Wristcam's Apple Watch Video Calling Is Proof-of-Concept for FaceTime-like Calls
The Apple Watch has supported voice calls over cellular and FaceTime Audio for years. But without cameras it's impossible for the watch to make video calls. The Wristcam, a $299 (roughly £240, AU$420) Apple Watch wristband with two cameras, aims to change that with a recent update that brings live video calling to its Apple Watch app.
The idea of video calling from a watch is exciting for me: I frequently use video calling apps like FaceTime, Google Duo, WhatsApp and Signal to stay in touch with friends and family. While it's not practical to take a long video call from my wrist, even a short call could help with occasions when I'd like to go phone-free yet still be reachable.
I tested out the live video-calling feature along with the Wristcam itself for a few weeks. While the experience isn't going to rival any standard chat apps, there is a lot to like about having fast access to cameras for sharing quick moments without my phone. But you'll have to be willing to pay a hefty price for an experience that feels limited in its current form.
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Wristcam Lets You Make Video Calls From Your Apple Watch
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Convenient cameras
The Wristcam comes in a blue tin box, which is a really nice touch for a device that costs more than some Apple Watch models. The specialized watchband fits a 2-megapixel selfie camera just above the Apple Watch's screen and an 8-megapixel outward-facing camera. The cameras can record 720p or 1080p video with audio at 30 frames per second.
An outdoor photo of Washington Square Park taken via the Wristcam.
Mike Sorrentino/CNET
The cameras remind me of those included on the Snapchat Spectacles. While neither of the Wristcam's cameras produce amazing shots, the convenience of immediately snapping a spontaneous image is appealing. When my colleague Scott Stein tested the Wristcam out last year, he found the IP68-rated water resistance of the cameras to be especially helpful for taking photos while swimming in a lake while on vacation.
An indoor photo of Bo, my brother's dog, using the Wristcam.
Mike Sorrentino/CNET
A selfie photo taken on the front-facing camera of the Wristcam.
Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Photo quality is roughly equivalent to what you may remember from popular phones from the early to mid-2010's, which is pretty impressive considering this is a wristband camera. Photos I took on the 8-megapixel camera while outside in bright sunlight were particularly nice, although photos appeared more grainy and washed out in indoor situations with low light.
Video recording fares roughly the same. The microphone struggled with suppressing ambient noise in loud environments such as New York's Washington Square Park on a windy day.
Video calling is a work-in-progress
A screengrab from a Wristcam video call. The larger image is from the Wristcam, the smaller image is from an iPhone.
Joseph Kaminski/CNET
Video calling on the Wristcam is currently in its early days and requires the Wristcam app to make and receive calls. Owning a Wristcam strap, however, is not required. After installing the app on your phone, it functions much like any other video-chat app. There isn't currently an Android version of the Wristcam app though, nor is there any way to make or receive calls using the Wristcam watchband in other chat apps.
Once everything is set up, you can make and answer calls from either the Wristcam Apple Watch app or the Wristcam iPhone app. I had mixed results when testing video calls over both Wi-Fi and cellular connections.
Sometimes calls went through right away; other times there was a delay before my friend could see or hear me. But video and audio quality were both pretty good when calls did connect, and performance noticeably improved after a few software updates.
I hesitate recommending the Wristcam if your sole interest is video-calling. But the fact that it does work makes me hopeful that it might eventually offer a more stable video-calling experience.
The Wristcam's outward-facing camera.
Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Difficult design
The biggest problem with the Wristcam in its current iteration is the design. The Wristcam's shape affects how I frame my shots. Apart from the awkwardness of holding up my arm to take a photo, the wristband that houses the cameras is fairly thick. That's not necessarily an issue when taking a walk, but it's noticeably inconvenient to wear while typing or otherwise resting my arm on a table.
I used the Wristcam with an Apple Watch SE, which does not have an always-on display. This meant I needed to continually tap the screen in order to use the watch as a camera viewfinder. Wristcam says the camera will continue to record even when the Apple Watch's screen is asleep, but I find this annoying.
