Embodiments profile users based on data usage of installed applications and provide recommendations for reducing data usage. A computing device or cloud service determines a plurality of applications installed on the computing device. Data usage patterns associated with each of the determined plurality of applications are identified. The data usage patterns describe data usage over a network for at least one of the determined plurality of applications. One or more recommendations for reducing data usage are defined based on the identified data usage patterns. Some embodiments recommend switching applications, uninstalling applications, or disabling particular network connections.