It’s no longer news that the cost of data plans has skyrocketed and is on the high side. Data plans we subscribe to that sustain us no longer do, and the cost of subscribing to this plan is quite expensive. So I have come up with the best data plans to help you minimise cost and manage data accordingly.
This guide applies to all mobile users and network subscribers, including MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile users. At the end of this guide, you will equip yourself with all the data plans you can use to sustain and reduce the cost of purchasing data. Without further ado, let’s dive into it.
Type of data plans you need to subscribe to on all networks
All data plans are not the same; they mostly have different functions and usage. This is important because you need to make sure you are subscribing to a plan for a particular purpose.
You are to check the things you use data for and note them. If you are the type that browses mostly or the ones that stay most of their time on social media, this article is for you. Also, if you are among the ones who do most downloads or play online games, then continue reading.
We all use data differently; some users upload videos to their channel on YouTube, while some just spend time watching videos on YouTube. Some livestream their video games, not only using data to play the game but also livestreaming them while others watch. I will briefly explain the best plans for each of these users and how to minimise their usage.
YouTubers’ (subscribers and creators) best data plans
Whether you are a channel owner/creator or just subscribers who stream or watch videos on YouTube, please subscribe to a YouTube plan.
It is important that you don’t use normal mobile data plans for YouTube because the specific data for YouTube is cheaper and lasts longer than using normal plans. You can combine these plans with other plans for other uses. YouTube usage will be deducted from the YouTube plan, and when it is exhausted, it automatically starts deducting from your other plans.
YouTube plans for all networks
Downloaders’ and uploaders’ best data plans
For users who download heavy data files, software, games, applications, media, and other content, it is important that you use data allocated for this purpose. Those who upload media, software, and heavy files to their social media platforms/accounts, please make use of the night plans.
Night plans are cheaper and a game changer. The only issue with it is that it has a time frame you can utilise. One good thing about night usage is that browsing is faster at night because of low traffic. Also, you don’t have to bore yourself waiting for files to upload or download completely.
You have to time yourself, arrange all your downloads and uploads, and pause them for the night plan to be activated, then you resume them. You can set your alarm to the time when your night plan is activated so you can be active to resume your downloads or uploads.
Scheduling your uploads
I know posting at night might discourage most of your followers or subscribers who are not active, and might be discouraging. You should schedule your uploads; Facebook and Instagram have this feature, YouTube too, and many other platforms. For others who don’t have, some platforms help you manage your social media account. They can post on your behalf, schedule uploads, and do a lot more.
Just make a search on Google for these platforms and use them. Please make sure of the platform you are using, because you will grant them permission to your account. I would have recommended some I am using, but I am not affiliated with any of them.
If you upload data to these platforms or schedule features during the night, they will post it at the time you schedule them to. For instance, during the night plan period, you schedule a post to post by 10:00 AM the next morning, and it will post by then. Even if you are online or not, even if your device is switched off.
Night plans for all the network
Livestreamers, online gamers, and streamers’ best data plans
If you are the type that likes to “go live” or stream other gamers or livestream your gameplay, this plan is recommended for you. You are advised on daily plans. Daily plans are cheaper than monthly plans. For instance, doing 30GB for 30 days, meaning 1GB per day. This might cost you ₦10k, meaning you are spending around 330 naira per day for the 1GB/day. Meanwhile, if you are to purchase 1GB for a day, you will spend just ₦100.
So utilise the daily plans, either the 2-day or 1-day daily plan. Since you are managing data and cost, please don’t have to go live all day; any day you choose to go live, you can do 3GB for ₦300 naira or more for that day. The good thing is that the 100 naira 1GB plan can be repeatedly activated. This means you can even do 10GB for ₦1k with it for that day and stream all the streams you want to.
Timing is king! You are to notify your followers and subscribers when you want to go live, so they stay active on that day for whatever stream you want to offer them. This also applies to Zoom classes, online classes, live seminars, webinars and anything that has to do with streaming online. If you are not the one holding these classes or live and have no control over when you want to go live or join them, then schedule your other stuff to bein linee withtheses dates. This is because after the classes, you can utilise the remaining part of your daily data plan for them.
Daily data plans for all networks
Office/Monday to Friday workers (9-5) data plans for MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile subscribers
If you are the type that gets busy during the week, the ones that don’t mostly use their data during working hours (9-5), then this plan is for you. Subscribe to a weekend plan during the weekends when you are at home, because this is when you utilise your data mostly.
