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This is how you keep your data usage under control

Especially if you have a limited plan and don’t want to pay extra.

NOBODY EVER WANTS to go over their data limit.

With some data plans being rather small and others pushing the unlimited angle when they’re really not, it’s good to keep tabs on how much data you use per month and whether the plan you have suits your needs.

How easy it is to keep tabs depends on the device you have. Android and Windows Phone users already have a data usage tracker built in – Data Usage or Data Sense depending on which OS you’re using – allowing you to set limits and warns you when you’re approaching it.

Android data plan Android Android

What limit you place and when the warning happens is up to you, but it’s a handy method if you’re regularly going over your data cap and need a way of curbing it.

If you’re an iPhone user, you can only check how much data you’re used over a given period. This is more a rough estimate than anything else and you would have to reset the stats every month if you want accurate results.

iOS data usage iOS iOS

If you want something similar to Data Usage or Data Sense, you could use an app like My Data Manager to keep tabs on your usage and ensure you don’t go over your allowance.

There is one advantage to iPhone and that’s how easy it is to limit which apps have access to mobile data. This is particularly useful when you’re close to reaching your limit and you want to prioritise the important apps instead of ones that may look for updates like the App Store.

Read: So you know you can make calls through WhatsApp now, right? >

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43 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
    Favourite Larry L'Oiseau
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:38 PM

    It’s a funny thing that the amount of data Vodafone says I use and the data usage app says I use are always very different.
    One guess which one is higher ??

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kaz Kork
    Favourite Kaz Kork
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:46 PM

    Give us a clue?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
    Favourite Larry L'Oiseau
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:07 PM

    Ok, a little one so….

    It starts with ‘V’

    47
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    Mute Gonzo Doyle
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    Apr 1st 2015, 2:12 PM

    It’s always funny how vodafone have an advert on this story even they ate a complete rip off company. I called them the other day to ask if I could avail of the new deal for €55 which offers unlimited calls and texts, 100 international minutes and 5g data. I pay €55 for unlimited calls, texts with 3g of data. I told them I am with them over 10 years but they said “sorry sir its for new customers only” that makes sense right, give the new customer 2g extra for the same price as the old reliable fool pays. Not anymore, all my friends are leaving them, as will I be upon termination of that contract. Jokeaphone.

    70
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    Mute Chuck Eastwood
    Favourite Chuck Eastwood
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    Apr 1st 2015, 2:54 PM

    I’m in the same boat as you. I just upgraded to the s5 and my old iPhone never used more than 2gb. New phone burns the full 3gb in 3 weeks and they won’t let me avail of that offer. Shafting old customers

    34
    von
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    Mute von
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    Apr 1st 2015, 6:26 PM

    @ gonzo doyle dont get the 55€ with 35€ you can have 100 free mins of texts and calls and hust get 100 Mins worldwide for 4.99€ any Vodafone store will do it.

    2
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    Mute AN other
    Favourite AN other
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    Apr 1st 2015, 8:02 PM

    20 quid top up for unlimited data, unlimited weekends unlimited texts and unlimited calls to own network and 20 quid to spend on international and midweek other network calls! What’s not to love?

    6
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    Mute Ben Redline
    Favourite Ben Redline
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:44 PM

    In defence of the iPhone they are an excellent item. The only problem is the battery life, mine for example just keeps

    90
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:19 PM

    Its 3 for me all you can eat data for €20 a month….

    83
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    Mute Owen Slattery
    Favourite Owen Slattery
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:05 PM

    Read the small print – you’re actually limited to 15GB

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Bloggs
    Favourite Joe Bloggs
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:28 PM

    Well if you are going over 15 you need to be using WiFi more

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Lonergan
    Favourite Niall Lonergan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:15 PM

    €20 top up on pre-pay with Three has all you can eat data. And there coverage is much better.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Hogan
    Favourite Noel Hogan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:18 PM

    So just €20 a month? Seriously?

    40
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    Mute Patrick Jackman
    Favourite Patrick Jackman
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:28 PM

    Its even better than 20 a month as you use can use the remaining credit to buy 500mb bundles until your credit runs out.

    18
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    Mute Noel Hogan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:32 PM

    Paying about €50 a month for an O2/3 package that gives me 500 minutes and 500 texts, If I use 100 of each a month I’m doing well, 400 mins/texts are unused. Was considering dumping iPhone entirely but might just go pay as you go now.

    20
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    Mute Alan Farrell
    Favourite Alan Farrell
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:39 PM

    With Vodafone, pay 30 eur a month (Red package, pay as you go) and get unlimited calls and texts to any network, 100 minutes of international calls and 3GB of data. This also ties in with a subscription pack I have with them so get an extra 500 Mb of data as well. Perfect for me anyway!

    13
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
    Favourite Pauliebhoy
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:36 PM

    3gb wow!

