1GB of data - How much is it and how long does it last?

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What is 1GB?

1GB (gigabyte) of mobile data is equivalent to 1,000MB (megabytes). These shouldn’t be confused with gigabits and megabits, which are used to measure download speeds i.e. 100Mbps. For more info, check out our guide on the difference between bits and bytes.

How much is 1GB of mobile data?

Many mobile network providers offer SIM only deals with 1GB of data, so prices can vary quite a bit. Right now, you can get 1GB of mobile data for as little as £5 per month, from providers such as Three and iD Mobile. However, you could be paying as much as £24 per month for the same data allowance from the likes of Vodafone.

1GB data plans are available in a range of contract lengths, from rolling monthly plans, to 3-month, 12-month, and 24-month SIM only contracts:

1 month 1GB deals

Two network providers currently offer 1GB data plans on rolling monthly contracts:

Provider	Calls and texts	Monthly cost
	Unlimited	£5	See deal
	Unlimited	£24	See deal

3 month 1GB deals

3 month SIM-only contracts are much less common than rolling monthly plans, 12-month or 24-month contracts. However, O2 currently offers a 1GB data plan on a 3-month contract, with unlimited calls and texts, for just £20 a month. See deal. 

12 month 1GB deals

Two providers currently offer 1GB mobile data plans on 12-month SIM contracts:

Provider	Calls and texts	Monthly cost
	Unlimited	£5	See deal
	Unlimited	£12	See deal

24 month 1GB deals

Both Three and Vodafone also offer their 1GB mobile data plans on a 24-month SIM only deal:

Provider	Calls and texts	Monthly cost
	Unlimited	£5	See deal
	Unlimited	£11	See deal

How long does 1GB last?

With 1GB of mobile data, you can browse the internet for over 16 hours, stream music for over 6 hours, and watch up to 3 hours 20 minutes of video on Netflix. This equates to just over 30 minutes of browsing, around 3-4 songs on Spotify, or a paltry 6 minutes of Netflix per day, if using 1GB of data over a whole month.

This is homuch 1GB of data would allow you to do:

Is 1GB of data enough for me?

Getting the right amount of data per month is important when looking for the best mobile plans – you don’t want to pay for what you don’t use, while on the other hand you don’t want too little so you’re cut off or end up paying for expensive add-ons.

Based on the above table, we wouldn’t recommend a 1GB mobile data plan unless you only scarcely use the internet on your phone. If you need more than just a few minutes of browsing per day, or sending a few emails here and there, we’d recommend getting at least 5GB, or even a 10GB plan.

If you like to stream Netflix in high quality, we’d suggest go even higher for 100GB, or even unlimited, if you have the budget for this.

Understandably, 1GB mobile plans are some of the cheapest on the market, starting at just £5 per month on a 24-month contract. Almost all mobile deals come with unlimited calls and texts these days, so if you’re on a tight budget, and you use your phone mostly for calls and texts, with the odd bit of browsing here and there, 1GB of mobile data could be enough.