Video calling has become an essential means of communication in the modern digital world. With video calling apps, you can easily connect with friends, family members, colleagues and clients face-to-face from your laptop or desktop computer. But with so many video calling platforms available, which one should you use for video calls on your Windows or Mac laptop? Here is a detailed look at some of the best video calling apps for laptops.
Skype
Skype is one of the most popular and widely used video calling apps available today. Owned by Microsoft, Skype has been around since 2003 and has become the default video chat app for many users over the years. Some key features of Skype include:
- Free video calling between Skype users
- Group video calls with up to 50 people
- Screen sharing option during video calls
- Ability to call mobiles and landlines at low rates
- Instant messaging and file sharing capabilities
- Cross-platform app available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android etc
Skype has native apps for Windows and macOS so you can easily make Skype video calls on your laptop. The Skype interface is simple and intuitive to use. You can have one-on-one video calls or group video conferences, share your screen and collaborate on documents, and also send chat messages and share files during the call. If you want to call phones or mobiles, you need to purchase Skype Credit or a subscription.
Zoom
Zoom has become hugely popular in recent times as a video conferencing and virtual meeting app. Some major features include:
- HD video and audio quality
- Option for up to 100 participants in group video calls
- Screen sharing and co-annotation
- Secure messaging and file sharing
- Virtual backgrounds and touch up feature
- Native apps for Windows, Mac, Linux etc
The free Zoom plan allows unlimited 1-to-1 meetings but group meetings are time-limited. Paid plans let you conduct longer group video calls. Zoom is easy to use with a straightforward interface. For improved collaboration, Zoom lets multiple participants share their screens simultaneously. Breakout room feature lets you split participants into smaller separate sessions. Overall, Zoom is one of the best apps for business video conferencing requirements.
Google Meet
Google Meet comes integrated with Gmail, Google Calendar and other Gsuite apps enabling easy video meetings. Key aspects are:
- HD video calling with up to 100 participants
- Real-time captions powered by Google AI
- Screen sharing, polling features
- Works seamlessly within Gmail and Google Calendar
- Secure and reliable connections
- Native apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
The free version of Google Meet allows meetings up to 60 minutes for up to 100 participants. Premium plans charge for longer meetings. Google account users can easily start or join meetings from Gmail. Google Meet runs reliably on most networks and connections for high quality video interactions. Overall, it’s a solid enterprise video conferencing tool.
Microsoft Teams
As Microsoft’s offering, Teams integrates with Office 365 and other Microsoft apps and services. Key features are:
- Built-in integrations with Microsoft 365
- One-click meeting invites from Outlook calendar
- High quality video and sharing options
- Chat, collaboration from Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance
- Customizable layouts and views during meetings
Microsoft Teams makes it easy to conduct online meetings, virtual conferences, share screens and collaborate on Office documents in real-time. Teams allows up to 250 participants in a single video meeting. It runs natively on Windows and Mac machines. The app is free but requires a Microsoft 365 subscription for the full feature set. For businesses using Microsoft tools, Teams is a great video meeting platform.
FaceTime
FaceTime is Apple’s proprietary video chatting app built into iOS and macOS devices. Key aspects are:
- Video calls between Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
- HD video quality with crisp audio
- Group FaceTime calls with up to 32 people
- Camera effects and stickers during calls
- End-to-end encryption for privacy
- Seamless integration across Apple ecosystem
FaceTime works seamlessly across Apple devices but only with other Apple users. On Mac laptops, the FaceTime app enables video calls in high resolution. Group FaceTime is handy for chatting with multiple people. Since it’s natively built into Apple devices, FaceTime is very easy to use. But it’s limited only to Apple ecosystem so not versatile for cross-platform use.
WhatsApp needs little introduction as the most popular global messaging app. Here are its key video calling features:
- Free video calls work across platforms and devices
- Encrypted end-to-end for privacy
- HD quality on both cellular data and WiFi
- Group video calls with up to 8 participants
- Share photos, videos easily during calls
- Widely used so easy to start video call with contacts
WhatsApp’s big advantage is that it’s cross-platform and used widely across the world. You can start a video call with any of your WhatsApp contacts on various devices. WhatsApp automatically switches from voice to video call with a single tap. The app’s interface is straightforward allowing even less tech-savvy users to easily video chat. Overall, WhatsApp is very convenient for quick personal video calls with friends and family.
Facebook Messenger
As Facebook’s chatting app, Messenger also includes handy video call capabilities:
- Free video calls and group video chats
- Works between iOS, Android devices and browsers
- Choose between gallery, 360, filters, effects views
- Fun features like AR masks, reactions during calls
- Seamlessly continue chat threads via video call
Facebook Messenger enables video calls with fellow Messenger users on smartphones and also via the web browser on laptops. Group calls allow up to 8 participants. Fun effects liven up video chats and make the experience engaging. Facebook users can easily switch ongoing text chats to video call. Overall, Messenger is a fun, casual way to video chat with Facebook friends.
Snapchat
Snapchat is better known for its disappearing messages but also includes video chatting in the app through Snapchat Chat. Some key aspects are:
- One-to-one video and voice calls with Snapchat friends
- Video quality adjusts dynamically based on connection
- Send chat messages, Snaps during video calls
- Entertaining filters, lenses can be applied during call
- View stories together using Snapchat’s Group Video Chat
Snapchat users can start quick video chats with friends through the Chat section. Call quality adjusts based on data connectivity for smoother calls. Various AR lenses make video chatting more fun and engaging. Snapchat’s group video calling allows video chatting simultaneously with up to 16 friends. Overall, Snapchat provides a light, entertaining video call experience.
Conclusion
When choosing a video calling app for your Windows or macOS laptop, look for features like call quality, platform support, collaboration tools, user interface and price. Apps like Skype, Zoom and Google Meet work great for professional video meetings. FaceTime and WhatsApp are good for quick personal calls with family and friends. Evaluate your video calling needs and choose the app that best fulfills them.
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Skype | Free Skype-to-Skype calls, group calls, screen sharing, chat |
| Zoom | HD quality, large meetings, screen sharing, business focus |
| Google Meet | Integration with Gsuite, real-time captions, secure and reliable |
| Microsoft Teams | Built into Microsoft 365, seamless Office integration, enterprise grade |
| FaceTime | Apple only, super easy to use, encrypted, group calls |
| Cross-platform, widely used, seamless chat to video call | |
| Facebook Messenger | Fun filters and effects, easy switch from chat to video |
| Snapchat | Fun lenses and reactions, group video chat, casual calls |