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Josephine Carroll
    Favourite Josephine Carroll
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    Apr 1st 2015, 4:11 PM

    @alan are you sure you get free calls and texts with Vodafone…??i know with my supposed upgrade to fibre broadband unfortunately with same company thought I had so many calls free in landline….not so….my bill went from 45 to 54 to 52…(no calls made in landline).they must think they have free reign to my bank account…oh im still waiting for call back frm them….must be two weeks now….roll on end of contract

    5
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    Mute Niall Lonergan
    Favourite Niall Lonergan
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    Apr 2nd 2015, 12:13 PM

    Yep and that includes 4G

    1
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    Mute The whistler
    Favourite The whistler
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:09 PM

    Another fine exapmle of why iphones are pants

    53
    Lolo
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lolo
    Favourite Lolo
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    Apr 1st 2015, 2:17 PM

    My voda price plan gives me a 5gb data allowance per month. Yet somehow I always get a warning saying I’m reaching/have reach my usage limit and will be charged for going over.

    I almost always use wifi and rarely need to use my data. Don’t download and rarely stream through data so it boggles my mind how the hell I’m supposedly using so much!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franky Harte
    Favourite Franky Harte
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    Apr 2nd 2015, 8:46 AM

    @lolo Check that your apps aren’t updating automatically over cellular. That’ll do it!

    6
    uMad
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute uMad
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:32 PM

    It’s a weird coincidence that everyone who is too poor to buy an iPhone gets an android. Malnourished peasants

    23
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    Mute Alan Farrell
    Favourite Alan Farrell
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:43 PM

    Think you have it the wrong way around, it’s not because we’re poor, it’s because were not stupid enough to blindly hand over hundreds of extra euros for something that my more realisticly priced phone can match in nearly every area,if not all areas.

    51
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    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:31 PM

    * we’re not stupid enough…
    If you had, you might have a better predictive text…

    8
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    Mute Alan Farrell
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    Apr 1st 2015, 2:09 PM

    Grammar Nazi.

    14
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    Mute Gerard Ryan
    Favourite Gerard Ryan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:06 PM

    I pay £12.90 a month with Three for unlimited data, 200 mins and Ultd texts. It’s brilliant. Cant believe these companies who offer 1GB 2GB plans. Especially now that 4G is out and streaming is becoming more and more popular. You’d use 2GB in minutes.

    18
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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:31 PM

    £12.90? What an arbitrary number. Is that a British tariff?

    16
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    Mute Gerard Ryan
    Favourite Gerard Ryan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 5:19 PM

    It is Joe sorry. The SIM only deals here are ridiculously cheap although I heard anyone wanting to avail of my tarriff will have to pay £15 from now on. Still a good deal!!

    3
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 1st 2015, 3:36 PM

    Listen up all you iPhone users out there ….if Android and iPhone were in a fight Android would eat it for breakfast and sh!t Apple pie………have a nice day ….

    13
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    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:08 PM

    An iPhone user specifies which apps run in the background.
    Job done.

    9
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    Mute Trish Ryan
    Favourite Trish Ryan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 2:58 PM

    So does my Samsung.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
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    Apr 1st 2015, 3:53 PM

    And my Sony

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:22 PM

    Oh and here’s a crude tip.
    If data usage is really crucial, fill your phone with music. You’ll get a warning about the amount of storage space if an app decides to go downloady…

    8
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    Mute Sarcasmo
    Favourite Sarcasmo
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:24 PM

    A

    7
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    Mute little jim
    Favourite little jim
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:27 PM

    B

    26
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    Mute Bah Humbug Soon
    Favourite Bah Humbug Soon
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:02 PM

    C?

    15
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    Mute Joe Bloggs
    Favourite Joe Bloggs
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:28 PM

    It’s as easy as 1 2 3

    22
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    Mute Al Beebak
    Favourite Al Beebak
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    Apr 1st 2015, 1:30 PM

    Easy as doh, ray, me

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis Reidy
    Favourite Denis Reidy
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    Apr 1st 2015, 3:41 PM

    Baby, you and me girl

    6
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    Mute Stephen Maher
    Favourite Stephen Maher
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    Apr 1st 2015, 9:01 PM

    I’m with VF constantly busting 2gb of data and bills are allways x3 times above the agreed monthly.
    Found a free app called opera mini and it keeps the data usage to a minimum , makes a big difference to the bill.
    3 for me next term.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christopher Fagan
    Favourite Christopher Fagan
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    Apr 1st 2015, 12:36 PM

    Used to use this app for android to track data . No longer need as have unlimited now.
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.rgruet.android.g3watchdog&hl=en

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Jetson
    Favourite Jim Jetson
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    Apr 2nd 2015, 11:45 AM

    Never, ever get one of those Meteor mobile internet ubs fobs. I got one with a plan of €10 per month for 20gigs. One particular month I must have watched a youtube video too many and used 26 gigs. Guess what my bill was?

    €146. That’s right. That extra 6 gigs cost me €136. Unbelievable!

    2
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