Most providers have their own app that allows you to see how much data you have used. But if you are not satisfied with this or are unsure whether this is correct, fortunately there are alternative apps to measure your data consumption. They often also offer additional options, such as viewing data usage on the Apple Watch or a handy widget that gives you quick insight. They often use colors to indicate whether you are still on schedule or have used relatively too much.
- View data usage
- iPhone data usage apps
- #1 DataMan
- #2 My Data Manager VPN Security
- #3 Data Cellular Counter
View data usage
By default, your iPhone also keeps track of how much data you have used. The counter just doesn’t reset every month, so you have to remind yourself to do this manually. Via the settings on your iPhone you can view how much data you have used in the current period, while you can also see the distribution per app:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Mobile network.
- Scroll to the Mobile data heading. Under Current period you can see how much data you have used since the last reset.
- Below you will find how much data all apps have used in the same period.
If you want to reset the counter, go all the way to the bottom of this page and select Reset data. If you want to receive warnings about your consumption, you will need third-party apps, which we discuss below.
Data usage apps for your iPhone
Watching live streams, putting videos on Instagram, listening to music… you need data for all kinds of activities and you sometimes forget that you are almost at your data limit. With the iPhone apps below you can monitor data usage and warn you when you have used a certain percentage.
#1 iCulture recommends: DataMan
DataMan Next is the best-known app for monitoring your data usage. This Dutch-language app is made by a very active developer, who is always on top of adding new features. There is an Apple Watch app and you can check your data usage via a handy widget. You indicate what your data limit is and on which day of the month your data bundle starts. You will receive a warning if you need to slow down. With colors (green, orange, red) you can immediately see whether you are still in the right place. You can also receive warnings at certain percentages. If you would like to purchase one app for data usage, we recommend this one. You can also purchase the accompanying app WifiMan (link), which allows you to monitor your data usage on Wi-Fi.
#2 My Data Manager VPN Security
My Data Manager is a free app to monitor your iPhone data usage. The app also shows how much data you have used via Wi-Fi and roaming. You can even monitor data from a shared family plan. The app uses bars to indicate how much data you have used, for example, for Facebook, Instagram and Skype. You can set an alarm when a certain limit is reached, for example 10GB. The app also predicts how much you will still use, so that you know whether you should take it easy with your data bundle.
Furthermore, the app can track data usage per app and ensure that you can use the internet safely via a VPN. But be careful: this also means that all data traffic goes through the app developer’s servers (the former Distimo, now App Appie). They can see your browser history and all kinds of other privacy-sensitive data. App Annie makes money by analyzing this data. That’s why the app is free.
#3 Data Cellular Counter
If you like simple design, then Data Cellular Counter is a suitable app. This app can monitor your mobile data usage and Wi-Fi usage and is easy to set up. This app is in Dutch and shows the percentage of consumption in large figures on the home screen. Contains only the basic functions and is therefore not immediately recommended. But the icon does look nice and it’s free.
Any more tips about data usage? Then check out our tips to prevent extreme data usage. We also have tips for reducing WhatsApp data usage.
You will also find standard functions in iOS to keep an eye on your data usage:
- This way you can view the data usage per app
- How to Turn Off Cellular Data on iPhone and iPad
