Data Saver
Worried about hitting your data cap? Estimate exactly how many Gigabytes your Netflix marathons and Spotify sessions are consuming.
Total Estimated Usage
0 GB
per month
The Truth About 4K Streaming
Streaming services like Netflix use adaptive bitrate technology. This means the better your quality setting, the more massive the file size becomes.
Data Usage Reference Guide
Here are the standard consumption rates used by the major platforms (Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime):
| Quality |
Resolution |
Data Per Hour |
| Low |
480p |
~0.7 GB |
| High (HD) |
1080p |
~3 GB |
| Ultra HD |
4K |
~7 GB |
Audio Streaming (Spotify / Apple Music)
Audio is significantly "cheaper" on data. Even at the highest quality (320kbps), you would need to listen for 24 hours straight to use 3.5 GB of data.
- Normal (96kbps): ~43 MB per hour.
- High (160kbps): ~72 MB per hour.
- Extreme (320kbps): ~144 MB per hour.
- Lossless (Hi-Fi): Can be up to 600 MB per hour!
How to Save Mobile Data
- Download on Wi-Fi: Most apps allow you to download playlists or movies offline. Do this before leaving the house.
- Adjust App Settings: Go to Netflix settings > Cellular Data Usage > set to "Save Data". This forces lower bitrate.
- Use Data Saver Mode: Android and iOS have built-in modes that restrict background data usage.
