How Much Data Streaming Actually Uses

Whether at home or travelling abroad, millions of us like keeping track of the data we use while streaming, purely because of how much it costs over time. When you’re heading on vacation, you really don’t want to be worrying about running up high bills just to stream a few songs or videos! With that in mind, we’ve put our research hats on and asked: “how much data does streaming use?”.

The short answer is that streaming data consumption varies depending on your video and audio quality, whether you’re streaming or downloading, the type of streaming you do, and more.

In this guide, we’ll break it all down for you so you’ll have a clear idea of how much data you’ll need when you head abroad, and how you can check the data you’ve used depending on your phone OS.

Data usage comparison by streaming type

It’s easy to assume that streaming video and live content probably use much less data compared to checking emails and scrolling Instagram here and there. 

Here’s a quick table comparing typical data usage by streaming type according to Armen Hakobyan’s guide over at Inorain:

As you can see, audio is much less data-hungry than video, and the higher quality your entertainment is, the more data you will burn through on the go.

Key factors that influence streaming data consumption

Streaming data consumption spikes based on the quality you demand, whether or not you download beforehand, and how long you stream for.

Impact of video and audio quality on data usage

Higher-quality audio and video streaming demand more data because they require a higher bitrate. Bitrate is the amount of data, in bits, that can be transmitted in a given time window, usually measured in bits per second. 

That means the types of video you stream, too, can affect how much data you consume. Don’t just pay attention to the resolution of the video (e.g., 1080p), but also the platform you are streaming on. For example, streaming on TikTok or Facebook Live will likely be much less data-intensive than, say, content for YouTube or Twitch.

You might also subscribe to streaming services, like Disney+ or Netflix, that offer certain packages with specific streaming quality available. If you want to avoid running up data costs while you’re away, choose standard definition vs. HD or Ultra 4K. 

If you’re connected to WiFi or use home broadband, you have less to worry about, but when you’re streaming from a phone or tablet, you likely have limits to watch for.

Data usage for streaming vs downloading content

Ultimately, streaming and downloading data use the exact same amount of information. Stream a video once, and you’ve effectively downloaded it. The same applies to songs and albums. A single playthrough is effectively one download.

However, if you choose to stream music or video, and you keep replaying the same content, you are consuming more and more data every time. If you want to rewatch the same Netflix movie again, you’re wasting data by downloading it all over again! What’s more, some streaming services might fix you to the best-quality audio or video.

The bottom line is, if you’ve downloaded a show or movie, you can watch it over and over again offline and not use any more data. Stick to streaming, however, and you’ll soon run out of data.

How streaming duration affects total data consumption

The longer a song or video is, the more data you stream, and the faster you use up your package. And, if you do so at the highest possible quality, you’ll burn through data even faster.

So - it’s always best to make sure you close streaming apps when you’re not using them, because if you accidentally leave a show or album playing, you’ll burn through your data super fast!

How to monitor data usage while streaming

Thankfully, it’s never been easier to check how much data you use when streaming while abroad. Here are a few quick walkthroughs for iPhone and Android.

Top tip! Remember that Android phones vary in terms of model and manufacturer, so the precise screens and menus you’ll need to use may appear different when you check out these settings in practice.

With iPhones, too, remember that settings may appear differently depending on the version of iOS you currently have installed.

Checking streaming data usage on iPhone

1. Find and open your phone's Settings app.
2. Scroll down to and tap Mobile Service.
3. Scroll down to Mobile Data.  You'll see your total data used for the 'Current Period',which is the amount of time since you last reset your statistics.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Reset Statistics to start measuring your data usage again from scratch.
   

Checking streaming data usage on Android

1. Find and open Settings.
2. Scroll to and tap Network and Internet.
3. Tap SIMs and choose the SIM you’re currently using (for example, an eSIM for North America from SIMOVO).
   
4. On the next screen, choose App data usage. You’ll then see a screen where you can toggle date periods to see how much you’ve used at any given time, followed by your most data-intensive apps.

As mentioned, these settings may appear differently on your device, such as Samsung phones, due to manufacturer specifics.

Practical tips to reduce data usage when streaming TV

Thankfully, there are ways you can reduce how much data you consume when streaming TV while abroad. Here are some quick tips to try so you can binge-watch as much as you like on vacation:

• Download before you go. If you know what you’re likely to watch when you travel, download your favourite series or movie(s) on WiFi before you leave. That means you can then switch your data off and watch offline without running up costs.
• Only choose low-definition media. As much as we all love 4K quality entertainment, consider stripping your data usage back to standard definition just for while you travel.
• Choose an unlimited eSIM. SIMOVO lets you prepay for an eSIM with unlimited data, meaning your package will reset every 24 hours. Choose an unlimited plan, and you’ll never have to worry about being stranded without data (not that we’d ever let that happen, anyway!).
• Cap app usage. Devices like iPhones have app limit controls that prevent you from accessing certain programs and services based on your own presets. If you want to stop streaming YouTube after three hours, for example, set a limit gate.
• Swipe off apps and stop watching. It’s easier said than done to just leave shows and movies to keep running! Do yourself and your data a favour. Switch off autoplay, and when you’re not watching, swipe off. Think of it as the modern twist on turning TVs off standby when they’re not in use!

How much data does streaming use? More than you’d think. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to curb data overuse when you’re streaming abroad. Take the first step towards lower data costs with a prepaid SIMOVO eSIM, and you’re already on the right track.