Have you ever wondered how much mobile data Twitch uses?
The answer depends on a few factors, including the stream’s quality and the broadcast’s length. We’ve compiled some rough estimates in the tables below to show you how much data Twitch uses.
What Uses Data When You’re Streaming on Twitch?
A few things factor into the data you use while streaming on Twitch. Several things will affect how much data you are using:
- The quality of your stream (resolution)
- Data used playing an online (or mobile) video game
- Reading comments from the chat
- Watching your stream on another device
Each of these will affect your bitrate and streaming data usage. Your bitrate is the data transfer speed between the source and the receiver. So, the higher the bitrate, the faster the upload speed, which means more data is consumed.
In addition to overage charges or slowed speeds when you reach your data cap, trying to stream too much information can cause a lag on your channel. Laggy streams are unbearable to watch. Overall, unless you know that you have enough data, you may need to adjust your video quality settings to a lower caliber than you normally would.
Interestingly enough, your resolution and FPS (frames per second) don’t affect your data very much. You can up your FPS to 60 (from 30) for a slightly better stream.
Twitch Streaming Data Per Hour
The following chart shows how much internet data you will use per hour when streaming on Twitch.
| Resoulution | Bitrate (kb/s) | Data Per Hour | Min Time to 1 GB | Min Time to 5GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240p | 500 | .225GB | 4hr, 25min | 22hr, 5min |
| 360p | 600-800 | .27-.36GB | 3hr, 42min | 18hr, 30min |
| 480p | 900-1200 | .405-.54GB | 2hr, 27min | 12hr, 15min |
| 720p | 1800-2500 | .81-1.125GB | 1hr, 13min | 6hr, 5min |
| 1080p | 3000-3500 | 1.35-1.57GB | 44min | 3hr, 40min |
Ultimately, several things could influence how much data you use when you live stream. Your safest bet would be to run a test using your device. Check your data before and after your stream and see how much you used while broadcasting for 15 minutes. Multiply that number by 4 for an approximate hourly rate.
Keep Track Over Time
Get in the habit of checking your data before and after each stream to ensure that you maintain a healthy data rate and won’t be caught or overrun with fees.
The best way to honestly know how much data you use per hour with your setup is to track it over time. While calculators can help you with a rough estimate, they can’t factor in every single moment of a stream.
Keep a spreadsheet of how long you streamed, what settings you used, and how much data was consumed. Over time, you’ll be able to figure out what settings you should use to balance quality and bitrate for yourself.
Check with Your Wireless Carrier
Check with your Wireless provider. Data caps are quickly becoming a thing of the past for “lower quality” internet.
For instance, Verizon’s plans will cap you on their 5G internet, but you will get unlimited 4G LTE data on their new unlimited plans. If you are on an older plan, talk to your provider to see if you can upgrade.
Most providers will also give you a Mobile Hotspot allotment for additional fees. This can be useful when you are running additional devices requiring internet for your stream.
Can You Stream Twitch on 3G?
Streaming live gameplay can be a challenge when using a 3G connection. While it is technically possible to stream over 3G, the quality of the stream will likely be poor, and it will be very laggy. In addition, you will use up a lot of data very quickly.
For these reasons, it is generally not recommended to stream over 3G. When live-streaming your gameplay, it is best to connect to a Wi-Fi network whenever possible.
How Much Data Does Watching Twitch Use?
If you are on an older data plan or using Mobile Hotspot to watch Twitch, here is your possible data consumption when watching Twitch streams:
| Resolution | Data Per Hour | Time to 1 GB | Time to 5BG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240p-320p | .3GB | 3hr, 20min | 16hr, 40min |
| 480p | .7GB | 1hr, 25min | 7hr, 5min |
| 720p | .9GB | 1hr, 6min | 5hr, 30min |
| 1080p | 1.5GB | 40min | 3hr, 20min |
| 2K | 3GB | 20min | 1hr, 40min |
| 4K | 7.2GB | 6min | 40min |
You can manually lower the quality of the streams on your mobile device to reduce your bitrate. A lower bitrate means fewer data consumed.
So, watching on a lower resolution will help you save data while watching streams on your mobile. However, this will mean that the video quality will noticeably drop.
Try to Use Public Wi-fi
When available, try to use public Wi-fi. While Wi-fi isn’t as powerful as cable internet, it can be better than your phone’s internet plan. There is also the added benefit that, when using Wi-fi, you’re not using your data. To learn more, read our post, Best Settings for Streaming on Wi-fi.
Conclusion
It’s better to connect to WiFi or use a LAN connection when streaming on Twitch. This will help you avoid large mobile data usage. In addition, this ensures you have a fast internet speed and a stable internet connection while streaming.
Chris
Chris is a marketing major with a strong background in small business and influencer branding. He applies his knowledge of content and promotional strategies to design actionable advice for new and intermediate streamers. When he’s not busy crunching analytics, he can be found in the salt pits of League of Legends.