How much data does Spotify use?
Spotify uses about 11 MB an hour at Low (24 kbps) and up to 144 MB an hour at Very high (320 kbps).

Contents8 sections
| Setting | 1 hour | 2 hours a day for a week |
|---|---|---|
| Low (24 kbps) | 11 MB | 154 MB |
| Normal (96 kbps) | 43 MB | 602 MB |
| High (160 kbps) | 72 MB | 1 GB |
| Very high (320 kbps) | 144 MB | 2 GB |
Source: Spotify Support
How to use less data on Spotify
- Set cellular streaming quality to Low or Normal.
- Download playlists on Wi-Fi and listen offline.
- Turn off Canvas video and video podcasts on mobile data.
Spotify quality settings and data per hour
Spotify streams at four levels. Low (24 kbps) uses about 11 MB an hour and Normal (96 kbps) about 43 MB. High (160 kbps) takes about 72 MB an hour, and Very high (320 kbps) about 144 MB.
On a travel eSIM, Normal is the setting to use. It sounds clear through earbuds and uses less than a third of Very high.
How long 1 GB and 10 GB last on Spotify
One gigabyte gives about 23 hours of music on Normal and about 7 hours on Very high. On Low it stretches to about 90 hours.
A 10 GB plan holds about 230 hours of Spotify on Normal. Music on its own will not use up a travel plan unless you stream on Very high for hours every day.

Spotify data for a one-week and a two-week trip
Two hours of music a day adds up to about 600 MB a week on Normal and 2 GB on Very high.
Over two weeks the same listening comes to 1.2 GB on Normal or 4 GB on Very high. Downloaded playlists bring it to zero.
Change Spotify audio quality on iPhone and Android
Open Spotify, tap your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, then Audio quality. Under Mobile streaming, choose Normal or Low. The steps are the same on iPhone and Android.
On the same screen, set Download quality for playlists you save on Wi-Fi. Downloads at Very high take phone storage but no mobile data.
Listen to Spotify offline while travelling
Spotify Premium lets you download playlists, albums and podcasts. Tap the download arrow on hotel Wi-Fi and wait until each song shows a green arrow. Free accounts can download podcasts only.
Turn off Canvas, the short looping videos behind songs, under Settings and privacy, then Playback. Video podcasts use far more data than audio ones, so download those on Wi-Fi.
FAQ
- How much data does Spotify use per hour?
- About 11 MB on Low, 43 MB on Normal, 72 MB on High and 144 MB on Very high.
- Does Spotify use a lot of data?
- No. On Normal an hour of music uses about 43 MB, less than five minutes of HD video.
- Can I use Spotify offline abroad?
- Yes, with Premium. Download playlists on Wi-Fi and play them with mobile data off.
- What Spotify quality should I use on mobile data?
- Normal. It sounds clear on a phone and uses about 43 MB an hour.
- How do I stop Spotify using mobile data?
- Turn on Offline mode under Settings and privacy, then Playback. Only downloaded music plays.
- How long does 1 GB last on Spotify?
- About 23 hours on Normal, 14 hours on High and 7 hours on Very high.
Work out your whole trip
Add up maps, music, video and calls for every day of your trip with the travel data calculator.
Plan size for 2 hours a day at Normal (96 kbps) for 2 weeks: 1.2 GB plus 10% extra.
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