Video Calls to Friends and Family
Video calls are a great way to stay connected and have some fun. Here are a few of the apps that can be used to make a video call. You can choose one based on the device or platform you are using, and the features you would like to use. Aside from staying connected with friends and family, they also provide a great opportunity to practice computer skills.
Zoom
Zoom is great for getting groups of people together. It’s a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet either by video, audio, or both, all while conducting live chats – and it lets you record those sessions to view later. Zoom also has the option of using background images, including images from Star Wars, Marvel, Star Trek, Disney, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium that add a lot of fun to the call.
FaceTime
FaceTime is best for Apple-to-Apple calls. FaceTime also has a Group FaceTime feature that was recently added. The disadvantage of FaceTime is that it is only available on Apple platforms, unlike the other apps here, but it is available across both iOS and macOS.
Skype
Skype is best for cross-device calling across PCs, Macs and mobile devices, it’s it’s a good option just because so many people have it – as well as PC and Mac, it’s also available for iOS and Android of course. And you can even now access it via a web browser.
The group calling feature is also really powerful.
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is great for G Suite (Google apps) users. While Google Duo is more of a one-to-one solution, Google Hangouts is Google’s option for group video calling. It does have a separate app, but most people who use it are customers of Google’s G Suite, which is basically Gmail, Calendar and Docs but for business. You can start hangouts from Gmail or Google Calendar, and you can video chat with individuals, conference or just text chat.
Messenger
Messenger is best for Facebook devotees. Facebook recently worked to streamline Messenger, which has been separate from the main Facebook app for several years now. Messenger is used by many individuals and businesses for communication and you can even use it without a Facebook account. You can video or voice chat with an individual or a group very easily.
Google Duo
A WhatsApp alternative for easy calling between devices. Duo is free to use, enables one-to-one video and voice calls and it works across both iOS and Android devices – unlike Apple’s FaceTime. It’s primarily an app for consumers rather than business – Google Hangouts is Google’s work calling solution. It relies on your number, lets you reach people in your phone’s contacts list, offers end-to-end encryption, and has nifty features like Knock Knock, which allows you see live video of your caller before you answer.
Slack
Slack is great for ongoing group chat and one-to-one calling. It’s meant for “team” communication – it’s a great way to share files (it integrates with Google Drive or Dropbox). The free version enables you to make calls but only one-to-one, but you need a paid subscription to call a group (and it’s expensive). Another great feature of Slack is its ability to search entire conversations for certain words so finding what’s been talked about is easy. The app is iOS and Android friendly and auto-completes friends’ names making tagging them simple.
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