Telegram is a medium data-consuming app compared to giants like Instagram and TikTok. While it does include heavy video content, the majority of usage is still text-based. On average, Telegram consumes around 50 to 100 MB per hour. However, keep in mind that data usage can be significantly higher, up to 300-400 MB per hour, if you actively watch video content from various channels. Below, we break down the approximate range by type of activity and provide recommendations on which eSIM package is best suited for different usage patterns.
How to Calculate Mobile Internet Usage on Telegram
If you mainly use Telegram for personal chats and audio calls, your data usage will be minimal. However, browsing channels can consume significantly more data, especially if video auto-download is enabled. The table below shows the different types of activity.
| Activity | Approximate Consumption |
|---|---|
| Text chats/scrolling text-only channels | 1-5 MB/hour |
| Viewing images in channels | 5-20 MB/hour (depends on resolution and number of images) |
| Viewing GIFs/animated stickers | 10-30 MB/hour |
| Watching videos in channels without auto-download | 50-150 MB/hour |
| Watching videos in channels with auto-download | 150-400 MB/hour |
| Voice messages in chats | 5-15 MB/hour (depends on frequency and length) |
| Audio calls | 30-50 MB/hour |
| Video calls | 150-300 MB/hour |
| Group video calls | 300-600+ MB/hour |
How to Reduce Data Usage on Telegram
The first step to maximize data savings is to disable media auto-download over mobile data. To do this:
- On iPhone: Open Telegram, go to "Settings", then "Data and Storage", and select "Automatic Media Download". In the "Mobile Data" section turn off Photos, Videos, GIFs, and Files or choose "Ask before downloading".
- On Android: Open Telegram, go to "Settings", then "Data and Storage", and select "Automatic media download". In the "When using mobile data" section turn off all media types (Photos, Videos, GIFs, Files) or choose "Ask before downloading".
Info: On average, this can save 50 to 400 MB per hour, depending on how many videos appear in the channels you browse.
Additionally, we recommend changing the media quality in Telegram "Settings". The most data-efficient option is “Low”.
Conclusion
When traveling, if you use Telegram mainly for messaging and occasional browsing of channel news, you can get a small package (1, 2, 3, or 5 GB). For example, our eSIMs for New Zealand start at $4.99. However, if you frequently make video calls or watch a lot of video content in Telegram channels, larger packages ranging from 10 to 50 GB are recommended.