Among the 855 respondents who checked their real usage in their phone settings, the typical (median) amount was about 8.6 GB a month (OE2). Roughly 43% used 5 GB or less, and 54% used 10 GB or less.
THE GREAT DATA MISMATCH - [ORIGINAL RESEARCH]
MANY OF US ARE PAYING FOR DATA WE RARELY USE.
By Sphoorthy Masa, Lead Researcher | Published September 9, 2026 | Based on a survey of 1,052 US adults
of respondents are on unlimited high-speed data — and 77% are on unlimited or a plan of 15GB or more (Q2). About 1 in 4 are on a smaller or capped plan. Only about 1 in 6 say they picked their plan by figuring out what they actually need (Q4).
A September 2026 Boost Mobile survey of 1,052 U.S. adults examined mobile data consumption, wireless plan preferences, and willingness to switch. Although 70% of respondents subscribed to unlimited data plans, median monthly usage was just 8.6 GB among the 855 respondents with usable data figures, and 61% used 15 GB or less. When asked why they kept their current plan, 51% cited peace of mind rather than actual usage. Notably, 71% said they would switch to a smaller plan matched to their real usage to save $20 a month — many conditional on reassurances like data rollover, usage alerts, and a no-throttle guarantee. These findings suggest that demand for unlimited data is driven more by perceived convenience and predictability than by actual consumption, pointing to an opening for right-sized, transparent wireless plans.
We asked 1,052 Americans to open their phone settings and check how much mobile data they actually use. Most appear to be paying for a plan built for a power user - while using a fraction of it.
Unlimited data is the plan most people pick. It can feel reassuring — you won't run out, won't get a surprise bill, and won't have to think about it. But here's what we found when we asked people to check the real number: for most respondents, a large share of that data goes unused.
WHAT PEOPLE PAY FOR
MOST PEOPLE BUY THE BIGGEST PLAN
70%
of respondents are on unlimited high-speed data — and 77% are on unlimited or a plan of 15GB or more (Q2). About 1 in 4 are on a smaller or capped plan. Only about 1 in 6 say they picked their plan by figuring out what they actually need (Q4).
of respondents are on unlimited high-speed data — and 77% are on unlimited or a plan of 15GB or more (Q2). About 1 in 4 are on a smaller or capped plan. Only about 1 in 6 say they picked their plan by figuring out what they actually need (Q4).
So how do people end up on unlimited? Often not by doing the math. When we asked why they chose their data level (Q4), no single reason dominated - roughly equal shares picked it because it was the cheapest unlimited option, because it came with a promotion, or because they were concerned about running out (each around 18-19%). 16% calculated their real needs. For many respondents, unlimited appears to be a low-effort default.
WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE
BUT MOST DON'T USE THAT MUCH
Here's the part that surprises people. When we had respondents open their settings and read their real usage, the typical number was small — among the 855 who reported a readable figure, a median of just 8.6 GB a month (OE2). Look how many are using a small slice of what they pay for:
Actual usage read from phone settings (OE2). Percentages are of the 855 respondents who checked their real number.
Even among respondents on unlimited plans, about half used 10 GB or less — and more than a third used 5 GB or less (OE2).
Why might usage be so low? A likely explanation is Wi-Fi. Many respondents report being connected to Wi-Fi most of the time — at home, at work, out and about — so mobile data gets used less. We didn't test this directly, but the low usage is consistent with the Wi-Fi habits people reported:
63%
say they're mostly or almost always on Wi-Fi, not mobile data (Q5)
40%
say they stream video almost always on Wi-Fi (Q8)
WHY WE STAY
IT'S LESS ABOUT DATA. IT'S ABOUT PEACE OF MIND.
Many respondents seem to sense the gap. 44% told us they've been surprised by how little data they actually use (Q20), and 38% say they probably or definitely don't need unlimited (Q11). So why keep it? When asked the main reason they stay, the top answer wasn't usage (Q13):
Top reasons respondents gave for staying on their current plan (Q13). Only 15% stay because they use all their data.
“I pay for unlimited specifically so I don't have to think about data.”
66% of respondents agreed with this (Q18).
For many respondents, unlimited seems to work less as a capacity decision and more as a convenience preference - paying to not have to track a number. It's worth noting this isn't mainly about stress: 69% said thinking about data limits is "not really," "not at all," or never a concern for them (Q17).
CURIOUS HOW MUCH YOU USE?
