How Much Data Does Zoom Consume? | Allconnect

In a growing remote work environment, Zoom meetings have become not only the norm but a necessity for daily meetings and socialization.Unfortunately, video chatting is generally a data leech — Zoom included.If you have an unlimited internet plan, this won’t be much of a problem, but it’s still a good idea to be aware of how much data Zoom is using each time you hop on a call.

If you have a monthly data cap, this is important to avoid data overage fees.Below, we’ll break down Zoom’s data requirements depending on video resolution, the type of call and extra features.Zoom data usage Video chatting is a data drainer, so knowing how much data your Zoom calls use can prevent you from exceeding your data cap or incurring data overage fees.

Zoom’s data usage depends on a few factors, like video resolution, whether it’s a one-on-one call or a group call, a call with a video recording and other features used in the app.Depending on the type of call and its video quality, Zoom requires anywhere from 500 MB to over 2 GB of data per hour.This is a pretty wide range, so we’ll break it down below.

One-on-one Zoom calls One-on-one Zoom calls require less data than group calls because fewer people are on the call who need video and audio streams downloaded, resulting in less data usage.We’ve outlined the approximate data usage for three different video qualities: standard definition (SD), high definition (HD) and full high definition (FHD).Video quality Data usage per hour 480p (SD)540 MB 720p (HD)1.08 GB 1080p (FHD)1.62 GB Group Zoom calls Group Zoom calls use the most data.

For more people in your Zoom call, more data is required to download audio and video streams for each person.Below are the approximate data requirements for SD, HD and FHD calls.Video qualityData usage per hour 480p (SD)810 MB 720p (HD)1.35 GB 1080p (FHD)2.5 GB Additional data usage to consider Aside from the number of people on your call, there are other factors that could take up additional data in your Zoom meeting:  Sharing your screen – 22 to 68 MB per hour Audio – 3 MB per hour How to reduce data usage on Zoom While those data amounts may seem daunting, especially if you are a frequent Zoomer, there are some easy ways you can reduce Zoom’s data usage during your calls.

Switch off “Enable HD” in your Zoom settings Navigate to your Zoom settings by clicking the little gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen.Select the “Video” tab on the left side and uncheck the HD option if it is selected.Lower your video resolution Similar to switching off the HD video setting, lowering the video resolution in your Zoom settings will save data during your calls.

First, go to Zoom’s settings and make sure “Enable HD” is not selected, as mentioned above.You can then go into Zoom’s advanced video settings and deselect additional video resolution boosters.Limit screen sharing and video recordings If feasible, limit screen sharing or recording during your meetings to save additional data.

Turn off your video during calls Switching off your video entirely and only using audio during a Zoom call can lessen the amount of data being used.Click the “Video” icon in the bottom-left corner of your Zoom meeting screen.Your video is off if a red line is slashed through the icon.

This can also help improve your internet connection.Call into your Zoom meeting by phone Zoom allows you to call into a meeting using your phone, which doesn’t require any data.Start or join your meeting and switch to phone audio.

Then, click the “Call Me” tab, select the country code for your phone number and click “Call.” If you choose this method, it operates like a phone call, so you won’t be able to use Zoom’s features aside from audio.Best internet plans for Zoom The best internet plans for Zoom depend on your needs.If you are a frequent Zoom user with multiple meetings per day, an internet plan with unlimited data is in your best interest.

Not an everyday or even weekly Zoomer? If you are knowledgeable about your internet use, you could get away with an internet plan with a data cap.When consistently using the same amount of data each month, you can work around a data cap and avoid overage fees.Best internet providers with unlimited data The providers below each offer unlimited data with their internet plans.

AT&T, Google Fiber, Frontier and Verizon Fios are all fiber providers with the fastest and most reliable internet connections.Some honorable mentions not included in the table are Xfinity and Cox.Each offers a 1.2 TB/mo.

data cap.While not unlimited, this is a ton of data and would be difficult to exceed in one month.Provider Starting price*Download speed range AT&T Fiber$55.00/mo.300 – 4,700 Mbps Spectrum$30.00/mo.**100 – 1,000 Mbps Frontier Fiber$29.99/mo.200 – 5,000 Mbps Google Fiber$70.00/mo.

1,000 – 8,000 Mbps Verizon Fios$34.99/mo.with mobile plan300 – 2,300 Mbps *Pricing per month plus taxes.Additional fees and terms may apply.

Pricing varies by location and availability.All prices subject to change at any time.May or may not be available based on service address.

As of 02/21/25.**Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum.Taxes and fees extra in select states.SPECTRUM INTERNET ADVANTAGE: Offer based on eligibility requirements.

Standard rates apply after promo period.Additional charge for installation.Speeds based on wired connection.

Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed.Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change.Not available in all areas.

Restrictions apply.2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.**Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum.Taxes and fees extra in select states.

SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period.Additional charge for installation.Speeds based on wired connection.

Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed.Capable modem required for all Gig speeds.For a list of capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.

Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change.Not available in all areas.Restrictions apply.

2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.Zoom data FAQs How much data does Zoom use per hour? Depending on your video resolution and type of call, Zoom can use anywhere from 500 MB – 2.5 GB of data per hour.How much mobile data does Zoom use? Zoom uses the same amount of data over both mobile data plans and an internet plan.

But be wary of this since mobile plans tend to provide less data than broadband internet plans.Even with an unlimited cellular plan, exceeding a certain amount of data results in much slower speeds.You can also call into Zoom over the phone, which doesn’t require data, but you won’t be able to use most of Zoom’s features, including video.

Does Zoom work without Wi-Fi? You can use Zoom without Wi-Fi by using your mobile device’s cellular data, connecting your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable or calling into your Zoom meeting over the phone.Written by: Camryn Smith Camryn Smith started writing for Allconnect in July 2022 and has developed broadband expertise across the landscape, including home internet providers, plans, pricing and equipment, as well as internet technolog… Read more Edited by: Anine Sus Editor I Read bio Related pages Best home Wi-Fi providers 2025 The best Wi-Fi routers of 2025 Allconnect savings calculator What to read next Read more Featured The secret to successfully working from home: Keep to a schedule Joe Supan — 7 min read Featured How much internet speed do I need? Robin Layton — 8 min read Featured Working remotely but don’t want to stay indoors? Here are the best states to seek out Joe Supan — 6 min read Latest Friday, February 21, 2025 How much data does Zoom use? Camryn Smith — 4 min read Friday, February 21, 2025 Allconnect’s 2025 broadband customer satisfaction report  Camryn Smith — 8 min read Thursday, February 20, 2025 How to transfer your internet service when moving homes Camryn Smith — 2 min read