Save on mobile data using Chrome

July 13, 2020, by Santiago Comment

Turning on a simple switch in the Chrome browser settings on Android can dramatically reduce the size of the web pages you visit and greatly improve the life of your mobile data. The option is called Reduce data and it is in Setting > Reduce data in Chrome for Android. By default it is disabled.

According to Google, this option can optimize certain web pages “up to 50%”, that is, it makes them smaller so that the download of the data is cut in half. For this process, between the Android phone and the computer that hosts the web page, there are Google computers that carry out this process.

The percentage of data savings will depend on the content of the web pages and the number of sites optimizable that they visit. This function does not optimize pages with secure connection (https) or pages visited using incognito mode.

Activating data reduction not only reduces consumption but also enables safe browsing in the browser (Safe Browsing) which warns the user when visiting a dangerous web page, so it is recommended even if browsing with a Wi-Fi connection. This avoids falling into phishing websites (sites that impersonate the identity of another to obtain banking or private information of the user) or that contain malware (including viruses).

Alternatives to Chrome data compression

Previously, there were applications specialized in this subject of data compression, such as Onavo Extend Data Savings (subsequently succeeded by Onavo Spaceship) Y Opera Max, which could even be used in conjunction with data reduction in Chrome to further extend the duration of the mobile data plan, by compressing the data downloaded by up to 50% all the applications Android that use the internet (including Chrome). Onavo could even curl the data (save the data on the phone so you don’t have to download it in a next time) and Opera Max reduce down to the size of videos.

Unfortunately, all these apps stopped working, but if you are not using Chrome, your browser probably also has an option to save data in its settings, as is the case with Opera. To save data on other apps, consider blocking the internet for those who download the most data. You can observe this with monitoring applications such as My Data Manager or WePlan, which also allow you to control consumption.

The BEST browsers for Android

Use the fast Facebook Lite to save data, space and NOT install Messenger

How to turn off mobile data on Android (or restrict it)