Byter
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How much data does streaming use?
Netflix uses about 0.7 GB an hour in standard definition, up to 3 GB in HD and 7 GB in 4K. YouTube is similar at the same quality. Spotify uses roughly 40–150 MB an hour, depending on audio quality.
Netflix
| Quality | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Low | About 0.3 GB |
| Standard (SD) | About 0.7 GB |
| HD | Up to 3 GB |
| Ultra HD (4K) | Up to 7 GB |
Netflix’s own figures.
YouTube
Roughly 0.3–0.5 GB an hour at 480p, 1–1.5 GB at 720p, 1.5–3 GB at 1080p, and much more at 4K. Set quality manually (gear icon → Quality) instead of Auto on a hotspot.
Spotify and Apple Music
At normal quality, music uses about 40–70 MB an hour; at the highest quality, about 150 MB. Lossless music uses a lot more. Download playlists on Wi‑Fi to use no data later.
Watch without the surprise
Byter shows how much data you’ve used on your hotspot in the menu bar, so you can stop an episode before it eats your allowance. It also alerts you when usage is unusually high.
Questions
How much data does 1 hour of YouTube use?
About 1–1.5 GB at 720p and 1.5–3 GB at 1080p, roughly. Lower quality uses much less.
How much data does Netflix use per hour?
About 0.7 GB in SD, up to 3 GB in HD and up to 7 GB in 4K, according to Netflix.