Before you buy
How much data YouTube uses, by quality setting
From 300 MB to over 2 GB an hour, and you pick the difference yourself in a menu. The figures by quality and how to set it up before you travel.
Bea Nogales 6 min Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash YouTube is the app whose usage varies most, and also the only one where you choose that usage by hand. The same hour of video can cost 300 MB or 2 GB depending on what you have set in a menu almost nobody opens.
The figures by quality
| Quality | Per hour, roughly |
|---|---|
| 144p and 240p | 70 to 150 MB |
| 360p | 250 to 350 MB |
| 480p | 400 to 600 MB |
| 720p | 800 MB to 1.2 GB |
| 1080p | 1.5 to 2.5 GB |
| Audio only or screen off | 50 to 100 MB |
On a phone screen, the difference between 480p and 1080p is far less noticeable than it costs: four times the data for an improvement you can barely see at that distance.
Where to change it
- Go into the app's settings and find video quality.
- Set the quality for mobile data to the data saver option, and keep the high one for wifi.
- Turn off autoplay of the next video, which is what keeps you using data once you've stopped watching.
- If you listen to music or podcasts on YouTube, use audio-only mode or download them beforehand.
Do that once and you won't have to touch it again all trip.
Downloading before you leave, which is the real saving
Videos and playlists can be downloaded on wifi and watched offline later. On a long flight or an overnight train, that's the difference between using nothing and using a whole plan.
A warning about live streams
Live broadcasts can't be downloaded and are usually served at the best quality your connection will take, so they're among the most expensive things you can watch on a phone. Watching a match live from abroad can take several gigabytes in an afternoon.
To turn these figures into an actual plan, the guide is in how much data you actually use on a trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much data does YouTube use per hour?
Between 250 and 350 MB at 360p, around 400 to 600 at 480p, roughly 1 GB at 720p and up to 2.5 GB at 1080p.
How do I make YouTube use less?
In the app's settings, set video quality for mobile data to the data saver option and turn off autoplay.
Can I watch YouTube offline?
Yes, by downloading videos on wifi before you leave. It's the biggest saving on flights and long journeys.
Does it use less if I turn the screen off?
Only if you use audio-only mode. With the screen off and the video still playing, it's still downloading video.
What about live streams?
They're among the most expensive: they can't be downloaded and are served at the best quality your connection will take. A match can take several gigabytes.
