During this turbulent time where social distancing makes it hard to meet up with friends and family in person, video calling has emerged as a lifesaving way to maintain the personal, face-to-face contact people crave.
The only problem, with so many companies trying to take advantage of the influx of people using video calling apps, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth using. Even worse, some apps are exclusive to certain devices, such as is the case with Facetime and iOS users.
To make your life easier, we wanted to create a quick guide you can use to learn the best apps for video calling on your phone, computer, or any other device, regardless of which brand or operating system you use.
The Best Cross-Device Apps to Make Video Calls With
Zoom
Despite a relatively small market share before the pandemic, Zoom, for whatever, skyrocketed into becoming one of, if not the most popular video calling app in the world during the pandemic.
Although the service tends to be used by more companies than individuals, Zoom’s simple interface makes it perfect for just about anyone to use–especially older people who may not be familiar with video calling, such as parents or grandparents. Plus, for those worried about Zoom’s recent privacy issue–where random people could drop into anyone’s private call–the company has since rectified this issue by implementing additional security measures.
It also helps that Zoom offers a free version of their service to individuals with unlimited call times for one-on-one calls (there is a 40-minute cap for any calls beyond two people, however). Regardless, you can download and use Zoom on any phone or computer, making it great for friends with different phones and operating systems.
Google Duo
Although this video calling app was developed by Google, the company didn’t go the Apple route and make it exclusive to Android devices. Instead, they made it available to everyone, regardless of their phone or device (although it is pre-installed on Androids for extra ease-of-use).
The app very much operates like a regular phone call, making it very approachable to people unfamiliar with the online video calling space. You just choose a contact from within the app, choose the option to start a call, and you’re on your way. You can also extend the app to any smart display you have in the house, allowing you to chat with up to 8 people from the comfort of your couch at once and see their faces in better video quality.
Google Duo also employs heavy security measures such as end-to-end encryption, making it a great choice for people with privacy at the top of their priorities.
A fan favorite around the world is Whatsapp, which only in the past few years introduced the option for video calls. Similar to Google Duo, using Whatsapp feels very similar to using the regular contact functions of your phone.
For example, to start a video call with someone, you just hit the video camera icon beside that particular person’s chat thread. Then, wherever the recipient of your call has their Whatsapp app installed (phone, computer, etc.) they’ll receive a ring notification similar to a regular phone call.
This simplicity also applies to the video calls themselves, during which you have very few options, such as switching from your rear camera to your front camera and ending your call. The only downside to Whatsapp is that, unlike some of the other apps featured in this article, it can only host up to 4 people in a single call.
Microsoft Teams
By far the most comprehensive and customizable video calling app is Microsoft Teams. Although it may seem a little intimidating to first-time video callers, as its appearance is more corporate than some of the other options on this list, Teams is one of the best options on the market once you get the hang of it.
This is especially the case if video calling is a large part of your everyday work (or personal) life, as Teams makes it easy to keep all of your different communications organized with a simple, Microsoft-esque interface.
Teams also has integration going for it, as integrating it with any Microsoft Office app is a breeze (especially since Teams comes included with Office 365). All in all, if you’re looking to video call primarily for professional reasons, need accommodation for meetings with up to 300 people at a time, and/or you already use other Microsoft apps on a daily basis, then Teams is the right video calling app for you.
Verdict – Why You Need to Know the Best Apps for Video Calling
It may be harder to meet up with people in person right now, but thankfully, apps like those featured above are helping us maintain face-to-face contact with those closest to us until we can see them again in person. Whether you’re trying to help your family understand how to use video call in the first place, or you’re just trying to find a compatible way for you and all of your friends to connect regardless of your respective devices, using any of the apps listed above will help you accomplish your goals.
