5GB of data: How much is it and how long does it last?

How much is 5GB of data?

5GB of data is a difficult one to place - for the average user (defined by Ofcom’s 2021 report), it’s not too much and it’s not too little. Yet, based on the number of plans out there, 5GB is still considered to be a smaller plan with less gigabytes to offer. 

These days, the only data plans you’ll find lower are 1GB, 2GB, and 3GB deals. On the other side of things, 5GB is tiny compared to the larger data bundles like 20GB, 30GB, 50GB, and even 100GB!

But just because it’s on the smaller side doesn’t mean it’s not the best and most affordable deal for you. Check out our tables below to see how long it can last you month by month.

How long does 5GB of data last?

How long 5GB of mobile data will last varies depending on what you use your phone for whilst out and about.

Certain activities use up a lot more data than others. For example, streaming videos (on average) consumes more GBs than searching the web. 

Use the table below to understand how quickly different activities eat up your data. 

Note: MB (megabytes) is less than GB (gigabytes), with approximately 1,000MB fitting into 1GB. 

As you can see, streaming videos consumes the most amount of data per hour. The amount of data that it takes is also dependent on the definition you choose to stream in. The higher the definition, the more data is required to constantly download all the details and vividness on the screen. 

If you need to watch videos while you’re not attached to Wi-Fi, you can save data by downloading episodes ahead of time. Alternatively, watch them at a  lower definition, like 720p or less. 

Browsing is very data-friendly, as loading web pages and searching the internet isn’t demanding at all. Neither is streaming music while not connected to Wi-Fi, especially at lower audio qualities. You can do this for hours every day without worrying about running out of your allowance!

So whether a 5GB data plan is right for you ultimately depends on what you’re most likely to do on your phone. See how long this amount of data can last for each of the above activities. 

How many hours will 5GB of data last for?

*Calculated based on data consumption values in previous table - 5000MB or 5GB / XXMB or XXGB

Theoretically, you could browse the internet for eight whole days without stopping before hitting your 5GB limit! In a more practical example, you could browse for a couple of hours every few days for the entire month.

You could also stream music for hours at a time, depending on which audio quality you opt for. Even using Spotify’s highest quality, you’d still be able to stream for over a day non-stop. 

So, is 5GB enough for you?

Is 5GB of data enough for me?

5GB is right for you if:

• You don’t rely on mobile data all the time you’re not connected to a network
• You don’t tend to stream video content, or are happy to download episodes ahead of time
• You do like to browse the internet using mobile data for a couple of hours per day (or less)
• You do like to stream music occasionally 
• You do browse social media occasionally everyday or couple of days whilst out and about 

In short, 5GB would be enough for the user who doesn’t rely on their mobile data everyday, or who uses it for general browsing every now and then. But if you’re an avid streamer, this won’t be a big enough plan for you. 

5GB with Asda mobile If you're looking for a great value SIM plan with no contract, look no further than Asda mobile! For just £7 a month you could get 5GB of data, as well as unlimited minutes and texts. You can also take advantage of 4G, Wi-Fi Calling, roam like you're home, and much more!    Buy 5GB SIM deal

Discover more

We have a range of other data guides available for you to look at:

• 250MB
• 1GB
• 2GB
• 3GB
• 6GB
• 8GB
• 10GB
• 15GB
• 20GB
• 30GB
• 50GB
• 100GB
  
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