Despite the relative calm that has ensued in the aftermath of the global spread of COVID-19 for the better part of two years, many of us continue to rely on video chats to maintain contact with coworkers, family, and friends. Although Zoom is the most popular option for video conferencing, there are many more free options available. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a shortlist of some of the top videoconferencing apps as well as some of the most popular text chat apps that contain video calling features.
ZOOM
As a result of its widespread popularity, Zoom is increasingly being used as a synonym for “video meeting.” Before the pandemic, the company focused on marketing Zoom to businesses, but there is a free version available to people. Initially in 2020, Zoom made a few privacy and security blunders, probably because it was caught off guard by its unexpected success among non-business customers. Nevertheless, the firm swiftly made a number of modifications and updates to address these concerns.
Skype
Skype has been around for a long time, and despite its age, it still provides an impressive array of options for video conferencing with up to 50 people at a time. It is free to use and is accessible from any device you might need.
In addition, Skype is well-known for its worldwide calling and texting capabilities, as well as for its compatibility with landlines and basic cell phones. In spite of the price, this is a great tool for communicating with loved ones who live in other countries.
It’s generally known that Skype has features like screen sharing, live transcription, and even real-time translation of chat audio.
CISCO WEBEX
Cisco bought the videoconferencing program Webex in 2007, but it has been available since the 1990s. Even though it has always been most recognized as a business program that primarily targets businesses, it does provide a free version that has some nice features and is definitely worth checking out. It expanded its freemium version’s capacity from 50 to 100 users when the epidemic hit, and now each meeting can last for 50 minutes.
Google Duo
Although Apple has had FaceTime for quite some time, Android has never had a built-in video chat option until recently. In its place, users had to rely on third-party apps from the Play Store and cross their fingers that their friends would join.
Duo, a video chat tool that is astonishingly simple to use and integrated into Android’s main phone app, came along to solve this issue. Even if your loved ones aren’t available right now, you can still stay in touch with them thanks to Duo’s many exciting features, such as the ability to shoot and send video messages.
GOOGLE MEET
Meet provides a quick and easy method for video conferencing with coworkers, friends, and family, provided that everyone involved has a Google account. Google is actively encouraging users to switch from Zoom to its own Meet videoconferencing app rather than use the Google Hangouts app. The Gmail app and Google Calendar appointments both provide a Meet link. Also, Meet offers some cool extras, like the ability to add captions in real-time.
