Most people use their phones, laptops, or tablets on a daily basis. Whether it’s searching the internet, scrolling through Facebook and email, keeping in touch with loved ones, or checking the weather, our electronics process a lot of information. How are we able to get this information? Through the use of cellular data or WiFi. Data usage can be expensive. Save money when you use WiFi to save data.
What is cellular data?
Cellular data connects your phone or tablet to the internet through a cell phone signal. Cell phone service providers charge a premium when you exceed the data included with your cell phone plan. To avoid using up all of your cellular data, utilize WiFi to connect to the internet instead. WiFi uses a local, wireless network to connect your electronic devices to the internet. Unlike cellular data, cellular service providers allow you to use an unlimited amount of WiFi to access the internet with no additional charges.
Benefits of using WiFi instead of data
One of the primary benefits of using WiFi over cellular data is the cost difference. Because most phone plans have a data limit, any usage over that limit charges you additional fees. Those fees can quickly pile up, adding charges to your phone bill that you could avoid by using WiFi. Other perks of using WiFi are the speed and efficiency it delivers. Depending on your location and wireless network, WiFi typically allows a faster connection to the internet than cellular data. WiFi also reduces the strain on your phone battery, allowing the charge to last longer.
When to use WiFi
It’s important to connect to WiFi in the places you spend the most time, such as home and work. To check and see if you are connected to WiFi, go to the WiFi section in your phone settings. You can see if it is turned on and what network you are connected to. To connect to your network at home, click on the name connected to your router and enter in the password you chose when you had your wireless network set up. Most public WiFi spaces, such as hotels and coffee shops, will share the network name and password for access.
Connecting to WiFi during periods of travel is also important. Using cellular data the entire time during can drain your data allotment very quickly. Make sure to utilize hotel WiFi in addition to WiFi at restaurants, coffee shops, and other places where you’ll be accessing the internet.
Download ahead of time to save data when WiFi isn’t available
In cases where WiFi may not be available and you don’t want to use data, such as in a car or plane, you can download stuff ahead of time so that you don’t need internet access to use it. This is especially helpful for Google Maps, songs, podcasts, videos, movies, and other streaming options that utilize data. For more information on downloading things ahead of time, check out this blog!
Occasionally, your phone may use data without you knowing it. This could happen when apps update, something automatically downloads, or notifications appear. In these cases, it is important to always be connected to WiFi even if you think you are not using up your data. If you want to make sure data is never used, you can go into your cellular data setting within the settings of your phone and switch it off.
It is important to be conscious of your data use whenever you are accessing any internet services. By staying connected to WiFi, you can eliminate the worry of exceeding your data limit and paying unnecessary overage fees. Additionally, WiFi will allow your devices to work more quickly and efficiently. Take advantage of free WiFi to save data.