If your mobile data keeps disappearing faster than you can top it up, the culprit might be sitting quietly on your phone. A new study from TRG Datacenters reveals the most data‑consuming apps — and the worst part is, much of that usage happens in the background. From YouTube to Snapchat, these apps can burn through gigabytes of your mobile data without you realising.
Summary of the findings
| App | Avg Hours Per Month | Data Usage (per hour) | Total (per Month) |
| YouTube | 30 | 2.3 GB | 69.4 GB |
| Twitch | 30 | 1 GB | 30 GB |
| Snapchat | 22.5 | 1.2 GB | 27.4 GB |
| TikTok | 22.5 | 948 MB | 22.8 GB |
| Threads | 22.5 | 984 MB | 22.1 GB |
| Netflix | 30 | 636 MB | 19 GB |
| 22.5 | 828 MB | 18.7 GB | |
| 22.5 | 780 MB | 17.8 GB | |
| Telegram | 15 | 840 MB | 12.6 GB |
| 10 | 1 GB | 10.2 GB |
YouTube: The Biggest Data Drainer
YouTube uses an eye‑watering 69.4GB per month on average.
- Active usage: 2.3 GB/hour
- Background usage: Over 90% of the total
- Average time spent: 30 hours/month
That means you could be using around 1GB every 26 minutes — even when you’re not streaming, the app is busy preloading videos, updating feeds, and syncing content.
Twitch and Snapchat Follow Closely
Twitch ranks second, but still uses less than half of YouTube’s total data.
- Twitch: 30 GB/month, with 29 GB coming from background usage
- Snapchat: 27.4 GB/month, 1.2 GB/hour active usage
- Both see users spending around 30 hours/month (Twitch) and 22.5 hours/month (Snapchat)
Twitch is heavy on passive data use, while Snapchat burns more when actively used — thanks to high‑quality video snaps and stories.
TikTok, Threads and Netflix in the Mid‑Range
- TikTok: 22.8GB/month, 948 MB/hour active
- Threads: 22.1 GB/month, 984 MB/hour active
- Netflix: 19 GB/month, over 18 GB in background
TikTok and Threads rely heavily on short‑form video, which explains their high active data rates. Netflix’s large background load comes from buffering and preloading high‑resolution video.
Instagram, Facebook and Telegram are Still Costly
- Instagram: 18.7 GB/month, 828 MB/hour active
- Facebook: 17.8 GB/month, 780 MB/hour active
- Telegram: 12.6 GB/month, 840 MB/hour active
Social media apps may not seem as resource-intensive as streaming platforms, but their constant background refreshes and video autoplay can quickly consume your data allowance.
Pinterest Uses More Than You Might Think
Pinterest rounds off the top 10.
- 10.2 GB/month
- 1 GB/hour active usage
- Only 10 hours/month spent in the app
The lower usage time keeps its total data footprint smaller, but it’s still high if you’re a frequent user.
What Does That Mean for Your Mobile Data Plan?
- YouTube would easily blow through a GB or two per day.
- Netflix or Snapchat might fit a 20 GB plan, but you’d still hit limits quickly.
- Light social usage on Instagram or Facebook can fit within 10–20 GB plan, but be aware that background syncing may consume more storage.
How to Protect Your Data Usage
1. Limit Background Data
Turn off app refresh, pre-loading and auto-play in both iOS and Android settings.
2. Choose the Right Plan
- For moderate daily use: du or Etisalat 1 GB/day plan (~AED 50).
- For occasional heavy usage, consider Etisalat’s 10–20 GB bundle or My Data Plan.
3. Monitor Daily Usage
Both du and Etisalat allow you to check usage via their apps or USSD codes, such as *135# or *135*offer_number#.
FAQs
Why is YouTube’s background data usage so high?
YouTube constantly preloads videos, updates feeds, and syncs recommendations, even when you’re not actively watching.
Which social media app uses the most active data?
Snapchat tops the list for active use, at 1,200 MB/hour.
How can I reduce background data usage?
Disable background refresh for heavy apps in your phone settings and limit auto‑play or preloading features where possible.
