How much data does IRL streaming use?
IRL streaming runs on mobile data, so it helps to know roughly how much an hour costs you. Here is a plain-English look at the numbers, what drives them, and how to use less.
What drives your data use
Your data use is driven almost entirely by your bitrate. Bitrate is how much video data your stream sends every second, so the higher it is, the more data you burn per minute. Everything else is a distant second.
The other factor is simply time. A longer stream uses more data than a short one at the same bitrate. So the two dials you have are how high you set your bitrate and how long you stay live.
Rough numbers
Here is roughly what an hour of streaming costs at a few common bitrates:
- At 2.5 Mbps, about 1.1 GB per hour.
- At 4 Mbps, about 1.8 GB per hour.
- At 6 Mbps, about 2.7 GB per hour.
A handy rule of thumb: your data per hour in GB is roughly your bitrate in Mbps times 0.45. That gets you close enough to plan around.
How to use less data
If you want to stretch your data further, a few small changes go a long way:
- Lower your bitrate. This is the biggest lever, since data use tracks bitrate directly.
- Stream at 720p rather than 1080p. A smaller frame needs less bitrate to look clean.
- Use the H.265 codec. It gives you more quality per megabit, so you can hold quality at a lower bitrate.
- Keep sessions shorter. Fewer minutes live simply means fewer gigabytes used.
None of these has to hurt your quality much on its own, and they add up over a long walk.
A note on plans and bonding
IRL streaming uploads continuously the whole time you are live, so an unlimited or generous data plan makes life a lot easier. You are not fighting a cap the moment you head out for a longer session.
Because Super Simple IRL can bond several connections, you can also spread the load across more than one SIM. That helps your speed, and it helps how fast any single plan is used up, since no one SIM carries the whole stream. See what is bonding for how that works.
Frequently asked questions
How much data does an hour of IRL streaming use?
It depends on your bitrate. At around 2.5 Mbps you use about 1.1 GB per hour, at 4 Mbps about 1.8 GB, and at 6 Mbps about 2.7 GB. A quick rule of thumb is your bitrate in Mbps times 0.45.
Does bitrate affect data usage?
Yes, almost entirely. Data use is driven by your bitrate, so a higher bitrate means more data per minute. Lower the bitrate and your data use drops in step.
How can I use less mobile data while streaming?
Lower your bitrate, stream at 720p rather than 1080p, use the H.265 codec for more quality per megabit, and keep your sessions shorter. Small changes add up over a long walk.
Do I need an unlimited data plan?
It is not required, but IRL streaming uploads continuously, so an unlimited or generous plan makes life easier. Bonding across more than one SIM also spreads how fast any single plan is used up.