Weekend plans are cheaper and not as costly as the monthly plans. For instance, you can activate a 5GB weekend plan for ₦1k, but for the monthly plan, it might cost you ₦3k. This is because they know you have a time frame disadvantage, so they make it cheaper. I understand you will make use of data during the week, too, but I am suggesting you shift most of your load tasks to the weekend.
Do a monthly plan, but always combine it with the weekend plan to save your monthly plan.
You won’t have to do a higher monthly plan if you combine it with the weekend plan. The monthly plan will be used during the week when you don’t use data much.
Weekend plans for all networks
Consumers’ data plans on all networks
The term “consumers” refers to those who watch other people live, watch people’s content, and all. You don’t have a specific time to watch content, you can stay and wait till a particular day, weekend or night before you watch people’s content or live.
It is advised that you reduce the way you watch and spend data on people’s content. But if you must watch or stream, then please go for the weekly plan. Please check this article on how to rollover data. The rollover data plan is one game-changing plan for all network subscribers. The higher the data plan you choose, the cheaper it is. This means you can go for a high plan for a lower price than going for a smaller plan that exhausts and costs more.
Let me explain this: for instance, if we are giving ₦30k to buy a data plan and you choose to buy ₦5k data, you will spend it up to that ₦30k buying 7.5GB in 6 places, which is 45GB. I, on the other hand, use the ₦30k to purchase a higher plan, which can purchase 60GB with it. I have automatically saved an extra 15GB by spending the same amount on data. Please read that again to understand.
If you understand why purchasing a higher plan is better than purchasing smaller plans back-to-back, then continue reading. I know the money might not be there, but trust me, you will eventually spend up to that, so go for the higher plan. It helps you save from spending more on that, and it also doesn’t finish quickly like the smaller plans.
Weekly plans for the entire network
How to use rollover plans
How do you utilise these rollover plans to save yourself from spending a lot on data?
You can go for a free or a weekly plan and buy the highest plan there. You can go for 25 GB a week; even though you cannot finish it, the leftover data will be rollovered to next week. All you have to do is renew the same weekly plan. It must not be the same 25GB plan; go for a smaller plan. So long as it is one of the weekly plans, your remaining unused data from the previous week will be rollovered to the current week.
Weekly data plans are recommended for consumers because weekly plans are cheaper. I can buy 25GB for a week for ₦5k and repeat for ₦10k, which is 50GB. If I am to buy a monthly plan for ₦10,k it might not be up to 30 GB, and it will finish within 2 weeks. To make the 50GB weekly plan last for 2 weeks, just rollover it.
How to rollover unused weekly data plan
If you did the 50GB (25GB x 2), at the end of the week when it expires, you will be notified that your data plan is expiring and you need to do the same plan to rollover your unused data. If you are not notified, just wait till it expires. There is always a grace period after the expiration date to renew the same data plan. So, on the following day or after the time of expiration, just subscribe to the same plan.
Subscribing to the same plan, as I explained before, you can do any of the weekly plans. If there is a 500 naira weekly plan, just do it, and your unused data will be added to the plan you just did.
If you do the math well, you will see that this method saves you from the monthly plans. One thing I noticed is that the shorter the period, the cheaper the data plans you are subscribing to. Also, the smaller the plan you are subscribing to, the faster it exhausts.
Note:
You can do a small monthly data plan for miscellaneous things, and then for your heavy work and tasks, use the appropriate data. Combine the weekly plan, night plan, daily plan, weekend plan, and monthly plan accordingly.
If you spent a total of ₦30k for data last month,,h which is around 5,0GB for instance. Because of your workload, this might not even be enough. You can do a ₦5k monthly plan, then a ₦5k weekly plan twice, and then spend ₦2k the following week to rollover it. Make use of the 500-night plans and maybe ₦2k weekend plans for 4 weeks,s which is ₦8k.
Minus the night plan, you will spend a total of ₦23k. Use the remaining for daily plans and night plans. Do this most times you have things to upload or download,d or on days you have most activity,ity as I explained in this guide. At the end of the month,h you will notice the ₦30k data plan that was not enough for your usage becomes more than enough for you when this guide is applied.
Conclusion
I have explained all the types of data plans you are to use according to your type of usage, so please combine these plans for effective usage and also minimal expenses on purchasing them. Feel free to explore these data plans according to your type of usage. If these methods are applied, you will see that you can save up to 50% of what you spent on data before.
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