How to use less data and save money on your mobile bill

People are looking to save money wherever they can.

One place you might look is your phone bill. Do you have an unlimited data plan? It makes sense if you’re a heavy data user—streaming HD, making video calls—or if you have several family members sharing a plan.

But if you do have an unlimited plan and you don’t use a lot of data, you could save money by switching over to a metered plan—up to hundreds of dollars a year.

What’s a metered plan? Metered plans give you a predetermined amount of data each month. They can be more economical than an unlimited plan. But they’re hard to find these days. The major carriers now push unlimited plans almost exclusively. It’s more profitable for them, because a lot of people on unlimited plans don’t actually consume all the data they’re paying for.

CREDO Mobile is different. We put our customers first. That’s why, in addition to our high-value unlimited plan, we also have a range of metered plans, from 1GB a month to 15GB a month. We know many of our customers meet their needs with less data and that’s why we offer a variety of money-saving metered plans.

Could you save with a metered plan?

To find out, first you need to determine how much data you’re using every month. You can do this by checking your phone bill. If you don’t see data usage listed there (a lot of carriers hide it) you can look for it on your phone.

On an Android, open Settings, tap Network & internet > Data usage. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then tap Cellular or Mobile data. Scroll down to Current period.

So let’s say you’re on an unlimited plan and you discover you’re using less than 9GB every month. You could save money by switching to a 9GB metered plan. The trick then is to use no more than 9GB per month, to avoid an annoying overage charge.

Here are a few steps you can take to control your data usage.

Use WiFi when possible

There are a lot of data hogs on your phone, apps that consume GBs of data whenever you use them—and often when you don’t. The biggest data eaters include social media apps, email apps, cloud storage, navigation and music streaming apps. All of these suck up data when you’re using them—and also when you’re not, as they run in the background, sync, check for updates and refresh content.

YouTube uses more data than any other popular app, consuming 193 MB in just 5 minutes of typical use. The 10 popular apps that use the most data, in order, are YouTube, Disney+, Uber, Snapchat, Amazon Prime Video, Google Maps, Pinterest, TikTok, Telegram and Instagram.

If you’re on a metered data plan, using these apps regularly can quickly push you over your limit. But you can save data if you connect to WiFi whenever you can—at a friend’s house, at work, at your local cafe.

Use your phone’s data saver

Both iPhones and Android devices have a feature that lets you restrict apps’ background data usage, as described above.

On your Android device, open Settings, tap Network & Internet, then Data Saver and toggle it on.

iPhones have a similar function called Low Data Mode. On LTE and 4G phones, go to Settings and tap Mobile Data. Tap Mobile Data Options and toggle on Low Data Mode. On 5G phones, go to Settings and tap Mobile Data. Tap Mobile Data Options, tap Data Mode, then toggle on Low Data Mode.

Update and download apps only via WiFi

Your phone will occasionally ask you if you want to use data to update an app. Say no. Wait till you’re connected to WiFi. The same goes for downloading new apps. Wait till you’re on WiFi.

Turn off Smart Network Switch or WiFi Assist

Slow WiFi is a drag. We all know that. But did you know your phone will automatically switch to using data when you’re on a weak WiFi network? On an Android, it’s called Smart Network Switch. On an iPhone it’s called WiFi Assist.

To turn off Smart Network Switch on your Android, go to Settings > Connections > WiFi > Advanced, which is usually accessed via the three dots at the upper right. You’ll see Smart Network Switch. Toggle it off.

To turn off WiFi Assist on your iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular Data or Mobile Data, scroll down and toggle off WiFi Assist.

Set a data alert or limit

This is a feature yet to be offered by Apple. But if you have an Android device, you can set it to alert you when you’re nearing the limit of your monthly data allotment.

Open Settings and tap Network & Internet > Internet. Next to the name of your carrier, tap Settings. Tap Data Warning & Limit. Toggle on Set Data Warning and tap Data Warning. Enter a number. To switch between megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), tap the down arrow. Tap Set.

Switch to CREDO Mobile

Major carriers have moved away from metered plans. They’d rather have you on an unlimited plan, which is more profitable for them because most people don’t come near to using all the data they’re paying for.

CREDO Mobile offers a variety of money-saving metered plans, from 1GB to 15 GB per month. Our average customer uses less than 5GB a month. If you’re also not a heavy data user, you could save hundreds of dollars a year by switching to a metered plan from CREDO Mobile.

Switch today and you’ll get all you need from your mobile service: great coast to coast coverage, competitive plans, great deals on new phones and friendly, responsive customer service.

And you’ll get much more. You’ll also get an easy, effective way to make a difference in the world, just by using your phone. CREDO Mobile donates to nonprofit groups fighting for the causes you care about. Groups like Friends of the Earth, Social Security Works and Reproductive Freedom for All.

To date, we’ve given over $95 million to these and many other nonprofits dedicated to making our world a better place. These donations cost our customers nothing extra. But they mean everything to the groups that rely on us.

Ready to switch? Join CREDO Mobile today.