Discord has become a go-to app for gamers, streamers, and other communities worldwide. As an app that provides a plethora of features including voice calls, video chats, and messaging, many have been wondering just how much data does Discord use. Well, let me tell you, folks, it’s a lot more than you might think!
With the rise of online gaming and virtual communication, Discord has become an indispensable tool. Whether you are playing games with friends or communicating with a remote team, your internet data is running at full throttle. If you’re someone who’s always on-the-go or has limited data plans, this can be a nightmare. And that’s why it’s essential to know just how much data Discord uses per hour or minute.
When it comes to data usage, Discord can be a real data hog. During a voice call, Discord can consume anything from 40 MB to 72 MB per hour with a bit rate of 64 kbps to 128 kbps. And if you’re using video chat, be prepared to pay the price for convenience because Discord uses up to 216 MB in an hour. Of course, this is dependent on the quality of the call or the video, but it’s still a good idea to monitor your data usage to avoid unexpected charges.
How to Monitor and Control Discord Data Usage
If you’re concerned about the amount of data used by Discord, there are several ways to monitor and control it. Here are some tips:
- Check your account settings: Discord gives you the option to turn off auto-play videos and lower the quality of images to save data. It’s a good idea to go to your account settings and make sure these options are enabled.
- Limit voice and video calls: Video and voice calls use a lot of data, so it’s a good idea to limit them or switch to text chat when possible. You can also lower the quality of videos and enable the “Use Legacy Audio Subsystem” option in the settings to reduce data usage.
- Monitor data usage: Keep track of your data usage over time using your device’s data usage tracker or a third-party app. This can help you identify which apps are using the most data and make adjustments accordingly.
Discord Data Usage By Activity
Below is an estimated breakdown of how much data Discord uses based on different activities:
| Activity | Estimated Data Usage per Hour |
|---|---|
| Voice Chat | 50 MB/hour |
| Video Chat | 100 MB/hour |
| Text Chat | 2 MB/hour |
| Auto-Play Videos | 5 MB/hour (per video) |
| Image Upload or Download | 1-2 MB (per image) |
Note that these estimates are based on average usage and may vary based on factors such as connection speed and quality.
Factors that Affect Discord Data Usage
Discord is a highly data-intensive communication platform used by millions of users worldwide. While it offers various features and services, its data usage can vary based on different factors. Here are some of the factors that affect Discord data usage:
Data-Intensive Features
- Video Calls: Discord video calls require significant data usage as the platform uses WebRTC, which relies on peer-to-peer data transfer. The bitrate can range from 30 kbps to 2 Mbps for video calls, depending on the quality and resolution.
- Voice Calls: Although voice calls use less data than video calls, they still consume minimal data. The bandwidth for voice calls depends on the size of the group; for example, group calls require more data compared to individual calls.
- Screen sharing: Discord allows its users to share their screens during a call, which consumes considerable data depending on the quality of the shared screen.
- File Sharing: The size of the file being shared influences the data consumption, as the bigger the file, the more data will be used in transferring it to the recipients.
- Streaming: Discord also allows its users to stream games, which significantly consumes data, depending on the quality of the stream.
Video and Audio Quality
The video and audio quality of Discord calls can be adjusted to manage data usage. Discord has four options for video quality; 720p, 480p, 360p, and 240p. 720p requires the most data, while 240p requires the least. Similarly, the audio quality can be adjusted by the user, which impacts the amount of data used during a call.
Type of Connection
The type of network connection used to connect to Discord can influence the data usage. A stable and strong Wi-Fi connection will consume less data, while a weak cellular connection may use more data. Discord uses less data when it detects a slower connection or network congestion, which can result in lower quality audio, video, or slower file transfers.
Data Saving Tips
Discord users can try various methods to manage and limit data usage, such as adjusting video and audio quality, using text-based communication instead of multimedia, and by disabling auto-download of media files. They can also disable the ‘Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority’ option, which can lead to lower latency and fewer lags during calls but may consume more data.
| Discord Feature | Approximate Data Usage |
|---|---|
| 1 Hour of Voice Call | 15-30 MB |
| 1 Hour of Video Call: 480p | 150-200 MB |
| 1 Hour of Video Call: 720p | 250-300 MB |
| 1 Hour of Screen Sharing | 180-220 MB |
The data usage table above shows the approximate amount of data used by some common Discord features during one hour of usage. While it helps users gauge their data usage, these numbers may vary based on various factors such as video quality, audio quality, network connection, and more.
Tips to Reduce Data Usage on Discord
If you’re someone who loves to use Discord regularly to connect with your friends, but you’re tired of going over your monthly data limit, then you need some tips to reduce data usage on Discord. Here are some effective ways to minimize your data usage so that you can continue using Discord without worrying about your data.
1. Turn off Automatic Media Downloads
- By default, Discord allows automatic media downloads, which means that all the images and videos that are sent to your account will be downloaded automatically.
- This can cause a significant drain on your data. To disable automatic media downloads, go to User Settings > Appearance, and toggle off the option for “Automatically download images” and “Automatically download videos.”
