How Much Data Does Netflix Use?(2026 Guide)

Does your monthly data package run out early? Streaming live videos on Netflix can be the reason. If you buy data for your travel, you should know how much Netflix uses. Netflix offers the option to adjust the video quality to reduce data consumption. You can do it from your device settings.

This article is a guide to help you understand how much data Netflix uses. We will then go through the steps to reduce data usage while streaming Netflix.

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How much data does Netflix use?

Netflix is like YouTube, which consumes more data while streaming videos. The data usage while using depends on some factors, including:

Videos length
Video quality
Time spent on Netflix

There are different standards for video quality. Watching videos to a high standard will consume more data. For example, streaming SD video will consume 1GB of data per hour. However, HD video will use approximately 3GB of data per hour. To reduce the high data consumption, you can use the data saver mode. Here is the breakdown of the data you can consume on different video quality levels.

Low Video Streaming

Low-quality video uses up to 350MB of data per hour.

Medium Video Streaming

Medium quality uses up to 850MB of data per hour.

Standard Definition (SD) Streaming

SD quality uses up to 1GB per hour.

High Definition (HD) Streaming

HD-quality video uses up to 3GB of data per hour.

Ultra High Definition (UHD) Streaming

UHD (7GB/hour) is the ultimate data hog-like streaming 10+ hours of high-quality music on streaming music platforms. Always weigh quality against your data limits.

How do you check Netflix data usage?

It's easy to check your Netflix app's data consumption. You can access the settings and follow the given steps to check your Netflix data usage on iOS and Android devices.

iPhone Devices

Open your iPhone Settings
Move to Cellular
Scroll down and look for Netflix
Check the data usage under "Current Period."

Android Device

Open your Android Settings
Scroll to Apps
Select Netflix from the apps
Check data usage under "Usage."

Tips to Reduce the Data Consumption

After knowing how much data Netflix is using, it helps you take steps to reduce data usage. Here are tips to save data usage while watching Netflix.

Adjust the Video Quality

The best setting for saving data on Netflix is adjusting the video quality. Check your video quality from the device settings. If you are streaming on HD or Ultra HD quality, your data consumption will be higher. Adjust the video quality to a low or Medium standard to reduce the data usage.

Download the Content

Offline downloads work for music too! Compare Netflix’s download sizes to Spotify’s data usage-songs take far less space than movies.

Enable the data Saver mode.

Enable data-saving mode to reduce data consumption. This mode reduces the quality of your images and videos, resulting in lower data usage.

Use WiFi Only

Turning on the WiFi mode will prevent your apps from using the data. The devices will use WiFi to stream videos. Using WiFi-only mode will reduce your data use.

Use eSIM cards

If you travel out of the country, you should use an eSIM card. eSIM will not reduce your data usage while streaming. However, it costs less than the local SIMs. At your destination, the embedded SIM connects with the regional networks and avoids the high data roaming charges. During your travel, it is the best way to use the internet connection at an affordable price.

Conclusion

How much data does Netflix use? This is the most asked question when Netflix's data runs out early. Netflix may be the reason your data is running out. You can check the data consumption from your device settings. Netflix data use depends on the time you spend on Netflix and the resolution of the video. To reduce data usage, you adjust the video quality, turn on the data saver mode, and download your favourite content.

FAQs

How many GB does a 2-hour movie use on Netflix?

If you are watching a movie in SD quality, 2GB of data will be used in 2 hours. However, in the case of HD quality, the data consumption will be 6GB in two hours.

Does Netflix use too much data?

The more time you spend on Netflix, the more data you will use. The high data usage also depends on the video resolution. If you are streaming in ultra HD, the data consumption will be higher.