Yes, podcasts use data when you stream them, but not a lot. Most use about 30 to 60 MB per hour. Spotify says its podcasts stream at about 96 kbit/s, which works out to roughly 43 MB per hour. Downloaded episodes use no data when you play them. This guide shows the numbers by quality, how to cut your data use on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and what to do when you travel.
How much data does a podcast use per hour?
Data use depends on the bitrate, which is how much audio data is sent each second. A higher bitrate sounds clearer and uses more data. For speech, a low or medium bitrate is usually fine.
Only Spotify publishes its podcast bitrates, so the first rows come from its help page. The other rows are our own estimates from bitrate math (kbit/s x 3,600 seconds / 8 = MB per hour). Real files vary a little with the show and the app.
- Spotify, Low quality (about 24 kbit/s): about 11 MB per hour. On mobile, Spotify says this setting also lowers podcast quality.
- Spotify podcasts (about 96 kbit/s): about 43 MB per hour. This is Spotify's stated podcast quality on all devices except its web player.
- Spotify web player (128 kbit/s): about 58 MB per hour.
- Other podcast files, estimate: many shows publish speech at 64 to 128 kbit/s, which is roughly 29 to 58 MB per hour. Apple does not publish a bitrate for Apple Podcasts, so treat this as a ballpark.
Source for the Spotify figures: Spotify Support: Audio quality. The MB per hour are our math, not Spotify's.
What that means in real life
- A 30-minute episode at 96 kbit/s uses about 22 MB.
- Ten hours of podcasts a week is about 430 MB a week at that quality.
- 1 GB of data covers around 23 hours of podcasts at 96 kbit/s.
Video podcasts are different. They send a video stream too, so they use far more than audio. Apple's own settings let you choose Audio Only or Video for downloads over cellular, so pick audio if you only want to listen.
Do podcasts use data when you stream or download?
It depends on how you listen:
- Streaming: the app loads the audio as you listen, so it uses data the whole time. If you play the same episode again, it can use data again.
- Downloading: the app fetches the episode once, ideally on Wi-Fi. After that you can play it with no connection. Apple confirms that podcasts you follow can play when you are not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular (Apple Support: Download and delete episodes in Apple Podcasts).
So downloaded podcasts use data only once, at the moment of the download. If that happens on hotel or home Wi-Fi, it costs you nothing from your mobile plan.
How to use less data with podcasts
Apple Podcasts on iPhone
- Follow your shows. The newest episode of a followed show downloads automatically (Apple Support).
- Go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts and tap Automatically Download to choose how many episodes or what timeframe to keep.
- Keep Allow Over Cellular off. Apple says automatic downloads do not use cellular data by default, and you can switch this on if you want them to (Apple Podcasts for Creators: Automatic Downloads).
Menu names change between iOS versions, so if you do not see these, look in the Podcasts section of Settings for the cellular option.
Spotify
- Open the app settings and lower the streaming quality. Spotify lets you set it separately for Wi-Fi and cellular.
- Set a separate, lower download quality if storage is tight.
- Download episodes on Wi-Fi and play them offline.
Details are on Spotify Support: Audio quality.
Other apps
Google Podcasts closed in 2024 and Google moved podcasts to YouTube Music (TechCrunch). Most podcast apps have a Wi-Fi-only download option, so look for it in the settings of your app.
Check what is using your data
Not sure if your podcast app is the culprit? See where your data goes with our guides for iPhone and Android. For more ideas, read how to reduce data usage abroad.
Listening to podcasts while you travel
Podcasts are a great fit for flights, trains and long drives, and abroad they are easy to cover. Download your episodes on Wi-Fi before you leave, and the audio costs you nothing on the trip. Streaming over your home plan's roaming can get expensive, so read how to avoid roaming charges before you go.
For the rest of your trip (maps, messages, new episodes on the go), a travel eSIM gives you local data without roaming fees. At 96 kbit/s, even a 5 GB plan covers over 100 hours of podcasts, with room for other apps. New to this? Read what an eSIM data plan is and which travel apps are worth having.
Heading to the US? Here are three data-only plans. Pick the size that fits your trip.
United States plans, data only, 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB · Going elsewhere? See Europe or all destinations
FAQs
Do podcasts use a lot of data?
No. Streaming uses about 30 to 60 MB per hour, depending on quality. Video streaming uses far more.
Does listening to podcasts use data?
Streaming does. Playing an episode you have already downloaded does not, because the file is stored on your phone.
Do downloaded podcasts use data?
Only when they download. If you download on Wi-Fi, they use none of your mobile data. Playing them later needs no connection.
How much data does a Spotify podcast use?
Spotify says podcasts stream at about 96 kbit/s on all devices except the web player, which uses 128 kbit/s. That is roughly 43 MB and 58 MB per hour, by our math.
How much data does a 30-minute podcast use?
About 15 to 29 MB, depending on the bitrate (64 to 128 kbit/s). At Spotify's 96 kbit/s it is about 22 MB. This is an estimate.
Can I listen to podcasts without using data?
Yes. Download episodes on Wi-Fi first, then play them offline. Turn on airplane mode if you want to be sure the app does not use data.
Do video podcasts use more data?
Yes, much more than audio. In Apple Podcasts you can choose Audio Only for downloads over cellular.
Do podcasts use data when I am roaming?
Yes, if you stream. Roaming rates are set by your home carrier, so download on Wi-Fi or use a local travel eSIM instead.
