Apps to Monitor Data Usage for Your iPhone and iPad

Control the Use of Your Data Plan in iOS

By
Nadeem Unuth
Nadeem Unuth
Freelance Contributor
  • University of Mauritius
Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on February 25, 2021

Most iPhone and iPad buyers acquire their devices with a data plan. Your plan may subject you to either speed restrictions or additional costs if you exceed a contractually set monthly allotment of data. Use a

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DataMan

What We Like

  • Clear overview of data usage and forecast.

  • Automatic reset at cycle end.

What We Don't Like

  • Advanced features available only with paid version.

  • Can’t track 4G and LTE usage.

This app keeps track of your bandwidth consumption from your cellular and Wi-Fi connection. It gives you a nice management system for dealing with what comes over your monthly limit, with four levels of usage thresholds. An interesting feature with DataMana is the Geotag, which gives you information on where you used your data, with a map in the interface. However, these two features, along with some others, are only available in the paid version. On the downside, DataMan does not offer 4G and LTE monitoring, but this is not present in other apps either.

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My Data Usage Pro

What We Like

  • “Smart” data-saving suggestions based on usage patterns.

  • Straightforward, intuitive interface.

What We Don't Like

  • Not as accurate as iPhone’s built-in usage tracker.

  • Can be glitchy.

This app policies usage limits and informs you of the percentage reach — more like a guard. You won't need to log in to any network or leave the app running all the time. It also offers an AI module that learns your usage pattern and suggests how best you can use your data every day. The user interface is simple​ but nice and intuitive. My Data Usage Pro app costs $1.

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Data Usage

What We Like

  • Compatible with all service providers.

  • Clear, colorful indicators.

What We Don't Like

  • Lacks high-resolution display.

  • No notifications for projected usage.

Data Usage runs in the background for monitoring cellular and Wi-Fi data consumption. It works with any phone carrier. The app predicts data usage. The statistics display within an elegant interface that includes tabular data details as well as graphs. A progress bar changes color depending on the extent of data use.

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Built-in iOS Data Usage Feature

What We Like

  • No need to download anything.

  • Simple, basic interface.

What We Don't Like

  • Must be reset manually at the end of each billing cycle.

  • Not always as accurate as external apps.

If you don’t want to install any app for monitoring your data, use the existing data usage tool included with your iOS device. To access it, go to Settings > General > Usage. There, you get very basic information on the dates and the amount of data sent and received. Don’t rely on it if you want to be on the alert, as it does not offer the precision that other apps provide. There might be differences between what it reads and what your carrier reads. Every month or every time you want to start another cycle, just tap Reset Statistics.

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Your Carrier’s Web Site

What We Like

  • Typically quite accurate.

  • Easy to use and understand.

What We Don't Like

  • Features vary by provider.

Most mobile carriers that offer data plans include data-usage monitors on their websites. Log in there to check your data consumption, which often comes in the form of a query or report.

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