Choosing a plan
How much eSIM data do you actually need?
4 min read · Updated September 15, 2026
Roughly, if you mostly use maps, messaging and search, expect 300–500MB a day; add social media and photo uploads and it's around 1GB a day; and if you use a lot of video streaming and tethering, count on 2GB or more a day. A good rule is trip days × daily usage, plus a 20–30% buffer.
Daily usage by activity (reference)
| Usage habit | Roughly per day |
|---|
| Mostly maps, messaging, search | 300–500MB |
| + social media, photo uploads | 700MB–1GB |
| + occasional YouTube/video | 1.5–2GB |
| Lots of video streaming/tethering | 2GB or more |
How to size it for yourself
A simple formula is "trip days × expected daily usage × 1.2–1.3 (buffer)". For example, on a 4-day trip using about 1GB a day, 4GB × 1.25 ≈ a 5GB plan is about right. If you often use hotel or café Wi-Fi, you can go lower.
When you need unlimited
If your daily usage is high (video, tethering) or hard to predict, unlimited is more relaxing. However, many unlimited plans set a high-speed data cap (FUP), and that threshold is sometimes per day and sometimes not. Check whether that cap is generous enough for your usage. See the "The unlimited trap (FUP)" guide.
Tips to save data
- Download offline maps in advance
- Turn off video autoplay and high-quality uploads
- Make active use of hotel and café Wi-Fi
- Set cloud photo auto-backup to Wi-Fi only
FAQ
For a 4-day, 3-night trip, how many GB do I need?
Calculate from your expected daily usage. If you expect about 1GB a day for mostly maps and messaging, that's about 4GB over 4 days, and adding a buffer you might consider a 5GB plan (a worked example). If you use a lot of video or hotspot, you'll need more.
What happens if I run out of data?
Check the product's guidance for whether the connection stops or the speed is throttled after you use it up. Whether top-ups (buying more) are supported also varies by product, so it's good to know before buying.
Does leftover data roll over?
Check the validity period and rollover conditions for leftover data. It often doesn't roll over, so look at both the validity period and the total amount.