How Much Mobile Data Does TikTok Use?
Messaging apps with video are among the biggest data drains, although actual consumption varies depending on video quality and whether you’re watching or uploading. Below, we break down the average usage in MB and share practical tips to help you cut down on data – especially useful for travelers on limited prepaid plans.
Calculation
Internet usage mainly depends on video resolution, but unlike YouTube, TikTok doesn’t display exact settings (240p, 360p, 480p, or 1080p). The app automatically adjusts playback based on signal strength. By default, mobile streams are compressed, usually to 480p or even 360p. With a stable 5G connection, videos may be delivered in 720p or 1080p. Enabling «Data Saver» mode keeps both visuals and data usage at a minimum.
| Activity Type | Details | Internet Usage |
| Watching Videos | Low quality (240p–360p) with «Saver» enabled | ~150–400 MB/hour |
| Standard quality (480p), usually default | ~500–600 MB/hour | |
| High quality (720p) on stable 5G | ~1–1.5 GB/hour | |
| Uploading Videos | 15–30 seconds (standard quality ~480–720p) | ~20–50 MB |
| 1 minute, HD (720p) | ~70–150 MB | |
| 1 minute, Full HD (1080p) | ~150–250 MB | |
| Background Activity | Feed updates, notifications, account sync, and metadata loading | ~10–50 MB/hour |
| Communication | Sending text messages | ~0.01–0.1 MB per message |
| Sending photo/video in chat | 1 photo ~1–3 MB; short video 15–30 sec ~20–50 MB; HD video up to ~100 MB |
How to Limit TikTok on Mobile?
The first step to reduce internet usage is to enable «Saver» mode in the TikTok app, which streams videos in lower resolution. Here’s how:
- Open the TikTok on your phone.
- Tap on «Profile», open the menu in the top-right corner, and go to «Settings and Privacy».
- Select «Saver» and turn it on.
You can also restrict TikTok’s background activity on your phone:
iPhone: Open «Settings», go to «General», tap «Background App Refresh» find TikTok, and turn it off.
Android: Open «Settings», go to «Apps», select «TikTok», tap «Mobile Data & Wi-Fi», and turn off «Background Data».
The most radical option is to completely block TikTok from using mobile internet. Here’s how:
iPhone: Open «Settings», go to «Cellular», and under «Cellular Data» turn off TikTok.
Android: Open «Settings», then «Apps» and select «TikTok». Next, go to «Mobile Data & Wi-Fi» (or «Data usage») and turn off «Mobile Data» and «Background Data».
Conclusion
TikTok consumes a significant amount of data, but you can reduce usage by enabling «Saver» mode, disabling background activity, and turning off automatic updates.
You’re also able to check the data usage for YouTube via the link. In other sections, you can choose a Travel eSIM for different countries with the amount of GB that suits your needs, allowing you to use TikTok comfortably without worrying about running out of data.