Article Summary
- Data usage is any information you receive or send over the internet
- Music and video streaming need more bandwidth and use a lot of data (i.e., high data usage) and email or basic web browsing uses less data (i.e., low data usage)
- It’s important to know your typical data usage each month, even if you have an unlimited data plan
- Switching to a plan that fits your maximum data use can save you hundreds of dollars each
Most cell phone plans in Canada include at least some data, but what does “data usage” mean? You could quickly end up with $50 of data overage charges each month if you don’t keep track of your cell phone data.
WhistleOut Canada tracks cell phone plans and data rates on hundreds of plans across Canada. Keep reading to understand how data usage works, how much data you really need, and where to find a plan that suits your needs best.
What Is Data Usage?
Any information you download or upload from the internet is considered “data usage.” Every time you have a video call on Zoom or stream music from Spotify, you are using data. Some functions, like sending an email, use very little data. You can send dozens of emails each month and your data usage will only be a couple hundred megabytes. On the other hand, watching just one show on Netflix each day might quickly use up all the gigabytes of data in your cell phone plan.
What are kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes?
Even though video and music streams over the internet to your phone, that information is delivered in small packets. The smallest packet is called a “byte.”Since data usage can grow exponentially depending on how you use your iPhone, it’s often referred to using scientific terms:
- 1 kilobyte (KB) = 1,000 bytes
- 1 megabyte (MB) = 1,000 kilobytes (1,000,000 bytes)
- 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1,000 megabytes (1,000,000,000 bytes)
Most cell phone data plans in Canada include at least a few gigabytes of data, but many older plans still only include 500MB (0.5GB) or less. If you haven’t changed your cell phone plan in more than two years, you should find a new plan that’s cheaper and probably includes a higher data usage cap.
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#1
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Public Mobile 
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#2
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Freedom Mobile 
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#3
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Rogers 
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#4
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Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile) 
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#5
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Bell 
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Bandwidth vs. Data Usage
Bandwidth is how fast data can travel over your internet connection while data usage is how much data you transfer. In Canada, cell phone plans are typically sold based your data usage allowance such as 1GB, 10GB or unlimited data. Bandwidth on mobile connections can vary based on a number of factors including your distance to the cell phone tower.
On the other hand, your home internet plan is sold based on bandwidth speed. A plan with 50Mbps Internet speed is fast enough for many Canadians who only use the internet for social media and emails. If there are a lot of people in your home streaming music, watching YouTube, and using video chat, bandwidth usage can increase and need a larger plan.
Most broadband internet plans in Canada include unlimited data usage, but if you’re a light user then you might be able to save a few bucks each month by switching to a different internet provider that offers data usage limits. Some broadband modems and routers include a feature that tracks monthly data usage on your internet connection.
Beware of Vampire Data
It’s likely that your smartphone has at least a few apps that sit in the background, listening for new messages, emails, Facebook updates, TikTok notifications and more—even when you're not actively using them. It’s only a few kilobytes of data here and there, but when you have several apps pinging the internet multiple times a day, those apps can bleed your monthly data plan dry like a vampire.
Once you get a peek at how much data your cell phone is using each month, make sure to note which apps are the most active. Social networking apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram might suck up hundreds of megabytes each month from your plan.
To stop background data use on iPhone, you need to disable Background App Refresh in the settings. Android devices can disable this feature in the phone settings by turning off Allow background data usage under Mobile Data Usage. You may also choose to disable background access to wireless data à la carte by disabling background data in each app’s system settings.
Do I Need to Know My Data Usage?
Yes, you should know your data usage while using cell phone plans in Canada. If you’re using less than half your monthly data allotment each month, you could save money by switching to a lower data plan. On the other hand, if your data usage is too high, you could wind up spending hundreds of dollars each year in data overage fees!
Most Canadians use less than 5GB of data per month (some fewer than 2GB) on their cell phone plans. If you’re not sure how much data you are using each month, you may want to read our guide covering how much cell phone data you really need or download an app that helps you track your data usage. For the most accurate results, we recommend you dig up information about your current data usage from your existing cell phone provider.
How Do I Track My Data Usage?
Your wireless carrier already keeps track of your data usage each month, and you have access to that information. With it, you can choose a plan that better suits your needs and potentially saves hundreds of dollars each year.
In order to find the best data plan for your needs, you need to know how much data you use going back at least six months. You can find this information right on your cell phone in the My Account app installed by your carrier, but that usually only shows the current month. The best solution to learn the amount of data you typically use is to call up your wireless carrier and simply ask for the info .If you find you never use more than half your allotted data plan each month, we recommend you ask for a deal on a cheaper plan.
Your carrier may even get you a better deal than what’s advertised on their site! Make sure to use the WhistleOut Canada plan search tool to find competitive plans, then ask your carrier to provide a comparable deal. If our advice helps you get a better plan, make sure to let us know!
Smartphone Features that Don't Use Data:
It’s important to understand what activities use data, as some features on your cell phone don’t use it at all. Standard phone calls and text messages do not count as data usage. However, instant messaging apps including Facebook Messenger, iMessage and WhatsApp will use data. Likewise, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoiP) apps and video apps including Facetime, Skype and Zoom also count as data usage.
Some apps and games do not use mobile data after they've been downloaded to your phone. Search for Offline apps/games in your phone’s app store.
How Do I Manage My Data Usage?
Whether you’re sporting the newest Apple iPhone or an Android-powered smartphone, there are built-in features that help you track your data usage each month. While functional, you may want more control available from third-party apps.
On your iPhone, you can find detailed data usage by opening your Settings app, then select Cellular or Settings, and click on Cellular Data. For more information, Apple offers a support page that helps you check the cellular data usage on your iPhone or iPad.
Android users—including owners of Google, Samsung, LG and Motorola smartphones—also have a quick, built-in feature that tracks monthly data usage. Open the Settings app, then tap on Wi-Fi & Network. Next, tap on Data Usage to see how much data you’ve used this month.
Quick Tip:
Your smartphone’s data usage tracking will reset on the first of the month by default, but your wireless provider probably tracks it by the start of your billing month. Make sure to configure your phone to match your billing date so you always know how much data usage you have left.
Should I Watch My Data Usage on Unlimited Plans, Too?
Yes. Unlimited data plans in Canada include a limited amount of full-speed, or "premium," data each month. Once you hit that limit, your data speeds are automatically slowed down or “throttled.” At the start of your next billing month, your download and upload speeds will be returned to full blast.
Throttled speeds may vary depending on your mobile provider and what plan you’re on. We don’t want to see you pay overage fees, so we have a guide to streaming Netflix, video games and more over unlimited throttled data in Canada. Read it so you can find which carrier offers the best choice for your needs.
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#1
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Public Mobile
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#2
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Freedom Mobile
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#3
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Rogers
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#4
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Telus 
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#5
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Bell
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#6
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SaskTel 
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#7
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Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile)
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#8
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Videotron 
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#9
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Koodo Mobile 
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#10
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Eastlink 
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