Data Usage can add up quickly, especially streaming all those videos around the holidays. Monitoring data usage and tracking it can be done in a couple ways, but you can also get a general idea of usage before you even start. This can be important for ensuring you don’t go over any usage limits or reach your allotted high speed data before the month is over.
We only covered some of the most popular streaming services. If you don’t see yours listed, we also offer a handy data usage calculator you can use at our website.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon has no public information for streaming data usage at this time. However, based on user reports:
- SD videos use about 0.45 GB per hour
- HD uses about 2.25 GB per hour
- Ultra HD/ 4K uses about 6GB per hour
Apple TV+
- SD (480p) uses about 0.7 GB per hour
- HD (720p) uses up to 2.5 GB per hour
- HD (1080p) uses up to 3 GB per hour
- UHD (4K) uses about 8 GB per hour
Disney+
Disney+ automatically detects your system’s capabilities and internet connection speed and delivers the highest quality experience possible as a default setting. They also give you the choice to change your data usage settings on all devices. With the Auto option, you can stream in the highest quality, up to what your device supports.
For example:
- SD uses about 0.7GB per hour
- HD uses up to 2GB per hour
- 4K uses around 7.7GB per hour
Hulu
HD video streaming will use about 1.35 GB per hour while 4K runs up to 7.2 GB per hour. Data usage controls are NOT available, nor is an official data chart, but this data is based on user forums and Hulu’s recommendations. Hulu also has quality control settings, which can help with data usage.
Max
There’s no specific data on this, but the application automatically adjusts the video quality based on your network bandwidth and connection speed. They suggest having a minimum of 5 Mbps for HD content and 50 Mbps for 4K! Thankfully, most shows and movies are available in HD. With these recommendations you’d use around 2.25 GB per hour for HD and 22.5 GB per hour for 4K.
Netflix
Netflix offers video settings, which can help with usage. While using auto might be best for most users, those concerned with usage may consider lowering the quality to accommodate.
- Standard-definition (SD) video streaming on Netflix uses 1 GB of data each hour.
- High-definition streaming will consume 3 GB of bandwidth per hour.
- 4K videos use 7 GB of data every hour.
Paramount+
Per their Help guide – When not on a Wi-Fi network, mobile data use will fluctuate based on the quality of your Internet connection and varies from 1GB per hour for standard definition, and up to 11GB per hour for the highest quality video stream.
Peacock
The service recommends a minimum download speed of 2.5 Mbps for streaming in HD. Based on this, you would use approximately 1.1 GB per hour.
YouTube
- 720p: 1.1 GB per hour
- 1080p: 2.25 GB per hour
- 4K: up to 9 GB per hour
Happy Streaming!