Wristcam has another similarity with earlier versions of the Snapchat Spectacles: a heavy reliance on software. The only way to get your photos and videos off the Wristcam is to use its app. Wristcam announced that it is welcoming third parties to develop for its camera, and that might add support for other video chat services down the road.
But for now, the Wristcam is a luxury device with a niche appeal. It does indeed let you add cameras to your Apple Watch, and perhaps let you recreate a Dick Tracy or James Bond spy movie moment with its video-calling feature. Yet at $299, for now it's an expensive way to make that happen.
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Bunch has announced the launch of Bunch 2.0, a Metaverse video chat app that will become a home in the Metaverse that lets you party up, jump into your favorite games, or just hang out with your friends when they are physically apart.
Since we started Bunch in late 2017, our vision has always been to build a real-time social network where people come together when they are physically apart and move from experience to experience. And, in our view, the most fun experience to share with friends, is to play games together!
Recapping the past few years
In the past few years, we have seen this vision come to life in many ways:
Bunch, our group video chat app for gaming, helped millions of people stay connected with friends and family in a difficult time where we had to be physically apart. The app continues to rank at the top in most countries for searches like "group video chat".
Our vision for building an integrated social layer for multiplayer games was shared by many game companies like Supercell, Electronic Arts, Take 2 Interactive, Miniclip, and Ubisoft who joined our Series A financing round.
We have brought together a world-class team from companies like Meta, Google, and Kik Messenger, that combines the DNA of building social apps, developer platforms, games, and blockchain technology.
We have also learned from our users by talking to them and observing behaviors from our analytics. Many users start Bunch parties that go for hours where they come in and out with their friends as they do homework, play games like Roblox, and just hang out together when they are physically apart.
Our view of the Metaverse
Many view technologies like AR/VR and blockchain as the building blocks of the Metaverse. Some view the Metaverse as a mood-board for cool stuff that might happen on the internet in the next 10 years. At Bunch, our view of the Metaverse is anchored around the utility it provides:
“Digital spaces to come together, and move from experience to experience.”
Based on this definition, the Metaverse is already here!
Millions of players spend time with friends in digital worlds like Roblox and Minecraft every day. These applications offer experiences that are made for and contained within these platforms. For example, players can meet up on Roblox and move from Roblox game to Roblox game. However, they can’t meet on Roblox and play Fortnite or Minecraft.
Based on the same definition, popular chat applications like Discord and Bunch where players party up and move between external experiences like Roblox and Minecraft can be considered Metaverse applications, too. However, while these are examples of open-ended Metaverse applications, they are non-spatial. That is, shared presence between players happens in the form of text, voice, and video chat, instead of a game-like environment.
Lastly, Metaverse applications like Sandbox and Decentraland form another category where they have decentralized economies. These applications use the blockchain to allow players to truly own in-game assets where they can independently sell or trade these assets on open exchanges like OpenSea.
Another benefit of decentralized economies is the extensible utility of blockchain assets. That is, applications can offer utility for blockchain assets that originated elsewhere. One example of this is Oncyber.io where players can connect their blockchain wallets to display NFTs they own in their personal space.
Here is a quick comparison chart for the examples shared above:
We believe Bunch is uniquely positioned to deliver compelling value to players and developers alike, by creating an integrated metaverse for gaming that is:
Spatial Environment (like Roblox) Players embody 3D avatars where they come together and explore digital spaces
Open-Ended Experiences (like Discord) Players party up on Bunch and move between their favorite games outside the app
A decentralized Economy (like Sandbox) Allows players to truly own in-game assets and facilitates extensible utility
Meet Bunch 2.0, the Metaverse video chat app
The good news is that we’ve been heads-down building this vision over the past year, and we’re excited to share it with the world! Bunch will become your home in the metaverse that lets you party up and jump into your favorite games.
Bunch 2.0 already works, and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it. We’re excited to share it with more people on an invite-only basis as we continue to build out the experience.
In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter for early access to our Discord, upcoming NFT release, and Bunch 2.0!
Become a subscriber of App Developer Magazine for just $5.99 a month and take advantage of all these perks.