Take 10 seconds and check for yourself — you might be surprised:
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → scroll to Current Period
Android: Settings → Network & Internet → Data usage
THE GOOD NEWS
MOST PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER SWITCHING
Here's what's interesting for anyone building mobile plans: many respondents don't appear tightly locked in. Asked about a plan that fits their real usage and saves them money, most said they'd consider it (Q12).
71%
would switch to save $20 a month, incl. 20% right away (Q12)
51%
say a "15GB, never slowed down" plan would be plenty (Q19)
Hesitation about a smaller plan appears addressable. When we asked what would make a smaller plan feel safe, respondents pointed to simple, concrete features (Q21):
Rollover
Unused data carries over (~32%)
Usage alerts
A heads-up before you hit your limit (~32%)
Money-back guarantee
If it's not right for you (~25%)
One-tap upgrade
Bump up instantly if you need more (~25%)
About 1 in 5 say they want unlimited no matter what (Q16). Many of the rest appear open to a right-sized plan when it comes with these reassurances.
WHO OVERPAYS MOST
THE OLDER YOU ARE, THE BIGGER THE GAP
In this sample, data use drops steadily with age - but staying on unlimited doesn't. Here's the typical (median) amount of data actually used each month, by age (OE2):
Typical (median) monthly data used, from people who checked their real usage.
Respondents 65+ used about 4 GB a month (OE2) — and 54% said they don't need unlimited (Q11) — yet 60% were still on unlimited plans (Q2). Relative to what they use, this group shows the largest gap between plan size and usage.
THE BOTTOM LINE
PAYING FOR PEACE OF MIND — NOT DATA
The takeaway isn't that people are bad at guessing their usage - most guessed reasonably well (comparing OE1 to OE2). It's that many respondents hold more capacity than they use, most often citing comfort and peace of mind as the reason they stay (Q13, Q18). The interest in smaller, transparent, no-surprises plans is measurable here. For respondents, the stated barrier is less about price and more about reassurance (Q21) - features like rollover, usage alerts, and a no-throttle guarantee.
QUICK ANSWERS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Many say they don't. While 70% are on Unlimited Plans (Q2), 38% say they probably or definitely don't need it (Q11) — and among unlimited users who checked, about half used 10 GB or less last month (OE2).
Most said they'd consider it. 71% said they'd switch to a plan matched to their real usage to save $20 a month, including 20% who'd switch immediately (Q12). About 1 in 5 said they want unlimited no matter what (Q16).
Most often for comfort. The top reason respondents gave was peace of mind (51%, Q13), and 66% agreed they pay for unlimited just so they don't have to think about data (Q18). 15% stay because they say they actually use all of it (Q13).
- Who we asked: 1,052 US adults who personally pay for a mobile plan.
- How: An online survey fielded as 10 age-targeted launches, combined into a single dataset and weighted to match the US adult (18+) population by age, so overall results are representative by age (not weighted on gender or region).
- Completed responses per age band:
| Age Band | Completed (n) | Launches |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 100 | 1 |
| 25–34 | 204 | 2 |
| 35–44 | 210 | 2 |
| 45–54 | 106 | 1 |
| 55–64 | 209 | 2 |
| 65+ | 223 | 2 |
| Total | 1,052 | 10 |
- Real usage: 885 respondents gave a self-estimate of monthly usage (OE1); 855 reported an actual figure read directly from their phone's settings (OE2); 782 gave both. We report typical (median) usage rather than averages, because a small number of unusually high readings would skew an average. Readings above 300 GB/month were set aside as likely all-time totals rather than monthly usage.
- Margin of error: effective sample size ≈ 999 (design effect 1.05); margin of error ≈ ±3.1 percentage points at the national level. Differences between age groups reported here exceed that margin.
- Question references (Q#): each stat above is tagged with the survey item it comes from — Q2 (data plan level), Q4 (why chose plan), Q5 (Wi-Fi vs. data split), Q8 (streaming on Wi-Fi), Q11 (need unlimited), Q12 (switch to save $20), Q13 (reason for staying), Q16 (savings needed to downsize), Q17 (stress about data limits), Q18 ("pay so I don't have to think"), Q19 (15GB no-throttle enough), Q20 (surprised by low usage), Q21 (what makes a smaller plan feel safe), and OE1/OE2 (self-reported and actual usage). Full question wording and response counts are available on request.
- Type: [original research] conducted for publication. Percentages are weighted and rounded, so totals may not add to 100.
Lead researcher: Sphoorthy Masa. Questions about the data or methodology can be directed to the research team.
Sphoorthy Masa · Lead Researcher
The Great Data Mismatch is part of an ongoing consumer research series by Sphoorthy Masa on the Boost team.
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