If you use your smartphone daily and depend on the mobile internet, you've already noticed that even simple activities like watching a video on YouTube, answering emails, or chatting in WhatsApp groups consume a considerable portion of your phone plan. So, if you're not used to managing your data usage on your cell phone, it's quite common to go over the limits of your data package and run out of internet halfway through the task! 

Without some care, your cell phone data plan can be consumed much faster than it should. But by following a few simple tips, you can save money so you don't run out of connection unexpectedly. So, check out the best tips to save your mobile internet franchise data package below! 

What is a mobile data plan? 

 Plan, package, or data allowance. Although they are different terms, they generally refer to the same thing: mobile internet data to your cell phone. But what does this mean in practice? In practice, all cell phone plans that we contract are associated with a mobile internet data package that we use to browse the web, such as Satellite internet providers. This data is consumed when we use the internet and we don't have any Wi-Fi connection. 

That way, when hiring a plan with a mobile internet franchise, you can use the internet on your cell phone, away from home, anywhere that has 4G and even 5G coverage. Data is consumed when browsing web pages and applications that need access to the network, such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Netflix, Waze, etc. 

The contracted plan is what defines the size of the data package. That is, how many Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB) of data are available for browsing. Therefore, in the different types of plans we find (prepaid, postpaid, or control), it is possible to contract data allowances of different sizes. Thus, consumers can choose a data allowance that meets their needs and the most convenient payment method. 

Usually, most prepaid plans and control plans have data packages for basic to intermediate consumers, with the difference that, with prepaid plans, you pay before you consume. Post plans are aimed at more demanding consumers or those who want to include more than one person on the same bill. 

Therefore, the “size” of your data package is the same as the internet limit you have to use in a certain period. Depending on the type of plan contracted, when the limit of the package is reached, the operator blocks the access of the chip used to the internet or charges extra fees to continue using the service. Therefore, it is very important to consider the different types of plans and the sizes of internet franchises to choose one that suits your consumption profile! 

How do mobile data plans work? 

In general, prepaid mobile internet plans provide a daily allowance of 10 megabytes. This means that it is possible to browse social networks for a few hours, without posting images or watching heavy videos, before using up your daily data plan. Postpaid plans, in turn, offer minimum allowances of 500 megabytes per month, allowing the constant use of applications for tasks that consume more data, such as watching YouTube videos, sharing selfies on Instagram, making VoIP calls, and listening to streaming music. 

When choosing a phone plan, pay attention to your personal needs: do you consume more or less internet than your plan offers? Is the massive use of social networks indispensable for you? Or do you only need your smartphone for strictly important activities? If you intend to save on monthly bills, the most efficient measure may be to manage the consumption of your data package and learn to cut unnecessary expenses. 

How do economize the data? 

 Feel like your mobile data doesn't last long enough? Over the years, videos have become a real trend on social media, right? Nowadays, we have videos on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. So, whether to view Stories or Network Status, the presence of these many types of videos can quickly end up with mobile data packages. You can avoid this by doing the following: 

• Disable automatic app update:  Typically, the apps we download are set to update automatically, even without a Wi-Fi connection. To change this, you must go to your app store settings and disable the automatic updates option. 
• Turn off the location of the apps you use the most: The real-time location used in applications like Waze, Instagram and Facebook is a major villain of mobile data consumption. To disable this option, you must access the privacy and preferences settings of each of the apps. 
• Disable automatic download of audios and videos: Especially on WhatsApp, it is very common to receive several videos and audios. However, this type of file is heavier and consumes a lot of internet data. So, you can disable this option in WhatsApp preferences to save more data. 
• Use WiFi whenever possible: We often forget to deactivate Wi-Fi on our cell phones when we get home or don't bother trying to access a wireless network when we're out and about. However, this care to check the availability of a wireless network can be very useful to save extra data and get to the end of the month. 

Does 4G consume more data than 3G? 

This is a very common question among users of all ages. However, the answer is no! Just as there is no cell phone model or brand that uses less or more internet (a myth that is often used to advertise), 4G does not consume more data than 3G. That's because it's not the type of 3G or 4G technology that spends your data allowance, but you, determining how you use the internet.  

That is, consumption depends on the type of content you access, how "heavy" it is, and the amount of websites and applications accessed. What makes it seem that 4G consumes more data than 3G is because, by offering more speed, we end up using applications that spend more internet, making consumption, in fact, greater. 

Don't be without the internet on your smartphone 

At some important point, everyone who uses a mobile internet plan has come across the data limit reached. For this reason, if you cannot renew the package or pay for too many additions, it is very important to keep an eye on this consumption. After all, no one wants to be without access and have that grip during the day, right? So, follow these tips, choose good internet providers and have internet for the whole month.