Video streaming is among the most strenuous tasks you can put a mobile device through, requiring significantly more data than music streaming or even online gaming. Even short-form platforms, such as YouTube, are data quagmires. This doesn't prevent over 1 billion people from watching YouTube on their phones every day, making it the world's second-most popular search engine and social network (after Google and Instagram, respectively).
With this in mind, being aware of your own YouTube data consumption is a useful habit, especially when mobile data is limited. Perhaps you’re nearing the end of the monthly data allowance or visiting another country and want to avoid roaming fees. Whatever the situation, here’s a quick guide to estimating and understanding YouTube mobile data usage, tips on reducing it, and using an eSIM to enjoy cheap, easy-to-manage mobile data wherever you are in the world.
What is Mobile Data?
Mobile Data is a wireless internet connection achieved between a portable device, such as a smartphone, and a cell tower, as opposed to a Wi-Fi connection. When a phone uses mobile data, it sends a signal to a cell tower, allowing it to access the mobile provider’s network and get online.
The volume of data transferred over this connection is usually measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). Most mobile phone contracts, prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs will permit a set amount of mobile data usage. For example, a 5GB travel eSIM will allow the user to transfer 5 gigabytes of data via this connection before it runs out. Accessing data-heavy content such as high-resolution videos will require more data than simple messaging or browsing.
Which Factors Affect Mobile Data Use on YouTube?
Two main considerations determine YouTube data usage:
- 1
Time spent watching videos
- 2
Video resolution/image quality
The first factor is self-evident: the more you use YouTube, the more mobile data it consumes. As YouTube doesn't run in the background of devices (the app needs to be open and onscreen to operate), it’s easy to keep an eye on how much time is spent on it.
The second factor, video resolution, is crucial to determining how much data YouTube uses. YouTube supports a wide range of resolutions, from the Lego-like 144p to ultra-HD 8K video. The higher the resolution, the more digital information is being transmitted, and the higher the cost to your mobile data allowance.
How Much Data YouTube Uses - The Stats
The following is a rough outline of YouTube’s mobile data consumption at different video resolutions. The sharper the picture, the more data is required to stream it. Video resolution is given in pixel height (e.g. a 720p video will have a frame that is 720 pixels high), and data consumption in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB) per hour.
At HD resolution (720p), YouTube will use approximately 1.5GB/hour
YouTube Data Consumption at Every Resolution
1. Extremely Low
Image Resolution: 144p
Data usage: 80MB/hour
2. Very Low
Image Resolution: 240p
Data usage: 200MB/hour
3. Low
Image Resolution: 360p
Data usage: 300MB/hour
4. Normal
Image Resolution: 480p
Data usage: 500MB/hour
5. HD
Image Resolution: 720p
Data usage: 1.5GB/hour
6. Ultra-HD
Image Resolution: 1080p
Data usage: 2-3GB/hour
8. 4K
Image Resolution: 2160p
Data usage: 3-5GB/hour
Note that some videos will only be available at certain resolutions. These figures only refer to the YouTube video-hosting platform and not other products like YouTube TV or YouTube Music.
What about YouTube Shorts?
YouTube’s smartphone-friendly TikTok clone, YouTube Shorts will consume less data on average than regular YouTube due to the overall lower video quality and the fact that an hour of watching Shorts contains more loading time and less video playback than an hour of watching longer-form YouTube videos.
How to Check Mobile Data Usage For Any App
If you use the YouTube app, it’s quick and easy to get an overview of just how and where your data is being spent. Most smartphones and tablets show a record of recent mobile data usage in the Settings menu.
This is useful when prioritising app usage in situations where you have limited data, as well as revealing apps that you might be unaware were even consuming data. Android devices provide the option to turn off background data, meaning YouTube will not run unless it is open in the foreground of your phone screen.
iPhone
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Mobile Data/Cellular to see an overview of your mobile data usage. This will display a list of all apps on the phone that use mobile data. Selecting the YouTube app will reveal statistics about the app’s data usage over time. Data for individual apps can also be switched on or off here. Note that this will only work for iPhones with the YouTube app installed – if you use YouTube via an internet browser, such as Google Chrome, it will be impossible to view individual data statistics for the site.
iPad
On an iPad, the process is nearly the same as on an iPhone: go to Settings > Mobile Data to view a list of all apps that use data and tap on the YouTube app for more detailed statistics about its data use over time.
Android
On an Android phone or tablet, open Settings > Network and Internet > Internet. Then tap the Settings cogwheel next to the name of your mobile network provider to view the total data usage of all apps on your device. Tap on the YouTube app icon to see details about your YouTube mobile data usage.
