Zoom gained significant momentum in the last few years, but it certainly isn’t your only choice for video chat. With FaceTime, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, you have several options to choose from. However, finding the best video chap app for you might take some effort. So, how do you choose the best one for you? It might seem like they all do the same thing, but each videoconferencing app has its own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Instead of having to settle for a one-size-fits-all service, video-conferencing apps have a lot of options to help you find what best suits your needs. I tested some of the most popular video chat services and apps, comparing price, ease of use, device compatibility, time and participant limits, as well as privacy. For this article, we’ll be focusing on services through the lens of personal use for the average Zoom user. Here’s what you need to know.
Zoom is easy to sign up for and video chat, whether you’re just catching up with friends or collaborating at work. Despite having multiple paid plans for professionals and businesses, the service doesn’t cut off free tier users from useful core features. This means if you’re just looking to catch up with friends, you’re still going to get good service from Zoom.
Google Meet, Google’s video chat tool, is a solid free and convenient option but a majority of its offerings are aimed at professionals and businesses. The app offers a free version, but unlike Zoom’s free tier, it’s pretty devoid of bells and whistles.
Microsoft Teams, Microsoft’s built-in video chat software, is automatically available for Office 365 users, but it became even more accessible with the launch of Windows 11. Like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams’ free tier lets you have up to 100 people in your group call for an hour. If it’s just you and another person? You can stay in the call for a whopping 30 hours — the best free offering by far, even if it’s a little overboard.
For more options, check out 10 free Zoom alternatives.
Watch this: Zoom privacy: How to keep spying eyes out of your meetings