As data is becoming expensive, you need a calculated plan to ensure that you stay within your limits, especially when doing activities that consume a lot of data. Gaming on Twitch is one such activity. So, how much data do you need to stream on Twitch?
If you are working towards becoming a regular streamer on Twitch, you’ll be better off with an unlimited internet connection. Besides, you need to get a good download and upload speed since streaming with bad internet on Twitch can be a nightmare.
We have created this guide to help you figure out the amount of data you’ll need to stream on twitch. However, note that there are many variables involved. The most common factors are your preferred video quality and the streaming duration.
Factors that affect data usage on Twitch
Understanding the following factors can help to understand the answer to the question of how much data Twitch uses:
Bitrate
This refers to the number of bits of data that are being processed within a unit of time. A crucial factor to remember is 1 byte has 8 bits. Data rates for a video are measured in bits per second.
That means the data rate for any video is the bitrate. If a video file is running at 1 megabyte per second, its bitrate would be eight megabits per second. A higher bitrate means higher image quality.
Resolution
In terms of a video file, resolution refers to the image size. The resolution affects picture size and not picture clarity. A video file with a higher resolution gives you a greater viewing distance.
But that does not mean a high-resolution image is a high-quality image. The resolution of an image is measured in pixels.
Bringing it all together
If you are watching Twitch videos with a resolution of 240p at a bit rate of 0.5mbps, you will use approximately 225MB of data per hour.
The following Twitch bitrate chart shows how much data (in MB) you will use in one hour of streaming.
| Bitrate (kbps) | Resolution (p) | Data usage per hour (MB) |
| 400 – 800 | Low 360 | 360 |
| 800 – 1200 | Low 480 | 540 |
| 1200 – 4000 | HD 720 | 1125 |
| 4000 – 8000 | HD 1080 | 1575 |
| 8000 – 14000 | 4K | 7000 |
There is no direct answer to the question of how much data does streaming use per hour. It depends on many factors including bandwidth, internet speed, and frame rate. But you can also get a rough estimate by using the above Twitch bandwidth calculator.
Note: Streaming in 4K on Twitch isn’t advisable. You will not only have to use lots of data to avoid lagging streams, but your viewers will also need a very good internet connection to watch your streams in 4K. This won’t be beneficial for any party, at least in the short run where 4K isn’t common.
How to reduce data usage on Twitch
There are several ways of reducing mobile data usage when streaming on Twitch. You can save internet data while using Twitch through:
1. Changing video quality settings
You should change the video quality to a lower setting to save data on Twitch. A lower quality video means lower data usage.
2. Compress your data
Compressing data helps to optimize it. When you compress data, you lower consumption.
Also, this helps to speed up the loading time of website pages on the internet without changing your video content or quality.
3. Limit the time you spend streaming on Twitch
The more time you spend streaming on Twitch, the more data you use. Instead of spending three hours streaming a video game, consider reducing the number to two hours.
Such a strategy will allow you to reduce streaming data usage on Twitch.
If you are new and wondering whether this will impact your ability to attract viewers, then a short answer is no. We’ve compiled a guide to help you promote your Twitch channel.
Conclusion
So, how much data does Twitch streaming use? The answer is not simple because of many variables. In most cases, it depends on video quality, length, and elements you put in the video.
But if you want to reduce the data needed to stream on Twitch, consider watching videos in low resolution, preferably 360p.
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