Published: 3 March 2026 • Compare The Networks
“How much data do I actually need?” is the most common question we hear. Overpay for unlimited when you barely use 5GB, or underspend and hit overage charges — neither is ideal. This guide helps you calculate the right amount.
Data Usage by Activity
| Activity | Per Hour | Typical Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Email (text) | ~5 MB | 0.5-1 GB |
| Email (attachments) | ~50 MB | 2-4 GB |
| Web browsing | ~60 MB | 2-5 GB |
| Teams/Zoom (voice) | ~50 MB | 2-4 GB |
| Teams/Zoom (video) | ~270 MB | 10-20 GB |
| Cloud apps (CRM, Office) | ~100 MB | 3-8 GB |
| Hotspot (laptop) | ~500 MB | 10-50 GB |
| GPS/Navigation | ~5 MB | 0.5-1 GB |
Recommended Data by Role
| Role | Usage | Plan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office (WiFi available) | 2-5 GB | 10 GB | £8-10/mo |
| Sales / field worker | 10-25 GB | 25 GB | £14/mo |
| Remote worker (hotspot) | 30-80 GB | Unlimited | £10-19/mo |
| Driver / courier | 5-15 GB | Unlimited | £10/mo Best Value |
| Warehouse / light user | 1-3 GB | 5 GB | £6-8/mo |
When Unlimited Makes Sense
At £10/month on Three, unlimited data is so affordable that for many businesses it is not worth overthinking. Get unlimited when:
- Employees hotspot their laptop to their phone
- Video conferencing happens on mobile
- Workers do not have reliable WiFi
- You want zero risk of overage charges
Not Sure? We Can Help
Send us your current bills and we will analyse usage to recommend the right plan for each employee.
Get Free AnalysisQ: What happens if I exceed my data limit?
Most plans either throttle speed or charge overage fees. Set spend caps to prevent surprises. See our expense management tips.
Q: Does WiFi calling use data?
No. Calls over WiFi do not count against your mobile data. Encourage employees to connect to WiFi wherever possible.
Q: Is unlimited data really unlimited?
On EE, Three, and Vodafone, yes — no hard cap. O2 may apply fair usage on some plans, but in practice it is rarely an issue.