How Much Data Does Google Maps Use per Hour? (2026)
Google Maps data usage per hour differs by source. Test it on your own phone, see what GPS and offline maps need while driving, and size a trip data plan.
Quick answer
Google Maps uses a few megabytes an hour for plain navigation: most estimates sit between 3 and 10 MB, and Google gives no figure of its own. Satellite view and Street View take far more. For one to two weeks of travel, plan on 5 to 10 GB, since video calls and photo uploads take most of a plan.
You're about to travel on a plan with a fixed number of gigabytes, and Google Maps will be open from breakfast until the walk back at night. Some sites say a few megabytes an hour, others up to 200 MB, and that gap is the difference between buying 3 GB and 20 GB. Further down you'll find the figures by source and why they disagree, a check on your own phone, what offline maps can't do, the settings that stop background use and the data a whole trip needs.
In this article
- How much data does Google Maps use per hour?
- Does Google Maps use a lot of data?
- How much data does GPS use?
- How to check how much data Google Maps uses on your phone
- Google Maps offline: what works without data
- How can I stop Google Maps from consuming too much data?
- How many GB of data do I need for 2 weeks of travel?
- eSIM data for Google Maps: 3, 5 or 10 GB and what it costs
How much data does Google Maps use per hour?
Turn-by-turn directions on the plain map use about 3 to 10 MB an hour by published estimates, and Google publishes no number of its own. You open three pages on the subject and get three different answers.
| Source | Plain navigation (MB an hour) | With live traffic (MB an hour) | Satellite view (MB an hour) | How they got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roamless | 3–5 | 7–10 | 15–20 | Not described |
| Firsty | 3–5 | 7–10 | 15–30 | Not described |
| Nomad | 5–10 | 30–60 | 120–180 | Not described |
| Jetpac | 5–10 | – | 120–180 | Not described |
| Yoho Mobile | – | About 10, with place searches | – | A simulated 4-hour drive |
The numbers disagree because the sources count different things. Some count only the plain map, some add live traffic and place searches, and Airalo puts a whole hour of using the app online at up to 200 MB. Only Yoho Mobile describes a test, a "simulated" 4-hour drive, and nobody names the phone.
No two sources measured the same thing, so the number that matters is the one from your own phone.
How long does 1 GB of data last for Google Maps?
On the plain map, 1 GB of data lasts Google Maps about 200 to 330 hours at 3 to 5 MB an hour, and about 100 hours at 10 MB. With satellite view on, at Nomad's estimate, the same gigabyte is gone in about 6 to 8 hours. That's with 1 GB counted as 1,000 MB.
On a long drive with navigation on all day, the plain map barely moves the counter. Satellite view does.
Does Google Maps use a lot of data?
No, Google Maps doesn't use a lot of data for navigation on the plain map. The heavy part is the pictures and the extras around the route.
You switch to satellite view to find your hotel's entrance, then scroll through photos of five places before you pick one for dinner. Each of those extras costs more than the route itself:
- Street View: 180 to 300 MB an hour, by Nomad's estimate.
- Searching places with photos and reviews: 30 to 120 MB an hour, also from Nomad.
- 3D Immersive View: "can hit 10 MB a minute", says Firsty.
- Live traffic: more on top, in every source that counts it.
So when Maps seems to eat your data, the map itself is rarely the cause. Look at what was on the screen.
An iPhone can also add mobile data while you sit on hotel Wi-Fi. When Connectivity Assist is on, the phone uses cellular data along with weak or busy Wi-Fi, and Apple warns this "might result in additional cellular data use". You can turn it off in Settings.
How much data does GPS use?
None: GPS itself doesn't use data. On a country road with no signal, your blue dot still moves, because Maps uses satellites to know your location "up to around 20 meters", says Google. Nearby Wi-Fi networks and your mobile connection only help it find you.
The map around you is a different story. Showing the streets, searching for a place and planning a route all need data, or an offline map of the area that you downloaded before. Without either, you may see only a blue dot on a blank map.
How to check how much data Google Maps uses on your phone
Your phone counts mobile data for each app, so you can check Google Maps data usage yourself: reset or note the counter, use Maps for 30 minutes the way you will on the trip, then read the Google Maps line. My recommendation is to run this 30-minute test before you choose a plan size, and again after you change a setting to reduce Google Maps data usage, because then you see what the change saved.
On an iPhone with two lines, the counter shows data for the line chosen for cellular data. With a travel eSIM, pick that line first, then follow Apple's iPhone guide:
- Open Settings > Cellular.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset Statistics.
- Use Google Maps on mobile data for 30 minutes, with Wi-Fi off.
- Go back to Settings > Cellular, scroll to the list of apps, tap Show All and read the amount under Google Maps.
On a Pixel, as Pixel Help shows:
- Open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs.
- Tap App data usage and note the Google Maps amount below the graph.
- Use Maps for 30 minutes on mobile data, then read the amount again.
On other Android phones the menu names differ.
Apple and Google both note that your carrier may count data differently from the phone, so leave some room in the plan.
Google Maps offline: what works without data
Google Maps offline works for driving inside the area you downloaded, but walking, transit and cycling directions don't. Google's wording is short: "When you're offline, transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable."
| Feature | With mobile data | With an offline map only |
|---|---|---|
| Driving directions | Yes | Yes |
| Walking directions | Yes | No |
| Transit directions | Yes | No |
| Cycling directions | Yes | No |
| Live traffic and alternate routes | Yes | No |
| Directions for a route that leaves the downloaded area | Yes | No |
Source: Google Maps Help.
