YouTube has become a global sensation, with millions of users watching and uploading videos daily. It’s an excellent source of entertainment, information, and education. According to recent statistics, YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users, with an average watch time of 40 minutes per session. For many people, it’s one of the best ways to spend time, especially while traveling. In this article, we’ll explore how much data YouTube uses and how you can make the most out of your travel experience by using eSIM.
Before we dive into the topic of how much data does YouTube use, let’s take a look at some interesting YouTube statistics. According to a recent report, YouTube is the second most visited site in the world, after Google. It has more than one billion hours of content watched every day. Moreover, over 70% of YouTube’s watch time comes from mobile devices, making it an essential platform for mobile users.
When traveling abroad, people often use YouTube to find great tourist attractions, restaurants, and hidden gems. You can find tons of travel videos on YouTube that can help you plan your trip and make it more enjoyable. Moreover, many people refer to various travelers on YouTube for tips, hacks, and inspiration. So it’s essential to consider how much data you are going to use for apps like YouTube and prepare your travel data plan accordingly.
Does YouTube use data?
Like any other application, YouTube requires either WiFi or mobile data to work. You can’t use it offline or without internet connectivity. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand how much data YouTube uses to avoid running out of data or getting unexpected bills.
How much data does YouTube use?
YouTube data usage depends on several factors, such as video quality, length, and device settings. Typically, the higher the video quality, the more data it uses. Moreover, longer videos use more data than shorter ones. According to many studies, a 5-minute YouTube video at standard quality (480p) uses approximately 45MB of data, while the same video at high quality uses around (1440p) 450MB of data. Therefore, if you’re watching a lot of videos on YouTube, it’s essential to keep track of your data usage to avoid getting a shock at the end of the month.
YouTube data usage by quality (video resolution)
To give you a better understanding of how much data YouTube uses, let’s take a look at a chart that shows YouTube data usage by quality (video resolution) :
| Video quality | Data usage per minute | Data usage per hour |
| 144p | 1.3MB | 80MB |
| 240p | 3.3MB | 200MB |
| 360p | 5.0MB | 300MB |
| 480p | 8.3MB | 500MB |
| 720p (HD) | 25MB | 1.5GB |
| 1080p (FHD) | 50MB | 3GB |
| 1440p (QHD) | 90MB | 5.5GB |
| 2160p (4K UHD) | 233MB | 14GB |
| 4320p (8K FUHD) | 900MB | 54GB |
As you can see, the higher the video quality, the more data it uses. Therefore, it’s crucial to adjust your video quality settings according to your data plan.
According to the experts, a one-hour YouTube video at standard quality uses approximately 500MB of data, while the same video at high quality uses around 5GB of data. It is important to have a data plan that suits your needs, if you are a constant YouTube video steamer.
Frequently asked questions about YouTube data usage
There are several frequently asked questions about YouTube data usage. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Does YouTube use more data than Netflix?
In most of the cases, YouTube uses more data than Netflix, since Netflix uses 3GB with 1440p quality content in an hour compared to YouTube uses around 5.5GB. However, the actual amount of data usage varies depending on several factors such as video quality, running time, and settings.
How much data does YouTube live streaming use?
The amount of data YouTube live streaming uses depends on video quality, hours of using streaming, and device settings. However, according to Android Authority, YouTube live streaming at 720p uses approximately 2.7GB of data per hour. YouTube live streaming uses more data than just watching normal videos, so you need to be aware of data usage while watching live streaming.
How do I check my YouTube data usage on the YouTube app?
You can check your YouTube data usage on the YouTube app by following these steps:
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture on the right top
- Tap on [Settings]
- Tap on [General]
- Tap on [Usage and diagnostics]
- Check your data usage for the past 30 days
Why is my YouTube data usage so high?
