| Each day buys about | Hours | Assumes |
|---|
Where the numbers come from
Streaming rates are typical published figures: about 1 GB an hour for SD video, 3 GB for HD and 7 GB for 4K. Video calls vary from 0.5 to 1.5 GB an hour depending on the app and how many people are on screen. Treat them as a planning guide, not a meter.
Find your used-so-far number
Your carrier's app shows the official figure. On a Mac, Activity Monitor's Network tab only counts since the last restart, so it's usually too low. Drippy keeps the running total for the month and resets on your plan's day.
Stretch what's left
- Turn on Low Data Mode for the hotspot network. How to save data on a hotspot.
- Pause iCloud Photos, Dropbox and backups until you're back on unlimited Wi-Fi.
- Drop video to 480p: it uses roughly a third of HD.
- Check which apps are using the internet for background surprises.
Questions
How many GB is an hour of Netflix?
Netflix lists about 1 GB per hour for SD, up to 3 GB for HD and up to 7 GB for 4K.
How much data does a Zoom or FaceTime call use?
Roughly 0.5–1.5 GB per hour for video, a few tens of MB for audio only.
How do I get warned before I hit my cap on a Mac?
Drippy lets you set your cap and reset day and warns you before you go over.