“All travel destinations coming soon! Stay tuned!”
Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. The disappearing photo and video messages make it fun and spontaneous.
However, constantly sending snaps, viewing stories, and using filters can rack up your data usage. I have the same anxiety when traveling outside as being afraid of running out of data. It will be frustrating if we enjoy making videos with cute filters but the app can not run.
So how much mobile data does Snapchat actually use? In short, the amount of data Snapchat uses in an hour depends heavily on your specific usage, with estimates ranging from 20 MB to 180 MB per hour. Let’s analyze Snapchat’s data usage in more detail and how to reduce it.
Does Snapchat use data?
Yes, Snapchat does use mobile data to operate. Any time you open Snapchat without a Wi-Fi connection, it will use some of your monthly data allotment.
Specifically, Snapchat uses data for:
- Downloading filters, lenses, and geofilters
- Loading Snaps, Stories, and Discover content
- Sending and receiving Snaps with friends
- Video and voice calling
- Using Snap Map location services
- Syncing your Snapchat data across devices
The more snaps and stories you view, and the longer you video chat, the more data you will use. So if you use Snapchat daily without Wi-Fi, it can use up a noticeable chunk of data over a billing cycle.
How much data does Snapchat use?
Snapchat uses about 20-30 MB of data per 10 minutes of use. So if you are casually snapping selfies and checking stories for an hour, you can expect Snapchat to consume around 120-180 MB in that time.
Of course, your actual data usage depends on how heavily you use the app. Sending more videos and pictures will use more data than primarily texting. And watching a ton of Stories, Discover channels, or Snapchat Original shows will also drive that number up compared to just exchanging snaps with friends. But for moderate, everyday use, you can estimate about 10-15 MB for every 10 minutes in the app.
However, if you want to have reliable data with fast 4G/5G data speed to use Snapchat during your travel, consider an Esimwise’s eSIM plan as your companion. The package is sent immediately when you purchase it, and all you need is to activate it via a QR code. Then, you have a convenient data plan to use Snapchat.
FAQs
1. Does Snap use a lot of data?
Compared to streaming HD video or music, Snapchat is not as data intensive. But among social media apps, yes – Snapchat is one of the biggest data hogs.
In fact, Snapchat consistently uses much more mobile data than apps like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Partly because Snapchat relies so heavily on transferring photos and videos.
Also, Snapchat automatically downloads new content in the background. So even if you just open Snapchat briefly, it may have just dumped a batch of fresh Stories or Discover clips onto your phone.
2. How much data does Snapchat use in an hour?
On average, using Snapchat actively for about an hour consumes around 720 MB of data. This is according to multiple independent tests tracking Snapchat’s data usage over time.
So expect it to use 600MB to 1GB per hour depending on exactly what you’re doing within the app.
3. How do I reduce Snapchat’s data usage?
If Snapchat is using more data than you’d like, there are a few steps you can take to reduce its data usage:
- Turn on Travel Mode – Stops Snapchat from loading content in the background
- Disable Auto-Download Stories – Prevents automatic downloading of Stories
- Reduce Video Quality – Lowers data usage by streaming lower-resolution videos
- Connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible – Use less mobile data overall
You may also want to avoid watching a lot of Discover videos or limit your video call usage.
Following these tips will stop Snapchat from gobbling up data in the background unnecessarily. But you can still actively use the app’s core messaging features without as big of an impact on your data.
Wrap up
After finding the answer for the concern: How much data does Snapchat use?, it can be seen that the app can use up a surprising amount of data quickly, especially if you use the multimedia messaging features heavily.
You still need to keep an eye on your data usage statistics and consider enabling Travel Mode or connecting to Wi-Fi to keep your Snapchat from consuming all your mobile data. Be smart about when you use bandwidth-intensive features like filters and videos. Then you can enjoy Snapchat without having to worry about surprise data overage charges on your phone bill.
Don’t leave without sharing this article with your fellow friends. I will really appreciate that!
