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How much data does Instagram use?
Instagram can use up to 1.5 GB per hour. Learn how to reduce your data usage and find reliable alternatives with unlimited data to avoid roaming fees
Instagram typically uses 350 MB to 1.5 GB of mobile data per hour, depending on what you do. Watching Stories is relatively light, while Reels and Live videos can consume close to or over 1 GB per hour. So, how much data does Instagram use then?
In this guide, we explore Instagram data usage based on the different activities you can do on the app. We also focus on finding ways to consume less data and save you a hefty roaming fee.
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Does Instagram use a lot of data?
Instagram uses 69 MB per 5 minutes of scrolling, according to Holafly’s independent data usage research.
Different Instagram activities use different amounts of data. Stories generally use less data than Reels and Live videos, while browsing the feed falls somewhere in between, depending on how much video content you watch.
Operators like AT&T charge $2.05 per MB of data usage, which can lead to a hefty roaming fee of over $280 for just 10 minutes of scrolling.
How much data does Instagram use per hour?
Each Instagram activity uses a different amount of data. Stories generally use the least, while Reels and Live videos consume the most because they continuously stream video. Browsing the feed falls somewhere in between, depending on how much video content you watch.
Here’s a breakdown of how much data Instagram uses per hour, per activity:
| Activity | MB usage per hour |
| Scrolling (photos and videos) | 500–900 MB/hour |
| Stories | 400–700 MB/hour |
| Reels | 800 MB–1.2 GB/hour |
| Lives | 900 MB–1.5 GB/hour |
For other activities that don’t have hourly usage, like uploading photos, Instagram uses around 2 to 5 MB, which might increase depending on the video and image quality.
Note: These numbers are estimates. The amount of data Instagram uses depends on what you’re watching. For example, scrolling through mostly photos uses less data than watching lots of videos. Video quality, your internet connection, and Instagram’s habit of loading content before you watch it can also affect how much mobile data you use.
How can I check how much data Instagram is using?
To keep an eye on how much you’re spending on Instagram, here’s how to check your data usage on iOS and Android devices.
- Android:
- Go to “Settings,”
- Select “More connectivity options,”
- Go to “Data Usage.”
Data usage information on Android devices
- iPhone:
- Go to “Settings,”
- Click “Cellular/Mobile Data,”
- Look for the Instagram data usage.
Note: You can use Holafly’s data calculator to get an idea of how much data you’ll need per month based on your favorite app’s usage.
How to reduce Instagram data usage
Instagram’s data usage can be somewhat reduced. This may be necessary if you’re traveling on a limited data plan or even when using data roaming.
Enable “Data Saver” mode on Instagram
Instagram, like TikTok, has an option to save data. You can enable it by doing the following:
- Go to your Instagram profile and press the three-line icon at the top right corner.
- Scroll down and click on “Data usage and media quality.”
- You can activate two options there:
- Data saver: By activating this option, videos won’t load in advance, reducing Instagram’s data usage.
- Upload at highest quality: This option should be off by default. But if it’s turned on, photos, videos, and stores will upload with the highest possible quality, consuming more data.
Deactivate the “Save original photos” feature
When you upload photos or videos, these can be automatically downloaded to your phone, causing Instagram to consume much more data.
Here’s how you can deactivate this option to save more data:
- Go to your Instagram profile and press the three-line menu.
- Scroll down and click on “Archiving and downloading.”
- Turn off the “Save original photos” and “Save story to gallery” to save more data on your phone.
Note: The “Save story to archive” and “Save live to archive” options will not use much data, as they aren’t direct downloads to your phone.
Download Instagram Lite
If you’re an Android user, you can save even more data by downloading the Instagram Lite app.
Instagram Lite can reduce data usage significantly by lowering image and video quality and limiting background activity. Image and video quality are heavily affected, but considering data usage is cut in half, the app is worth it for travelers on a tight data budget.
Turn off background data usage
Turning off background data usage is another way to save data on Instagram. It will stop the app from running in the background and deactivate notifications and other features, like downloading content.
Here’s how you activate this option:
- Go to your mobile settings and find “More connectivity options.”
- Click on “Data usage” and choose “Instagram.”
- Once the app is open, turn off the “Background data” option.
- You’ll see a pop-up message with the features that will stop working until you activate this option again.
Use an eSIM to control data costs while traveling
Buying an unlimited data eSIM doesn’t exactly save data on Instagram, but it will save you money.
This is a great option for uploading photos and pictures while abroad, and it’s even better if your work depends on using Instagram.
Holafly is your best ally, as it offers different unlimited data plans. You can choose a single-country or regional data plan, with pricing starting at $6.90/day. If you buy more days, these plans can cost as little as $1.55/day, and you get up to 1 GB of data sharing per day.
Traveling for work or on a long-term trip? Holafly Plans is a monthly subscription with data plans ranging from 25 GB to unlimited data plans, making these a great option for digital nomads, remote workers, and Instagram lovers.
With Holafly Plans, you get the following features for a fraction of the price:
- 24/7 customer support through different channels
- Up to 5G connectivity when available
- Up to unlimited data sharing
- Monthly renewal for as long as you need it
Forget how much data Instagram uses; say goodbye to hefty data roaming fees, and continue uploading your photos and videos non-stop.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges abroad. Use local networks at local rates.
FAQs about data usage on Instagram
TikTok uses more data than Instagram. You can consume up to 948 MB per hour by just scrolling. If you want to upload videos, make a live video, and try filters on TikTok, you can easily use up to 2 GB of data in a single hour, 500 MB more than what Instagram can use.
Instagram uses a lot more data than Facebook as it mostly relies on high-quality images and video content, such as Stories and Reels. In contrast, Facebook relies more on posts that include a lower-quality image or video.
Connect to WiFi wherever possible, or use a travel eSIM like Holafly to get unlimited data without roaming charges. Enable data saver mode within apps like Instagram and TikTok, turn off background data, and avoid uploading high-quality videos on mobile data. With an unlimited eSIM, you won’t need to worry about per-MB roaming fees from your home carrier.
Around 1 to 2 hours of normal use. Stick to Stories or turn on Data Saver, and you’ll stretch it further; watch Reels or Lives, and it goes faster.
It depends on the activity. Browsing the feed typically uses 500–900 MB per hour; Stories, 400–700 MB; Reels, 800 MB–1.2 GB; and Instagram Live, 900 MB–1.5 GB. Reels and Lives are the heaviest, so they drain a data plan fastest.
Instagram Reels use roughly 800 MB to 1.2 GB per hour, one of the most data-heavy features in the app — second only to Lives. Turning on Data Saver reduces this by loading videos at lower quality and stopping them from preloading
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
