Is 100 GB Enough for Netflix?
A 100 GB data allowance should normally be sufficient for streaming Netflix, but the actual amount of data consumed will depend on these considerations:
Video Quality: The video quality you choose affects the amount of data consumed. Netflix offers different streaming options, including low, medium, and high quality. On average, streaming in standard definition (SD) can consume about 1 GB per hour, while high-definition (HD) streaming can use up to 3 GB per hour. Ultra-high-definition (UHD or 4K) streaming can consume around 7 GB per hour.
Viewing Habits: Your viewing habits, including the number of hours you spend streaming Netflix, will impact data consumption. If you consistently stream movies or TV shows for several hours each day, your data usage will be higher compared to occasional or shorter viewing sessions. You can make a note of this by using a calendar app on your phone, or by literally writing it down on a pad that you keep near your favorite device. Most people watch more than they think.
Multiple Devices and Simultaneous Streams: If you have more than one device connected to your Netflix account or if multiple people are streaming simultaneously, the data usage will increase accordingly. Note: Each streaming session consumes data independently, so multiple streams running concurrently will result in higher data consumption.
Other Online Activities: Keep in mind that data usage is not limited to Netflix alone. Other online activities such as web browsing, downloading files, or using other streaming services will also consume data. Be sure to account for these activities when considering your overall data usage.
Based on the above factors, a 100 GB data allowance should generally allow for a significant amount of Netflix streaming. With conservative estimates of data usage per hour, you can stream approximately 33-100 hours in SD, 25-33 hours in HD, or around 14 hours in UHD. However, it's important to monitor your data usage and consider other online activities to ensure you stay within your data limit, especially if you have other devices or users sharing the internet connection. Again, most people use more data than they initially think so it’s a great idea to use the My Viasat app daily to check your data usage. With Viasat you will have internet service once you exceed your fast-data cap but it will be at a slower speed that may not be the best for streaming.