2GB of data - How much is it and long does it last?

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What is 2GB?

2GB is shorthand for 2 gigabytes, which is equal to 2,000 megabytes. Gigabytes and megabytes shouldn’t be confused with gigabits and megabits, which are used to measure download and upload speeds. For more details, check out our page on the difference between bits and bytes.

How much is 2GB of mobile data?

A few network providers in the UK offer 2GB mobile data plans, although they’re becoming less common as the nation’s appetite for data grows. Prices start at just £5 per month on a 12-month contract from the likes of Three, but can rise to £19 per month if you opt for Vodafone, although the latter does come with some extra perks.

Compare the following 2GB mobile data plans, all of which are available on 12 month SIM only contracts:

Provider	Calls and texts	Monthly cost
	200 mins, Unlimited texts	£5	See deal
	Unlimited	£6	See deal
	Unlimited	£12	See deal
	Unlimited	£19	See deal

How long does 2GB last?

With 2GB of data, you can browse the internet for a day and 9 hours, stream music for over 13 hours, or watch up to 6+ hours of Netflix. On a monthly plan, this equates to around an hour per day of internet browsing, just under half an hour of music per day, but just 12 minutes of Netflix per day in low quality.

Take a look at how long you can do certain tasks with 2GB of data:

Is 2GB of mobile data enough for me?

If you use the internet sparingly on your phone, for example you just browse a bit of social media occasionally and send a few emails, then you could get by with a 2GB monthly data plan. According to Ofcom, mobile users consumed around 4.5GB of data per month on average in 2020, and this is only rising, so 2GB should only be considered by those who know they’re online less than the average person.

If you like to stream a lot of content to your phone, whether that’s music or video, you should consider going for at least 5GB, or even 10GB or 100GB if you have the budget for it. On the other hand, if you barely go online on your phone, you could get away with even less than 2GB - with some providers offering super cheap 1GB data plans.