How much data does Zoom use?

In a growing remote work environment, Zoom meetings have become not only the norm but a necessity for daily meetings and socialization.

Unfortunately, video chatting is generally a data leech — Zoom included. If you have an unlimited internet plan, this won’t be much of a problem, but it’s still a good idea to be aware of how much data Zoom is using each time you hop on a call. If you have a monthly data cap, this is important to avoid data overage fees.

Below, we’ll break down Zoom’s data requirements depending on video resolution, the type of call and extra features.

Zoom data usage

Video chatting is a data drainer, so knowing how much data your Zoom calls use can prevent you from exceeding your data cap or incurring data overage fees. Zoom’s data usage depends on a few factors, like video resolution, whether it’s a one-on-one call or a group call, a call with a video recording and other features used in the app.

Depending on the type of call and its video quality, Zoom requires anywhere from 500 MB to over 2 GB of data per hour. This is a pretty wide range, so we’ll break it down below.

One-on-one Zoom calls

One-on-one Zoom calls require less data than group calls because fewer people are on the call who need video and audio streams downloaded, resulting in less data usage. We’ve outlined the approximate data usage for three different video qualities: standard definition (SD), high definition (HD) and full high definition (FHD).

Group Zoom calls

Group Zoom calls use the most data. For more people in your Zoom call, more data is required to download audio and video streams for each person. Below are the approximate data requirements for SD, HD and FHD calls.

Additional data usage to consider

Aside from the number of people on your call, there are other factors that could take up additional data in your Zoom meeting: 

• Sharing your screen – 22 to 68 MB per hour
• Audio – 3 MB per hour

How to reduce data usage on Zoom

While those data amounts may seem daunting, especially if you are a frequent Zoomer, there are some easy ways you can reduce Zoom’s data usage during your calls.

Best internet plans for Zoom

The best internet plans for Zoom depend on your needs. If you are a frequent Zoom user with multiple meetings per day, an internet plan with unlimited data is in your best interest.

Not an everyday or even weekly Zoomer? If you are knowledgeable about your internet use, you could get away with an internet plan with a data cap. When consistently using the same amount of data each month, you can work around a data cap and avoid overage fees.

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Best internet providers with unlimited data

The providers below each offer unlimited data with their internet plans. AT&T, Google Fiber, Frontier and Verizon Fios are all fiber providers with the fastest and most reliable internet connections. Some honorable mentions not included in the table are Xfinity and Cox. Each offers a 1.2 TB/mo. data cap. While not unlimited, this is a ton of data and would be difficult to exceed in one month.

*Pricing per month plus taxes. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 02/21/25.
**Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET ADVANTAGE: Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
**Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Capable modem required for all Gig speeds. For a list of capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.

Zoom data FAQs