Gone were the days where all you were billed for were texts and minutes per call. Unlimited data plans have been on the rise for some time now. However, not everyone can afford that. And therein lies the problem.
Web surfing used to be simple and not so data-hungry. If you’re among the many unfortunate folks who have been troubled with cases of their data being eaten up, you’ve come to the right place. There is a way around all this and ensuring these measures can end up saving you both money and data.
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Limit background data
There are many apps that are continuously syncing your data and are always at work. Such apps keep consuming your data in the background and before anything else, you should restrict their usage. Look up the corresponding settings in your iOS or Android device and choose the “Restrict app background data” option.
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Update apps over Wi-Fi only
Like we said earlier, your app is never asleep. You won’t even know and your phone will have consumed a huge portion of your data while updating apps in the background. For Android and iOS devices both, you can restrict that by tweaking the settings. Simply go to the App Store or PlayStore’s settings and choose the option that forces the apps to be updated only over Wi-Fi.
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Cut down on streaming apps
Youtube, Spotify and other streaming apps may seem harmless but they’re really the saddest of the apples in the bunch. These apps will drain your data and before you know it, you’ll be out of it all. If you need music at certain times, have it downloaded on your phone instead of using Spotify at all times.
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Download your favorite music and movies
The 3rd point brings us to this- have your favorite music and movies/tv shows downloaded on your phone. Spotify and Netflix both allow you to have files available offline so make use of that and you’ll save data in the long run.
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Use data saver in Chrome
Chrome is very widely used in Android phones and it is your primary go-to buddy for browsing. When doing so, make sure that the Data Saver setting is turned on which compresses the data before sending it to you. Using this, Chrome uses proxy servers hosted at Google and it has been shown to reduce the size of web pages by about 60%. A great way to cut down on monthly internet consumption so that you’re served with cheaper bills.
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Download maps offline
If you’re having to navigate a number of times, chances are that those navigational apps are draining your data and thus costing you a lot. Download them so that you don’t have to use your data every time you need to get to a place. Having Google Maps is not everything you need for an adventure. Make sure you’re prepared with all the essentials by using these tips.
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Turn off GPS for apps
There are many apps that require your location and some keep doing their part without you knowing. Go to your phone settings and check app permissions to see whether any unnecessary app is using location in the background or not.
When all this is said and done, you can always look into your data plans. Some ISPs offer better packages and thus can be more budget-friendly. Comcast and Xfinity are U.S’s largest ISP and they both offer competitive packages. For a more detailed overview, check out this AT&T vs Comcast Xfinity comparison and see for yourself which is the right fit for you.