre; the rest verified by HOLASIM — July 2026.
What 1 GB actually gets you
Three rules that come straight from the table and help you decide on the spot:
- Video eats everything. One hour of Netflix in 4K uses 7 GB — more than many travellers’ entire weekly plan. Dropping the quality to SD multiplies your autonomy by seven.
- Audio is practically free. Spotify on standard quality uses 60 MB per hour. You can listen for 16 hours straight on 1 GB.
- Video calls depend on the format. Going from 1080p to 480p on a 1:1 call drops consumption from 1.2 GB to 400 MB per hour. Turn the camera off and it falls to 90 MB.
If you want to run the numbers for a whole trip, we have a calculator for how many GB you need per week of travel.
How to cap your usage before you run out
On Android: a hard limit
Go to Settings → Connections → Data usage and turn on Set mobile data limit. When you hit the cap, the system automatically cuts the mobile connection. You can also set a warning to alert you before you get there.
On iPhone: Low Data Mode
iOS has no hard limit, but it does have Low Data Mode (Settings → Mobile Data). It optimises the App Store, Music and FaceTime to use considerably less, and stops automatic background updates.
What works on any phone
- Turn off background data for apps you don’t need in real time.
- Drop video streaming quality to SD and music to normal quality.
- Download series, maps and playlists over Wi-Fi before you leave.
- Turn the camera off on video calls when it isn’t essential.
- Remember that sharing your connection multiplies usage — see how much data a hotspot uses.
The full breakdown is in 5 advanced techniques to save mobile data on your travels.
Which eSIM to choose if you always run short
If you check your usage and always hit the ceiling, the problem isn’t how you measure it — it’s the plan. And if usage spikes when you travel, it’s almost always roaming.
The alternative is an international eSIM: local data the moment you land, no roaming charges, and predictable usage. HOLASIM’s eSIM covers more than 200 destinations, starts at USD 1.70 and never expires: install it once and top it up before each trip. See the plans on eSIM Global or eSIM for Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check how much data I have left on Android?
Open Settings, tap Connections and select Data usage. Under Mobile data usage you will see the total consumed for the month and the breakdown by app. If your plan does not appear there, check your carrier’s official app.
How do I check how much data I have left on iPhone?
Open Settings and tap Mobile Data. Under Current Period you will find your total usage. Note that iOS does not reset that counter automatically each month: you have to reset the statistics manually at the start of each billing cycle.
What can I do with 1 GB of data?
It depends entirely on the activity. With 1 GB you can stream 16 hours of Spotify on standard quality, watch two and a half hours of TikTok, hold a 50-minute video call in 1080p, or barely 8 minutes of Netflix in 4K. Video is by far the biggest consumer.
Which app uses the most data?
High-quality video streaming. Netflix in 4K reaches 7 GB per hour and 3 GB in HD. Video calls come second, at up to 1.2 GB per hour in 1080p. Audio is the cheapest: Spotify on standard quality uses only 60 MB per hour.
Can I set a data limit on my phone?
On Android, yes: in Settings, Connections, Data usage you can set a limit and the system cuts the mobile connection when you reach it. On iPhone there is no hard limit, but you can turn on Low Data Mode in Settings, Mobile Data so apps use less.
How do I avoid running out of data abroad?
Install an international eSIM before you leave. It gives you local data from the moment you land, avoids roaming, and lets you know in advance what you will spend. HOLASIM’s eSIM covers more than 200 destinations and never expires: you top it up before each trip.
International eSIM covering 200+ destinations. Installs in minutes and never expires: top it up before each trip.
