How much data does streaming TV use?

Streaming live TV approximately uses 0.3 GB to 8GB of data in an hour, depending on the video quality, streaming duration and your platform. Most of us have shifted to Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ for entertainment, but the primary concern is now data consumption.

Whether you are streaming on your WiFi or on eSIM data connection, you should be aware of how much data your streaming TV uses. It helps you control the overusage and manage the data caps.

In this article, I go through the exact details about the data your streaming apps use. Moreover, what are the strategies you can use to monitor and control the high consumption?

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What Determines How Much Data Streaming TV Uses?

Here are some factors that determine how much data the streaming TV consumes.

Video quality is an essential factors that set your data usage. Streaming your favourite show at SD quality uses comparatively lower data than HD. Similarly, Ultra HD uses data faster than HD. Choosing the correct video quality mode can limit fast data usage.
Streaming duration is also a commonly involved factor. Consistent streaming for three hours takes three times more data in an hour.
Content type is generally overlooked. Watching sports channels, events, or news takes more data. Live streaming needs real-time transmission, so it uses more data per hour.
Connection type matters to decide data usage counts. Streaming on WiFi does not impact the data caps. On the other hand, streaming on a mobile data connection counts toward your data limit.

These factors let you develop streaming habits according to your data consumption. It matters more when you are relying on the SIM card data plans.

How Much Data Does Each Streaming Quality Use?

Selecting the video streaming quality majorly impacts your data consumption. Here is the breakdown of the data usage with different resolutions.

Standard defination is an ideal option for the SIM card data usage. It approximately consumes 0.3GB to 1GB of data in an hour, depending on your content type. In SD quality, the picture will not be clear, like the older DVDs. It works better in slow internet connections with a limited data plan.
High definition is ideal for most viewers with a balance between quality and data usage. It approximately uses 1 GB to 3GB of data per hour, depending on the platform.
Full high definition is the upper tier of the HD. It consumes 2GB to 3GB of data in an hour. The resolution provides clear and premium viewing. Three hours daily streaming at full HD quality, monthly use between 180 GB and 270 GB.
Ultra high definition/4K offers the best picture quality, with lots of data consumption. It approximately uses 7GB to 8GB of data per hour. Three hours of daily 4K streaming consumes 630 GB to 720 GB monthly. If you are trying to decide whether 5GB, 10GB, or a bigger bundle is enough for your TV habits, our How much is 5GB of data? guide shows exactly what that allowance covers for streaming, browsing, and social media.

How Much Data Do Popular Streaming Services Use?

Streaming platforms consume different data at a similar quality level. Understanding the streaming services' data requirement let you estimate the data usage.

Netflix

Adjusting the video quality can control your data usage on Netflix. At SD quality, it takes 0.3 GB, (HD) setting uses about 0.7 GB, and full HD jumps approximately to 3 GB per hour. Netflix offers manual data settings. It is ideal to manage the data limit.

Hulu

Hulu consumes slightly more data. SD uses 0.65 GB, and HD uses 1.35 GB per hour.

Hulu's live TV streaming uses about 3.6 GB per hour for HD live channels. While streaming at 4K takes around 7.2 GB per hour.

Disney+

Disney+ maintains the data usage. SD streaming uses 0.7 GB, HD quality uses 2 GB, and 4K UHD demands 7.7 GB per hour. Disney+ uses data higher than Netflix, as it emphasis on visual quality.

YouTube TV and Sling TV

YouTube TV is a live streaming-focused platform. The HD live streaming uses approximately 3 GB per hour, like other live TV services. The live channels require real-time transmission.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is effective due to its power quality level. At SD, it takes 0.2GB, HD uses 1.1GB, and UHD consumes 5.8 GB per hour. The platform is a perfect choice for live streaming to save data.

How Much Data Does Streaming TV Use on eSIM technology?

An eSIM card is a tiny digital chip integrated into devices that enables the digital cellular service. If you have the eSIM compatible devices, you no longer need a physical SIM to swap between different networks manually.

Embedded SIM is ideal for international travelers to get a flexible data connection when no WiFi is available. Generally, the SIM type in your phone does not impact the data consumption while streaming. But eSIM is considered better to use for its cost-effective, limited and unlimited data plans.

If you are a frequent traveler and a TV streaming enthusiast, you should buy the eSIM unlimited data plan to feel free of the high data usage. For this purpose, ensure to select the perfect eSIM match.

eSIMCard: A Global Connectivity Provider

eSIMCard is a global connectivity provider that offers eSIM plans for 200+ destinations. Compared to others, the carrier stands out for its user-friendly services. eSIMCard offers eSIM data only and the data, voice and text plans with further short and long term unlimited and limited plans.

You can buy the eSIM online; the provider offers a complete guide for users to set up and activate the embedded SIM. You can activate a digital SIM in your iPhone and Android via QR code scan. Once it's set up on your phone, you can stream your favourite shows according to your data.

Here are some advanced features the eSIM Card offers for its users.

24/7 active customer support.
Allow hotspot sharing with other devices.
Offers the top up to refill the plan.
Fast 4G and 5G network connection throughout your destination.
Offers QR code activation in a few clicks.
No international data roaming charges included.
Affordable short and long term data plans for travelers.

Conclusion

Knowing about how much data streaming TV uses lets you feel free from the anxiety of the data caps and high fees. The data consumption generally ranges from 0.3G B to 8 GB per hour, depending on your platform, video quality, and the content type. If you also listen to music or podcasts for hours, make sure to check our How much data does streaming music use?

guide so you can calculate both audio and video usage together.

Streaming with SIM card data plans consumes data faster. If you have an eSIM-compatible device, buy the eSIM Card unlimited data plan to enjoy streaming your favorite entertainment shows.

FAQs

How to reduce the data usage while streaming TV?

You can use the WiFi connection to stream, enable the data saver, and adjust the video quality to SD to reduce the data usage while streaming TV.

How to check the data usage on iPhone?

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Select the Cellular and look for the Cellular Data. Now scroll down to the apps list to check the current data usage of each.

How to check the data usage on an Android?

Open the Android Settings app. Look for the Network & Internet connection. Now select the Mobile Network, and find the App Data Usage. Scroll to the list of apps to check the current data usage.