My mother uses a prepaid phone plan where mobile data usage is charged by the megabyte. It is currently not cost-effective to switch to a monthly fixed-cost subscription plan.

  • When she is at home, she should:
    • Switch off mobile data.
    • Switch on WiFi (because her home WiFi has a fixed monthly cost).
  • When she is outside home, she should:
    • Switch on mobile data (so that others can contact her using messaging apps such as Signal and WhatsApp).
    • Switch off WiFi (to conserve battery).

The problem: she often forgets to do the above. Sometimes she leaves home without switching on mobile data. Sometimes she accidentally uses lots of mobile data when at home.

Is there an app that can automatically switch on/off mobile data and WiFi based on the phone’s location? Location should be detected based on all the following data: latitude/longitude coordinates (if location is enabled on phone), WiFi networks in range (if WiFi is enabled on phone), and cell tower signals (if airplane mode is not on).

We would strongly prefer to use a privacy-respecting open source app for this. Phone: Samsung Galaxy A series. OS: Android 13.

  • @[email protected]OP
    1•1 year ago

    WiFi and mobile data are activated all the time.

    In our case, there are several problems with activating both WiFi and mobile data all the time:

    • At home, if the WiFi is out of range, switched off, or temporarily out of service, Android would start to consume mobile data. This is highly relevant because, at her home, WiFi is unavailable from night time till early morning to enforce self-discipline.
    • Outside home, there is no need for WiFi. Why should it be switched on when it will never be used outside home? It would just be a battery drain.
    • @[email protected]
      2•1 year ago

      I’m charging my phone every night due to Sleep as Android, so battery drain isn’t really a thing I’m looking after. But you are absolutely right here.

      As already suggested you might take a look at IFTT.