Then you'll want an unlimited data plan so you can browse without limits. We've created a helpful data calculator so you can find out exactly how much data you need. Simply use the sliders to select how much of each activity you undertake and your total monthly data use will be calculated automatically.
Web browsing tends to be fairly light on your allowance, with each page you view averaging around 1MB of data. That said, social media can use more, with Facebook for example often using around 2MB per minute. That said, different social media services will use different amounts of data. But again, consider how much you actually do this. And an hour each day is quite a long time. Streaming video, such as using YouTube and Netflix, will depend on the service and the video quality.
And some streaming services likely use a lot more data than Netflix. So if you plan to stream a lot of video over mobile data you will want a high data limit, of probably at least around 15GB per month. But, if you must download apps, be sure to check the file size. These can vary from a few dozen megabytes to multiple gigabytes — though the latter is usually only the case for games.
This is another very small data drain. Tethering will typically use a lot of data. An older couple who only need the internet to look things up from time to time and keep up with the grandkids probably doesn't need as much as an avid gamer or streamer, for instance. So let's break things down a bit and see how much home internet speed you really need. The Federal Communications Commission defines anything faster than 25 megabits per second as " advanced service. In March, a bipartisan group of senators called on the FCC to raise the bar for broadband by setting minimum speeds at Mbps.
At any rate, if you make use of the internet on an everyday basis, you'll want to aim for something a little higher than 25Mbps if you can. With smart home gadgets growing in prevalence and our media consumption increasingly driven by streaming, it makes sense to opt for something closer to Mbps if plans like those are available in your area and, frustratingly, in a lot places they still aren't.
Network congestion, poor router placement, interference from nearby networks and other factors can all slow things down. To find out whether your internet speed is truly to blame, check out our guide on how to test your connection. These days, with so many people working from home, a lot of us are using more internet than we're used to. However, that isn't the case for everyone, which you'll want to keep in mind as you're shopping for an internet plan.
If you work from home, stream lots of high-resolution videos or regularly play games online, you'll likely need more internet speed than someone who casually goes on social media platforms and gets their TV from a cable provider.
Different activities require different internet capabilities -- here's a small chart to help give you an idea:. Another important factor to consider in your search for the ideal internet speed is how many users and devices are on your network in a given day. Verizon is similar with its own unlimited offering, and they too might throttle your connection after 22GB. With phones becoming more and more sophisticated, their potential as dedicated gaming machines only becomes greater.
Smartphones support 3D graphics and even online multiplayer, which makes them suitable for games more complex than Threes and Candy Crush. Online modes and multiplayer games are going to take up a chunk of data, but exactly how much varies from game to game. Try to download podcasts, playlists, or videos for your commutes and long trips in advance while connected to Wi-Fi.
Doing so will help you stay within data limits each month, leaving plenty for downloading smaller files like email attachments, new apps, and similar content on the go. The following pages detail the plans available from each of the four major U.
You may also want to check out the best cheap phone plans. Sprint has eliminated its Better Choice plans in favor of its Unlimited Freedom plan. Unlimited choice offers unlimited talk, data, and text, standard definition video streaming p , throttled data up to 3Mbps, and roaming in Canada and Mexico. In both cases, you run the risk of being throttled after data usage exceeds 22GB in any given month. All plans require autopay and paperless billing for the best rates.
Verizon boasts the largest 4G LTE network and provides the most coverage of all four phone carriers in the United States. In addition, the Unlimited Elite plan no longer has any caps on data usage, so your data speeds will never slow down. You also get 4K streaming where available and more hotspot data 40GB than before. This is a limited-time offer and only available in Metro by T-Mobile stores.
Pros: Uses T-Mobile network, super low price for unlimited data Cons: Limited-time offer, rate changes after 24 months. Google's wireless service is the only carrier offering the Pixel 5a at the moment, and the phone is optimized to seamless switch between different cellular networks for the best coverage.
More importantly, you can use your Google Fi Unlimited Plus plan when you travel to more than other countries with no disruption in service or extra charges.
Pros: Good for international travel, optimized for Pixel phones Cons: Cheaper options available elsewhere. When shopping for a family plan, cheaper isn't always better. More expensive options tend to have larger data caps or unlimited data , better coverage and more perks. The best value does tend to be around the four-line mark but there are also plenty of two-line plans if that suits you better. While it doesn't offer Verizon's usual streaming service benefits, you do get 5G access to Verizon's nationwide 5G coverage though not the faster Ultra Wideband towers , unlimited mobile hotspot and calls and texts across all of your plans.
However, if coverage isn't a concern for you, the T-Mobile offer above is a better value. Pros: Excellent coverage, unlimited hotspot on all plans Cons: T-Mobile's plan offer more value. Called "Party Pay," you can bundle together multiple Visible users under a single party, scoring a discount on each individual line. Everyone has their own plan with separate data, calls and texts caps and their own bills — just at a discounted price. This works great for groups of friends, housemates and more and is arguably one of the cheapest family plans around.
Pros: Big discounts available, don't have to be a family Cons: Can get complicated. For a lot of people, prepaid phone plans are going to be the best way to go. They are often some of the most affordable plans around, offering flexible contracts that usually have no contracts or credit checks. If you don't want to get tied to a contract, that flexibility to cancel anytime will be a huge bonus. While these plans tend to focus on more affordable, low data contracts, you can also get unlimited data plans or slightly more expensive options with more benefits.
While that isn't the cheapest price available at Mint, it's the best mix of data and costs. Mint Mobile piggybacks off of T-Mobile and offers free hot spotting and access to 5G where it is available.
But "prepaid" at Mint really does mean prepaid — to get the lowest possible rate, you've got to buy a year of service in advance after your first three discounted months. Pros: Very affordable price, free hot spotting Cons: Might not be enough data for some. Pros: Major carrier, good amount of data for price Cons: Best prices require a longer contract. While Metro can't match Mint and other prepaid rivals for cost, it does offer a big pool of data, at 10GB.
A Music Unlimited perk lets you stream music from 40 services without it counting against your monthly data, allowing to stretch your allotment further. But Cricket's lifted that now and added 5G coverage to all its plans, so this 10GB offering is more compelling than it used to be. Cell phone plans are about more than just the amount on your bill each month, though.
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