Google Pixel
To check your data usage on a Google Pixel device, open the Settings app and go to Network & Internet > SIMs > App data usage.
6 Ways to Reduce YouTube Data Usage
1. Reduce Video Playback Quality
Reducing the video quality is an easy and fuss-free way to dramatically lower your YouTube data usage. Tap on the Settings cogwheel of the video player window and select Quality to change the video resolution. Low-resolution videos will consume far less mobile data than HD ones. This feature is unavailable for YouTube Shorts.
2. Use the YouTube Data Saver Function
The Data Saver switch is a function unique to the YouTube mobile app and is an instant way to limit your YouTube data consumption when needed. When Data Saver is engaged, YouTube will automatically cap all videos at a maximum SD resolution of 480p. While this doesn’t give the user as much control of their viewing, it’s a quick and convenient way to truncate your mobile data use. This also brings data use in line with many mobile network carriers, which will often cap video playback use at 480p in mobile contracts.
3. Download Videos With YouTube Premium
Subscribers to YouTube’s paid service, YouTube Premium, have the option to download videos and save them for offline use. With a little organization and forward planning, you can prepare for a long journey or offline stint by pre-saving a playlist of videos. Then when you’re out and about, sit back and stream without touching your mobile data allowance. If you’re not interested in paying for a YouTube Premium subscription, you can sign up for a 1-month free trial instead. This is ideal if you have a short trip planned and foresee the need to be without mobile data – just remember to cancel the subscription before it gets billed.
4. Turn off Autoplay
YouTube’s business model relies on keeping users glued to their screens. As soon as one video finishes, the player is overlaid with links to tempting, similarly-themed videos, while the site's sophisticated algorithm maintains a constant sidebar of videos targeted at the user’s interests. One of the clearest examples of this UX is the default autoplay feature, which will immediately begin playing a related video the second the previous one finishes. If you’re not paying attention, this can drain your data as the site loads up video after video. Turn off autoplay by clicking the Settings cogwheel on the video player, or by going to your YouTube profile and selecting Settings > Autoplay.
5. Set a Data Limit
Android phones and tablets allow users to set a device-wide monthly data limit. This will prevent your device from accessing mobile data over a certain threshold, preventing any unexpected bills. You will also receive notifications when you’re close to reaching your monthly data limit.
6. Use an eSIM
While using an eSIM won’t technically reduce the amount of data you use, it will ensure that any data you do use costs less, especially when travelling abroad. This is because a travel eSIM allows your phone or tablet to connect to the local mobile network wherever you are in the world, meaning you can avoid roaming fees and use your device just like you would in your home country.
eSIM data plans
How Does YouTube Compare to Other Video Streaming Platforms?
Newpipe
Newpipe is an open-source app that allows access to YouTube’s entire catalogue, presented in a simplified UI with a lower average data consumption than the YouTube app. Newpipe is currently only available on Android, but provides an elegant, ad-free alternative to YouTube in a package that saves both data and battery while streaming.
Peertube
Started as a reaction to YouTube’s opaque moderation policies, privacy infringements and uptick in advertising, Peertube is a non-profit, open-source network of video hosting platforms that’s rapidly growing in membership. While it doesn't have the same depth of content as YouTube, it streams video at similar resolutions, resulting in comparable mobile data consumption levels.
Twitch
The world’s leading livestream app, Twitch specialises in real-time, interactive videos – a feature that YouTube has since added to their services in 2018. Watching a live stream on Twitch consumes roughly the same volume of data as watching a live or pre-recorded video on YouTube and is similarly affected by the picture quality of the stream.
Vimeo
Vimeo is a short-form video hosting site that emphasises curated content, artistry, and high-definition video. Vimeo consumes a similar amount of data per hour to YouTube, though it has a greater proportion of HD content which will naturally drain data faster than standard-definition videos.
Using an eSIM for Cheap Mobile Data
While it’s always wise to conserve data, a travel eSIM allows access to low-cost high-speed internet, even while roaming abroad. This means you don’t have to worry about reducing data usage on holiday, as you won’t incur roaming charges. Using a prepaid travel SIM with YouTube is an easy and cost-effective way to stay entertained on long journeys.
Any parent who's been on holiday with a young child will attest to the power of an iPad with a YouTube Kids account, especially when it comes to keeping children entertained in cars, trains and airport terminals, where Wi-Fi can be unreliable. An iPad mobile data plan works just like a travel eSIM plan, and can be used in over 60 countries worldwide.
