If Netflix is one of your favorite video streaming platforms, you may want to read this guide because it will teach you how to reduce the amount of data MB you consume per day. But before we dive into that, let's talk about the factors that influence data usage on Netflix.
Although many factors influence Netflix data consumption, we'll highlight the most popular and influential ones in this article. The first one we'll highlight is "Streaming Quality Settings." This visual quality setting ranges from "Low (basic video quality)" to "Ultra HD (4K)."
According to research, you'll use ~5 MB per minute (~3 GB per 10 hours) watching video on basic video quality and use ~116 MB per minute (~70 GB per 10 hours) streaming on Ultra HD video quality. Other video qualities on Netflix include Medium (Standard Definition), High (Standard Definition, SD), and High (High Definition, HD, 1080p).
Here's the arrangement according to their data consumption:
| Quality Setting | Per 10 Hours | Per Hour | Per Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra HD (4K) | ~70 GB | ~7 GB | ~116 MB |
| High—High Definition (HD, 1080p) | ~30 GB | ~3 GB | ~50 MB |
| High-Standard Definition (SD) | ~10 GB | ~1 GB | ~17 MB |
| Medium (Standard Definition) | ~7 GB | ~700 MB | ~12 MB |
| Low (Basic Video Quality) | ~3 GB | ~300 MB | ~5 MB |
With that being said, another thing that influences data consumption on Netflix is the Auto-Adjust feature, which dynamically changes the streaming resolution based on your internet speed and bandwidth. If you frequently notice the video you're streaming is changing in image quality to HD or 4K, this means the automatic setup is still active. You may need to manually set the quality to "SD" or "Medium" to better manage your data usage.
In addition to that, the type of device you're using to stream on Netflix also influences data consumption on the platform. It's important to note that streaming on larger screens like TVs or tablets consumes more data than on mobile phones because higher resolutions are often required to maintain image clarity.
The kind of content you watch also matters in reducing the amount of data consumption on your Netflix. For example, action-packed movies and fast-moving scenes may require higher bitrates and therefore use more data. On the other hand, slower-paced content like dramas or documentaries tends to consume less.
Now that you've understood how data is being consumed by Netflix, let's dive into the measures you can take to reduce the consumption.
How to Reduce Netflix Data Consumption
When we compared how much data Netflix uses with other streaming services, we discovered that Netflix consumes more data at standard and high-definition levels. For SD quality, Netflix uses about 1 GB per hour, which is nearly double what YouTube uses at 500 MB and more than Disney+ at 600 MB, Amazon Prime Video at 700 MB, and Hulu at 650 MB.
In HD, Netflix uses around 3 GB per hour—again higher than YouTube (1.5 GB), Disney+ (2 GB), Prime Video (2.5 GB), and Hulu (2.2 GB). Interestingly, at 4K UHD, Netflix aligns more closely with competitors, using 7 GB per hour—the same as Disney+ and Prime Video, more than Hulu at 6.5 GB, and just a bit higher than YouTube at 6 GB.
However, to reduce the data Netflix consumes, you'll need to adjust streaming quality settings. To do that, open your Netflix app and navigate to "Account settings" >> "Playback settings," and select "Low" or "Medium" to reduce the data consumption.
Another method of reducing data consumption on Netflix is by downloading content for offline viewing and turning ON data saver mode—basically available for mobile users. In addition to that, you can be monitoring your data usage on your device—this doesn't reduce data usage but allows you to proactively manage your consumption.
FAQs about Netflix Data Consumption
Why is my Netflix using so much data?
If you're streaming contents on your Netflix via TV or large screen, much data would be required. Additionally, if you're streaming in Ultra HD, otherwise knowns as 4K, so much data will also be consumed regardless of the device you're using to do the streaming.
Does Netflix hava a data saver mode?
Yes, Netflix has a data saver mode. You can activate the Netflix data saver mode to reduce data consumption while streaming on the platform. The data saver mode can be activated under Menu (☰) > App Settings > Cellular Data Usage on Netflix Mobile app. To activate the Netflix data saver mode on desktop, web or TV, go to Netflix.com, click your profile icon and select "Account." Next, scroll to "Profile and Parental Controls" to click on your profile. After that, click Playback Settings and choose your preferences: Low (0.3 GB/hour), Medium (0.7 GB/hour), High (up to 3 GB/hour for HD, 7 GB/hour for 4K), or Auto.
What is Netflix data usage calculator?
Netflix data usage calculator is supposed to be a tool that'll allows streamers to measure how much data their Netflix accounts have consumed. But unfortunately, Netflix doesn’t have an official data usage calculator. Nevertheless, you can calculate how much data you use using these metrics: how many hours you watch per day or week, and what quality you usually use (Low, SD, HD, or 4K). You can also use our Netflix calculator to calculate your data usage.
Final Note
In conclusion, reducing the amount of data consumption on your Netflix account can be done in-app or under your account settings. You can also turn on data saving mode on your device if you're streaming on mobile phone or tablets.
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