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Sometimes, but not as a universal rule. In a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) LTE comparison published in its 2018 Communications Monitoring Report, CraveTV used about 1.68 GB per hour, versus 0.33 GB per hour for Netflix. That is a historical result from one test, not a guaranteed rate for either service today.
For current viewing, the amount depends more on the stream actually delivered—its bitrate and quality—than on the service name. Netflix publishes estimates by quality; Crave’s public support information does not provide an equivalent current GB-per-hour table. If your data allowance is tight, compare usage on the same device and network rather than assuming that switching apps will solve the problem.
Crave and Netflix data use at a glance
| Service | Best available figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Netflix publishes estimates ranging from up to 0.3 GB per hour at Low to up to 7 GB per hour at High 4K Ultra HD. Netflix’s data-usage guidance | Useful for estimating Netflix playback at the stated settings; actual use varies by device, network and stream. |
| Crave | The CRTC’s 2018 LTE comparison recorded approximately 1.68 GB per hour for CraveTV. CRTC 2018 Communications Monitoring Report | A historical measurement under that test’s conditions, not a current general rate. |
The CRTC comparison is direct evidence that CraveTV used more data than Netflix in that particular LTE test. It cannot establish which service uses more in every current setup: apps, devices, codecs, plans and streaming systems can change, and the CRTC figures do not describe every title or quality level.
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Netflix’s published figures are maximum estimates by playback setting and quality, per device—not promises that every hour will use exactly that amount.
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| Netflix setting or quality | Published estimate |
|---|---|
| Low | Up to 0.3 GB per hour |
| Medium | Up to 0.7 GB per hour |
| High, SD | Up to 1 GB per hour |
| High, HD | Up to 3 GB per hour |
| High, Ultra HD/4K | Up to 7 GB per hour |
On mobile, Netflix describes Automatic as about 4 hours per GB and Save Data as about 6 hours per GB. Wi-Fi Only prevents cellular streaming. Maximum Data can use 1 GB or more every 20 minutes, depending on the device and network. These are approximate figures; check the Netflix guidance for the current options and settings.
Netflix also recommends a connection of at least 3 Mbps for 720p HD, 5 Mbps for 1080p Full HD and 15 Mbps for 4K Ultra HD. Those numbers describe connection speed, not data consumed per hour. Netflix’s connection-speed recommendations
How much data does Crave use?
The 1.68 GB-per-hour figure comes from the CRTC’s 2018 LTE comparison of CraveTV and Netflix. It is useful as a real historical comparison, but it should not be treated as Crave’s current rate: it was measured years ago in a specific network context.
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Crave’s public support information confirms that app viewing counts against the relevant home-internet or mobile-data allowance, but the material cited here does not give a current official hourly estimate comparable with Netflix’s. Bell’s Crave data-use information That leaves your own router, internet provider, phone or carrier usage meter as the practical way to establish what Crave playback is consuming on your setup.
Crave plan capabilities also affect what a comparison means. Bell’s plan information says some Crave offerings support video up to 1080p and that offline viewing is unavailable on the Standard With Ads plan described there. Plan features can change, and a maximum advertised resolution is not proof that every title or device will play at that quality. Bell’s Crave plan information
Why the result changes from one stream to another
Video data use follows the stream delivered, not simply the app being used. Resolution matters, but it does not tell the whole story: two 1080p streams can have different bitrates and use different amounts of data.
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- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
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- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
- Quality and bitrate: Higher quality generally takes more data, but compression efficiency and the service’s chosen bitrate matter.
- Content: Fast motion and visually complex scenes can require more data than simpler scenes. Frame rate and HDR can also affect the stream.
- Audio: Audio quality and the number of audio channels contribute to total usage.
- Device and app: A phone, TV app, browser or set-top box may receive or handle a different stream.
- Network and adaptive playback: Streaming services can adjust quality as network conditions change. Buffering ahead can also affect short measurements.
