Most people in Afghanistan who use their phone for WhatsApp, Facebook and a daily video call need about 5–10 GB of data a month. Someone who only sends messages and makes voice calls can manage on 1–3 GB, while a household that watches YouTube or TikTok every day on one phone can easily use 25–30 GB or more. The quickest way to choose is to match their habits to one of the profiles below.
Quick answer: which size to send
| Who it's for | Typical use | Data per month |
|---|---|---|
| Light | WhatsApp messages, voice notes, a few photos, short voice calls | 1–3 GB |
| Regular | Messages, a 15–20 minute video call most days, some Facebook or Instagram | 5–10 GB |
| Heavy | Daily video calls, YouTube or TikTok for an hour a day | 20–30 GB |
| Whole family on one phone | Several people streaming, studying and calling | 30 GB+ |
The rest of this guide shows where these numbers come from, so you can adjust them for your own family.
How much data each app uses
| Activity | Data used (typical) |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp text messages | Very little — a few MB a day |
| WhatsApp voice call | 0.5–1.5 MB per minute |
| WhatsApp video call | 2.5–8 MB per minute |
| IMO video call (standard quality) | 8–15 MB per minute |
| TikTok, scrolling | about 300–840 MB per hour |
| YouTube at 480p | about 0.5 GB per hour |
| YouTube at 720p (HD) | about 1–1.5 GB per hour |
| Netflix, standard definition | about 0.7–1 GB per hour |
| Netflix, HD | up to about 3 GB per hour |
Sources: call figures as explained in how much data WhatsApp and IMO calls use; YouTube from WhistleOut and Eskimo; TikTok from SlashGear's test and Eskimo; Netflix from Airalo. These are typical estimates — real use depends on video quality and the connection.
Video is what uses data. Messages and voice calls hardly register; one hour of YouTube can use as much as a month of WhatsApp chatting.
Worked examples
A mother who chats with her children abroad WhatsApp messages and voice notes every day (about 0.5 GB), plus a 10-minute video call most days (about 1.5 GB). Total: about 2 GB a month. A 2–3 GB monthly bundle is enough.
A university student Daily WhatsApp, a 20-minute video call (about 3 GB), an hour of online lectures or YouTube at 480p on weekdays (about 10 GB), and some Instagram. Total: about 15 GB a month. Send a 13–18 GB bundle.
A family sharing one phone Several daily video calls with relatives (about 5 GB), the children watching an hour of YouTube or TikTok a day (15–30 GB), plus messaging. Total: 25–35 GB a month. A 30 GB bundle is the right size.
Bundles that match each profile
Prices are what TopUpAFG charged on 28 October 2026 for 30-day bundles, including fees. Prices change; the live price is shown before you pay.
| Profile | ATOMA (076, 077) | Etisalat (073, 078) | AWCC (070, 071) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (1–3 GB) | 2 GB — $3.97 | 3 GB — $5.25 | 3 GB — $5.29 |
| Regular (5–10 GB) | 5 GB — $7.21, Monthly 10GB — $11.18 | 8 GB — $10.18 | 6 GB — $8.30 |
| Heavy (13–20 GB) | 13 GB — $12.14 | 12 GB — $12.14 | 13 GB — $12.21 |
| Family (25 GB+) | Monthly 30GB — $16.07 | 25 GB — $20.01 | 28 GB — $21.96 |
For Roshan and Salaam numbers, TopUpAFG currently sends airtime rather than data bundles — they can then buy a package from their phone. To see which network is cheapest per GB, read which Afghan network has the best data deals.
How to check how much they really use
The best way to choose is to look at their actual usage once:
- Android: Settings → Network & internet (or Connections) → Data usage. It shows the total and the apps using the most.
- iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data (Cellular). Scroll down to see each app's usage since the last reset.
Ask them to check at the end of the month — then send that amount plus a little extra.
Tips to make data last longer
- Set YouTube to 480p or lower on mobile data — HD can use two to three times more.
- In WhatsApp, turn on Use less data for calls and turn off auto-download of videos.
- Download videos and updates on Wi-Fi, or with a cheap night package if their network has one.
- If they always run out early, a bigger monthly bundle is usually cheaper per GB than several small ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 GB a month enough?
Only for messages and short voice calls. One video call of 20–30 minutes a day would use 1 GB in about a week.
How long does 5 GB last?
For WhatsApp, social media and a short daily video call, about a month. With an hour of YouTube a day, it could be gone in about 10 days.
How much data does a student in Afghanistan need?
Usually 10–15 GB a month for online classes, research and video calls — more if lectures are watched as video every day.
Is it better to send one big bundle or several small ones?
One big monthly bundle is usually better value. For example, ATOMA's Monthly 30GB costs about $0.54 per GB, while its 1 GB monthly bundle costs about $2.19.
What happens if the bundle runs out early?
The phone stops using the bundle and may start using airtime at a pay-as-you-go rate, or stop the internet. You can send another bundle at any time.
Send the right bundle now
Enter their number on TopUpAFG, choose Data plans and pick the size that matches their profile — the full price is shown before you pay. Want to compare networks first? See our ATOMA internet packages list.