How to record video calls on Zoom, Skype and Google Meet
Want to know how to record video calls? Well, there are a few ways to go about it and they all take just a few clicks. Read on to find out how.
Recording video calls is a good skill to learn, and you’d probably be surprised at how often it comes in handy when you’re using the best video chat apps. Whether you want to record a presentation to watch back later, share what was on your screen with a co-worker or friend who wasn’t present, or just save specific parts of the meeting to your computer, recording the meeting you’re in is one of the best ways to do so.
Several video calling applications like Skype, Zoom and Google Meet have built-in ways to record and watch back meetings, and they're easy to use once you know how. In addition, there are catch-all methods for both Windows and macOS, which will work no matter what video calling software you use. These also save you having to relearn how to record your video call if you have to use a different video calling application than what you’re used to — like one of the best Zoom alternatives.
You should never record someone who doesn’t want to be on film, so make sure you obtain permission from everyone present in the call before you hit record. Most video chat apps like Zoom, Google Meet and Skype warn participants they're about to be recorded, while maintaining a banner or alert throughout the recording to ensure everyone remains aware.
We've detailed methods for the most popular video calling apps, which all work on both Windows and macOS, so keep reading to find out how to record video calls.
Here's how to record a video call on the most popular video conferencing apps. We've also covered how to record using built-in tools on Windows and macOS.
How to record video calls on Zoom
1. Set up the meeting you want to record.
2. Click the "More" icon at the bottom of your screen and select "Record on this computer".Participants of the video call will be notified that they're being recorded.
(Image credit: Future)
3. To stop the recording, click "More" at the bottom of your screen and select "Stop recording".
(Image credit: Future)
How to record video calls on Google Meet
Note: you'll only be able to record a meeting in Google Meet if you're part of
certain Google Workspaces
(opens in new tab) .
1. Set up the meeting you'd like to record.
(Image credit: Future)
2. Click the three dots at the bottom of your screen, then select "Record meeting".
(Image credit: Future)
3. Now, click "Start recording" on the window to the right.
(Image credit: Future)
4. Finally, click "Start" to start recording. Participants of the call will be notified that they're being recorded.
(Image credit: Future)
4. To stop recording, Click "Stop recording" on the window to the right.
(Image credit: Future)
How to record video calls on Skype
1. Set up the meeting you'd like to record.
2. At the bottom of your screen, click "Record".Remember to notify the participants of the call that you're going to record the meeting.
(Image credit: Future)
3. When you're ready to stop, click "Stop recording" at the bottom of the screen.
(Image credit: Future)
How to record video calls using Windows and macOS
If the meeting app you're using doesn't have the option to record video calls, use our tutorial on how to record a screen on Windows using the Xbox Game Bar tool. This lets you record your whole screen and works on most Windows applications. If you're a Mac user, we've got you covered there too with our guide on how to record a screen on Mac. In both cases, just make sure to inform the participants of the call that they're being recorded, as they won't be notified otherwise.
We've also got helpful how tutorials on how to stand out and look your best on video calls, how to make a video call using the Echo Show and how to use WhatsApp group video calling. Want to know how to record a phone call? Try our tutorials on how to record calls on an iPhone and how to record a call on Android. And for more productivity guides, check out our article on how to change case in Google Docs.
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WHO
and
CDC
websites.
While coronavirus restrictions are lifting in some areas, the pandemic is ongoing. Many people are still working from home, and only seeing friends, family and co-workers through video chat apps and services.
While there are many options to choose from, Skype and Zoom are two of the heavy hitters. Here's how the two video chat and conferencing apps compare -- especially in light of Zoom's security and privacy issues.
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3 video calling alternatives to Zoom
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Read more: Zoom, Skype, FaceTime: 11 tips for your video chat apps
Angela Lang/CNET
Microsoft's Skype is a telecommunications app that works for video chats, calls and instant messaging. The app is compatible with Android and iOS, Windows, iPadOS, web browser, Alexa and Xbox. Skype offers multiple subscription plans if you want to call someone's cellphone or landline; otherwise, it's free to use.
