Your phone is your gateway to wondrous things. But it all comes at a cost. When you use cellular data to access the internet, you consume that data from your cell phone plan. When you connect your phone to Wi-Fi, you access the internet through a router that’s connected to the internet. 

What you use to connect to the internet will determine your connection speed, the security of your information, and its cost. Under the right conditions, Wi-Fi is faster and cheaper than cellular data. 

“But I Don’t Use the Internet All the Time.”

That’s what you may believe. But your phone may be using data without your knowledge. Apps get updated, you receive notifications, podcasts or magazines may be downloading in the background because permissions were set at one point in time, and you forgot or didn’t even realize it. All these use up your cellular data unless you’re connected to Wi-Fi. And if you’re streaming or downloading videos, you should ideally do it on Wi-Fi as well. 

Why? Because unless you’ve bought a cellular plan with unlimited data, you’re going to receive a massive bill at the end of the month for all the data you’ve consumed. If you’re on a shared plan, you may also be consuming data that other members of your family may need when they’re not at home or work. 

However, it is crucial that you value security over cost. If your only Wi-Fi option is public unsecured Wi-Fi, you’re better off using cellular data. This is important, especially when you travel. But, if you have access to secure Wi-Fi while traveling, using it will save you a lot of money because international roaming is prohibitively expensive. 

Know the Signs

One way to tell which data connection you’re using is to check the top of your screen. If the Wi-FI signal icon appears there, it means that you’re connected to it. If not, then you’re using cellular data. Depending on the phone you’re using, you can swipe down or head to settings to switch on Wi-Fi and connect to a network. 

So, use Wi-FI if it’s secure, if you’re streaming video, traveling, need a faster connection, or have a limited cellular data plan.