Your YouTube data usage may be high because of several reasons like video resolution, watching time, and settings. Moreover, if you’re using YouTube in a place where there’s weak WiFi connectivity, your device may switch to mobile data, resulting in higher data usage. It is necessary to check YouTube and your device settings to avoid unexpected high amounts of data usage.
How does YouTube’s data usage compare to other streaming services?
YouTube uses more data than other video or music streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify. Actual amount of data usage varies depending on the quality of video, length of video, and settings, but it is good for people to be careful while using high data consuming services.
Does using Youtube use a lot of data?
One common question among YouTube users is whether using the platform consumes a lot of data. The answer is yes, as watching videos on YouTube requires a considerable amount of data. Several different factors such as setting, resolution and video watching patterns can affect data usage. Watching YouTube videos on low-standard quality can consume under 500MB of data an hour, while the same video on high quality can consume up to 54GB of data, which is surprisingly a lot. It’s crucial to keep track of your YouTube data usage and use the platform in a cost-saving way, especially when traveling abroad.
How to track YouTube data usage?
It’s essential to keep track of your YouTube data usage to avoid running out of data or getting unexpected bills. You can track your YouTube data usage on Android and iPhone by following these steps:
How to track YouTube data usage on Android:
- Tap on [Settings]
- Tap on [Network & Internet]
- Tap on [Data use]
- Tap on “YouTube” under Apps
- Check your data usage during the recent billing cycle period
How to track YouTube data usage on iPhone:
- Open the [Settings]
- Tap on [Cellular]
- Scroll down and find “YouTube” under Apps
- Check your data usage for the current period
How to use YouTube in a cost-saving way while traveling abroad?
If you’re traveling abroad and using YouTube, it’s essential to use it in a cost-saving way. Here are some tips:
Change video quality
As we’ve seen earlier, the higher the video quality, the more data it uses. Therefore, you can change your video quality to save data. To do this, tap on the three dots on the video screen, select [Quality], and choose a lower quality.
Set lower default quality setting
You can also set a lower default quality setting for all videos. To do this, tap on your profile picture, select [Settings], select [Background & downloads], and choose a lower default quality.
Disable autoplay & playback
Disabling autoplay and playback can also save data. To do this, tap on your profile picture, select [Settings], select [General], and turn off “Autoplay” and “Play next”.
Try YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium allows you to watch ad-free videos, download videos for offline viewing, and use YouTube Music. Moreover, it offers a free trial period, so you can try it out before subscribing. If you are running out of data, then subscribing to Premium might be a more reasonable way to use it.
Use WiFi & Turn off cellular data
sing WiFi instead of cellular data can save you a lot of data. Therefore, it’s essential to look for WiFi or use your hotel’s WiFi whenever possible. Moreover, you can turn off your cellular data when you’re not using it to save data. However, just turning off your cellular data and using only WiFi is not an ideal solution, especially if you want to access YouTube anytime.
Use eSIM
Using a prepaid eSIM from eSIM Europe is an excellent way to save money and data while traveling abroad. With eSIM Europe, you can purchase a data plan that suits your needs, and you can use it in multiple countries without changing your physical SIM card. Moreover, eSIM Europe offers high-speed data and coverage in more than 42 countries in Europe. You can even have a look for an unlimited plan if you are going to use data consistently while traveling abroad. Therefore, it’s an excellent option for travelers who want to use YouTube and all other data while traveling Europe. Not only YouTube, you can seamlessly enjoy Spotify and other entertaining Apps with eSIM.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, YouTube is an excellent source of entertainment, information, and education, especially for travelers. However, it’s essential to understand how much data YouTube uses and how to use it in a cost-saving way, especially when traveling abroad. By adjusting your video quality, disabling autoplay and playback, using WiFi, and using a prepaid eSIM from eSIM Europe, you can make the most out of your YouTube experience without running out of data or getting unexpected bills. Therefore, if you’re planning to use YouTube while traveling, make sure to consider these tips and enjoy your trip to the fullest!
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