- Other traffic: A usage meter may include ads, other household devices, backups or updates as well as the programme itself.
These are reasons a comparison can vary, not verified explanations for the particular difference in the CRTC’s 2018 result.
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Does Crave use more data on mobile?
Crave playback over a mobile network counts against the mobile plan’s allowance; viewing over Wi-Fi can count against a metered home-internet plan instead. Wi-Fi changes which connection carries the stream—it does not automatically make the data free. Bell confirms that Crave viewing can count toward internet or mobile usage. Bell’s Crave data-use information
There is no current Crave mobile GB-per-hour figure established here, so the old LTE comparison should not be used to forecast your phone’s bill. Public Wi-Fi and workplace networks may also have their own limits or usage policies.
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How to reduce Netflix data use
Netflix’s playback controls can lower usage, usually by reducing picture quality. The account setting is profile-specific; the mobile setting controls cellular playback, not streaming over Wi-Fi.
Change playback settings in a browser
- Open the Netflix Account page.
- Under Profiles, choose the profile you want to change.
- Select Playback settings.
- Choose the desired data-usage setting.
Change cellular settings in the Netflix app
- Open the Netflix app and go to My Netflix.
- Tap the profile name, then open App Settings.
- Under Video Playback, select Cellular Data Usage.
- Choose Automatic, Wi-Fi Only, Save Data or Maximum Data.
If a download is pending, Netflix says you may need to let it finish or cancel it before changing certain mobile-data settings. Confirm the available labels in Netflix’s current help instructions.
How to reduce or measure Crave data use
The sources cited here do not establish a current Crave menu path or a universal Crave data-control setting, so do not assume Netflix’s controls exist in Crave. Check the Crave app and playback device for any quality option available to your version, plan and title.
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- Getting set up is easy – Plug in and connect to Wi-Fi for smooth streaming.
- Prefer a suitable Wi-Fi connection to cellular when your mobile allowance is limited, while remembering that a capped home-internet plan can still count that traffic.
- Use offline viewing only when it is supported by your plan, app and title. Bell advises using Wi-Fi or downloads to reduce mobile data where available. Bell’s data-use guidance
- Check the usage meter on your phone, router, internet-provider account or carrier account. Those counters show your actual connection use, though they may include traffic beyond Crave.
- For a data cap, avoid cellular playback when you cannot monitor or limit it.
How to compare the services fairly
A useful personal test holds the important variables steady. It measures your devices and network rather than claiming a universal rate for either brand.
- Use the same network for both services, preferably the same Wi-Fi connection or the same cellular connection.
- Use the same playback device.
- Choose titles of similar length and genre, and set comparable playback quality where the apps allow it.
- Record the device or router’s usage counter before playback.
- Play each service for exactly 60 minutes, then stop playback fully and record the counter again.
- Repeat the test at least twice for each service and compare the increase in usage.
Pause other large downloads and, where possible, account for household traffic. Background updates, cloud backups, other viewers, ads and pre-buffering can distort a short test. Do not compare a Netflix 4K stream with a lower-resolution Crave stream and describe the result as a difference in service efficiency.
How much streaming fits within a data allowance?
Estimate usage with this formula: monthly data = hours watched × GB per hour. The table uses Netflix’s published estimates at Medium, High HD and High 4K; it is an illustration for Netflix, not a Crave measurement.
| Viewing pattern | At 0.7 GB/hour (Medium) | At 3 GB/hour (High HD) | At 7 GB/hour (High 4K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day for 30 days | 21 GB | 90 GB | 210 GB |
| 2 hours a day for 30 days | 42 GB | 180 GB | 420 GB |
| 10-hour weekend binge | 7 GB | 30 GB | 70 GB |
These calculations multiply Netflix’s stated per-hour estimates by viewing time; actual totals can differ. To budget for Crave, measure a representative hour on your own connection rather than applying Netflix’s figures or the CRTC’s old LTE result.
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