How Much Data Does Netflix Use?

Netflix says its app typically uses 500MB to stream a two-hour movie, which is approximately one GB for every four hours of general use, but the reality is more complicated. The amount of data Netflix uses depends on how you’re using the app, with your actual Netflix data usage determined by two variables: the length of your viewing and how you’ve configured the Netflix app’s settings. 

Understanding your Netflix data consumption, along with your other data usage habits, might seem unimportant, but it’s essential in understanding the kind of cell phone plan you need. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Netflix data usage, including the average statistics for Netflix data usage, how to track the data on your Netflix account, and how to save data when streaming Netflix. 

Netflix Data Usage

Your Netflix data consumption depends on the data usage setting selected in the Netflix app and how long you watch something in the app. I decided to test out each setting to see how much data each uses.

Automatic

This is the default setting in the Netflix app. It picks the best video quality relative to the strength of your cellular connection. Netflix tries to provide the highest possible video quality, but if you’re in an area with bad service it will lower the quality of the stream so it doesn’t burn through too much data or lead to significant buffering.

Netflix says the Automatic setting typically uses one GB of data for every four hours of streaming. That’s about 500MB (½ GB) for every two-hour movie or 125MB (¼ GB) for every 30-minute episode. Note, I’m spelling out the GB conversion here because that’s the standard measure for cell phone plan data.

I decided to see if these numbers for the Automatic setting were accurate. I went to the Netflix app’s settings tab, set it to Automatic, turned off my WiFi, closed out all other apps, and let a 20-minute episode of Detroiters play. When it was done, I checked my Netflix data usage and saw that Netflix’s official numbers were a bit of an underestimation: the episode had used 204MB of data.

The Netflix app defaults to the Automatic setting, but if you want to make sure yours is set to Automatic (or you want to reset it), here’s how:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Tap My Netflix in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap App Settings.

5. Tap Cellular Data Usage.

6. Tap Automatic (the lever will turn blue).

Wi-Fi Only

As the name suggests, this Netflix setting doesn’t use any cellular data. Instead, the app will only allow you to stream video when you’re on Wi-Fi. Because there’s no data used in the process, I didn’t need to test this setting.

Here’s how to set your Netflix app for Wi-Fi Only streaming:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Tap My Netflix in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap App Settings.
5. Tap Wi-Fi Only.

Save Data

This Netflix setting ensures the app will conserve as much data as possible. As a result, you’ll likely see poorer video quality, but you’ll also reap the benefits in data usage. Netflix says you’ll use about one GB for every six hours you watch in Save Data mode. 

I tested it with that same episode of Detroiters, this time in Save Data mode, and found that Netflix’s number (approximately 166.67MB for every hour, or 55.5MB for every 20 minutes) to be a bit off. The 20-minute episode used 160MB, almost double what Netflix estimated. I thought that instance might be an anomaly, so I tried again, but the second time it used even more data: 190MB for the 20 minutes of streaming. 

Despite the discrepancy between what Netflix estimates and what I observed, Save Data mode is still one of the best ways to conserve data when you don’t have WiFi. Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Tap My Netflix in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap App Settings.
5. Tap Save Data.

Maximum Data

This setting instructs the Netflix app to use as much data as possible to provide the best quality video. Netflix recommends you only use this setting if you have an unlimited data plan and with good reason: they say it uses 1GB for every 20 minutes of streaming.

I decided to test that out again, once again changing to Maximum Data mode, then letting the 20-minute episode of Detroiters play. Again, I found that Netflix’s whopping number was an underestimation: my testing found the episode used 1.156GB of data.

If you’re looking to cut down on your Netflix data usage, we don’t recommend using Maximum Data mode, for obvious reasons. But if you have a truly unlimited data plan and want the best possible video quality, here’s how to turn on Maximum Data:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Tap My Netflix in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap App Settings.
5. Tap Cellular Data Usage.
6. Tap Maximum Data.

How To Check Your Netflix Data Usage

If you want to see an exact picture of your Netflix data consumption, you can find it in just a few quick steps. Here’s how.

Check Netflix data usage on iPhone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Cellular.
3. Scroll down to Netflix. The data used in that period will be under the app’s name.

Check Netflix data usage on Android

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Tap Mobile network.
4. Tap App data usage.
5. Scroll to find the Netflix app.

How To Save Data When You Stream Netflix

If you’re worried about your Netflix data usage, you’ve got two primary options. 

Your first is purchasing an unlimited premium data plan, like one of the many offerings from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. Many of these carriers include streaming deals with their plan packages, including Netflix. T-Mobile offers Netflix Standard With Ads for free with its unlimited plans (and access to Netflix when you reach the carrier’s Magenta Status designation), while the Verizon myPlan add on allows you to Netflix to an unlimited plan for just $10/month.

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The other option is cutting down on your data usage. If you’re interested in doing that, there are two basic steps you can take to cut down on the amount of data the Netflix app burns.

Save content offline

Netflix allows you to download your favorites so you can watch them without using data or WiFi. You’ll find a “Download” button underneath shows and movies. Simply press this button to save them later for offline viewing.

We recommend turning on the Wi-Fi Only setting for downloads, which prevents the Netflix app from downloading episodes while using data. Here’s how to set your Netflix app to Wi-Fi Only:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Tap My Netflix in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap App Settings.
5. Tap Wi-Fi Only under Downloads (the lever will turn blue).

If you’re concerned about these downloads taking up space on your phone, you can also change the Video Quality settings for your downloads, which will make the file sizes smaller. The Netflix app has two Video Quality settings for downloads: Higher and Standard. Standard videos, as you might expect, are standard definition and, as such, are smaller files. You won’t have the high definition videos of the Higher setting, but you will have a lot more data to use throughout the month.

Here’s how to set your Netflix downloads to Standard Video Quality:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Tap My Netflix in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap App Settings.
5. Tap Video Quality.
6. Tap Standard.
   

Use WiFi

The best way to save data while using Netflix is to avoid using data to stream your TV shows and movies. When you’re on WiFi, your phone isn’t using cellular data. If you want to be sure you don’t accidentally stream video while using cellular data, you can turn on the Wi-Fi Only setting, which will disable the app from streaming video except when it’s on WiFi.

The Bottom Line

The amount of data Netflix uses depends on a number of factors, including the length of your viewing and how you’ve configured the Netflix app’s settings. We found that Netflix’s estimation is a bit off, even after adjusting the settings.

Our testing found that:

• The Automatic setting will use approximately 1.2GB for a two-hour movie.
• The Save Data setting will use approximately 1GB for a two-hour movie.
• The Maximum Data setting will use 7GB for a two-hour movie.

We recommend reserving your Netflix streaming for Wi-Fi, which won’t eat into any of your cell phone plan’s monthly data. If you’re looking to watch a movie while you’re traveling, we recommend saving it offline, which also won’t use any cellular data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much data will I use streaming a movie?

How much data you’ll use streaming a movie depends on a number of factors: the length of the movie, the streaming app you’re using, and the app’s video quality and data usage settings. In our testing, we found that a typical 90-minute movie on Netflix, with default settings turned on, uses about 918MB, just shy of 1GB.

How much data does Netflix use per hour?

How much data Netflix uses per hour depends on the Video Quality and Data Usage settings you’ve selected.  In our testing, we found that one hour of viewing with default settings turned on uses about 612MB.

How do I change the Netflix streaming quality to Save Data?

You can change the Netflix streaming quality to Save Data by opening the Netflix app, tapping My Netflix, tapping the Menu icon in the upper right corner, tapping App Settings, then tapping Save Data.