One of the most common questions when choosing a mobile plan: how much data do I actually need? Here's a practical guide based on real usage patterns.
Quick Answer
Most people need 10-20GB per month. The average Irish smartphone user consumes about 13GB monthly. Heavy users might need 50GB+. Almost nobody genuinely needs more than 100GB.
The good news: most budget plans now offer far more than you'll ever use. 48's 200GB and GoMo's 120GB are effectively unlimited for normal use.
Data Usage by Activity
Here's how much data common activities consume:
| Activity | Data Per Hour | Monthly (1hr/day) |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp/messaging | ~10MB | ~300MB |
| Web browsing | ~60MB | ~1.8GB |
| Social media (Instagram, TikTok) | ~100MB | ~3GB |
| Music streaming (Spotify) | ~70MB | ~2.1GB |
| Podcasts | ~30MB | ~900MB |
| Video calls (Zoom/Teams) | ~300MB | ~9GB |
| SD video streaming (480p) | ~700MB | ~21GB |
| HD video streaming (1080p) | ~3GB | ~90GB |
| 4K video streaming | ~7GB | ~210GB |
Key insight: Video streaming is the data killer. Everything else uses relatively little.
What Type of User Are You?
Light User: 5-10GB/month
You if:
- Mostly connected to WiFi at home and work
- Use phone for messaging, calls, occasional browsing
- Don't stream video on mobile data
- Check social media but don't scroll endlessly
Any plan works. Even the cheapest options (Lycamobile €10) give you more than enough.
Average User: 10-30GB/month
You if:
- Daily social media browsing
- Stream music during commute
- Occasional video streaming on mobile
- Some video calls
- Browse news and websites regularly
Recommendation: Basically any modern plan. GoMo (120GB) and 48 (200GB) are massive overkill but cost the same as plans with less data.
Heavy User: 30-100GB/month
You if:
- Stream video regularly without WiFi
- Use phone as mobile hotspot occasionally
- Video calls daily for work
- Heavy social media with lots of video content
- Download apps and updates on mobile
Recommendation: 48 (200GB for €12.99) is perfect. You'll never hit the limit.
Power User: 100GB+/month
You if:
- Tether laptop to phone regularly
- Stream HD/4K video constantly on mobile
- Use phone as primary internet connection
- Download large files on the go
Recommendation: 48 (200GB) should still be enough. If you consistently exceed 200GB, consider Clear Mobile (truly unlimited, but 5Mbps speed cap) or home broadband.
The Reality Check
You Probably Use Less Than You Think
Check your actual usage:
- iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Current Period (scroll down for total)
- Android: Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile Network → Data Usage
Most people are surprised how little they actually use when they check.
WiFi Offloads Most Usage
If you have WiFi at home and work, your mobile data usage drops dramatically. The heaviest data activities (streaming, downloads, updates) typically happen on WiFi.
"Unlimited" Usually Isn't
Most "unlimited" plans have fair use limits:
| Plan | Advertised | Actual Limit |
|---|---|---|
| GoMo | "Unlimited" | 120GB |
| Virgin Media | "Unlimited" | ~200-250GB |
| Clear Mobile | Unlimited | Truly unlimited (but 5Mbps cap) |
| Three AYCD | "Unlimited" | ~100GB in practice |
48's 200GB is honest—it's a hard limit, not a fair use policy.
Special Situations
Using Mobile Data for Home Internet
Some people use mobile data instead of home broadband. This can work if:
- You live alone or with light users
- You're in an area with poor fixed broadband
- You don't stream 4K or download large files
Reality check: Most mobile plans have fair use policies that kick in at 100-200GB. This might not be enough for a household. Consider dedicated mobile broadband (Three, Vodafone) if this is your plan.
Tethering/Hotspot Usage
Tethering your phone to a laptop uses significantly more data than phone-only use. Laptop browsers load full websites, background updates run, and it's easy to forget you're on mobile data.
If you tether regularly, budget for 50-100GB extra per month.
Streaming Quality Settings
Reduce data usage by adjusting streaming quality:
| App | Setting Location | Data Saving Option |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Profile → App Settings | "Save Data" mode |
| YouTube | Settings → Video Quality | "Data Saver" |
| Spotify | Settings → Audio Quality | "Low" or "Normal" |
| Settings → Data Usage | "Use Less Data" |
Switching to SD streaming can reduce video data usage by 75%.
Which Plan Should You Choose?
If You Use Under 50GB/month (Most People)
Any of these work perfectly:
- 48: €12.99, 200GB, 5G
- GoMo: €14.99, 120GB, 5G
- Lycamobile: €10, unlimited (best budget option)
If You Use 50-150GB/month
- 48: €12.99, 200GB, 5G — best value
- GoMo: €14.99, 120GB, 5G — fine but more expensive
If You Use 150GB+/month
- 48: €12.99, 200GB, 5G — try this first
- Clear Mobile: €12.99-€14.99, truly unlimited — if you need more (but 5Mbps speed cap)
Common Questions
Is 10GB enough?
For most people on WiFi at home and work, yes. It covers messaging, social media, music streaming, and occasional video.
Is 100GB enough?
Yes, for virtually everyone. You'd need to stream HD video for 30+ hours monthly on mobile data to approach this.
Is 200GB enough?
Unless you're using your phone as your only internet connection, yes. 200GB is enormous.
Can mobile data replace home broadband?
For individuals with moderate usage, sometimes. For households or heavy users, probably not. Fair use policies and speed throttling can become issues.
Why do plans offer so much data?
Marketing and competition. 200GB sounds better than 50GB, even though most people won't use either. Networks know the actual cost of data is minimal.
Summary
For most Irish mobile users:
- You need far less data than plans offer
- 10-30GB covers typical usage
- 48 (200GB for €12.99) or GoMo (120GB for €14.99) are massive overkill
- Check your actual usage before deciding
- WiFi at home/work handles most heavy usage
Stop worrying about data limits—with modern plans, they're almost irrelevant for normal use.
Last updated: January 2026