Download this: YouTube Go is here to save your data plan
YouTube doesn't have to be a data hog.
At least, not if you're using YouTube Go, the company's data-saving version alternative for video streaming. First released in India in 2016, the Android app has now expanded to 130 countries.
YouTube Go is designed to give users more control over how and when their data is used. The app lets you preview a video before you commit to watching the whole clip. If you do want to watch a full video, you can choose how much data you want to use at any given time. You can also download clips you want to save for later.
The latest version of the service also includes a new way to share videos with friends that doesn't require any additional data. Similar to Apple's AirDrop, YouTube Go's sharing feature lets people who are near one another exchange videos without a Wi-Fi or data connection.
Though it's meant for areas that lack access to inexpensive high-speed data, it can still be of use to any YouTube addict who wants to use less data. Last year, Google launched Datally, another data-saving app that helps Android users control their total data use.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
