Best Android app 2022: Top apps to track data usage (2024)

For many, having a solid, stable internet connection is vital. Back in the days of a PC with an Ethernet connection, you just needed t make sure that the cable was plugged in, but with the move from wired to wireless, getting a reliable connection can be trickier. Throw in the different variables that come into play between Wi-Fi and cellular, the problems grow exponentially.

If you're someone who uses their Android device a lot and puts a lot of data through it over Wi-Fi and cellular every month, then having apps that can help you find the best signal, diagnose problems, test connections speeds using real-world tests, and keep track of how much data you're using.

Note that these apps are Android. Apple imposes more restrictions on what iOS apps can do, so while there are similar apps for that platform, they are not as powerful. One of the advantages of using Android!

This app tells me everything I need to know -- and more -- about the cellular connections in my area.

This app is packed with charts and meters and gauges, but the feature that I use the most is the one that monitors and logs signal strength data as I walk or drive through an area. This is a brilliant and truly useful feature when I'm out of the cities and in a more rural area. I know where I need to go back to in order to get the best connection.

Another "feature" of this app I like is the fact that there is a comprehensive online user manual -- more apps could do with that feature!

Everything you needed to know about your network, including device discovery, in a single app.

Truly amazing set of features. This is an app I've been using for some time now and it never lets me down. It even has features such as DNS lookup, LAN scanning, port scanning, and cellular network information built in.

This is a really powerful tool, with a lot of features and functions. That's a huge pro, but it's also a con, in that the app can take some time to get used to. I find myself using this app a lot, but if I'm using a feature I've not used for a while, it can take me a few moments to find what I need.

Still, this is a truly powerful tool.

I bought this app mainly because it allowed me to put the data transfer speeds for my connection on the status bar in Android (some of my handsets don't have this useful feature). However, I kept it because it offers me a deep dive into how I'm using data on a day-by-day basis.

I'm finding the traffic breakdown analysis to be particularly useful.

For people who are not on an unlimited data plan, this is a particularly useful app because it lets you see what's eating away at your data.

There is a lot of internet speed checkers out there, but nPerf has some features that make it stand above the rest.

Along with giving you accurate speed tests, and allowing you to log how your Wi-Fi and cellular networks are performing, nPerf can also test using real-world conditions such as web browsing and video streaming, offer you a real-world cellular coverage map, and even allow you to map your network coverage while traveling.

I find this handy for scouting out signal strength in new areas I'm traveling to and which networks offer me the best speeds.

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Best Android app 2022: Top apps to track data usage (2024)

FAQs

What is the best app for data usage? ›

The sleekest interface for Androids

If you're looking for the best user experience on a data monitoring app, you won't do better than GlassWire. The app allows you to easily navigate through the other apps downloaded to your phone and view their daily data use.

What is the Google app that monitors data usage? ›

With the Google Wifi app
  • Open the Google Wifi app .
  • Tap Network Devices. The numbers next to "Devices" represent your total Internet (WAN) traffic to and from your network. ...
  • Tap a specific device and a tab to find additional details. Usage: How much data the device has used over the selected time frame.

How do I find out which apps are using the most data? ›

Go to settings -> data usage -> scroll down and you can see the list of apps and how much amount of data they are consuming on your mobile.

How can I track my data usage on Android? ›

Check your mobile data usage
  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Network & internet. Internet.
  3. Next to your carrier, tap Settings .
  4. At the top you'll see how much total data you use.
  5. To see graphs and details, tap App data usage. To pick a time period, tap the Down arrow .

How do I keep track of daily data usage? ›

2. Monitor Internet Usage with ISP's Home Network Management App. The easiest way to monitor internet usage is to use your ISP's home network management app. Many ISPs offer apps that allow you to view your data usage, set usage limits, and even set up parental controls to restrict access to certain websites.

What is the app that counts data usage? ›

GlassWire is a free app that specializes in keeping track of your data usage. There is a mobile phone version for Android, and a desktop PC version for Windows. Use an Android phone? First install GlassWire for Android.

What is the app that tells you your daily data usage? ›

Nifty Data Monitoring App

Check Data Usage helps manage and keep data usage under the limit. Using it you can see the list of apps using most of the mobile and Wi-Fi data.

How do I monitor data usage? ›

The best way to monitor internet bandwidth usage is at the router level to track bandwidth usage from all devices in your household. You can also check your ISP's website to see overall bandwidth usage. Bandwidth monitoring is critical for avoiding ISP data caps and overage fees.

How do I monitor all activity on Android? ›

Find & view activity
  1. Go to your Google Account.
  2. On the left navigation panel, tap Data & privacy.
  3. Under "History settings," tap My Activity.
  4. To access your activity: Browse your activity, organized by day and time. To find specific activity, at the top, use the search bar and filters.

How can I tell what device is using the most data? ›

The Google Wifi app shows how much data your devices currently upload and download and up to 30 days historically as well as device details.
  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap Network Devices. ...
  3. Tap a specific device and a tab to find additional details.

How do you check what app you use the most on Android? ›

Manage your time in apps
  1. Open your device's Settings app.
  2. Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
  3. The chart shows your device use today. For more info, tap the chart. For example: Screen time: What apps you've had on screen and for how long. ...
  4. To get more info or change app settings, tap a listed app.

How do I find out what is draining my data? ›

To see how much cellular data you've used, go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. If you're using an iPad, you might see Settings > Cellular Data instead. Scroll down to find which apps are using cellular data. If you don't want an app to use cellular data, you can turn it off for that app.

How to check data activity in Android? ›

How to check data usage on your Android phone or tablet
  1. Go to your device Settings. You can either do this by finding the settings app in your app drawer or on the quick settings menu you get when you swipe down on the home screen. ...
  2. On the settings menu, tap Mobile network.
  3. Hit Data usage on the next screen.
Aug 30, 2023

What drains data the most? ›

Activities that use a lot of data
  • High definition video streaming (900MB per hour)
  • Video conferencing, like FaceTime® and Skype® (480MB per hour)
  • Standard-definition video streaming (240MB per hour)
  • Online interactive gaming (60MB per hour)
  • Streaming music (30MB per hour)
  • Downloading movies and large data files.
May 20, 2024

Which phone app is low data usage? ›

Incorporating apps like Opera Mini, Opera Max, Data Compress, Maps.me, WiFi Finder Free, and NetGuard can significantly lower your data usage. Whether compressing web pages, finding offline maps, or blocking specific apps, these tools empower users to control and monitor data consumption.

How can I get my data usage down? ›

Tips to reduce data usage
  1. Disable background app refresh. Apps are constantly running in the background even when you aren't using them. ...
  2. Avoid desktop versions of sites on mobile devices. ...
  3. Use Wifi wherever possible. ...
  4. Limit your use of streaming services.

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