Video calls have gone from being a sporadic source of fun to completely essential since the arrival of coronavirus. They have helped us feel closer to our loved ones while in confinement, adding much-needed social interaction to make our daily lives more bearable. Although we’ve moved into the “new normal,” video calls are here to stay, having become the most popular way to call our family and friends.
Whether you want to have a face-to-face meeting with a distant colleague or tell your parents how much you love them, you’ll need a good video calling app . You’ve probably seen tons of video calling apps in the Google Play Store , but they don’t all work the same way. Some are designed for work meetings, while others are for two-person calls, group calls, etc. Which one should you choose?
In today’s article, we’ll look at a selection of what we consider to be the best video calling apps of 2020. We hope you find it helpful!
Zoom
Zoom has been a revolutionary app during the coronavirus pandemic. It can be used for video calls between two people, but if desired, you can host group meetings with up to 100 participants in the free version. This makes it perfect for online classes or meetings with a large number of attendees. Zoom has a user-friendly interface, and as the chat host, you’ll receive an ID number to be shared with the rest of the participants.
During chats, you can adjust your display to see only the speaker, or a mosaic view with all of the participants’ faces. Zoom is an easy app and it’s free to use. Also, it has versions for PC, Android, and iOS. Want to try it?
These days, it would be hard to find anyone who doesn’t have WhatsApp installed on their phone. So it is understandably one of the most popular apps for video calling . As you probably know, this messaging app is perfect for sending texts, photos, and voice notes. What many people don’t realize is that WhatsApp is also an excellent app for making audio and video calls. Just open WhatsApp like you usually would, tap on your contact, and tap the video camera icon in the upper right corner.
Once your video chat begins, up to eight contacts can participate in it. WhatsApp is a convenient way to make video calls without bugging your contacts to install a new app, because, let’s be realistic, who doesn’t have WhatsApp on their phone?
Messenger
If you’re a Facebook user and you chat with family and friends through its messaging app, you’ll be interested to know that you can also use it to make video calls . Messenger lets you make voice or video calls with one or more contacts on your Friends list. In fact, you can host video calls for up to 50 people via its new service: Messenger Rooms .
Messenger’ video calling system is really easy to use. Just tap the camera icon in the upper right corner. Also, these video chats have fun filters and special effects that are updated every week. What are you waiting for? Download it today!
Google Meet
Google Meet is Google’s latest foray into the world of video calling. It’s perfect for users of the Google suite, that is, Gmall, Drive, and Calendar. To access it, you only need a Gmail account , which is completely free. Get yours by clicking here . Google Meet offers video chats for up to 250 participants at the touch of a button. You can access them from the Gmail desktop version and through its convenient app for Android devices.
The way it works is very similar to Zoom . Create a meeting and share the link with the participants, all from Gmail’s convenient interface and without having to install any sort of plugin. Google Meet is especially good for work meetings and group video conferencing . To try it, click “Start a Meeting” in the lower left corner of your Gmail, or download the version for Android and iOS phones and tablets.
Skype
Skype was a true pioneer in the field of online voice calls and video conferencing. It is therefore one of the most stable services with the best performance in the market today. Although there are tons of ways to make video calls nowadays, Skype has the great advantage of being a multiplatform program . In other words, whether you use Windows, Mac, iOS or Android, you can make calls over Skype.
As for usability, Skype is especially convenient for group and work-related calls . This video calling service can be integrated into the Office 365 environment. We highly recommend it for job interviews.
Google Duo
If you’re not entirely sold on Google Meet and would prefer a program for phone-to-phone video calling, try Google Duo . This app is very similar to FaceTime , the only difference being you don’t need an iPhone to use it… and it’s available for both iOS and Android devices!
Google Duo uses your phone number and lets you make free voice and video calls to anyone on your contacts list. The app has a feature called Knock-Knock that you can use to find out who’s on the other side of the camera before accepting the call. Another thing to keep in mind is that Google Duo lets you host group video calls for up to 12 people . Interested in trying it?
Houseparty
Houseparty is a fun app you can use to throw virtual parties without leaving your house. Every Houseparty user has a “house,” that is, a video-chat channel that users can visit, coming and going as they please.
Every channel allows up to eight visitors simultaneously, and it’s fun and easy to have little get-togethers with friends. What’s more, Houseparty features fun games you can play as a group, such as trivia or one where you have to finish the song lyric. It’s fantastic for hosting fun video chats with your friends.
Snapchat
Snapchat is especially popular with young people. Besides being an excellent video calling app, it’s a social media platform where you can share photos and all kinds of multimedia content. Among Snapchat’s unique features are the funny filters you can use on your video calls. But that’s not all: Snapchat lets you make video calls with up to 16 people . It’s perfect for young people.
FaceTime
FaceTime is an excellent app for making both video and voice calls. You can make one-on-one or group calls with a total of 32 people at the touch of a button. Although it’s a great app, it has a big problem: FaceTime is only available for Mac and iOS users . So if you’re a Windows person or you use the Android operating system, you won’t be able to download it.
Slack
Slack is a communication platform that has really taken off in recent years, especially in professional environments. Besides having chats with your coworkers and sending files, Slack lets you make two-person video calls . We should point out that if you use the app’s free version, you can’t make group video calls . Still, it’s a highly versatile app that you can use on both Android and iOS devices.
Our final pick is WeChat , a versatile app that offers hundreds of options for users. One of its strong points is that it can be linked to your social media accounts , so you can upload photos or videos directly to your account without leaving the app.
Moreover, it has interesting features like Shake, which lets you find users in your area who want to chat and make video calls. WeChat lets you make voice and video calls to individuals and groups. And it’s free! Interested in trying it?
We hope you found our selection of video calling apps useful. Do you have a recommendation that isn’t on our list? Tell us about it in the comments section!
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