How Much Data Does YouTube Use (Your Guide to Videos, Shorts & Music)

TL;DR: YouTube's data consumption varies significantly based on video quality, ranging from ~160 MB per hour for 144p to ~4.8 GB per hour for 4K UHD. YouTube Music data usage is lower, typically 40-210 MB per hour, while YouTube Shorts data usage can be high due to autoplay and limited quality settings. To reduce YouTube data usage, lower video quality, download videos over Wi-Fi, use data-saving features, disable autoplay, and ensure audio-only playback for YouTube Music. Nomad eSIMs offer flexible data plans, ideal for travelers who want to enjoy YouTube without exceeding their data limits.

Introduction: Navigating YouTube's Data Demands

YouTube remains the undisputed king of online video, offering an immense library of content from educational documentaries to entertainment vlogs. Beyond its main platform, YouTube also provides specialized services like YouTube Music and YouTube Shorts, catering to diverse user preferences. For travelers using eSIMs or anyone on limited data plans, understanding how much data YouTube uses—including YouTube Music and Shorts—is key to avoiding surprise overages.

Let’s break down exactly how much data YouTube consumes at different quality levels, what affects that consumption, and how you can control it for smoother, more efficient streaming anywhere you go.

How Much Data Does a YouTube Video Use?

The biggest factor behind YouTube’s data usage is video resolution. Higher resolutions deliver sharper images but dramatically increase data consumption.

👉 Pro tip: For most mobile screens, 720p at 30 fps provides an excellent balance between visual quality and data efficiency.

You can learn more about managing mobile connections and plan validity in our guide: Do eSIMs Expire?

How Much Data Does YouTube Music Use?

YouTube Music data usage is generally lower than that of standard YouTube videos because it primarily streams audio. However, it can still be substantial, especially if you opt for higher audio quality or if music videos are played.

👉 Pro tip: To minimize usage, switch to audio-only playback in settings. For a deeper comparison with other services, check out How Much Data Does Spotify and Apple Music Use?

How Much Data Does YouTube Shorts Use?

YouTube Shorts data usage can be surprisingly high, similar to other short-form video platforms like TikTok. This is due to the continuous autoplay feature and often limited control over video quality settings, which typically include 480p, 1080p, and 4K options.

Here's an estimated breakdown of YouTube Shorts data usage:

Because Shorts autoplay in endless scroll, even a few minutes of casual browsing can consume hundreds of megabytes—similar to TikTok. See our post on How Much Data Does TikTok Use? for context.

👉 Pro tip: Reduce your data consumption on YouTube Shorts by switching to "Data-Saver Mode" and disabling autoplay.

Monitoring and Controlling YouTube Data Usage

Keeping track of YouTube data usage is crucial for staying within your data limits, especially when using a limited data plan or traveling internationally with a Nomad eSIM. Both iPhone and Android devices offer built-in tools to monitor app-specific data consumption.

How to check app data usage:

• On your iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Service) > Scroll down to find YouTube and view its data usage.
• On your Android: Go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet > Select your current network > App data usage > Find YouTube to track its mobile data usage.

How to Reduce YouTube Data Usage: Smart Streaming Tips

To effectively use less data on YouTube and its related services, consider implementing the following strategies:

1. Lower Video Quality Manually

Adjusting the default video quality to a lower resolution (e.g., 480p or 360p) can significantly reduce data consumption without drastically impacting the viewing experience on smaller mobile screens.

How to adjust video quality on the YouTube app:

1. While watching a video, tap the Settings icon (gear icon).
2. Select Quality > Advanced.
3. Choose 480p or a lower resolution based on your preference.

2. Download Videos and Music on Wi-Fi

For YouTube Premium users, downloading videos and music for offline use is an excellent way to enjoy content without consuming mobile data. This is particularly useful for long flights or areas with poor network coverage.

How to download videos from YouTube:

1. Tap the Download button below the video (usually next to the Thanks button).
2. Access your downloads by tapping your Profile icon > Downloads.

