How much internet data does Animal Jam use?

How much internet data does Animal Jam use


If your kids play Animal Jam on your mobile data or fixed mobile data connection, it can eat away at limited internet data. Let’s take a closer look at just how much data it takes to download, update, and play Animal Jam on desktop and mobile. Of course, the easiest way to stop thinking about your kid’s data use is to switch to an unlimited plan without a monthly limit.


Animal Jam file size

Platform File size
Microsoft Windows 512 MB
Mac OS 512 MB
iOS 170 MB
Android 62 MB

While the download size won’t be as big as the unpacked file sizes above, it still takes much more internet data to download Animal Jam than to play it. That’s because the initial download includes a lot of data – like graphics, for example – that only need to be downloaded once. Because they’re included in the download, graphic settings don’t have an effect on data use.


Animal Jam in-app purchases

Downloading in-app purchases in Animal Jam uses internet data. While the file sizes of these downloads are relatively small, they can add up if your kid makes frequent purchases.


Animal Jam updates and patches

The developer Wildworks occasionally releases updates for Animal Jam, which you can keep track of in the game’s Daily Explorer blog. These updates are usually relatively small, but if an update at the end of the month will push you over your monthly limit, turn off auto-updates on your kid’s device and manually update the game at the start of the month instead.


Animal Jam data use

While there aren’t many personal accounts to go by, Animal Jam is a simple online game that should use a minimal amount of data – say less than 15 MB per hour. The exact amount of data your kid will use playing the game depends on the number of players in the game at that time, the frame rate, and the tick rate of the server:

  • The more players in the game, the more online data (e.g. chats and location) your local network has to share with these other players’ networks. While you don’t have much control over how many people play Animal Jam, if your kid plays when the game has less traffic, they’ll use less data. This could account for some variation in data use.
  • A higher frame rate refreshes the game more often, which makes it run faster. A lower frame rate saves you data, but makes it harder for the player to react quickly in the game. To use less data, lower the device’s frame rate (measured in FPS) in the game settings. To change this setting, you’ll first need to disable vertical synch (V-Synch).
  • A 128-tick server, which refreshes the game 128 times every second, uses about twice as much data as a 64-tick server, which refreshes the game 64 times every second. To use less data, have your kid play on a 64-tick server if possible.

Upgrade to unlimited 4G LTE

Want to quit having to monitor how much data your kid uses every time they play Animal Jam? Never think about data use again by switching to unlimited 5G or 4G LTE with no monthly data limit or bandwidth throttling. Find out more about our unlimited fixed wireless internet plans for rural gamers by starting a chat or calling 866-439-6630 now.