How To Use Less Cellular Data: Google's Datally App Is Here To Help

Google released a new app this week called Datally, which is designed to help Android users track, manage and save on the amount of mobile data that their smartphone or tablet uses.

The app, which takes up just 6MB of space, is designed for Android users who are limited by monthly data caps on their mobile plans—a limitation that still affects millions of Americans and many smartphone users around the world.

Datally is a relatively straight-forward app, as Google has attempted to make the process of managing data usage as simple as possible. The app tracks all data usage on the device throughout the day and lays the information out in simple, easy-to-read graphs that show peak hours and the apps responsible for eating up data.

Once Datally has gathered information about data usage on the device, it can begin to serve up recommendations as to how the user can cut down on mobile data usage. In some cases, that may including turning off some apps that eat up data even when not in use. In others, the apps will recommend a nearby Wi-Fi network the user can connect to in order to save mobile data.

Perhaps the most vital feature that Datally provides is a button located at the top of the app that, when pressed, will instantly cut off all background data usage so only the app active on screen can use mobile data. Datally also allows users to cut off background data usage just for specific apps.

Even when Datally isn’t front and center on screen, it can provide valuable information about data usage. When using another app that is particularly data-heavy, a chat bubble will appear to inform the user how much data that app is using.

According to Google—which has been testing the Datally app with Android users in the Philippines since the summer—the app is capable of saving users up to 30 percent on their mobile data usage.

Much of what Google has done with the Datally app could be done on Android devices prior to the app’s release—the company has just simplified the process and made it more accessible for the average user. Prior to the Datally app, looking at data usage and controlling background data required long excursions into the Android Settings app, where things are far less straight-forward.

For those who would prefer doing things the old-fashioned way or just don’t want to download another app (even a compact and user-friendly one), it is still possible to view data usage information and exercise some control over mobile data.

Open the Settings app and go to the “Wireless & Networks” menu, then select “Data Usage.” The menu should show data usage over the past month. Users can expand that window to see data usage over other periods of time. The menu should also show data usage by application, which should provide some insight into what apps are eating more than their fair share of the data pie.

Within the Data Usage menu there should also be options to set a hard data limit that will cut off all mobile data when a certain amount of use is met each month—an effective tool for those attempting to avoid overages. There is also a setting for background data which can be toggled on or off.