How much travel data do you actually need?

Overestimating your data needs means paying for more than you'll use; underestimating means an awkward top-up mid-trip. The honest answer to 'how much data do I need' is: it depends heavily on how you actually use your phone, more than on the length of your trip.

What uses the least data

• Messaging apps like WhatsApp — text messages use almost no data
• Offline maps that you've downloaded in advance — much lighter than live map streaming
• Checking email and browsing text-heavy websites

What uses a moderate amount

• Live navigation with real-time traffic, used regularly through the day
• Social media browsing, including photos and short videos
• Voice calls over apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime

What uses the most

• Video streaming — even short sessions add up quickly at higher quality settings
• Video calls, especially longer ones
• Using your phone as a mobile hotspot for a laptop or tablet

A rough starting point

For a typical city trip where you're mostly using maps, messaging, and light social browsing with Wi-Fi available at your accommodation, a few gigabytes across a week is often enough for one person. If you plan to stream video regularly, work remotely, or use your phone as a hotspot, you'll want a noticeably larger allowance. When in doubt, you can always add more data to your BrisqNet eSIM mid-trip rather than guessing high up front.