- By disabling this feature, you can decide which media you want to download, and it can save you a lot of data usage!
2. Turn on Data Saver Mode
- Discord has a remarkable feature called Data Saver Mode which can help reduce data usage on the app.
- This feature compresses all the images you receive on Discord, which means that they will take up less data.
- To enable Data Saver mode, go to User Settings > App Settings and toggle on the “Data Saver” option.
- It will compress images and videos, making it the perfect option for people who want to use Discord without worrying about their data usage.
3. Keep an Eye on Voice Channel Bitrate
Another effective way to reduce data usage is to keep an eye on the voice channel bitrate. The bitrate represents how much data your Discord connection is using per second. The higher the bitrate, the more data you will use.
| Bitrate | Quality |
|---|---|
| 128 Kbps | Stable and clear audio with moderate data usage. |
| 64 Kbps | The audio quality is decent, and data usage is minimal. |
| 32 Kbps | The audio quality is not as great, but data usage is minimal. |
Therefore, if you don’t need the highest quality audio in your Discord voice channels, it’s recommended that you lower the bitrate to minimize data usage. This feature is especially useful for people who have limited data plans.
Conclusion
Using Discord is easy—even when it comes to reducing data usage. By applying the above tips, you can significantly reduce your data consumption, so don’t forget to use them the next time you’re on Discord.
How to Estimate Data Usage in a Discord Voice Call
Discord is an amazing app for voice and text communication. It is widely used for gaming, communities, and work. However, it is important to keep tabs on your data usage, especially if you have a limited internet plan. In this article, we will discuss how to estimate data usage in a Discord voice call and some best practices to reduce data usage.
- Codec: Discord uses Opus for voice chat, which is a low-latency codec designed for interactive speech and audio transmission. It is optimized for both high quality and low bitrate encoding, which means it uses minimal data. This is much better than other codecs that use more data for the same quality.
- Quality: The quality of the voice call also affects data usage. By default, Discord uses 64 kbit/s bitrate, which is already low. However, you can further reduce it to 32 kbit/s or increase it to 96 kbit/s or 128 kbit/s. The lower the bitrate, the less data it will use.
- Duration: The duration of the voice call is also a factor. The longer the call, the more data it will use. If you have a limited data plan, it’s better to keep your calls short and to the point.
Using these factors, we can estimate how much data a Discord voice call will consume. Here is a table of data usage based on Codec, Quality, and Duration:
| Codec | Quality | Duration | Data Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opus | 64 kbit/s | 1 hour | 29 MB |
| Opus | 32 kbit/s | 1 hour | 14 MB |
| Opus | 96 kbit/s | 1 hour | 43 MB |
| Opus | 128 kbit/s | 1 hour | 57 MB |
These numbers are estimates and can vary based on your internet connection and other factors. However, they can give you a good idea of how much data you will use during a voice call.
How to Check Your Discord Data Usage
As Discord is becoming a widely-used communication tool, it is important to keep track of your data usage on the platform. Knowing how much data Discord is consuming can help you manage your internet connection better and avoid any potential unexpected charges from your internet service provider. Here is how you can calculate your Discord data usage:
- Check your Discord settings: Discord offers several options to users when it comes to data usage. You can lower the quality of voice and video calls, limit the data usage while using a mobile hotspot, and set a data usage limit for file uploads. To check these settings, go to User Settings > Voice & Video or App Settings > Voice & Video for desktop and mobile devices respectively.
- Use a network monitoring tool: If you want to track your actual data consumption on Discord, you can use a network monitoring tool. There are several free and paid options available like GlassWire, Networx, and BitMeter II. These tools can give you a detailed breakdown of your data usage on all applications including Discord.
- Use Discord’s data counter: Discord itself also offers a way to check your data usage. To access this feature, click on your profile picture and go to User Settings > Data Usage. Here, you can see how much data you have used on Discord in the past month and how much you have left based on your data usage limit settings.
Once you have an idea of your Discord data usage, it can help you optimize your settings and usage habits to save data and money.
Discord Data Usage Stats
According to Discord’s official website, the following table shows the average data usage per minute of different types of voice and video calls:
| Type of Call | Data Usage per Minute (Upload) | Data Usage per Minute (Download) |
|---|---|---|
| Voice Call | 15.2kB | 15.2kB |
| Video Call | 240kB (360p), 720kB (720p), 1.5MB (1080p) | 240kB (360p), 720kB (720p), 1.5MB (1080p) |
| Screen Share | 50kB (480p), 160kB (720p), 270kB (1080p) | 50kB (480p), 160kB (720p), 270kB (1080p) |
Note that these statistics are estimates and can vary based on factors like your internet speed, device specifications, and Discord server congestion.
Why Is Discord Data Usage So High?
