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Before we dive into the details it’s worth asking ourselves a question. Does your internet plan’s speed and data matter when you want to watch Netflix?
The answer: When it comes to speed – yes, it matters. You know those annoying hiccups where the movie you’re watching stops and starts because your Internet can’t keep up? It definitely doesn’t happen as often as it used to, but it’s still a risk with slow connections. Lucky for you, your good pals at iSelect are here with some possible solutions!
And when it comes to data, these days almost all Internet Plans come with unlimited data, which means you can stream as much content as you want! If you’re on the rare plan with a data cap, or if you’re watching on a mobile, you’ll want to pay attention to how much you’re using – especially if you’re an avid binge watcher.
Data is the term for digital information – that is, all the information your device receives to let you watch Rory and Lorelai in Gilmore Girls. When you stream TV shows, your device receives the data in a continuous stream as you watch. That’s why, if you lose your Internet connection, your stream will pack it in after a minute or two. When you download a show, your device receives all the data before you start watching.
Speed is the rate at which your device can receive that data. Internet Plans can use different speeds to download (receive information) and upload (send information). When it comes to watching your favourite shows, you want to know the download speed.
When you choose a Netflix plan, you can choose between three different levels of video quality – HD, Full HD and Ultra HD. Each of these comes with a recommended minimum connection speed:1
Video quality | Recommended minimum speed |
High definition (HD) | 3 Mbps |
Full high definition (FHD) | 5 Mbps |
Ultra high definition (UHD) | 15 Mbps |
Basically, you’re striking a balance between video quality and speed. Slower connections can usually handle low- or medium-quality streaming just fine. But when it comes to watching higher definition videos? That’s when they might struggle.
This depends on the kind of video quality you’re after. If you’re watching on a web browser, Netflix gives you a few extra options, each with dramatically different levels of data usage:2
Video quality | Data usage per hour |
Low | Up to 0.3 GB |
Medium | Up to 0.7 GB |
High (standard definition) | Up to 1 GB |
High (high definition) |
Up to 3 GB |
High (4K or ultra-high definition) | Up to 7 GB |
An auto video quality option is also available.3 This option automatically adjusts the quality to the highest possible level that your internet can handle without too much stopping and starting (which you might know as ‘buffering’).
The type of NBN plan you have may determine your Netflix experience. There are a few factors that have a particularly big impact:
Whether you watch Netflix on your laptop, television or phone, there are a few hacks to help you get a better quality video while working with lower speed or data limits. And don’t worry – we won’t just tell you to turn down the video quality!
To save data:
To get high-quality videos with low speed:
Netflix is similar to other video streaming platforms when it comes to the amount of data it gobbles up and the minimum speeds it recommends. How similar, exactly? Let’s take a quick look at some of the alternatives below:
Disney+ | ||
Video quality | Data usage per hour8 | Recommended minimum speed9 |
Save data (standard definition) | Up to 0.7 GB | Not listed |
Moderate (high definition) | Up to 2 GB | 5 Mbps |
Automatic (ultra-high definition 4K) | Up to 7.7 GB | 25 Mbps |
Prime Video10 | |
Video quality | Recommended minimum speed |
Standard definition | 1 Mbps |
High definition | 5 Mbps |
Stan11 | ||
Video quality | Data usage per hour | Recommended minimum speed |
Low (standard definition) | 0.57 GB | 3 Mbps |
Medium (standard definition) | 1.13 GB | Not listed |
High definition 720p | 2.89 GB | 4.5 Mbps |
High definition 1080p |
Not listed | 7.5 Mbps |
Ultra-high definition 4K | 7 GB | 15 Mbps |
Foxtel Now12 | |
Video quality | Recommended minimum speed |
Standard definition | 3 Mbps |
High definition | 7 Mbps |
The device you use to access some of these streaming platforms can also have an impact on how much data they use. For instance, Disney+ can stream 1080p HD videos over smart TVs and mobile devices using much less data than it would if you watch the same videos through your web browser.13
If you’re looking for a NBN Internet plan that can handle all your streaming needs, then iSelect has got you covered! We’ve partnered with CIMET to help you compare a range of Internet Plans and providers.* To start comparing, you can hop online or call our friendly team on 13 19 20.
Sources:
1 Netflix Help Center – Internet connection speed recommendations
2 Netflix Help Center – How to control how much data Netflix uses
3 As above
4 Exetel – Understanding nbn™ speeds
5 As above
6 Netflix Help Center – Netflix Ad-supported Plans
7 Netflix Help Center – How to download titles to watch offline
8 Disney+ Help Centre – Data usage and streaming quality on Disney+
9 Disney + Help Centre – Internet speed recommendations
10 Prime Video Help – Issues with Live Streams on Prime Video
11 Stan – Stan and your Internet Connection
12 Foxtel Now – Internet Usage and Charges
13 Disney+ Help Centre – Data usage and streaming quality on Disney+