How Much Data Does Online Gaming Use?

Online gaming is becoming increasingly popular, especially on mobile devices. But before you download a platform like Steam to your cell phone, you may be wondering just how much data you should expect your online gaming habit to consume.

The answer varies, based on how often you play, as well as on the game, but we have done a little research on your behalf. Keep reading to learn how much data online gaming uses.

How Much Data Does Online Gaming Use?

Online gaming will always use more data than downloading a game and playing it offline. That being said, downloading a game and playing it offline isn’t always an option for all games. 

So, for games that must be played online, you should plan on using an average of 100 Megabytes (MB) of data for each hour you play. Of course, this number will vary based on the exact game you enjoy playing. We have crafted the chart below to allow you to estimate your data usage based on your favorite online game.

 

Game Title	Data Usage Per Hour
Fortnite	100 MB
Minecraft	40 MB
Overwatch 2	150 MB
Microsoft Flight Simulator	700 MB
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds	40 MB
Dota2	120 MB
League of Legends	45 MB
Counter-Strike 2	250 MB
Team Fortress 2	80 MB
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4	80 MB
Battlefield V	100 MB
World of Warcraft	40 MB
Monster Hunter: World	30 MB
Destiny 2	300 MB
Warframe	115 MB
Grand Theft Auto V (Online)	60 MB
Rainbow Six Siege	70 MB
Rocket League	40 MB
Hearthstone	3 MB
Final Fantasy XIV	20 MB
Sea of Thieves	30 MB
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout	70 MB
Starcraft 2	20 MB
Diablo IV	20 MB
Valorant	250 MB
Marvel Snap	20 MB
Apex Legends	200 MB
Dead by Daylight	20 MB
Roblox	100 MB
Stardew Valley	300 MB
Among Us	15 MB
Pokemon Go	20 MB

Below is some estimate of how much data you can expect to use on a monthly basis when playing popular online games regularly.

Hours Played Per Day	Expected Data Consumption
1	3-12 Gigabytes (GB)
2-3	15-30 Gigabytes (GB)
4+	30-50 Gigabytes (GB)

As you can see, the amount of data you consume can spike quickly while gaming. Also, keep in mind that these are the gigabytes consumed solely for gaming purposes. If you are also surfing the web and using social apps like Instagram and Facebook while not gaming, you can expect your usage to climb even more.

What Internet Speed Do You Need for Online Gaming?

The speed of internet needed for online gaming will once again depend on the type of game you are playing and the graphics style and level of that game. That being said, the general recommendation is that an internet speed of 15 Mbps (Megabytes per second) is recommended for most cloud gaming. 

If you are playing a game with live players, you may want to upgrade to a faster speed, as lag time can affect your gaming experience, most notably with games like Dota2 and League of Legends. For these games, we recommend an internet speed of at least 50 Mbps.

Is 100 Mbps Enough For Cloud Gaming?

An internet speed of 100 Mbps should be sufficient for cloud gaming; however, if you are sharing your internet connection with lots of other people, it may not be enough in the end. But, if it is just you, and maybe one other person, then 100 Mbps is definitely sufficient for cloud gaming.

How Much Bandwidth Does Online Gaming Consume?

If you share your home and your internet connection with someone else, you may be wondering just how much of the connection your gaming will monopolize. Just like every other section on this list, the exact answer will vary depending on the exact game you are playing.

In general, though, you can plan on your gaming habit consuming at least 4.5 GB per hour, and no more than 10 GB per hour. This is still quite steep though, and you may want to consider upgrading to an unlimited internet package if you plan to game frequently. 

Although this may sound steep, for reference purposes, 10 GB per hour is about what it takes to download one single movie to your device.

Is Starlink Internet Good?

Many gamers use a Starlink internet connection for their cloud gaming. Starlink is a satellite internet service that comes with speeds of up to 220 Mbps, which is definitely sufficient for online gaming.

Starlink is common in areas where cabled internet options aren’t available, and many individuals are attracted to the fact that it tends to suffer less outages than typical cable companies. This type of comfort though, doesn’t come cheap.

Starlink packages vary, but you should expect to pay at least $120 per month for a basic package, plus the startup costs for equipment, which range based on your location but can start at $349 and run up to $1,499. Package costs increase from there with the top package costing a hefty $5,000 per month.

In our opinion, Starlink is only a good option if wired cable options aren’t available in your area. Not only is this because of the cost, but because power outages will still affect your computer so it doesn’t seem worthwhile to throw money into a service like Starlink when you would likely still be affected by local outages anyway.

But, if you are a serious gamer and don’t mind spending a little extra for quality internet, it may be well worth the investment.

Overall, as you can see, online gaming can be quite the investment in terms of the data you will use. This is especially important if you are a mobile gamer. To help with the costs of gaming on your mobile device, it is always advised to search for an unlimited plan when purchasing data. Even then, know that your provider may slow your data once you pass a certain point on consumption, so it may be worth asking this before you purchase an especially pricy plan!