How Much Data Does Netflix use?

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. 

What’s the difference between speed and data? 

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 provide different speeds to download (receive information) and upload (send information). When it comes to watching your favourite shows, your download speed is what really matters. 

What’s the minimum download speed to watch Netflix? 

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:

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. 

How much data does Netflix use per hour? 

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:

An auto video quality option is also available. 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’). Auto quality will give you the best quality picture your connection (and Netflix account type) can handle, but at the potential cost of more data used per hour. 

How does Netflix work with NBN Internet? 

The type of NBN plan you have may determine your Netflix experience. There are a few factors that have a particularly big impact: 

• Speed tiers: Most Internet Plans have speed tiers attached to them, which reflect how fast they can download files. For instance, NBN12 plans can reach a maximum download speed of about 12 Mbps, while NBN500 can reach up to 245 Mbps, or more as a typical evening speed. The former can handle standard-definition videos; the latter can stream 4K (or ultra-high definition) movies with ease.
• The number of devices you have: Multiple devices using the Internet at the same time, on the same connection, also has a big impact on your Internet speed. When too many devices are downloading big files or streaming videos at the same time, you’ll usually see some slowdown. Again, this depends on the speed tier of your NBN plan. NBN12 can only usually handle about one to two devices, while anything past NBN100 can deal with many devices connected online at once.
• Data limits: While almost all plans come with unlimited data, a few don’t. These plans have a certain amount of data you can use – typically a monthly limit. If you end up going past this limit, you might incur extra fees or have your internet speed reduced for the rest of the billing period.  

How can I make the most of my speed and data limits? 

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: 

• Go ad free: This one’s probably not ideal for your wallet. Still, it’s worth noting that if you have a Netflix tier that comes with ads, you’ll be watching an extra four minutes of videos every hour. If you were thinking of upgrading to an ad-free tier anyway, this will shave a little bit off your data usage.
• Use public Wi-Fi: This one’s good for people who watch Netflix on their phones, especially since Mobile Internet plans often do come with data limits. Just connect to a public Wi-Fi network when you’re out and about, download your movie or show of choice, and watch it at your leisure. No need to use up all that mobile data! 

To get high-quality videos with low speed: 

• Watch offline: Netflix gives you the option to download movies and watch them offline on select mobile devices. This is a good option if you have an unlimited data limit but a slow connection. If you don’t mind leaving your device on during the night, you can let it download videos while you sleep and wake up to a world of entertainment.

Helpful Tip:

Netflix can chew through a fair amount of data when it plays the previews for shows or movies. This is the default setting, so if you’ve got one eye on your data usage, you might want to turn off this option.

On Apple or Android devices, you can toggle this option by going to ‘Manage Profiles’ and tapping on the profile you’re using. For other devices, just go to your account page, select your profile and change your profile settings. It’s also a great way to avoid spoilers for shows or movies you’re about to watch!

Alex Kidman

Tech Journalist

How do other streaming services compare? 

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:

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. 

Where can I find and compare Internet Plans? 

If you’re looking for an 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 simply hop online.