Zoom vs Microsoft Teams: data usage and bandwidth compared

Whether you are watching your mobile data or trying to work through a video call on a shaky connection, knowing how much data Zoom and Teams actually use matters.

Both platforms adjust their quality based on your available bandwidth, which means data usage varies depending on your settings, the number of participants, and your connection speed. But the approximate figures below give you a practical idea of what to expect.

Data usage per hour: Zoom vs Teams

These figures are approximate and based on typical usage. Both platforms dynamically adjust video quality based on your connection, so your actual usage may be higher or lower.

Video calls (camera on)

Call type	Zoom	Microsoft Teams
1-on-1 video (720p)	0.9 – 1.3 GB/hr	0.8 – 1.2 GB/hr
1-on-1 video (1080p)	1.5 – 2.0 GB/hr	1.2 – 1.8 GB/hr
Group video (gallery view)	1.5 – 2.5 GB/hr	1.2 – 2.0 GB/hr
Group video (speaker view)	0.9 – 1.5 GB/hr	0.8 – 1.3 GB/hr

Audio-only calls

Call type	Zoom	Microsoft Teams
Audio only	60 – 80 MB/hr	50 – 70 MB/hr
Phone dial-in	30 – 40 MB/hr	30 – 40 MB/hr

Screen sharing

Call type	Zoom	Microsoft Teams
Screen share (no video)	150 – 300 MB/hr	200 – 400 MB/hr
Screen share + video	1.2 – 2.0 GB/hr	1.0 – 1.8 GB/hr

Key takeaway: The difference between Zoom and Teams in data usage is small. Your video quality setting and whether you use gallery view or speaker view make a much bigger difference than which platform you choose.

What actually affects your data usage

The platform matters less than how you use it. These are the factors that make the biggest difference:

Video quality The single biggest factor. A 1080p video call uses roughly double the data of a 720p call. Most business calls work perfectly well at 720p – you do not need 1080p to share a spreadsheet or have a conversation.

Number of video feeds In a group call with everyone’s camera on, your device is receiving video from every participant. A 10-person call with all cameras on uses significantly more data than a 10-person call where only the speaker has their camera on.

Gallery view vs speaker view Gallery view (where you see everyone in a grid) downloads video from every participant simultaneously. Speaker view only shows the active speaker’s video at full quality, with smaller thumbnails for others. Speaker view uses noticeably less data.

Screen sharing Sharing your screen uses less data than video when the content is mostly static (documents, slides). But if you are sharing video content or rapidly scrolling through content, the data usage increases because there are more visual changes to transmit.

Your connection speed Both Zoom and Teams automatically reduce video quality when your bandwidth is limited. On a slow connection, you will use less data, but the video quality will be lower. On a fast fibre connection, the platforms will default to higher quality and use more data.

How to reduce data usage on calls

If you are on mobile data, a capped connection, or working remotely with limited bandwidth, these tips help:

1. Turn off your camera when you do not need it. Audio-only uses roughly 95% less data than a video call. If you are listening to a presentation, you do not need to be on camera.
2. Use speaker view instead of gallery view. Especially in larger meetings. You will still see the active speaker clearly.
3. Lower your video quality. In Zoom: Settings > Video > Camera > toggle off HD. In Teams: Settings > Bandwidth > adjust video quality. Dropping from 1080p to 720p cuts data usage significantly with minimal visible difference on a laptop screen.
4. Dial in by phone for audio-only meetings. Both platforms support phone dial-in, which uses no internet data at all.
5. Close other bandwidth-heavy applications. Streaming music, cloud sync services, and large downloads competing for bandwidth will degrade call quality and may cause both platforms to buffer or drop frames.
6. Use a wired connection when possible. Ethernet is more stable than WiFi. Stable connections allow the platform to maintain consistent quality rather than constantly adjusting, which can actually use more data than a steady stream.

Bandwidth requirements: the minimum you need

Both platforms publish minimum bandwidth recommendations. In practice, you want more than the minimum for a comfortable experience.

Zoom recommended bandwidth:

• 1-on-1 video: 1.8 Mbps up/down (HD)
• Group video: 2.5 Mbps up / 3.0 Mbps down (HD)
• Screen sharing: 150-300 Kbps
• Audio only: 60-80 Kbps

Teams recommended bandwidth:

• 1-on-1 video: 1.5 Mbps up/down (HD)
• Group video: 2.5 Mbps up / 4.0 Mbps down (HD)
• Screen sharing: 250 Kbps up/down
• Audio only: 30 Kbps

What this means in practice: A standard fibre connection (25 Mbps or higher) handles either platform comfortably, even with multiple people on calls simultaneously. LTE and mobile connections can struggle with HD group video, especially during peak hours or in areas with congestion. If you regularly experience poor call quality, bandwidth is usually the first thing to check.

South African considerations

If you are working in South Africa, a few realities affect your choice and usage:

Load shedding During power cuts, many people switch to mobile data (LTE or 5G) instead of fibre. Mobile data is metered, slower, and less stable. If you are regularly on calls during load shedding:

• Switch to audio-only to save data and battery
• Use speaker view if you need video
• Keep calls shorter or reschedule non-urgent meetings
• A UPS on your fibre router keeps your fixed-line internet running during shorter outages, which is far better than falling back to mobile

Fibre vs LTE Fibre handles both platforms well at any quality setting. LTE works for 1-on-1 calls but can struggle with group video, especially gallery view with multiple cameras on. If your remote workers are on LTE, encourage audio-only or speaker-view as defaults.

Data costs South African mobile data is expensive relative to many other countries. A one-hour HD group video call using 2 GB of mobile data adds up quickly. If your team is regularly on mobile data, the bandwidth-saving tips above are not optional – they are essential.

Beyond data usage: which platform fits your business?

Data usage is similar between the two, so the choice usually comes down to what your business already uses and what you need the platform to do.

Choose Teams if:

• Your business already uses Microsoft 365 (Teams is included at no extra cost)
• You need an all-in-one workspace: chat, file sharing, channels, and video calls in one place
• Your team collaborates on documents in SharePoint and OneDrive
• You want your calendar, email, and meetings in one ecosystem
• Internal communication is a priority

Choose Zoom if:

• You primarily need video meetings and nothing else
• You frequently meet with external clients who may not use Microsoft 365
• You want the simplest possible meeting experience (one click to join)
• You host webinars or large events (Zoom’s webinar tools are more mature)
• Your team already knows Zoom and switching would cause unnecessary disruption

Many businesses use both. Teams for internal collaboration and day-to-day work. Zoom for client-facing meetings and external calls. There is nothing wrong with this approach if it works for your team.

Need help with Microsoft 365 or video conferencing?

If your business is in Cape Town and you are setting up Microsoft 365, migrating from one platform to another, or just trying to get Teams working properly for your team, we can help.

We manage Microsoft 365 environments for businesses across Cape Town – email, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, user accounts, and security. If you are already on M365 and not using Teams, you are paying for it but not getting the benefit.

Talk to us about Microsoft 365

Or get in touch directly:

Call: 087 820 5005 WhatsApp: 081 526 1626

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Related reading

• Moving to Microsoft 365: what Cape Town businesses need to know