With the rise of remote work, video meetings have become a daily routine for many professionals.
If you’re using Zoom on your laptop with a Wi-Fi connection, mobile data might not be a concern.
However, if you frequently join Zoom calls while traveling or managing work on the go, you may wonder how much data the app consumes.
The number of active Zoom users has skyrocketed by 2,900% since December 2019, with the majority using it for work-related meetings.
While connecting to Zoom via Wi-Fi won’t impact your mobile data, using the app on your phone without Wi-Fi can quickly add up.
Below, we’ll break down how much data Zoom uses and share tips to reduce its impact on your mobile plan.
How Much Data Does a Zoom Call Use?
Zoom’s data consumption varies based on the type of meeting and the number of participants.
- One-on-one video call – Approximately 540 MB per hour
- Group video call – Can use up to 2.5 GB per hour
- Audio-only call (no video) – As low as 35 MB per hour
The more people in a meeting, the more data is required to process multiple video streams.
If your meetings last several hours, data usage can reach 4 GB in under 8 hours.
Since most people also use mobile data for streaming music, browsing social media, watching videos, and using navigation apps, it’s helpful to monitor data usage to avoid unexpected overages.
How to Check Zoom’s Data Usage on Your Phone
If you regularly use Zoom on mobile, you can check how much data it consumes directly in your phone’s settings.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings and tap Cellular.
- Scroll down and select Zoom.
- Under Current Period, you’ll see the data usage. (This doesn’t reset automatically, so you may need to manually reset it by scrolling to the bottom and tapping Reset Statistics.)
On Android:
- Open Settings and go to Apps.
- Select Zoom.
- Under Usage, check the mobile data consumption.
Steps may vary slightly depending on your phone model, so refer to your device’s manual for more details.
Ways to Reduce Zoom’s Data Usage
If you rely on mobile data for Zoom meetings, there are ways to limit how much you use.
1. Connect to Wi-Fi Whenever Possible
The simplest way to avoid data consumption is to use Wi-Fi. Since Wi-Fi doesn’t pull from your mobile plan, connecting before a meeting ensures Zoom won’t use your mobile data.
2. Adjust Zoom Settings to Use Less Data
If Wi-Fi isn’t an option, you can modify Zoom’s settings to minimize data usage:
- Disable HD Video – High-definition video uses more data. Go to Zoom’s settings, select Video, and uncheck Enable HD to reduce data consumption.
- Turn Off Your Camera When Possible – If video isn’t required, select Join without video at the start of a meeting or toggle the camera off when not speaking.
- Limit Screen Sharing – Sharing your screen uses more data since it transmits additional video streams. Only share when necessary and stop once finished.
- Dial in Instead of Using the App – If video isn’t required, you can join a meeting by calling in through a phone number (if the host provides one). This avoids using any mobile data.
3. Choose a Mobile Plan That Fits Your Needs
If you frequently use Zoom and other data-intensive apps, selecting a plan that matches your usage is important.
Some carriers offer flexible plans where you only pay for the data you use, while others provide affordable unlimited data options.
For example, Mint Mobile offers an Unlimited Plan for just $30/month, but if you find you’re using less data than expected, you can switch to a lower-cost plan and save even more.
Final Thoughts
Using Zoom on mobile can quickly consume data, especially during video calls.
If you’re often in meetings while away from Wi-Fi, monitoring usage and adjusting settings can help reduce unnecessary data consumption.
Whether it’s disabling HD video, limiting screen sharing, or connecting to Wi-Fi, these small changes can make a big difference in how much data Zoom uses on your phone.