Data Throttling: Make the Most of Your High-Speed Data

Data throttling occurs when you exceed your high-speed data allocation on a limited-data cell phone plan. Limited data plans are common among MVNOs, where you can save a lot of money on your monthly bill compared to major wireless networks. The downside, of course, is data throttling. It can really throw a wrench in your phone usage for the month. This article will discuss data throttling, how it impacts you, and how to deal with it if you have a limited data plan. 

Reasons for Data Throttling

Mobile data throttling can occur for various reasons. Carriers often throttle speeds when users exceed data caps on limited data plans, limiting overall data usage on their network. This is most common with Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), with major carriers often offering unlimited high-speed data instead. Most MVNO plans have limited amounts of high-speed data, so anyone who uses more than their allotment gets data speeds throttled down. Throttling can happen in lieu of data deprioritization, but they are mostly independent of one another. More on that later. 

Limited Data Plans

Limited-data plans are a popular option for budget-conscious mobile users, offering a cost-effective way to stay connected. These plans come with a set amount of high-speed data per billing cycle, which can be appealing due to their lower monthly cost than unlimited data plans.

Lacking unlimited data is a big downside to cell phone plans. If you run out of high-speed data before the end of the month, it’s over. When this happens, carriers will either bill extra data to your account or throttle your data, slowing it severely until the end of the month. 

Phones use a lot of data today, especially for activities like watching videos, playing games, and using social media. It’s important to keep an eye on your data usage, lest you overuse your data and run out. Spending any amount of time on throttled data is very frustrating. 

Despite these drawbacks, limited-data plans can be a good option for those who use less data or can manage their usage effectively. Being mindful of data consumption and planning around high-data activities can help users maximize their limited plans while decreasing costs.

Major Wireless Networks vs MVNO

Major Wireless Networks and MVNOs provide different options for users, giving you a wide range of price points for cell phone plans. 

Major Wireless Networks: The big three U.S. providers—Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile—offer unlimited high-speed data plans and high data priority. This high data priority level allows for smooth streaming, gaming, and downloading without interruptions. The unlimited data means you never have to worry about data throttling. Users who consistently demand high-speed connectivity often find the higher price point of these plans worthwhile.

MVNOs: Mobile Virtual Network Operators stand out for their affordability and flexibility. These providers are often best for users who don’t need unlimited high-speed data every month. MVNOs lease network access from major providers and pass the savings on to their customers, offering budget-friendly cell phone plans. These providers also offer varying data amounts, allowing users to choose plans tailored to their specific usage needs. This flexibility makes MVNOs a great option for budget-conscious consumers and those with variable data requirements. 

Data Deprioritization vs Data Throttling

Let’s break down the difference between deprioritization and throttling. As you look for the best cell phone plan for you and compare plans, it is important to understand how data deprioritization and throttling will affect your monthly plan. 

Deprioritization

Data deprioritization occurs when a network is too “busy” to handle the current level of traffic. This happens all the time across the country, but the frequency of deprioritization is hard to quantify. 

Certain plans from major wireless networks will also allocate an amount of data on the premium tier before deprioritizing your account for the rest of the month. This gives you a pool of congestion-free data each month; you have a higher risk of slowed-down data once you use it up.

Throttling

Data throttling occurs when you are on a limited data plan and use up all your data for the month. This is completely separate from network congestion. This is the dramatic slowing of data, where speeds will be a lot slower than those who’ve just been deprioritized. At the beginning of the next month, you get a new data allocation and return to high speeds. 

Impact on Users

High-speed data has a high impact on users. We are so used to everything on our phones' lightning-fast loading times that it is painful to wait and wait for websites, pictures, and maps to load. Let’s talk about how our world now revolves around high-speed data and how much data throttling breaks our daily lives. 

A World of High-Speed Data

High-speed data is an essential part of our daily lives. Streaming video content, such as movies and series on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, requires significant data. For instance, streaming in HD can consume up to 3 GB per hour, while streaming in 4K can use up to 7 GB per hour. Online gaming is another high-data activity.

Additionally, apps are designed to leverage the speed and reliability of 4G LTE and 5G networks, making high-speed data a necessity for optimal functionality. Social media apps, video calls, and cloud-based services all demand consistent and fast data speeds to operate seamlessly. Receiving deprioritized data is a big hit. 

In the United States, the average monthly data usage per smartphone user reached approximately 24 GB in 2022, which continues to rise with the increasing popularity of data-heavy applications. While the average consumption was about 24 GB, it varies significantly from person to person. Discovering how much data you need each month is a huge factor in what phone plan is best for you.

Long Load Times

Let’s compare load times between 5G (high-speed) and 3G (deprioritized) data. Here's how load times change across different activities:

Browsing the Web:

• On 5G networks, websites load almost instantaneously. High-speed data allows for smooth and rapid navigation between different sites.
• Website load times are noticeably slower on 3G networks. Users may experience several seconds or even longer delays, particularly for content-rich pages with heavy images or videos.

Scrolling Through Social Media:

• With 5G, users can quickly scroll through social media feeds, as images and videos load almost immediately. This allows for a smooth, uninterrupted experience with minimal buffering.
• On 3G, social media content may take longer to load, resulting in choppier scrolling and pauses while waiting for images and videos to buffer.

Using Maps:

• When using maps on 5G, users benefit from fast data speeds, which enable quick loading of maps, directions, and real-time traffic updates. This enhances navigation and reduces wait times for rerouting.
• Map loading times can be significantly slower on 3G networks, which may hinder navigation and cause delays in receiving traffic updates or route changes.

