How Much Data Does Spotify Use: 5 Tested Ways to Save Data Effectively

Many music lovers cannot live without Spotify. This streaming service offers a huge library of music, podcasts, and other audio content, all of which can be accessed through a mobile phone or computer. But, how much data does Spotify use? This question is especially common among those with a limited data plan.

This tutorial explains how to effectively stream the music app without taking up all of your available data, how to keep track of your Spotify data usage, adjust the audio quality to use fewer KB, and other useful tips.

I. How Much Data Does Spotify Use? 

Spotify users need about 500KB of data to stream music in one minute. Depending your device, you can stream music for about 33 hours and 20 minutes of music with 1GB of data.

However, streaming is not the only activity requiring data when using Spotify. Here is a description along with a table of how much data Spotify uses:

Activity	Data Used
1 song at “Low” quality	2-5 MB
1 song at “Normal” quality	5-10 MB
1 song at “High” quality	10-20 MB
1 hour of music with “Low” audio quality	3-5 MB per hour
1 hour of music with “Normal” audio quality	7-10 MB per hour
1 hour of music with “High” audio quality	15-25 MB per hour
Downloading 1-hour playlist	50-150 MB

II. How to Check Your Spotify Data Usage?

To check and manage the amount of cellular data that Spotify uses on your device, take these steps:

On an iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Cellular
• Scroll down to Spotify
• Check the data usage under “Current Period”

On an Android device:

• Go to Settings > Apps
• Select Spotify
• Check data usage under “Usage”

III. How to Reduce Data Usage on Spotify? 5 Ways to Save Data

If you listen to music for a few hours per day, the volume of data used can accumulate quickly. Below we share some practical tips to reduce data usage on Spotify.

1. Customize Audio Quality Settings

By default, the streaming quality of Spotify is set to High, which consumes more data. Using a lower setting means songs will use less cellular data per minute of listening. You will save the most data by selecting the minimum quality that still provides an enjoyable listening experience for your tastes. The higher the quality, the more data gets used with each song.

To change this setting:

• Open the Spotify app and tap the sidebar menu icon
• Select “Settings“, tap “Audio quality“
• Choose the lowest option like “Low” or “Normal” instead of “Very High”

2. Use Offline Mode

If you know you will be somewhere without WiFi, proactively downloading playlists for offline use prevents data usage while listening on the go. Take these steps:

• Find the playlist or albums you want
• Tap the three-dot menu and select “Download“
• The tracks will be saved to your device for listening later without streaming

Note: Be sure to download large files over WiFi to avoid using mobile data. You can also download individual songs or choose the “Download Episode” podcast option. Downloading favorites keeps you entertained while keeping your data plan safe.

3. Use WiFi whenever possible

When you are connected to a wireless connection, Spotify will not use any of your mobile data. So whenever you have Internet access either at a café, in the office, or in shopping malls, etc. take its advantage. This will also ensure a more stable and uninterrupted listening experience. This tip is especially useful for people traveling abroad.

4. Close Spotify app when you are not using it

The Spotify app continues to use cellular data even when you are not listening to music. So, it is best to close the app when not necessary.

To close the app, swipe it away from the multitasking bar.

5. Set a data limit for the app

If you use Spotify on a mobile device, you can set a data limit for the app to avoid using too much data.

Go to Settings > Data Saver and set your desired limit

If you use Spotify on a computer, you can use a 3rd-party app to lower data usage. The apps are vary, and Spotiflyer is a good choice.

6. Use eSIMs to avoid data roaming – for people traveling abroad

This tip is for people who travel internationally and use their home phone number to stay connected through roaming services.

Indeed, it is easy for your roaming charges to get get out of control while abroad, especially if you stream your favorite songs on the go. A solution to avoid high roaming charges is to use a prepaid eSIM data plan for Internet access and streaming Spotify music.

With a prepaid eSIM plan from Gigago, you only pay for the cellular data you use. No hidden fees or unexpected charges. In case you run low on data, you can top-up data with Gigago customer support or buy a new plan with a few taps.

IV. Additional Data-Saving Tips

A few other tips can help reduce your Spotify data consumption significantly:

• Close the app completely when not in use to avoid background updating
• Use radio/algorithmic playlists over large high-res albums/songs
• Consider a lower quality like 0.5 MB per song versus high-fidelity selections
• Check usage regularly to address any unexpected increases right away
• Adjust quality settings before your monthly cycle resets to stay on budget
• Use an eSIM to access affordable data without roaming charges

V. FAQ about How Much Does Spotify Use