Video call apps: which one saves the most data?#
On Fonoma Blog, we already ranked the best video call apps for personal and work use. Now we bring another list, this time on a topic that matters in the Cuban context, where mobile data service is very expensive .
How much does each video call app use?#
The specialized site Xataka ran an experiment with the best-known video call apps to measure consumption over 10 minutes. The phones used were two iPhone 11 Pros. One note: on iOS, some apps use much more data than on Android. Hangouts, for example, used 517 MB from an iPhone but dropped to 135 MB with a Pixel 2 XL.
These figures are only a guide. Mobile data use depends on several factors, including connection quality, phone model, front camera, video resolution, and the number of people on the call.
The experiment results can help you choose which app to use. The decision depends on what you need, because a family conversation is not the same as a work meeting. Data use is not the only factor; communication stability matters too.
“Skype and WhatsApp gave us the best experience. If I had to choose one, I would choose WhatsApp for small groups and Skype for larger groups,” wrote Xataka senior editor Jose Garcia.
Data use in 10 minutes of video call#
- FaceTime — 31.6 MB
- Messenger — 69.1 MB
- Telegram — 73.0 MB
- WhatsApp — 73.5 MB
- Skype — 75.2 MB
- Houseparty — 103 MB
- Instagram — 195 MB
- Hangouts — 517 MB
Apps available for Cuba#
Cuba is always a separate case, because many international services restrict use on the island. So, at Fonoma Blog , we decided to run a similar experiment.
For the test, we used the main apps available to download from Cuba. The devices were a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 connected to 4G, a Samsung J7 Prime on 3G, and an iPhone 7 Plus for FaceTime only, on 4G.
The results are similar to the first chart, except that FaceTime used more than the others. The reason, as we noted earlier with Hangouts, is that on iOS apps consume much more than on Android. FaceTime is very well optimized for iPhone, but compared with the other apps using other phone brands, it is not really as data-saving as it first appears.
How much does each app use in a 3-minute video call?#
- Messenger — 5.4 MB
- Telegram — 6.0 MB
- Imo — 7.4 MB
- WhatsApp — 8.1 MB
- FaceTime — 9.9 MB
Another important point is that WhatsApp and FaceTime were the only apps that kept image resolution in high definition and maintained a stable call. On Imo and Messenger, audio and video quality was mediocre.
The worst was Telegram, where the call dropped several times, video resolution was poor, and even the colors were lost. Still, the app from the Durov brothers, the last one to add this function, will probably improve its performance in the near future.
So, if you want to save data, you can use Messenger. But if you need to make an important video call, choose WhatsApp, which so far offers the best experience. And if the call is between two iPhones, use FaceTime.
Fonoma is a service for recharges to Cuba:
