If you travel somewhere and don’t post about it on Instagram, did you even really go? I’m only slightly joking. The truth is, Instagram is practically made for travel. All those delicious meals, incredible landscapes, and buzzing city streets you’ll encounter as you travel the world are just begging to be shared online, and Instagram is one of the best ways to do that.
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But if you’re travelling on a strict data allowance, it’s worth remembering that Instagram can be surprisingly hungry when it comes to mobile data.
Photos aren’t usually that big of a problem. A much bigger issue is those auto-playing Stories and Reels that can easily burn a pretty substantial hole in your allowance.
This usually doesn’t matter much at home. But when travelling, you might be limited to, say, 5 or 10GB of data for an entire trip. Spend an hour scrolling Instagram every evening, and you could find you’re out of data long before you take the flight home.
So how much data does Instagram actually use? It’s difficult to come up with a firm figure, but a useful estimate is around 400 to 600MB per hour.
How does this figure break down, and how does it vary by usage? Let’s take a look, and also examine some ways you can save data without travelling like it’s the 19th century all over again.
How Much Data Does Instagram Use?
Meta, the company behind Instagram, doesn’t publish an official figure on how much data Instagram uses. And while independent tests exist, they tend to produce varying results, because we all use Instagram in different ways.
Browsing through photos or uploading your own doesn’t consume anything close to the amount of data you’ll use watching videos and Reels, and that makes it difficult to come up with a clear figure.
For example, Guiding Tech measured 32MB in five minutes of mixed Instagram use involving Reels, posts, and Stories. That’s about 400MB per hour.
Meanwhile, Tech Advisor counted 150MB in 15 minutes, which works out to more like 600MB per hour.
That makes 400 to 600MB per hour a reasonable estimate for your own travel planning. But remember, the more videos you watch, the higher that usage will climb.
What Uses the Most Data on Instagram?
Watching Reels and Stories is the quickest way to chew through your data allowance. Videos require far more data than photos and messages, so anything involving video is going to use more.
In general, Instagram’s biggest data users are:
- Reels: Continuous short-form video is especially data intensive
- Instagram Live: A continuous live video stream will also use heaps of data
- Stories: These tend to be video heavy too, which makes them data heavy
- Video calls: Sending and receiving live video is probably the most data-hungry way to stay in touch
- Uploading videos: Posting your own travel videos will also eat into your allowance
Meanwhile, browsing and uploading photos or sending messages is far less damaging to your allowance. Tech Advisor estimated a single photo upload at around 2MB, compared with around 8MB for a quick video Story.
If your feed is mostly Reels these days (whose isn’t?), your usage will drift towards what TikTok uses. Our breakdown of how much data TikTok uses gives you an idea of where that ceiling sits.
How to Use Less Data on Instagram
Although it can have a monstrous appetite for data, you don’t need to give up your Instagram habit while you travel. A few simple changes can save your data, and you don’t have to become an online hermit to do it.
Turn On Data Saver
Instagram has controls that are designed to reduce how much mobile data it uses.
Open Instagram, tap your profile, then the menu, and look in your settings for Data usage and media quality. Inside, you’ll find a Data Saver toggle. The exact wording varies a little depending on your version of Instagram and the device you have, so if it’s moved, search for "data" in the settings menu.
Enabling Data Saver stops videos from preloading as aggressively on mobile data. This can make a big difference to how much data you use while you’re on the app.
Don’t Upload at the Highest Quality
In the same Data usage and media quality menu, you’ll also find a setting to upload at the highest quality.
If you’re posting travel videos, the safest thing to do is wait until you’re on a trusted Wi-Fi network. Turning off the highest-quality upload option, or saving your uploads for Wi-Fi, can save a surprising amount of data.
You’ll still be able to take photos and record videos while you’re out and about. Just save them as drafts or keep them in your camera roll and post them once you’re back on Wi-Fi.
Save Reels for Wi-Fi
This might make the biggest difference of all. Spending 10 minutes checking Instagram probably isn’t going to bankrupt you. But an evening spent watching Reels could wipe out your data in next to no time.
Plan your longer scrolling sessions for when you’re on Wi-Fi at your hotel, at an airport, or in a café. Save your mobile data for when you’re out exploring and need maps, translations, and the group chat.
How to Check How Much Data Instagram Is Using
Because there are so many different ways to use Instagram, the best way to get a clear picture of how much data you need is to monitor your own usage. Luckily, your phone can tell you exactly how much data Instagram is costing you.
On an iPhone, you’ll find it in Settings > Mobile Service (Mobile Data on older versions of iOS). On Android, it will be under something like Network & internet > Data usage.
Either way, you can see how much data the app has used over a set period. If you check it before you travel, you’ll have a much better idea of how much data you might need to keep up your scrolling habit. On most phones, you can also switch off mobile data for Instagram entirely, so it only works on Wi-Fi.
While you’re planning your data needs, consider a ZenSim travel eSIM. Our downloadable SIMs connect to local networks, so you can pick the data pack that best fits how you use your phone. We even have unlimited plans with 3GB of high-speed data every day, so you can keep scrolling without watching the meter.
Using Instagram While Travelling
Instagram is a great travel companion. Not only can it keep you entertained during those boring stretches waiting for a flight or to check into your hotel, but it also lets you document your travels and share them with friends and family back home.
But heavy Instagram use can become a problem if you don’t have a data plan that can keep up.
One simple strategy is to use the app’s own data-saving settings, save long Reels sessions for when you’re on Wi-Fi, and keep an eye on your phone’s data stats.
But an even simpler plan is to grab a travel eSIM from ZenSim. With the right data pack, you’ll be able to scroll, watch videos, make calls, and post to Instagram pretty much like you would at home, without a nasty roaming bill waiting for you when you land back in Australia.
FAQs
Independent tests suggest typical mixed Instagram use consumes around 400-600MB per hour. But actual usage varies considerably depending on how much video you watch.
At 400-600MB per hour, 30 minutes would use approximately 200-300MB. A Reels-heavy session could consume a lot more, though.
Instagram doesn't publish an official figure, but continuous Reels viewing sits at the top end of Instagram's usage and can climb towards what TikTok uses, which tests have put at around 840MB per hour. The figure depends on video quality, connection speed and viewing behaviour.
For occasional use, yes. At 400-600MB per hour, 5GB theoretically provides roughly 8-12 hours of mixed Instagram use. Remember, though, that you'll need to reserve data for other apps while travelling.
Yes. Uploading photos, Stories and Reels uses mobile data unless you're connected to Wi-Fi. Videos generally require much more data than photographs.
It can. Instagram may refresh content, check for notifications, and perform other background activity. You can restrict background data through your phone's settings to conserve your travel allowance.
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Written by
Ryan Frawley
Travel writer and serial border crosser.
I've visited more than 30 countries so far, which sounds impressive until you see how long my travel wish list still is. When I'm not chasing cheap flights, figuring out eSIMs, or getting lost in places I can't properly pronounce, I'm usually writing about travel, remote work, and how to make both a little easier.
If you've ever searched "Can I work remotely from there?" at 2 a.m., we're probably on the same wavelength.
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