The Netflix data consumption on the phone depends mainly on your account settings: whether you have selected Automatic, Save Data, Wifi only, or Maximum Data options. The automatic setting uses per gigabyte of data for every 4 hours of streaming. On the other hand, if you go for the Save Data option, you can watch 6 hours of your favorite television series in 1 gigabyte of data.
With the Wifi only setting, you can only use Netflix when your iPhone or Android has an active wifi connection. You might not want to choose the Maximum Data option if you are looking forward to reducing your data consumption as it could use unlimited data.
How much data does Netflix use?
Once you are on Netflix, nobody can stop you or your partner with whom you have shared your account from binge-watching your favorite tv series except the data. It is a major factor that you should always keep a check on if you don’t want your monthly data quota to end before time.
Sometimes, it can be confusing to figure out how much data does Netflix use while you are streaming or downloading stuff on it. So, here in this article, we have made things easy for you by explaining ways that can help track down your Netflix data consumption.
Does streaming on Netflix consume that much data?
You may not have to worry about data usage if you have an unlimited data plan. But, if it’s not, then data consumption during streaming is important for you to consider. The data usage really depends on whether you are watching the show or movie in HD, Ultra HD, or just SD quality.
When streaming a movie or a t.v show, Netflix says that it would consume 1 GB of your data in an hour in standard definition. However, if you watch the t.v show or movie in HD for an hour, the case is a little different; Netflix may use up your data to 3 GBs. As for 4k Ultra HD, which the users usually get in a premium plan, up to 7 GBs may be consumed for an hour of streaming.
Look at the summary of how much data does Netflix use below:
- Standard Definition: 1 GB per hour of streaming
- HD: up to 3 GBs per hour of streaming
- 4k Ultra HD: up to 7 GB per hour of streaming
You might think downloading may reduce data usage. Unfortunately, no. Downloading won’t help save the data. It almost takes just an equal amount of bandwidth to save the video. Besides, saving videos also mean you need to have space for them. In fact, streaming videos could use lesser data.
How do you adjust these settings and thus control the data you use?
A paid subscription to Netflix doesn’t mean that you will watch the videos for free. There is, for sure, some amount of gigabytes used to stream each video, and by now, you should know how much data Netflix consumes per hour of streaming. Of course, you won’t want to spend 7 GBs on an hour-long video if you have restricted data plans. So what you can do is adjust the setting and control the data use. It will help you reduce the data that Netflix uses.
Netflix offers four data-consuming settings. Look at them to understand how you can control the data you use.
- Low Resolution: With this, only 0.3 GB of your data Netflix will use for an hour of streaming per device. But you will have to bear with the low quality of the video. It is great when you are running short on data or when kids are streaming since they won’t quite notice the difference.
- Medium Resolution: With this resolution, the video-streaming platform will consume your 0.7 GB of data for an hour of streaming per device. The resolution isn’t bad, too; you can still enjoy the videos with it.
- High Resolution: This type of resolution offers the best video quality but at a high price. With it, on HD videos, up to 3 GBs, and on Ultra HD videos, Netflix will consume up to 7 GB of data for an hour of streaming per device.
- Auto Resolution: This resolution works based on the current speed of your internet and offers the best possible video quality accordingly.
Now, when you know the four resolutions, you need to know how to adjust them. It is very simple; let’s put it forth in our next heading below.
Adjust playback to control data use
Adjust playback according to the resolution you want your video to play in and save data usage. Follow the steps given to adjust them:
- First, search and sign in to your account from any web browser.
- Second, select the profile on which you want to impose the change of data usage setting from ‘Profile & Parental Controls.’
- Choose ‘Account’
- Next, choose ‘Playback settings’ under ‘My Profile.’
- Select the resolution you want and click on save.
According to the resolution you choose, your video quality will be affected.
Streaming with a mobile hotspot
Using a mobile hotspot means that the data connection will be turned into a Wi-Fi connection for the connected devices. As we know it, a Wi-Fi connection helps with saving data plans. But is the case the same with a mobile hotspot? No.
No wonder how much data does Netflix use with a Wi-Fi connection; it is different from what is consumed in the case of a mobile hotspot. It is, in fact, less efficient to convert mobile data into Wi-Fi than to just directly use it. So, all in all, streaming with a mobile hotspot can use more of your data than if you use it directly. You know what is wiser to do now!
How we measured the data
We estimated how much data Netflix uses by collecting information available on the media company’s website and by streaming a few episodes and movies on our own devices. Remember that these are not the exact values because making changes in frame rate and bitrate can alter the data usage consumption.
Saving data on Netflix
Sometimes saving data on Netflix can be tricky, but there are multiple ways to do it. If you wish to reduce your data usage on Netflix, read out the following given methods and select the one that suits you the most.
- The first and easiest way is to opt for the UHD package available on Netflix. The platform will automatically limit your streaming to 1080p resolution following this method. But the major disadvantage of Netflix’s UHD package is that it does not allow multiple streams simultaneously.
- If you are using a mobile phone, you will have to open the video playback setting on your Netflix app. Next, you will have to select between the given data saving options: Automatic, Sava Data, and Wi-fi only.
- You will have to first log in to your account for the browser. After that, tap on your playback settings option present on the account page. Next, the options of Auto, low, medium, and high quality will pop up on the screen. Select your changes and see the results on your account after some time.
Compare Internet Plans the Easy Way
Comparing internet plans can also help you save money on different data packages. One way of doing this is by collecting information about the multiple internet providers in your town or city. Next, you can make a conclusion by comparing their data speeds and costs.
Downloading Vs Streaming
We sometimes download stuff, hoping it will consume less data, but that’s not true. So, the real question is how much data does Netflix use in downloading? Well, it’s pretty much the same as streaming any of your favorite tv series or movie.
Note: If you experience any Netflix error while streaming you may check our detailed guide on it, which will surely help you.
How do you change your data usage settings on Netflix?
You can track and reduce your data usage on the subscription-based video streaming platform by altering your account settings. First, you will have to open your Netflix account, where you will find several options related to playback settings. These choices are quite straightforward, and you probably won’t face any difficulty selecting an option that matches your requirements. A detailed explanation of how to change data settings on Netflix is given above in the article, so go ahead and give it a read.
Related Article:
How does Netflix make money? An In-Depth Guide
How many subscribers does Netflix have worldwide?
How To Delete A Netflix Profile From Any Device Easily?