How Much Data Does Twitch Use?
How much data does Twitch use? Or how to manage it? Do you know the answers to these questions before you start streaming on Twitch? When streaming on Twitch, it’s important to keep an eye on how much data you use to avoid extra costs.
So, things like video quality, bitrate, and extra activities like gaming or chatting can affect data usage. However, The amount of data you use can change based on the stream’s resolution and quality. Data use can also go up when gaming, chatting, or watching streams on multiple devices, which can be confusing.
Let’s find out what is Twitch’s data usage for different resolutions and factors, also find out the tips to help you manage and reduce your data usage.
Table of Contents
What factors use data while streaming on Twitch?
The data used while streaming on Twitch depends on several factors. Many things can affect how much data is used.
1. Stream Quality (Resolution)
Resolution in a video file shows the image size. It affects how big the image is, not how clear it looks. A higher resolution gives a larger view but doesn’t always mean better quality.
When streaming on sites like Twitch, resolution affects how much data you use. Higher resolutions need more data, while lower ones use less. Changing your streaming resolution to fit your data limits can help you manage usage better.
2. Data Used in Online or Mobile Games
Playing online games while streaming on Twitch can use a lot of data, so be careful.
3. Reading chat messages
Talking in the chat also uses data since every action on Twitch needs an internet connection.
4. Viewing your stream on another device
Watching your stream on a different device uses more data because it streams the content again.
How much data is used when streaming on Twitch?
You might be using more data while streaming than you think because of things like connecting devices to your PC. Here’s a simple look at how much data is usually used while streaming, so you can manage your usage better.
| Resolution | Bitrate (kb/s) | Data Usage(Mb/min) | Data Usage(Gb/hour) |
| 1080p | 3500 | 26 | 1.56 |
| 720p | 2500 | 19 | 1.14 |
| 480p | 1200 | 9 | 0.54 |
| 360p | 800 | 6 | 0.36 |
| 240p | 500 | 4 | 0.24 |
| 160p | 300 | 2.5 | 0.15 |
Usage Of Data When Streaming on a PC
For Twitch streaming on a PC, data usage changes with the resolution. Look at the table below to see how much data is used for streaming:
| Resolution | Data Used Per Minute | Data Used Per Hour |
| 1080p | 42 MB | 2.5 GB |
| 720p | 25 MB | 1.5 GB |
| 480p | 20 MB | 1.2 GB |
| 360p | 12 MB | 720 MB |
| 160p | 6 MB | 360 MB |
Usage Of Twitch’s Data in an Hour While Streaming
Let’s look at how much data streaming uses each hour. This will help you manage your streaming time and avoid running out of data.
| Resolution | Bitrate (kb/s) | Data Usage per Hour | Time to Reach 1 GB | Time to Reach 5 GB |
| 240p | 500 | 0.225 GB | 4 hr 25 min | 22 hr 5 min |
| 360p | 600-800 | 0.27-0.36 GB | 3 hr 42 min | 18 hr 30 min |
| 480p | 900-1200 | 0.405-0.54 GB | 2 hr 27 min | 12 hr 15 min |
| 720p | 1800-2500 | 0.81-1.125 GB | 1 hr 13 min | 6 hr 5 min |
| 1080p | 3000-3500 | 1.35-1.57 GB | 44 min | 3 hr 40 min |
How Much Data Is Used For Watching Twitch Streams?
People who stream using mobile phones as hotspots often need to charge their devices many times a year. This helps internet providers but can be costly for users.
To save money, it’s important to keep an eye on your mobile hotspot data usage and find ways to use it more efficiently.
| Resolution | Data Used Per Minute | Data Used Per Hour |
| 1080p | 26 MB | 1.5 GB |
| 720p | 15 MB | 900 MB |
| 480p | 11.7 MB | 700 MB |
| 360p | 5 MB | 300 MB |
| 160p | 1.9 MB | 115 MB |
Understanding Audio Data Usage for Twitch
Using Twitch in audio-only mode helps reduce data usage, especially for mobile users.
| Quality | Data Used Per Minute | Data Used Per Hour |
| Audio Only | 1.85 MB | 111 MB |
Comparing Twitch’s Data Use to Other Services
Here’s how Twitch’s data usage compares to other live-streaming platforms:
- YouTube Live: Uses about the same amount of data as Twitch.
- Facebook Gaming: Uses about 20% less data than Twitch.
- TikTok Live: Uses much less data because it’s designed for mobile.
If Twitch uses too much data for you, consider trying Facebook Gaming for lower data use. For the best data savings, TikTok Live is a good option.
Tips to Reduce Data on Twitch
To reduce data usage while streaming on Twitch, try these tips:
- Stream Less: Make your streaming time shorter to use less data.
- Lower Video Quality: Choose a lower video resolution to save data.
- Connect to Wi-Fi: Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data to avoid high data costs.
Conclusion
Managing data usage while streaming on Twitch is important to avoid extra costs and have a smooth experience. Data use changes with video quality, from about 1.5 GB per hour for 1080p to 300 MB for 360p. Activities like gaming, reading chatting, and watching on multiple devices can also use more data.
To save data, try lowering the stream resolution and using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data. By understanding these factors and following simple tips, you can better control your data usage and avoid surprise charges.
FAQs
Q:1 Does streaming to Twitch require a lot of data?
A:1 Yes, streaming in higher quality, like 1080p at 60fps, uses 4500-6000 kbps, while lower quality streams, like 480p or lower, use 400-1200 kbps.
Q:2 How much data does Twitch streaming use per hour?
A:2 Twitch streaming usually uses between 2.25 and 3.15 GB of data per hour, depending on the resolution and bit rate. Streaming in 1080p typically uses at least 1.5 GB per hour.
Q:3 Can you stream on Twitch using a mobile hotspot?
A:3 Yes, you can stream on Twitch with a mobile hotspot if your connection is stable and has upload and download speeds over 10 Mbps.