YouTube is currently testing a brand new app called YouTube Go, and you may be able to try it out right now. It all depends where you live. As YouTube Go is hiding in plain sight on the Google Play Store it would be rude not to give it at least a quick spin, right?!

In September 2016 YouTube announced it was developing a new app aimed at people in developing countries. Called YouTube Go, this app offers the core YouTube experience without the excessive data usage associated with it.

YouTube Goes Offline

YouTube Go is designed to be offline first, and will function even when you aren't connected to the internet. It's also cost-effective, reducing data usage and putting you in control. It also offers a simple user interface and upfront video recommendations, potentially saving you time and trouble.

In a nutshell, YouTube Go lets you:

  • See which videos are trending and popular in your area.
  • Download videos to watch offline later.
  • Preview videos before you watch or save them.
  • Choose your resolution before saving or streaming.
  • Choose the amount of data to spend on each video.
  • Share videos with others quickly without using any data.

This App May Be Unstable

YouTube Go is obviously aimed at people with underpowered phones, slow connection speeds, and/or restrictive data caps. Which is why it's being marketed in India and other developing countries. However, depending on where you live, you may be able to try it out right now by downloading the beta version from Google Play.

This beta version comes with a warning that "This is an unreleased app. It may be unstable." That's probably just Google covering itself in case YouTube Go messes up your phone, but we'll issue the same warning just in case. YouTube Go currently works on Android 4.1 and newer.

Are you going to test the beta version of YouTube Go? If so, we'd love to hear what you think of it. Are you likely to make use of its data-saving abilities? Would you rather watch videos in HD even if it burns through your data? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Rego Korosi via Flickr