How to download music from YouTube Music:

1. Tap the Download button below the song title.
2. For albums, tap the Download icon next to the Play icon.
3. Access your downloads by tapping your Profile icon > Downloads.

3. Use YouTube's Data-Saving Features

YouTube offers a built-in Data Saver mode that optimizes video quality and disables features that consume a lot of data.

How to enable Data Saver on the YouTube app:

1. Open YouTube > Tap your Profile icon > Settings.
2. Select Video quality preferences.
3. Under Mobile data usage, select Data saver.

How to adjust audio settings on YouTube Music:

1. Open YouTube Music > Tap your Profile icon > Settings.
2. Select Playback & restrictions.
3. Under Audio quality on mobile data, select Normal or Low.
4. Consider enabling Stream via Wi-Fi only for further data savings.

4. Disable Autoplay

Autoplay features, especially in YouTube Shorts, can lead to unintended data consumption as videos play automatically. Disabling this gives you more control.

How to turn off autoplay:

1. Open YouTube > Tap your Profile icon > Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Toggle off Autoplay next video.
4. For Playback in feeds, select Wi-Fi only or Off.

5. Ensure Audio-Only for YouTube Music

If you're primarily listening to music, ensuring YouTube Music plays only audio can drastically reduce data usage.

How to enable audio-only mode for YouTube Music:

1. Open YouTube Music > Tap your Profile icon > Settings.
2. Select Playback & restrictions.
3. Toggle on Don't play podcast videos and Don't play music videos.

Conclusion: Master Your YouTube Data Usage with Nomad eSIMs

Understanding how much data YouTube use across its various services and implementing smart data-saving strategies are crucial for managing your mobile data effectively, especially when traveling. Nomad eSIMs provide a convenient and cost-effective solution for staying connected while traveling, ensuring you have the data you need for both navigation and entertainment. Before your trip, download content over Wi-Fi, then switch to a Nomad eSIM for on-the-go connectivity without roaming fees!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much data does YouTube use?

YouTube data usage varies significantly based on video quality. For example, streaming a standard definition (480p) video uses about 360 MB per hour, while a 4K UHD video can consume up to 4.8 GB per hour. YouTube Music and YouTube Shorts also have different data consumption rates.

How much data does YouTube Music use?

YouTube Music generally uses less data than standard YouTube videos because it primarily streams audio. Data consumption ranges from approximately 21.6 MB per hour for low quality (48 kbps) to about 115.2 MB per hour for high quality (256 kbps). Enabling audio-only mode further reduces data usage.

How much data does YouTube Shorts use?

YouTube Shorts can be data-intensive due to continuous autoplay and limited quality settings. Watching Shorts at 480p can use around 360 MB per hour, while 1080p can consume about 1.5 GB per hour, and 4K can go up to 4.8 GB per hour.

Does YouTube Music use a lot of data?

Compared to video streaming on the main YouTube platform, YouTube Music uses considerably less data. However, if streaming at high quality or if music videos are played, data usage can still be significant. It typically uses more data than dedicated audio-only streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music at comparable audio qualities.

How much data does a YouTube video use?

The data usage for a YouTube video depends on its resolution and frame rate. For instance, a 720p HD video uses about 720 MB per hour, while a 1080p Full HD video consumes approximately 1.5 GB per hour. Lower resolutions like 144p use around 60 MB per hour.

Does YouTube Music use less data than YouTube?

Yes, YouTube Music generally uses less data than the main YouTube app because it primarily streams audio. The main YouTube app streams video, which is much more data-intensive. However, if YouTube Music is set to play music videos, its data consumption will increase significantly.

What is YouTube data usage per hour?

YouTube data usage per hour varies widely:

• Standard YouTube Video (480p): ~360 MB/hour
• YouTube Music (High Quality): ~115.2 MB/hour
• YouTube Shorts (1080p): ~1.5 GB/hour

These figures are estimates and can change based on specific video content, encoding, and network conditions.