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Does contribution use my network data?
Does contribution use my network data?

When contributing to Hivenet, your device uses network data, which may lead to charges if you’re on a capped data plan.

Thanasis Karavasilis avatar
Written by Thanasis Karavasilis
Updated over a month ago

Yes, contribution will use your network data if you contribute your device's unused resources to Hivenet. If you're on a capped internet plan (with a limited data allowance), contributing to Hivenet can result in data charges if you exceed your monthly limit.

Let’s explain how this works and what you need to know to avoid unexpected data costs.

How contribution works

Hivenet’s contribution system allows users to share their device’s idle storage and computing power to help support a distributed cloud infrastructure. This enables Hivenet to offer affordable, scalable cloud services while you earn rewards for your contribution. However, this process involves uploading and downloading data to your device.

How much data does it use?

The data Hivenet uses depends on your contribution and the tasks processed through your device. While it varies based on activity, the key takeaway is that data transfer occurs both ways:

  • Upload: When your device uploads chunks of encrypted files stored on your device.

  • Download: When your device downloads small chunks of encrypted files that belong to other users.

What to expect if you have a data cap

If you're on an internet plan with a data limit, contributing to Hivenet will count towards your monthly data usage. Depending on your plan, you may incur additional charges if you exceed your limit.

Important Note: We don't offer ways of tracking bandwidth in any of our products for now, so it’s crucial to monitor your usage if you're on a capped plan.

How to avoid unexpected charges

Here are a few tips to manage your data usage while contributing to Hivenet:

1. Check your internet plan: If you're on an uncapped or unlimited data plan, you don’t need to worry about overage fees. However, if you're on a capped plan, you must be more cautious.

2. Monitor your data usage: Most internet service providers (ISPs) offer a way to track your data usage. Set up alerts if you’re close to your limit.

3. Contribute only on unlimited connections: If possible, use contribution only on Wi-Fi connections with no data caps, such as at home or work, where your plan allows unlimited usage.


We hope this helps clarify how contribution affects your network data. If you’re unsure about your plan’s data limits, we recommend reaching out to your internet provider for more details.

And feel free to reach out to us if you have any further questions or need assistance setting contribution limits!

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