Zoom uses an average of nearly MB of data per hour. It is important to keep in mind that the amount of data you use on Zoom depends largely on the type of call and the number of people on a call. See our guide below to learn what internet speed you need for Zoom. Zoom data usage for a meeting. Screen sharing with no video uses As you may already know, FaceTime is a video platform that is specific to Apple. See Your Providers.
 
 

Zoom bandwidth per user.Zoom Bandwidth Requirements and Participant Bandwidth Limits

 
For p HD video: Mbps/Mbps (up/down). For gallery view receiving: Mbps (25 views), Mbps (49 views).

 

How Much Bandwidth Does Video Calling Use? – Make Tech Easier.

 

Between MB and 1. This amounts to between 9MB and 27MB of data that may be used per minute for one-to-one Zoom meetings.

This chart shows how much data a one-to-one meeting on Zoom uses per hour, depending on video quality:. As the number of people on a Zoom call increases, so does the data usage. Group Zoom meetings use up between MB and 2. When compared to a group call, a one-on-one Zoom meeting consumes less data. You will not need so much data to stream video and audio from each other because there are just two individuals on the call.

On the other hand, you may end up using a lot of data on one-on-one calls if our video quality is adjusted to p or p. Alternatively, you can turn off the video totally. Apparently, Zoom group calls consume the most data; the more people on your Zoom call, the more data it consumes. Zoom group calls use at least half more data per hour than one-on-one calls, even at the lowest video resolution.

However, if you make a lot of calls per day or share your Wi-Fi with a lot of people, you might need to downgrade your video quality from HD to SD. There are a number of factors that dictate the rate at which your Zoom calls consume data. A few of them are included below. For instance, Zoom uses the least amount of data for audio-only calls and screen sharing. Sharing your screen would only cost you 22 to 67 MB per hour, but audio calls will cost you roughly 30 MB per hour. However, it is noteworthy that if other Zoom call participants have their video turned on, you may end up consuming more data.

The quality of your stream has an impact on how much data your Zoom call consumes. As illustrated in the tables above, calls made at p take less data per hour than calls made at full-HD, p. Normally, Zoom uses the smallest amount of bandwidth possible to provide you with a sufficient connection. This is fantastic for data-conscious users. One-on-one calls take less data, and functions like audio-only VoIP and screen sharing use just a small amount of data.

One-on-one calls use a modest amount of data, requiring a little more than half a GB per hour on the lowest resolution. But that will take nearly twice as much data and possibly even three times as much if you want the highest-quality HD. Participating in a group call with the video function switched on will run you at least MB per hour.

Read more about how to switch off your video farther down on this page. Keep in mind, though, that other Zoomers may still have their videos switched on—which will add to your overall data usage. If you have a really strict data cap, it may be best to upgrade your service or switch providers.

Run an address check with our tool below to see if you can get a plan with more data in your area:. You can use less data on Zoom by switching off your video or lowering your video resolution.

In the bottom left corner of your screen, click on the tiny arrow next to the Start Video button. You can save even more data by switching off your video completely—a video call will cost you as much as 2. This will require some cooperation from everyone on your Zoom teleconference call, but you can avoid screen sharing entirely and the resulting data usage by using a separate app like Google Docs to discuss or edit important documents. Just dial one of the numbers below based on where you are in the US and enter the meeting ID and if necessary, meeting password when prompted.

Type in your zip code below to see if you can find a more generous internet provider in your area:. Zoom needs a minimum of 3 Mbps download speeds in order to work effectively.

Internet users often equate bandwidth with data, but actually the two are very different things. Think of it this way:. Bandwidth—also known as internet speed—is the rate by which you can transfer data from a server to your device and vice versa. Streaming video, playing games, and doing other speed-intensive activities will slow down your Zoom connection. For more detailed instructions, see our section above about how to use less data on Zoom. The recommendations above will let you use less data, but will also improve your network speeds and give you better Zoom performance with lower bandwidth.

Participating in group video calls on Zoom uses anywhere from MB to 2. Making a call with voice only and no video uses 27—36 MB per hour. You can lower the amount of bandwidth that Zoom uses by switching off your HD video setting, switching off your video entirely, and avoiding sharing your screen too much.

 
 

How Much Data Does a Zoom Meeting Use |

 
 
Pro tip: Not sure if your internet is fast enough for Zoom? The recommendations above will let you use less data, but will also improve your network speeds and give you better Zoom performance with lower bandwidth. Search by zip code Search Providers. Back To Top. Zoom has emerged as one of the top platforms for online meetings, virtual calls, and video conferences in recent years. Run a search below to see if you can find a better internet plan in your area:. Editor – Cara Haynes Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she’s edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.