On your first evening in a new city, the map is saved and the data is off. You ask for walking directions to a restaurant, and Maps can't give them, though the streets and your dot still show, so you find the way by eye.
To download Google Maps for offline use, do it at home on Wi-Fi:
- Search for the city in Google Maps.
- On an iPhone, tap More > Download offline map > Download. On Android, swipe right in the place sheet first, then tap the same items.
Android can save maps on the phone or on an SD card.
Offline maps expire. Maps tries to update them on Wi-Fi when 15 days or less are left, so turn on Auto-update offline maps.
Some countries and regions can't be downloaded at all.
How can I stop Google Maps from consuming too much data?
To stop Google Maps from consuming too much data, download the area before the trip and keep the plain map, then change a setting or two on your phone:
- Offline map first. It gives you driving directions with no data at all.
- Plain map, no satellite view.
- Low Data Mode on iPhone. Open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and turn on Low Data Mode. On 5G models, tap Data Mode first. Apple Support says it restricts background network use.
- Mobile data off for Maps, on iPhone. In Settings > Cellular, you can turn off cellular data for Google Maps alone, and then Apple says it uses only Wi-Fi. Do this only with an offline map saved.
- Data Saver on a Pixel. Open Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver. Most apps then get background data only over Wi-Fi, says Google's Data Saver page, while the app you're using still works on mobile data.
- Data warning & limit on a Pixel. Set a warning so a plan running low halfway through the trip doesn't surprise you.
Go with Low Data Mode or Data Saver if you change only one setting to reduce Google Maps data usage, because they also limit background data for most other apps.
How many GB of data do I need for 2 weeks of travel?
For 2 weeks of travel, Jetpac's travel data guide puts your data at 5 to 10 GB, and GigSky says about 7 GB for a light user. Video calls and uploads push both up.
| Trip | Jetpac | GigSky, light use (maps, messaging, social) | GigSky, heavy use (video calls, uploads, streaming) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend | 1–3 GB | – | – |
| One week | 3–5 GB | About 3.5 GB | 10–15 GB |
| Two weeks | 5–10 GB | About 7 GB | 20+ GB |
| One month | 15–30 GB, if you work remotely | – | – |
Maps is a small slice of that. Two hours of navigation a day for two weeks, at about 10 MB an hour, comes to about 280 MB, or about 3% of a 10 GB plan.
For my own trips I usually buy 10 GB or 20 GB.
My pick for a two-week trip is 10 GB if you post photos or call home on video, because that's the top of Jetpac's two-week range. On a quieter trip, Jetpac's own line is that 5 GB gets most leisure travelers through comfortably.
eSIM data for Google Maps: 3, 5 or 10 GB and what it costs
For a week of light use, 3 to 5 GB of eSIM data is enough. The table shows the lowest price for a 30-day, one-country plan in five popular destinations.
| Destination | 3 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $2.58 | $3.86 | $6.71 |
| Italy | $2.29 | $3.41 | $3.99 |
| Thailand | $2.58 | $3.86 | $6.71 |
| United States | $3.03 | $4.88 | $7.52 |
| Mexico | $5.99 | $8.99 | $13.99 |
Prices checked on October 10, 2026.
A tip for any other country: compare travel eSIM plans on eSIM Spotter. Plans from dozens of sellers are listed side by side, sorted by price and updated daily, so the cheapest plan with the data you need is easy to find.
New to eSIMs? Read what an eSIM is and how it works, then follow the steps to install an eSIM on iPhone or install an eSIM on Android.
Frequently asked questions
How much data does Google Maps use in 8 hours?+
Eight hours of plain navigation use about 24 to 40 MB at 3 to 5 MB an hour, or about 80 MB at 10 MB an hour. Leave satellite view on for those eight hours, though, and Nomad's estimate puts it at about 1 to 1.4 GB.
Does Google Maps use data when driving?+
Yes, Google Maps uses data when driving, for the map and live traffic. With an offline map, Maps can guide you without data, but only if the whole road from start to finish is inside the downloaded area. For a long drive between two cities, save one large area that covers both ends and the road between them.
Does Google Maps use data on iPhone?+
Yes, Google Maps uses data on iPhone the same way it does on Android, for the map, search and directions. The iPhone part is background use: with Low Data Mode off, apps can keep running background tasks over mobile data. Low Data Mode has been on iPhones since iOS 13 and pauses those tasks when you're off Wi-Fi.
Does using Google Maps abroad use data?+
Using Google Maps abroad uses the same amount of data as at home. What changes is the price of each megabyte. Apple advises turning off Data Roaming to avoid roaming charges, and asking your carrier about international plans or adding a travel eSIM. With a travel eSIM, Maps runs on the eSIM's data plan instead.
Do Waze or Apple Maps use less data than Google Maps?+
There's no clear winner, because the estimates for Waze differ about 30 times: Roamless says 0.5 to 1 MB an hour, Better Roaming 20 to 30 MB. For Apple Maps, the same two say 2 to 4 MB and 5 to 10 MB. Waze's own help gives no figure and says use "may differ from one device to another".
What drains data the most?+
By travel sellers' estimates, video uses far more data than navigation on the plain map. Jetpac puts video calls at 300 to 500 MB an hour, and Netflix or YouTube at 300 MB to 3 GB an hour. GigSky says streaming and video calls can each use a gigabyte in an hour or less.
What is 5 GB of data equivalent to?+
5 GB of data is about 500 hours of Google Maps navigation at 10 MB an hour. GigSky counts about 500 MB a day for light travel use with messaging and social apps, so 5 GB lasts about ten days like that.
