Instant messaging and video calling apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime have become incredibly popular ways for people to stay connected. With high-quality video calls, it’s easy to chat face-to-face with friends and family no matter where they are in the world. However, streaming high-definition video can use a lot of data. So how much data does WhatsApp video calling use compared to FaceTime?
WhatsApp Video Call Data Usage
WhatsApp offers end-to-end encrypted video calling for both one-on-one calls and group calls with up to 8 participants. The data usage for WhatsApp video calls can vary based on call quality, but here are some general estimates:
| WhatsApp Video Call Quality | Data Usage Per Minute |
|---|---|
| Low quality (240p) | 60MB – 100MB |
| Standard quality (360p) | 100MB – 300MB |
| HD quality (720p) | 300MB – 500MB |
WhatsApp uses variable bitrate encoding which adjusts the data usage based on the available network connection. Under optimal network conditions, a WhatsApp HD video call will use about 500MB per minute.
However, if the network connection is poor and bandwidth is limited, WhatsApp will automatically lower the call quality to conserve data. At the lowest quality setting of 240p, a WhatsApp video call can use as little as 60MB per minute.
FaceTime Data Usage
FaceTime is Apple’s proprietary video calling app available on iOS and Mac devices. FaceTime also adapts call quality based on the available network bandwidth. Here are the approximate data usage estimates for FaceTime video calls:
| FaceTime Video Quality | Data Usage Per Minute |
|---|---|
| 240p | 60MB – 150MB |
| 360p | 150MB – 250MB |
| 720p HD | 250MB – 500MB |
| 1080p HD | 500MB – 1.5GB |
At lower qualities, FaceTime uses slightly more data compared to WhatsApp. But at 720p HD, they are roughly the same. The big difference is that FaceTime allows calls up to 1080p HD which can use 1.5GB per minute under optimal conditions.
Network Connection Impact
It’s important to note that the network connection speed and stability will directly impact data usage for both WhatsApp and FaceTime video calls. If you are on a 2G network or have a poor WiFi connection, video call quality and resolution will decrease automatically to prevent glitching, freezing, and call drops.
Here are some typical mobile data speeds and how they may impact video call data usage:
| Network Connection | Speed (Download/Upload) | Potential Video Quality | Data Usage Per Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | Up to 236Kbps | 240p | 60MB – 100MB |
| 3G | 384Kbps – 2Mbps | 360p | 100MB – 300MB |
| 4G LTE | 2Mbps – 10Mbps | 720p HD | 300MB – 500MB |
| 5G | Over 10Mbps | 1080p HD | 500MB – 1.5GB |
As you can see, slower 2G networks may only support video calls at 240p resolution and around 60MB per minute. The latest 5G networks can handle 1080p HD video calls at over 1GB per minute.
Call Duration Impacts
In addition to video quality, the duration of your video calls will also determine how much data is used. A quick 5 minute video call will use far less data compared to an hour long call. Here are some examples of total data used based on call duration:
| Video Call Duration | Data Used (360p Quality) |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 500MB – 1GB |
| 15 minutes | 1.5GB – 3GB |
| 30 minutes | 3GB – 6GB |
| 1 hour | 6GB – 12GB |
As you can see, longer call times can quickly consume multiple GBs of data depending on the video quality. So it’s important to consider limiting call durations if you have a limited data plan.
Tips for Reducing Video Call Data Usage
If you are worried about going over your mobile data limits, here are some tips to reduce data usage on WhatsApp and FaceTime video calls:
1. Use Lower Video Quality When Possible
Both WhatsApp and FaceTime allow you to select lower video resolutions like 240p or 360p. At 240p, you can get data usage down to 60MB – 100MB per minute.
2. Try Audio-Only Calls
If video isn’t necessary, standard voice calls will use negligible data compared to video. Or you can enable WhatsApp audio-only calls over the internet to avoid cellular data charges.
3. Use WiFi Whenever Possible
Connecting to a stable WiFi network allows you to make the highest quality video calls without impacting your mobile data.
4. Download Videos When Not on WiFi
WhatsApp has an option to download videos to view later instead of streaming them. This saves a lot of data when away from WiFi.
5. Limit Long Video Calls
Try to avoid marathon video calls where possible. A few shorter calls will help conserve data compared to one extremely long call.
Conclusion
In optimal network conditions, WhatsApp and FaceTime video calls can use 500MB of data per minute or more at HD 720p resolutions. However, the actual data usage can vary significantly based on the network speed available and video quality settings. To conserve data, use WiFi whenever possible, select lower video quality, limit call durations, and download videos to watch later. With some adjustments, you can comfortably use WhatsApp and FaceTime video calling even with limited cellular data plans.