If you mainly use your phone for calls, WhatsApp and occasionally scrolling Facebook or watching short YouTube clips, you may not even use 5GB of data each month — that makes you a 'low-usage user'. These users should choose a mobile plan with the opposite mindset to data-hungry power users: no need to chase 5G or huge data allowances. Instead, focus on whether call minutes are sufficient, whether the monthly fee is low enough, and whether the contract terms are flexible. Below, we use real figures from the GoPlan (goplanhk.com) database (verified as of 26 August 2026) to break down how low-usage users should choose a plan.
What Low-Usage Users Should Focus On: Cost Efficiency, Not Speed
Many plans on the market are sold on 5G and large data allowances, but for low-usage users these features often mean paying for things you won't use. Instead, you should focus on three things: first, whether the monthly fee is low enough, because if you use little data, a low monthly fee matters above all; second, whether call minutes are sufficient, especially if you still make regular phone calls rather than only using WhatsApp voice; and third, whether the contract terms are flexible, for example whether there is a no-contract option or a port-in discount.
Real Examples from the Database: What's Available Under $100?
The GoPlan database has a total of 142 monthly mobile plans from 6 network operators, and 30 of them are priced under $100. For low-usage users, those 30 plans already offer plenty of choice. Here are a few worth paying attention to:
| Operator | Monthly fee | Network | Data allowance | Contract term | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3HK | $58 | 4G/4.5G | 10GB full-speed | 36 months | After allowance is used, throttled to 128Kbps but no disconnection; includes 2GB GBA data per month |
| CMHK | $68 | 5G | 10GB hard cap | 24 months | No FUP throttling; after allowance is used, extra charges may apply — think carefully if you worry about overage |
| HKBN | $81 | 5G | 45GB full-speed | 36 months | After allowance is used, throttled to 1Mbps; unlimited use of 15 video/social apps (selected apps only) |
| SmarTone | $79 | 4.5G | 10GB full-speed | 24 months | After allowance is used, throttled to 128Kbps; no eligibility restrictions |
Note that CMHK's $68 plan is 5G but has a hard cap of 10GB — once the data is used up there is no throttled fallback; you have to buy additional data or wait for the next bill cycle. If you often accidentally exceed your data allowance, this plan could cost you extra. In contrast, 3HK's $58 plan is 4G, but after the allowance is used it only throttles to 128Kbps, WhatsApp text messages work fine, and it is the cheapest plan in the entire database, saving you the most on monthly fees.
Are Unlimited Selected App Plans Worth It? Check the Terms Carefully
For people who mainly use WhatsApp, some plans offer unlimited usage of selected apps without deducting local data — for example, HKBN's $81 plan includes unlimited use of 15 video/social apps. This sounds attractive, but you should note two things: first, it usually only applies to a specific list of apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, YouTube, Netflix and so on, so you need to confirm that the apps you actually use are on the list; second, these plans often require a long contract (for example 36 months), so if you don't want to be locked in for that long, weigh it carefully.
What You Don't Actually Need: 5G, Large Data Allowances and Multi-Device Sharing
Low-usage users are often misled by sales staff into thinking they need to upgrade to 5G to get fast enough speeds, but in fact a 4.5G network is more than sufficient. The cheapest 5G plan in the database is 3HK's $66/month plan (15GB, throttled to 1Mbps after the allowance), but for low-usage users the $58 4G plan is $8 cheaper. It has 5GB less data but you won't use it all anyway, and the speed is adequate — so why pay more? Also, data allowances above 20GB are meaningless for you because you may not even use 5GB a month. And multi-device sharing (for example sharing data with a tablet or computer) is unnecessary for you because you simply don't use that much data.
3 Criteria for Low-Usage Users When Choosing a Plan
- Monthly fee first: if you use little data, a low monthly fee beats everything. A plan between $58 and $81 is already good enough — don't be tempted by expensive plans with unnecessary features.
- Call minutes must be sufficient: if you still make regular calls, check how many minutes the plan includes. In the database, 3HK's $58 plan includes 3000 minutes of calls, which is more than enough for most people.
- Contract term must suit you: if you switch operators often or don't want to be tied down for too long, consider a no-contract option (such as CMHK's $98/30GB no-contract plan), but these plans are relatively rare on the market, so you need to actively look for them.
One final reminder: all specific plan terms (including FUP speeds, GBA data and selected app lists) should be confirmed with the operator before signing. Using the GoPlan (goplanhk.com) website lets you compare plans from all 6 Hong Kong operators at once, with real user reviews for reference, helping you save time and money.