There are immense differences in load times between 5G and 3G data. If your data is throttled, you will not be able to use your phone for much of anything. 

WiFs

WiFi is a great way to evade data throttling. If you have a limited data plan, evading mobile data usage by leveraging WiFi networks is a fantastic way to stay under your high-speed data limits. On WiFi, you don’t have to worry about anything regarding your cell service. Also, if you can use WiFi to lower your monthly data use, you can level down your cell phone plan and start saving on your cell phone bill. Here are some ways to leverage WiFi to lower your monthly data usage: 

• Download Content on Wi-Fi: Download apps, music, movies, and other large files while connected to Wi-Fi to avoid using cellular data.
• Manage Background App Usage: Adjust settings to limit apps' background data usage, allowing them to update or sync only when connected to Wi-Fi.
• Find Free Wi-Fi: Look for free Wi-Fi hotspots in public places like cafes, libraries, and parks to stay connected without using cellular data.

How to Choose the Right Cell Phone Plan

There are so many cell phone plans available in the United States. The three major wireless networks have their own plans, and there are dozens of MVNOs that offer cell phone plans at various price points. Finding the right plan for you ensures that you are satisfied with your phone service and your bill at the end of the month. If you want unmitigated access to high-speed data, then an unlimited plan from a major wireless network is best. If, however, you don’t use much data, then an MVNO plan can save you a lot of money without affecting your daily activities too much! Let’s break down some amazing low-data cell phone plans, and how to make the most of them while evading data throttling. 

Low-Data Cell Phone Plans

Tello Mobile 

Tello Mobile is a great MVNO that uses T-Mobile’s network to deliver fantastic coverage and data speeds nationwide. They allow users to choose the number of minutes they want and the amount of data they want to pick out their perfect plan. The minutes max out at, well, unlimited and only add $4 a month to your phone bill, so we will showcase Tello Mobile’s phone plans in their unlimited form:

• No data for $8 a month
• 1 MB for $9 a month
• 2 GB for $10 a month
• 5 GB for $14 a month
• 10 GB for $19 a month
• 20 GB for $20 a month
• Unlimited (35 GB) for $25 a month

With Tello Mobile, we recommend new customers start with their unlimited plan or take a few months to take stock of the amount of data they use. In our estimation, it is much better to spend a little extra for a few months than get stuck with throttled data on their low-data plans. While you figure out how much data you use each month, their unlimited plan comes in with tremendous value and allows users to enjoy 35 GB of high-speed data before they get throttled down to low data speeds. 

Mint Mobile

Another great T-Mobile MVNO is Mint Mobile. You may have heard of them! Mint’s advertisement campaign is thorough. This MVNO has four plans, all of them at good price points relative to the data you receive. The big caveat with Mint Mobile is their contracted savings. If you look at the three-month contract pricing their lower-cost plans are not that competitive in the current market. Looking at their 5 GB plan ($25 a month), and their 20 GB plan ($45 a month), Tello is easily the better choice. With Mint’s contracted savings, however, their prices become much more competitive. To get these, you either have to purchase a year of service all at once, or start a multi-line plan. 

Taking advantage of Mint Mobile’s lowest plan cost is when it all comes together. In this section, we will examine Mint Mobile’s four plans at their lowest price point, which are: 

• 5 GB for $15 a month
• 15 GB for $20 a month
• 20 GB for $25 a month
• 40 GB for $30 a month

Plans priced between $15 and $30 are very affordable relative to other plans on the market.  The only problem with Mint Mobile (a common problem among MVNOs) is that they lack a data plan for high-data users. If you use more than 40 GB of data each month, you’ll run into the cap of their unlimited plan, where you encounter data throttling for the rest of the month. Trying to use your phone with those reduced speeds is annoying and a big weakness in the plan. If you can limit your data usage, you can enjoy this well-priced plan without much trouble. 

Visible Wireless

Visible Wireless rounds out our list. Visible is an MVNO that uses Verizon’s network and provides unlimited high-speed data on both their cell plans. That’s right. No data throttling at Visible. Understanding the ins and outs of Visible Wireless phone plans is essential before you decide whether or not this is the right new wireless carrier for you. The two visible wireless phone plans are as follows:

• $25 per month for Unlimited
• $35 per month for Unlimited plus

So, what’s the difference between these two plans? The basic plan comes with unlimited talk, text, and data as well as an unlimited mobile hotspot and talk and text to Canada and Mexico. Those are the bones of the plan, the foundation for the unlimited plus plan as well. Their Visible+ plan costs an extra $10 a month and users gain access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network and additional international calling and texting. 

Both plans have unlimited 5 Mbps mobile hotspots, which is a huge boon for people who want to use their devices while out and about. This speed won’t let you, for instance, stream video, but it’s perfect for browsing the web or catching up on email. 

Data Throttling: Key Takeaways

Data throttling is a painful reality of using limited-data cell phone plans. If you are interested in shopping around for a great deal on a limited-data MVNO plan, you can use Really’s comparison tool to find the perfect plan for you. 

We use high-speed data in just about every cell phone process, and trying to navigate our phones without it is incredibly frustrating. You want to avoid data throttling wherever you can, and it is important to prepare your daily data usage with that in mind. Low-data cell phone plans are incredibly inexpensive, and building your routine around staying under that threshold, and ensuring you have high-speed data when you need it, will save you a lot of money on your cell phone bill.