When it comes to data usage, YouTube can be a hungry beast or a frugal companion, depending on your chosen settings. The platform offers a gamut of video resolutions that directly correlate with data usage.
How Much Data Does YouTube Use?
YouTube’s data usage depends on a myriad of factors including video quality, resolution, and length.
Data Usage by YouTube
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:
| Video Quality | Data Consumption per Hour |
| 144p | 100 MB |
| 240p | 150 MB |
| 360p | 250 MB |
| 480p (Standard Def) | 500 MB |
| 720p (HD) | 900 MB to 1.2 GB |
| 1080p (Full HD) | 1.2 GB to 2.5 GB |
| 1440p (2K) | 3 GB to 4.5 GB |
| 2160p (4K) | 6 GB to 9 GB |
How to Save Data on YouTube
YouTube is a great way to watch videos online, but it can also eat up a lot of data, especially if you watch videos in high quality. Here are a few tips on how to save data on YouTube:
- Lower the video quality: The higher the video quality, the more data it will use. If you’re on a limited data plan, you may want to consider lowering the video quality to 480p (Standard Definition) or 360p. You can do this by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the video player and selecting a lower video quality.
- Enable data saver mode: The YouTube app has a data saver mode just like Netflix and Amazon Prime, that will automatically lower the video quality when you’re streaming on mobile data. To enable data saver mode, open the YouTube app and go to “Settings” > “General” > “Data saver.“
- Download videos offline to watch later: If you know you’re going to be watching videos in an area with no Wi-Fi, you can download videos to watch later offline. To do this, click on the three dots icon below the video and select Download.
- Use Wi-Fi whenever possible: Wi-Fi is much faster and more reliable than mobile data, so it’s always best to use Wi-Fi when you’re watching YouTube videos.
By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your data usage on YouTube.
Summary
YouTube offers a feast of content but be aware, that it can also feast on your data. Your usage depends largely on the video quality you prefer and how proactive you are about managing data-saving settings.
How much data do you think you use on YouTube each month? Share your views in the comments below.