Skype can handle up to 50 people in a single video call, as well, which can come in handy for larger gatherings or business meetings (though Microsoft recommends using its Microsoft Teams video chat service for work purposes). The app allows for calls to be recorded in case someone misses a call. Captions and subtitles are also available for accessibility. Skype has file-sharing capabilities, caller ID, voicemail, a split view mode to keep conversations separate and screenshare on mobile.
After you create an account, you can start chatting. If you're putting together a call, simply open your profile and click New Chat. Choose New Group Chat, New Chat or New Private Conversation. Whichever option you pick, you'll need to type the group member's name into the search to find them or add them. When you open a chat with another user, you can keep it in instant messenger form with the ability to share files and more, start a video call or create a group.
You can schedule calls in the app and be alerted through mobile or desktop by turning on the schedule call notifications.
Skype also recently added a feature called Meet Now that lets you create and share a meeting with a link, with no account required to use the service on the Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers.
Read more: 10 free Zoom alternative apps for video chats
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Zoom video conference app works for Android, iOS, PC and Mac. The app offers a basic free plan that hosts up to 100 participants. There are also options for small and medium business teams ($15 to $20 a month per host) and large enterprises for $20 a month per host with a 50-host minimum. You can adjust meeting times and select multiple hosts. Up to 1,000 users can participate in a single Zoom video call, and 49 videos can appear on the screen at once.
The app has HD video and audio capabilities, collaboration tools like simultaneous screen-sharing and co-annotation, and the ability to record meetings and generate transcripts. Outlook, Gmail and iCal support scheduling and starting meetings. In Gmail, for example, just click the calendar icon, then click the time of your meeting, then click the link under Join Zoom Meeting. If the host scheduled it, there might also be call-in options.
Read more: 13 Zoom video chat tips, tricks and hidden features
If your mic and camera are off, Zoom has the option to communicate via chat (the interface looks a bit like Slack). This feature can also be helpful if it's a massive all-hands meeting and the opportunity for questions is available.
It's free to sign up with Zoom -- you can either manually create an account with an email or sign in with Google or Facebook.
If you use Zoom, it's important to take into consideration the security issues that have come to light since its rapid rise in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic. Privacy experts have expressed concerns over the video-conferencing software's privacy risks and hacking vulnerabilities, as well as Zoombombing (where uninvited attendees break into and disrupt meetings).
However, if you're still using the platform, there are some steps you can take to protect your meetings, like using a per-meeting ID and enabling the "Waiting Room" feature so you can see who is attempting to join a meeting before allowing access.
Read more: COVID-19: Everything you need to know to stay healthy and entertained while stuck at home
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Coronavirus lockdown: Why social distancing saves lives
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Illustration by Samar Haddad / Photo by Becca Farsace
The COVID-19 pandemic has had long-lasting effects on the way we work. Despite the semi-official “opening up” of many public and commercial venues, many of us are still relying on video calls to keep in touch with work colleagues, family, and friends. Zoom continues to top the list of videoconferencing apps, but there are a bunch of other free applications out there that will allow you to meet others online.
What follows is a list of some of the best videoconferencing apps, along with a couple of popular text chat apps and social networks that include video calling features. We’ve also tried to concentrate on applications that allow at least 10 or more participants on their free version.
A good idea is to try one or two out for yourself to see how well they fit in with your style and that of your friends. This list is a good place to start.
The most popular video meeting app
Zoom is one of the most widely used video meeting apps.
Zoom has become one of the most well-known videoconferencing apps — in fact, its name is quickly becoming synonymous with video meetings. Before the pandemic hit, the company pushed Zoom mostly for corporate use, but it also provides a free basic version for individuals. Back in the beginning of 2020, probably because Zoom didn’t expect its sudden popularity among non-business users, there were several missteps involving privacy and security; however, the company quickly instituted a number of changes and updates to address these issues.
