How Much Data Does Spotify Use? Top Tips For Streaming Abroad

I know we’re supposed to be present while we’re travelling. But there are lots of times when having your own music with you can make things a lot more enjoyable.

Sitting in an airport waiting for a flight, riding a train, or even relaxing on the beach can all be enhanced with the right tunes. Plus, a good playlist on headphones turned down low can help you drown out the snores of travel companions or strangers in a hostel and help you get a good night’s sleep.

But before you reach for your phone, don’t forget that streaming apps like Spotify use data. On the road, you may not have the same generous allowance as you get at home, so it’s worth understanding how much data Spotify uses so you don’t end up burning through your entire plan.

Let’s break it down.

How much data does Spotify use?

The streaming quality settings you use can have a huge effect on how much data Spotify goes through. 

Low Quality (24 kbps): Approximately 10 to 12 MB per hour

Normal Quality (96 kbps): 40 to 43 MB per hour

Hi Quality (160 kbps): Around 70 MB per hour

Very High Quality (320 kbps): 150 MB per hour

If you think about it, that can quickly add up. Listening to music for just one hour a day at high quality is going to use almost 2 GB per month, and if you listen at a very high quality, it will be more than double that.

Remember, too, that this is just for music. Videos use far more data, so it’s easy to imagine how quickly you could burn through a limited data plan without even realizing it.

What affects Spotify data usage?

Streaming quality is the main factor you need to think about to keep your usage down. But it’s not the only factor in play here. You also need to consider:

Length and Streaming Time

The longer the song, the more data it will use. If you get into a playlist, it can be easy to forget that you’ve had the app running for hours.

Podcasts versus music

Listening to a podcast uses data at the same rate as listening to music. However, podcasts tend to be longer, and it’s easy to lose track of how long you’ve been listening.

Auto-play and Background Play 

Be careful with your autoplay settings. If Spotify keeps playing after your playlist is over, you may end up streaming more than you plan to.

Checking your Spotify data usage

Annoyingly, Spotify doesn’t give you a detailed breakdown of how much data you’re using inside the app itself. Instead, you’ll need to use your phone’s settings to check on your usage.

• iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Spotify 
• Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage > Spotify

This will show you how much data you’ve used over a period of time. It’s good to check on this early, especially while travelling. It can give you an idea of how much data you use in an hour or in a day, so you can plan accordingly.

Is a specified data usage high compared to other apps?

Not especially, but it does depend a lot on how you use the app.

For example, streaming music uses a lot less data than streaming video, so apps like YouTube and Netflix are going to use far more data than Spotify. Now that every social media platform has shifted toward short videos, scrolling your feed can also use more data than Spotify. However, Spotify does use more data than maps and navigation apps, and more than general Internet browsing.

Ultimately, it’s more about the quality you listen to and the time you spend listening that determines your data usage.

How to reduce Spotify data usage

You don’t want to spend your trip worrying about your data usage, so it’s worth knowing how to stream music without going over your allowance. Here are the best ways to do that:

Lower streaming quality

Changing your music quality from Very High to Normal can cut your data usage in half. And in a lot of travel scenarios, such as in a busy airport or on a train, you may not even notice the difference in quality.

Download music and listen off-line

This is the best option for travelling, as it means you can listen even in places where you don’t get reception, such as on planes. Spotify gives you the option to download playlists, albums, and podcasts while you’re on Wi-Fi, and then listen to them without using mobile data. It’s a great feature for train journeys and flights. The only downside is that you need to know what you want to listen to in advance.

Turn off Canvas

Spotify Canvas uses animated visuals that loop while you play music. They don’t use a huge amount of data, but turning them off will help you to use less.

Disable autoplay

Be more targeted in the music that you listen to. Switch off autoplay so that Spotify doesn’t stream music that you didn’t choose.

Use Wi-Fi whenever possible

Hotels, airports, cafés, and attractions often provide Wi-Fi networks. This lets you log in and use Spotify as much as you want, and even download music to listen to later.

Streaming Spotify abroad: what you need to know

The right music can give your vacation the perfect soundtrack, but there are a few things you need to know before you press play. For example:

Roaming charges can be expensive

Relying on your home carrier can make you vulnerable to roaming charges. Even moderate usage can lead to high roaming fees, data throttling, and big bills when you get home, guaranteed to leave a bad taste after your trip.

Content differences

Spotify and other streaming services need to negotiate rights in every country they operate in. That means that libraries can vary from one country to another. Usually, the differences aren’t huge, but it’s worth remembering that some tracks or podcasts may not be available everywhere. That’s another reason why it’s worth considering downloading what you want to make sure you’ll have it everywhere.

Connectivity issues

In some destinations, mobile data coverage varies a lot. Often, you’ll be able to get a good connection in major cities, but in rural areas, things get a lot more patchy.

How an eSIM makes streaming easier

The absolute best way to avoid hefty roaming charges and not have to worry about how much date you’re using is to get an eSIM before you travel. This allows you to connect to local networks and know ahead of time exactly how much you’ll pay for your data.

These days, phones are our music players, GPS, cameras, and computers, as well as a way to stay connected with friends and family back home. Phones are so useful when travelling, so it’s worth thinking about how you can stay connected wherever you are and not worry about usage.

ZenSim has plans that cover multiple countries so that you don’t have to switch every time you cross the border. We also offer unlimited plans so that you can stream all you want and not have to count every megabyte.

FAQs

Does Spotify use more data than Apple Music?

Really, whatever music streaming service you use, you can expect it to go through about the same amount of data. What affects how much date you use the most is the streaming quality you select, not the platform you choose.

How much data does Spotify use per song?

At high quality, a typical 3 to 4 minute song will use around 3 to 5 MB. At normal quality, it will be around 2.5 to 3 MB.

Can you use Spotify off-line?

You can, and it’s a great way to use it on planes or in areas with no reception. However, you’ll need a Premium account, and you need to download your music or podcasts to your device before you travel. This means you’ll be limited in what you can listen to, so it’s worth giving it some thought first.

Is streaming Spotify abroad expensive?

It can be. Many phone operators charge hefty fees for data usage outside of your home country. That’s why the best strategy is to use local data through an eSIM so you don’t get hit with unexpected charges.

Stream smarter with ZenSim

Spotify doesn’t chew through data the way that video apps like YouTube will. However, when you get lost in your tunes or a great podcast, it’s easy to forget that your data usage is piling up, and that can lead to a pretty heinous bill once you get home.

Downloading the music you want to listen to beforehand is a great way to make sure you always have something to listen to. But having a reliable data connection with an eSIM means you get the full functionality of Spotify without the hassle. Check out our travel eSIMs and find a plan so you can take your music wherever you go.