Which Phone Data Usage App is Accurate? Several tested!

[tempest7]

I'm a Samsung Galaxy S user based in Hong Kong running 2.2 Froyo.

I don't have an unlimited usage account, though 500 MB/month isn't too bad.

I started off using an app called Phone Usage (Phone Usage Pro seems to be from the same company) and later on noticed there was something wrong with the reported numbers. Phone Usage has one of the nicest interfaces, but if the reports weren't accurate, then it wasn't doing it's job. So I switched to another program called Stats Free.

I've been doubting all the data/GPRS/3G usage statistical apps, so I spent some time trying to figure which one is probably giving the best reports.

I'm also looking for some recommendations. This is just my own person study and if someone has a better app to recommend then those I've tested then please let me know.

I'll break up the reporting stuff into another message.

continued...

 

[Harry2]

I use 3G Watchdog for 3G data. The app shows good statistics

For measuring the data of every single app I use TrafficStats
(only for Android 2.2)

Harry

 

[tempest7]

I gathered info on my usage for the following apps:

3G Watchdog, Smart Monitor Lite, Stats Free, Traffic Counter, TrafficInfo, and TrafficStats Lite.

Tests: Basically I picked a day and did a screen capture of each application one right after another. After I used the phone as I normally would through the day, I would again do another screen capture of each application. I had a total of 4 screen captures (with a few exceptions) for the majority of applications tested. There will be some slight error and differences in numbers, but the point was to do this quickly without wasting too much time, yet still being able to gather data.

3G Watchdog:

3G Watchdog started with a total of 56.07 MB (for the month)
After approx. 5hrs 31mins: 57.77 (+1.7)
After approx. 12hrs 47mins: 58.94 (+1.17)
After approx. 11hrs 47mins: 78.67 (+19.73)

Smart Monitor Lite:

Smart Monitor Lite started with mobile 66.23 MB (for the month) / wifi 441.88 MB (for the month)
After approx. 5hrs 51mins: 68.13(+1.9)/475.97(+34.09)
After approx 12hrs 40mins: 69.01(+0.88)/556.82(+80.85)
After approx 11hrs 48mins: 88.09(+19.08)/573.43(+16.61)

Stats Free:

Stats Free started with 50.57 MB (mobile) / 361.21 MB (wifi)
After approx. 5hrs 50mins: 51.90(+1.33)/395.25(+34.04)
After approx. 12hrs 45mins: 4.61(-47.3)/474.02(+78.77) (note there's some sort of error there)
After approx. 11hrs 48mins: 7.18 KB(I auto reset stats on the 17th)/487.40(+13.38)

Traffic Counter:

Traffic Counter started with 53.4 MB (mobile) / 380.2 MB (wifi)
After approx. 5hrs 50mins: 55.5(+2.1)/413.6(+33.4)
After approx. 12hrs 45mins: 56(+0.5)/492.2(+78.6)
After approx. 11hrs 47mins: 75.8(+19.8)/505.7(+13.5)

TrafficInfo:

I noticed TrafficInfo resets the totals automatically. Though it does have a more detailed breakdown per application. Not what I want however.

TrafficStats Lite:

TrafficStats Lite takes a long time to load on my Galaxy S. It ALWAYS pops up the screen asking me to 'wait' or 'force close' this app. If I wait, it will eventually load.

TrafficStats Lite started with (sent+received) 14+29 MB (mobile) / 213+212 MB (wifi)
After approx. 12hrs 49mins: 14+29(+0/0)/226+278(+13/66)
After approx. 11hrs 41mins: 17+42(+3/13)/226+292(+0/14)

Seems like a nice app, but it just isn't running properly for me to use right now.

Conclusion: None, which one really is the best for me to use? At most I can make a guess to how much data I've used now.

 

[tempest7]

I use 3G Watchdog for 3G data. The app shows good statistics

For measuring the data of every single app I use TrafficStats
(only for Android 2.2)

Harry

Thanks for the recommendation Harry.

So far I find it is quite simple. Not much in terms of statistics, but that maybe the benefit of the program; its simplicity.

Just additional FYI. (as if I don't seem obsessed about this enough already)

What I didn't include above, but I noticed using SystemPanel Lite, is that 3G Wtachdog's Service is using the most memory (11.1M of my RAM) compared to the other apps.

TrafficStats Lite's background service is using up 9.3M

Traffic Counter - 10 M
Stats Free - 10.1 M
Smart Monitor Lite - 9.1 M
TrafficInfo - 12.6 M

 

[Harry2]

Hi, thanks for your report.

3G Watchdog is quite simple, I agree
With statistics I choose the wrong term, I like the simplicity of showing my data history.

Using this amount of RAM for background service is interesting!

I love my 3G Watschdog and need it to control my monthly data, so it's ok
For Compensation I'll uninstall TrafficStats. Most of time I don't need it.
Only in future if I have to hunt an app which "sending home", I'll install it again

Harry

 

[Roze]

@ Tempest, very good comparison chart of all the data apps I'm using 3G watchdog and traffic counter. I find traffic counter is not as accurate, lol. 3G watchdog is very close to what my phone bill says I use. I like all of the widgts for traffic counters, lol.

Does traffic counters show you the detail app data usage? I thought it did...since I saw it once but I can't find that feature/setting again. I might have been mistaken and it was another app on my phone.

Would you recommend traffic info instead of trafficstat for app data usage?

 

[BookLover]

I have both Data Counter Widget and 3G Watchdog.

I like 3G for the alerting and Data Counter Widget because it counts both wifi and mobile data. Both show similar, but not identical, results.