Discord is a well-known messaging and voice chat application, used for both personal and professional purposes. There are many reasons why Discord data usage is so high. Some of the main contributors are as follows:
- Voice Chat: Voice chat is one of the most data-heavy features of Discord. In fact, a typical voice chat session on Discord can use up to 63MB of data per hour. This is because the app uses high-quality audio codecs that require more bandwidth to operate smoothly.
- Video Calling: Video calling on Discord is another feature that consumes a lot of data. A 720p video call on Discord can use up to 360MB of data per hour, while a 1080p video call can use up to 600MB of data per hour. This is because, like with voice chat, Discord uses high-quality video codecs that require more bandwidth to work properly.
- Image and Video Sharing: Image and video sharing on Discord can also contribute to high data usage. When you share an image or video file on Discord, the app automatically compresses the file to reduce its size. However, this still requires a significant amount of data to be transferred, especially for high-resolution images or videos.
- Text Chat: Although text chat on Discord is not as data-heavy as voice chat or video calling, it still consumes a certain amount of data. This is because text messages are sent back and forth between users, and each message contains some amount of data.
- Server Activity: Discord servers can also contribute to high data usage. When you join a server, the app has to download all of the server’s information, including its channels, roles, and members. If you are a member of multiple servers, this can quickly add up to a significant amount of data.
- Bot Usage: Finally, using bots on Discord can also increase data usage. Bots are software applications that automate certain tasks on Discord, such as moderating chat rooms or playing music. However, these tasks require the bot to communicate with Discord’s servers, which can use up data.
The Bottom Line
All in all, there are many factors that contribute to high data usage on Discord. However, because of its popularity, its ease of use, and its advanced features, Discord remains a top choice for users looking to connect with others online. As long as you are aware of the data usage required by the app and monitor your internet usage accordingly, you should be able to use Discord without any major issues.
The Pros and Cons of Adjusting Discord Data Usage Settings
Discord is a popular app for gamers and communities to connect over voice, video, and text. While it can be a great tool for communication, it also consumes data. Users may want to adjust their data usage settings for various reasons, such as wanting to conserve mobile data, improve voice quality, or reduce lag. In this article, we explore the pros and cons of adjusting Discord data usage settings.
7. How Much Data Does Discord Use?
Discord’s data usage varies based on the quality of the voice and video settings. Users can adjust these settings by going to User Settings > Voice & Video. Here’s an estimated comparison of data usage based on different settings:
| Quality | Data Per Minute (Voice) | Data Per Minute (Video) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 0.5 MB | 4.5 MB (480p), 5.5 MB (720p) |
| High | 0.75 MB | 6.75 MB (480p), 8.25 MB (720p) |
| Extreme | 1.2 MB | 10.8 MB (480p), 13.2 MB (720p) |
Text channels use very little data, typically less than 1 KB per message. Therefore, adjusting voice and video settings have the most significant impact on data usage.
- Pros of adjusting data usage:
- Save mobile data: Adjusting Discord’s data usage can reduce the amount of mobile data used by the app.
- Improve voice quality: Higher quality settings can provide clearer voice calls, reducing the need for repeating sentences or asking others to repeat themselves.
- Cons of adjusting data usage:
- Reduced voice quality: Lowering data usage can reduce voice quality, leading to choppy audio and missed words.
- Increase lag: Lower quality settings can increase delay or lag between responses.
Overall, adjusting Discord’s data usage can be a helpful tool for managing data usage or improving voice quality. Still, there are potential downsides to consider.
FAQs about How Much Data Does Discord Use
Q: Does Discord use a lot of data?
A: It depends on how much you use it. If you spend all day chatting, voice calling, streaming videos, or sharing images, then it can consume around 70-100 MB per hour. However, if you only use text chat, it can use as little as 5-10 MB per hour.
Q: How much data does a Discord call use?
A: A one-hour Discord voice call uses around 250 MB of data. If you go for the video option, it can use up to 600 MB per hour.
Q: Can I reduce the amount of data Discord uses?
A: Yes, you can by turning off features that consume a lot of data, such as video calls or screen sharing. You can also lower the quality of voice calls or limit the number and size of files you share.
Q: Does Discord use more data on my phone than on my computer?
A: Not necessarily. It again depends on what you do, but if you use the mobile app, it might use less data than having it open in a browser on your computer.
Q: Can I control how much data Discord uses during a call?
A: Yes, you can go to User Settings in Discord, then App Settings, and then Voice and Video. From there, you can choose different quality settings or limit the bandwidth used for bad internet connections.
Q: Is Discord data usage affected by the number of people in the chat?
A: Yes, more participants in a chat room can cause Discord to use more data, especially if they are all speaking or sharing media at the same time.
Q: Does being in multiple Discord servers use more data?
A: Generally, no, as being in multiple servers does not affect the amount of data Discord uses if you are not actively using them.
Closing Thoughts
Understanding how much data Discord uses can help you manage your internet usage better, whether you are on a limited mobile data plan or a slow internet connection. Remember that you can adjust the settings to reduce the amount of data Discord uses, depending on your needs. We hope this article has been informative and helpful. Thanks for reading, and please visit again soon!