The free version of Zoom allows up to 100 users to meet, but there is a 40-minute limit on meetings of more than two people, which can be pretty limiting. At the time of publication, Zoom was not offering any special deals for those now working at home, but it does have a page offering help and advice to new users.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 40-minute time limit
Group meetings: 40-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes (to local device only)
A longtime go-to for online calls
Skype’s Meet Now feature supports up to 50 people with a four-hour time limit.
Skype has been the go-to platform for one-on-one conversations since its beta was released in 2003. Its Meet Now feature (accessed by choosing the “Meet Now” button on the left side of the app) allows for videoconferencing; up to 100 people (including you) can meet with a generous 24-hour time limit on meetings.
There is also a separate page that lets you create a free video meeting without having to actually sign up for the service. However, you get more features using the app, so if you’re okay with registering for a free account, you’re better off doing that.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 24-hour time limit
Group meetings: 24-hour time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes
A corporate app with a solid freemium version
Webex, a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ‘90s, has a useful free version.
Webex is a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ’90s and was acquired by Cisco in 2007. While it’s been mainly known as a business application and continues to focus on serving companies, it does have a fairly generous free version that’s worth checking out. When the pandemic began, it widened the features of the freemium version from 50 to 100 participants, you can meet for up to 50 minutes, and you can create breakout rooms.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 50-minute time limit
Group meetings: 50-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes (to local device only)
Now featured on your Gmail page
Google Meet is a video calling option that requires Google accounts to use.
Meet offers a very simple and efficient way to video chat with colleagues, friends, and family — assuming they all have Google accounts, which is a requirement for both hosts and participants. In fact, Google is not only pushing people to use its Meet videoconferencing app instead of Zoom but also instead of its own previously pushed Google Hangouts app. You can find a Meet link in the Gmail app and in every appointment you make using Google Calendar. And Meet has some neat features, including real-time captions.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 24-hour time limit
Group meetings: 60-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Not just for business
Google Teams is a conferencing app that offers video meets as well.
Microsoft Teams was built as a competitor to Slack and is an especially good idea if you’re part of the Office ecosystem. While the application is mainly focused on business use, about two years ago, Microsoft stepped out of its three-piece suit and unveiled a free personal version of Teams, which lets anyone chat, talk, or have video meetings in a virtual shared space — you just have to create an account with Microsoft in order to use it. While the free version lets you have 100 participants for a maximum of 60 minutes per meeting, subscribers to Microsoft 365 can have up to 300 people video chat for up to 30 consecutive hours.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 30-hour limit
Group meetings: 60-minute limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
A mobile app best suited to one-to-ones
Duo is Google’s mobile conferencing app.
Besides Google Meet, Google also has had its mobile app Duo, which was built as a consumer app (whereas Meet was originally designed as a business app). While Duo was first touted as the app to use for one-to-one conversations and could only be used on phones, it will eventually be merged into the Google Meet app and, in fact, will replace it. Meanwhile, you can still use this mobile app for group meetings — as long as you have a Google account.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Mobile only
Record meetings: No
The free version of Zoho Meeting offers a clean, easy-to-use interface.
Zoho offers a wide-ranging suite of online apps that range from the day-to-day (like email, calendars, and notebooks) to business and development (such as finance, HR, and marketing). Until recently, the free version of Zoho Meeting only allowed two participants, but it now allows up to 100 participants. Unusually, the free version doesn’t just include meetings but webinars as well (also with a limit of 100 attendees).
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 60-minute limit
Group meetings: 60-minute limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
A corporate meeting app with a free basic version
StarLeaf offers basic free conferencing.
If you’re not a company, you may not have heard of StarLeaf. It’s really a platform for companies rather than individuals; its lowest-cost paid plan starts with one to nine licenses, suitable for a small business. But it also offers a basic video and messaging product free of charge for those trying to keep in touch during the pandemic.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 20
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: 45-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Open source with plenty of features
Jitsi Meet is open source and filled with useful features.
Another “you probably haven’t heard of it” videoconference app, Jitsi Meet is an open-source platform that lets you easily meet online by simply going to the site and clicking on “Start meeting.” If you’re a developer, you can build your own conferencing app via Jitsi Videobridge, but most people will be happy with the quick web version, which offers many features found in more well-known apps, such as fake backgrounds, chat, session recording (to Dropbox), and the ability to “kick out” unruly participants.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes
Single meeting rooms with up to 50 participants
Whereby’s meeting rooms offers up to 50 participants.
