How Much Data Do You Really Need? Could You Save $$$?

You've got a busy job. You're on and off calls, in and out of meetings, working in transit. Your mobile phone? Essential. A day without it? Painful! So if you're like me, when you selected your mobile plan, you didn't want to be cheap thinking ... What if I go over my data limit? What if I need more data?

But I'm coming clean. I never actually checked my data usage.

• My plan? Unlimited data with 50GB at top speed 
• My heaviest month? 14GB   
• My average month? 8.8GB
• Money wasted? $20 per month.
• Grand total of money lost? Don't ask!

In this post, we'll cover:

• The Real Numbers Behind Mobile Data Usage (spoiler: I’m pretty typical!)
• The Smart Approach to “Unlimited” Data 
• From Data to What Actually Matters to Mobile Customers
• Choosing the Right Pronto Plan
• Psst ... There's a Pronto Plan for top 5% data users, too

The Real Numbers Behind Mobile Data Usage

According to the 2024 Ericsson Mobility Report on North American mobile usage, 95% of mobile subscribers use less than 50GB of data in a month—and, a whopping 45% use less than 5GB.

Let that sink in! Nearly 1 in 2 people use less than 5GB of data a month—yet it's increasingly difficult to find a 5GB plan in the market. And 85% of people use under 20GB.

There's a 4 out of 5 chance you're paying for more data than you need.

Ready to find out how much data you actually use? 

Check your carrier's mobile app under usage or billing. If not, give them a call. The savings are likely worth the five minutes it takes!

The Smart Approach to "Unlimited" Data

Remember that fear—"What if I go over?" We've all heard the bill shock horror stories. That anxiety sells a lot of expensive unlimited plans.

But here's the thing: at most, only 5% of people actually need a true all-you-can-eat data plan—where you're never slowed down regardless of how much you use.

For the rest of us? Choose an "unlimited" plan that gives you enough high-speed data for your typical use, but doesn't cut you off or charge extra if you go over. Yes, it may slow you down, but it's the safety net without the premium price tag:

• Full speed for your normal usage
• No surprise charges—ever
• No hard cutoffs
• Peace of mind for half the price

That's not a compromise—that's just good sense.

Pro tip: Look for plans without contracts (like Pronto's). If your data needs change—you've got the flexibility to change plans, up or down, without penalty.

From Data to What Actually Mattes to Mobile Customers

Before we launched Pronto, we did our homework. While the market obsesses over unlimited data and premium add-ons—international roaming, entertainment bundles, the works—we discovered what American workers actually most want. It's pretty simple: they want more reliable mobile service.

The numbers tell the story:

• 80% would switch carriers for better reliability
• 84% say poor mobile service is a major stress at work
• 63% experience dropped calls or dead zones weekly
• 22% deal with connection problems daily

Think about that. Nearly 1 in 4 workers lose connectivity every single day in a "5G everywhere" country. 

This isn't about data limits or streaming perks. It's about that critical client call that drops. The video meeting that freezes during your presentation. The dead zone that stops you from accessing the files you need to get the job done.

It's a decades-old problem that Pronto exists to solve—by giving you access to all major networks with automatic switching to the best available connection. Because when your business depends on mobile connectivity, you can't leave reliability to chance.

Choosing the Right Pronto Plan 

We've designed our plans around how people actually use their phones—with unlimited data and no contracts on every plan, and four plans to choose from:

• Starter 5, our smallest plan, includes 5GB at top speeds—enough for 45% of Americans 
• Premium 50, our largest plan, includes 50GB—well that would be more than enough for 95% of Americans 
• In between, that’s why we offer Power 15 and Pro 30 for flexibility to line up to your needs 

Beyond unlimited data and no contracts plan, they’re packed with generous voice, text and international inclusions. Explore our plans to see all the details.

Are You in the Top 5% of Data Users?

While we'd love to have you 100% on Pronto, we understand—you use a lot of data and there are carriers better matched to help. But we get it—mobile reliability is important, too.

Our suggestion? Keep your current unlimited plan and add Pronto Starter 5 or Power 15 as your reliability backup. Most phones from the last 3-4 years support dual-SIM—switch to Pronto when you hit dead zones or network congestion. It's connection insurance that actually pays off.

The Bottom Line

I learned an expensive lesson by not checking my actual usage. 

Not sure how much data you use? Take five minutes today to check your data consumption, and ensure you’re not overpaying for data don't need or use. It could save you— every month, for years!

And if poor mobile reliability is slowing down your work day, Pronto offers a free 15-day trial to see for yourself how much more reliable mobile can be.