KoBoToolbox data limits

Hi kobotoolbox community,

Is the 5GB non-humanitarian data limit a limit on data uploaded per month, or on total data storage within kobotoolbox?

The language used around data storage elsewhere is a little confusing. Our project certainly uploads less than 5GB per month, but could potentially hit a 5GB total storage limit in a few months if we’re not careful about clearing out previously-uploaded media files.

Thanks in advance!

Hi @byronvickers,

Welcome to the community! Seems like you are planning to use the Non Humanitarian Server (HHI Server). In this case you are able to store your data up to 5 GB. Please note, its not per month. It’s in total i.e. it should not exceed 5 GB.

As a way-out you could download your collected data (and empty your account’s storage size) once it is about the touch the threshold.

If you exceed the 5 GB storage limit, you will not be immediately cut off from uploading more data. There is no set grace period, but you’re likely to be contacted by someone at KoBo and be asked to free up space to return below the limit or else face a freeze on your account. If you wish to go over and keep the data that exceeds 5GB of space, please email info@kobotoolbox.org to ask about payment options.

For further details, please feel free to have a look at the support article here.

Have a great day!

Thanks @Kal_Lam!

Is it still the case that users cannot see total data usage in KoboToolbox? (cf How can I know the total usage of data and submissions?)

Otherwise we might just have to play it extra safe and download collected data (and delete the data from the KoboToolbox servers) as soon as each collection has completed – obviously not ideal, but better that hitting the limit!

Hi @byronvickers,

Yes, you got it correct! Users are still not able to see the total data usage in KoBoToolbox.

Have a great day!

Thanks again @Kal_Lam. One last followup question – if we inadvertently hit the 5GB limit will we be immediately cut off from uploading further data, or is there a grace period to get back under the limit with without the risk of data loss?

I think we’ve sorted out a process to archive large data collections before we get near the limit, but just want to check in advance to see how concerned about the possibility we should be.

Hi @byronvickers

Thanks for your inquiry. If you exceed the 5 GB storage limit, you will not be immediately cut off from uploading more data. There is no set grace period, but you’re likely to be contacted by someone at KoBo and be asked to free up space to return below the limit or else face a freeze on your account. If you wish to go over and keep the data that exceeds 5GB of space, please email info@kobotoolbox.org to ask about payment options.

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