2 Android Apps to Stream YouTube Videos as Audio to Save Bandwidth

It has been a while since I last wrote anything, so I thought it would be a good idea to revisit one of my previous articles. In the past, I discussed an Android app that allows you to play YouTube videos in the background, a feature not supported by the official YouTube app. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed a major flaw in this idea. If we are playing the video in the background, it means we are not interested in watching it and only want to listen to the audio. In that case, why waste bandwidth streaming the video? Why not just skip it altogether?

Today we will explore two Android apps that allow you to stream only the audio from your YouTube videos, saving battery and bandwidth.

1. YouTube Radio- YouTube Music Player

The YouTube Radio app is easy to use. After downloading it from the Play Store, you will see a black screen with a music player at the bottom. You can start searching for songs and playlists from the Settings menu. Make sure to restrict your search to music to filter out unnecessary videos. The app returns results that can be sorted by views, ratings, and duration.

Currently, one can only search for individual songs, not playlists. However, you can create your own playlist within the app. Once the search results load, you can play a song directly using the in-app audio player or add it to a new or existing playlist. While streaming music, if you want to watch the music video, long-tap on the video thumbnail and select “Stream with External App.” If prompted to choose a default app, select YouTube.

The app supports headsets and lock screen music controls. However, it’s unclear how the app manages user-created playlists. There are no options to save or sync playlists, so it’s important to back up the app and its data before formatting your phone. Overall, it’s a decent app.

2. uListen (YouTube Audio)

uListen is similar to the app we just discussed but adds extra features that the developers missed out on. In uListen, you can search, stream, and play individual music videos, as well as public YouTube videos. You can switch between songs and playlists using the three dots menu in the top-right corner of the screen.

In this section, a user can create a local playlist and save it to the SD card. For those who want to save bandwidth, there’s an option to compromise on audio quality. Another feature I appreciate is the notification drawer control, along with headset controls.

Conclusion

Both apps are useful for YouTube music streaming. I can’t recommend one until I use both for a few more days. Why don’t you join me in installing both and see which works better for you? Let us know in the comments.