How much data does a WhatsApp video call use?

About 300 MB an hour in standard quality and 480 MB in HD.

Can I make WhatsApp calls use less data?

Yes. Turn on Use less data for calls under Settings, then Storage and data.

How long does 1 GB last on WhatsApp calls?

About 41 hours of voice calls or 3 hours 20 minutes of standard video calls.

Does WhatsApp work with a data-only eSIM?

Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your home number and runs over the eSIM's data.

Does WhatsApp work offline?

No. Calls and new messages need a connection. Old messages stay readable offline.

How much data does a WhatsApp call use?

WhatsApp uses about 24 MB an hour at Voice call and up to 480 MB an hour at Video call (HD).

Man making a voice call on his phone walking along a harbour, watercolour

Contents8 sections

Setting	1 hour	2 hours a day for a week
Voice call	24 MB	336 MB
Video call (standard)	300 MB	4.2 GB
Video call (HD)	480 MB	6.7 GB

Source: Firsty

WhatsApp data per hour

How long 10 GB lasts on WhatsApp

How to use less data on WhatsApp

Turn on Use less data for calls in Storage and data.
Switch video calls to voice when video is not needed.
Set media auto-download to Wi-Fi only.

WhatsApp call data: voice, video and HD

A WhatsApp voice call uses about 24 MB an hour, so you can talk for hours on a small travel plan. A standard video call takes about 300 MB an hour, twelve times as much.

HD video calls use about 480 MB an hour. On a travel eSIM, use voice for long calls and keep video for short check-ins or Wi-Fi.

How long 1 GB and 10 GB last on WhatsApp calls

One gigabyte covers about 41 hours of voice calls, 3 hours 20 minutes of standard video or about 2 hours of HD video.

A 10 GB plan holds over 400 hours of voice calls. Spent on standard video, it lasts about 33 hours.

Woman texting on her phone on a park bench, watercolour

WhatsApp data for a one-week and a two-week trip

An hour of voice calls a day uses about 170 MB a week. An hour of video calls a day uses 2.1 GB a week in standard quality and 3.4 GB in HD.

Over two weeks a daily hour of video comes to 4.2 GB, or 6.7 GB in HD, more than half of a 10 GB plan.

Turn on Use less data for calls

On iPhone, open WhatsApp, tap Settings, then Storage and data, and turn on Use less data for calls. On Android, tap the three dots, then Settings, then Storage and data, and turn on the same switch.

On the same screen, set Media auto-download to Wi-Fi only for photos, audio, videos and documents. Group chats full of videos can use more data than your calls.

Save WhatsApp data while travelling

Make long video calls on hotel Wi-Fi and use mobile data for voice. WhatsApp shows your data use per chat under Storage and data, then Network usage.

Your WhatsApp number keeps working on a data-only eSIM. Friends reach you on your home number as long as WhatsApp is set up on it.

FAQ

How much data does a WhatsApp voice call use?: About 24 MB an hour.
How much data does a WhatsApp video call use?: About 300 MB an hour in standard quality and 480 MB in HD.
Can I make WhatsApp calls use less data?: Yes. Turn on Use less data for calls under Settings, then Storage and data.
How long does 1 GB last on WhatsApp calls?: About 41 hours of voice calls or 3 hours 20 minutes of standard video calls.
Does WhatsApp work with a data-only eSIM?: Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your home number and runs over the eSIM's data.
Does WhatsApp work offline?: No. Calls and new messages need a connection. Old messages stay readable offline.

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 Video call (standard) for 2 weeks: 8.4 GB plus 10% extra.