Skype, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, and More
We now have the technologyâand the broadband and cellular speedâto see each other when we want to chat. And when it comes to video-calling apps, youâve got a plethora of options to pick from on phones, laptops, and even TVs. Here are the ones we like the most, ranked.
1) Microsoft Skype
Available on: web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox, Alexa
Pro: Apps for just about everyone
Con: Some interface annoyances remain
Best for: Just about anyone who needs to make video calls
Skype has its annoyances, sureâbut considering itâs available on just about every platform out there, is (usually) stable and reliable, and comes with extras like screen-sharing and instant messaging, it stands as our number one choice at the moment. If you throw a bit of money Microsoftâs way, you can even call landlines and cellphones with the app.
With video calling, you can chat with up to 50 different people at once (not that youâd ever want to), and you can make use of an Echo Show or an Xbox if you donât have a phone or laptop at hand. You get a few cool extra features as well, such as the ability to blur the background behind a speaker (in case your home office is particularly messy).
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2) Apple FaceTime
Available on: macOS, iOS
Pros: Seamlessly integrated into Apple devices
Cons: No love for non-Apple devices
Best for: People who only use Apple devices and only associate with people who use Apple devices
FaceTime is slick, reliable, and easy to use... and itâs also exclusive to Apple devices, which means we canât put it in the first-place spot. What if your grandparents use Android or your boss uses Windows? Apart from the lack of support for any hardware that isnât made by Apple, FaceTime is everything you could want from a video calling app.
Group FaceTime is now live as well, of course, which means you can get busy chatting to up to 32 people in the same chat, should you want to subject yourself to that particular kind of nightmare. Apple has thrown in some quirky filters and Memoji stickers, too. And while it might not have some of the âpowerâ features of Skype, the way that itâs built right into iOS and macOS makes it the obvious choice if youâre using Apple hardware.
3) Google Duo
Available on: web, Android, iOS, Google Nest
Pros: A breeze to use
Cons: Not packed with features
Best for: Those heavily invested in the Google ecosystem
Google doesnât have the best track record when it comes to social and communication apps, so itâs perhaps something of a surprise that Duo is so goodânot necessarily in terms of the number of features it offers, but in how simple it is to use and how reliable the video feed usually is. (No doubt Googleâs famous algorithms are at work in the background here).
Alongside Skype, itâs also one of the few video calling apps you can use inside a web browser, making it a good choice for Chromebooks and on computers where you donât want to install any extra software. Group video chats only support a maximum of eight people, but you can leave video messages and see a video preview before you pick up a call.
4) Signal Messenger
Available on: Android, iOS
Pros: Privacy and encryption
Cons: Rather basic functionality
Best for: Keeping eavesdroppers out
Signal doesnât have the polish of some of the other video calling apps here, but its priority is privacy and security, and we like that a lot (take note, Facebook). Video calls are fully encrypted, as you would expect from Signal, and the interface is basic but effective. Video calls are only available on mobile, thoughânot in Signalâs desktop apps.
As mentioned, only the very basics are available, which fits in with Signalâs minimalist approach overallâyou can see a video feed of the person youâre talking to, and thatâs about it. Signal doesnât support group video chats, and there are no fancy filters. But for the privacy-conscious, itâs just about the best video calling app option out there.
5) Facebook Messenger
Available on: web, Android, iOS, Portal
Pros: Fits in with your social graph
Cons: Itâs Facebook
Best for: Not having to install any new apps
If youâre actually happy installing a camera made by Facebook in your living room, then the Portal device is a neat way of turning your TV into a Facebook Messenger video calling deviceâitâll even follow you around the room automatically. Which isnât creepy at all! The Messenger app is available for Android and iOS, too, and it runs through the web if you need it to.
Privacy worries aside, weâve put Facebook in the middle of our rankings because chances are, a lot of your acquaintances are on the network and have the app installedâfor launching a quick and easy video call, that makes a difference. A whopping 50 people can get involved in the same video chat, in case you want to have a virtual family reunion.
6) WhatsApp Messenger
Available on: Android, iOS, Portal
Pros: Solid, reliable calling
Cons: Itâs owned by Facebook
Best for: When all your friends are on WhatsApp
WhatsApp is similar to Facebook Messenger in a lot of waysâyou can use it through Portal devices, for exampleâbut it has the downside of being owned and run by Facebook and all that that entails. You canât access video calling on the web, so itâs a no-go for Chromebooks and browsers, and that puts it slightly below Facebook Messenger in our overall rankings.
In terms of the actual video calling, WhatsApp is a robust and reliable option. And if youâre already using the app to chat to all of your friends through the day, then sliding into video chats is easy enough. Group video chats can feature up to four other people, and there are a multitude of ways to launch calls from inside the app, which we like.
7) Amazon Alexa
Available on: Amazon Echo Show, Amazon Fire tablets, Android, iOS
Pros: It just works, and you can use it without a phone
Cons: You and your friends need to opt into Alexa calling
Best for: If you live your life through Alexa
Amazon Alexa calling is likely only going to appeal to a small-ish subset of peopleâprimarily those with an Amazon Echo Show or Amazon Fire tablet at home, though the feature can work through the Alexa mobile apps as well. For those of you whose digital lives are Amazon-centric, however, this is actually a decent video calling option. Itâs certainly easy to set up and manage, and we found it reliable.
Ideally, youâre going to have an Echo Show and the person youâre calling is going to have an Echo Show, because the Alexa app experience isnât as good as some of the other apps here. You can even drop in unannounced on family and friends, if theyâve given prior permission for you to do so. Why would anyone do that? No clueâit seems a bit scary to us, but you and your family might be that kind of maniac.
Readmore : Apps for Video Chat on Android
Source: gizmodo.com