Whereby’s free version gives you the use of a single meeting room with up to 100 participants, along with the ability to lock rooms (participants have to “knock” to gain entrance). Each room has its own URL that you get to choose, which is great — assuming that nobody else has already taken that name. (For example, I first tried whereby.com/testroom and found it was already taken.) But it also has a chat function, lets you share a screen, allows you to mute or eject users, and offers breakout groups.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: 45-minute limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
A wide range of free features
RingCentral Video Pro has a good toolbox of features.
RingCentral mainly sells business communications services but also offers a free video meeting app called RingCentral Video Pro. The app includes a nice range of features, including 24 hours of meeting time, screen sharing, recordings (up to 10 hours and stored in the cloud for up to seven days), chat, and virtual backgrounds, among others. It even offers closed captions.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 24-hour limit
Group meetings: 24-hour limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes
A simple web-based system
Spike can be used without having to download anything.
Spike, an expanding email service, offers paid group videoconferencing to its subscribers, but it has also made a basic video meeting web app available to anyone who wants it. It’s quick and easy to use: just go to video.spike.chat, type in a name, and click on Join Meeting. Spike generates a unique URL for the chat and even lets you share your screen or change your background. And unlike most of the other services listed here, there is no maximum for participants.
Free version features
Maximum participants: No limit
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Telegram has introduced group video chats.
Image: Telegram
Telegram is a messaging chat app that offers video group chats also. It’s well set up for that: the app already has a feature that lets you create groups with up to 200,000 members, and you can have either private or public groups. For now, video chats are limited to 30 people (although up to 1,000 can watch); still, this was a welcome add-on for Telegram users.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 30
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Signal is a communications app known for its emphasis on secure messaging via end-to-end encryption. Previously, it only allowed a maximum of five participants in its video calls; however, it now allows up to 40 people to take part via its own open-source Signal Calling Service. Signal is mainly meant for mobile devices; to use it on a desktop, you have to link it to an existing mobile app. Still, if you already use Signal messaging, you now have the option to use it as a meeting app as well.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 40
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Meta’s Messenger video app lets you do text chats with one or more friends and do quick video chats with up to eight people face to face. However, its most Zoom-like aspect is its Rooms feature, which lets you create spaces for discussions among up to 50 people. According to Meta, participants do not have to be members of Facebook or any of Meta’s other possessions in order to participate. It offers a load of fun effects, backgrounds, and emoji, and you can also do screen sharing, game playing, and video watching.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 50
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Group FaceTime
Group FaceTime now accommodates both iOS and Android users.
Image: Apple
iPhone owners will, no doubt, already be using Apple’s built-in video chat app, but since the app was recently updated to accommodate those not in the Apple ecosystem, it has become even more useful. You can start a group call from a Messages chat, add a variety of stickers, and even blur your background. However, while you can join a Group FaceTime session from Android or Windows, you can’t initiate one.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 36
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
More alternatives
There is a wide range of other Zoom alternatives out there, including RemoteHQ, Talky, and 8x8 (which acquired Jitsi in 2018). Some of these don’t have a free version, or the number of participants who can use the free version is limited. For example, BlueJeans starts at $9.99 per month for unlimited-time meetings with up to 100 participants, and the free version of Intermedia AnyMeeting allows up to four participants.
Until recently, the popular Slack app was mainly set up for text chat, with the added Huddles feature available for the occasional audio get-together. But this fall, Huddles will accommodate video meets for up to 50 people, along with persistent chat threads and screen sharing. Once it’s available, it will be added to this list.
Update August 5th, 2022, 8:30AM ET:
This article was originally published on June 11th, 2020. Since then, there have been a series of changes. All entries have been updated, Hangout has been dropped, and several apps (RingCentral Video Pro, Signal, Telegram, Messenger Rooms, Group Facetime, and Zoho Meeting) have been added.
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