Since the COVID-19 pandemic breakout in 2019, Video calls have become one of the most popular ways to interact with friends, family and colleagues. With all the financial difficulties that most people are going through, most of us prefer to use the free apps.
Applications like Zoom and Skype are still the most well-known apps for videoconferencing but there are other free apps out there that will enable you interact online with others. Most Videoconferencing applications have free versions, but some of them offer extra features that we would like you to be aware of.
This list only includes free apps that do not require users to use specific devices, software, or be on a specific social network (Like Facebook and FaceTime). These are also apps that allow at least ten participants.
The Best Free Video Calling Apps in 2021
Skype – Meet Now
Since the Beta version was released in 2003, Skype has been the most common app for one-on-one conversations. The ‘Meet Now’ feature allows up to 50 people to videoconference with a four-hour time limit. You can even start a free video call without signing up. However, being signed in will give you more features.
Skype’s Free Features
- 50 maximum participants
- No time limit on one-on-one calls
- One hundred hours per month, 10 hours per day, four hours per call for group meetings.
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meetings
Zoom
Zoom is with no doubt one of the most popular videoconferencing apps right now. They have a paid version and a free version. The Free version allows a maximum of one hundred participants to meet. However, meetings among more than two people are limited to forty minutes. In a nutshell;
Zoom’s Free Features
- One-on-one meetings with no time limit
- Group meetings (Max 40 minutes)
- 100 Maximum participants
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meetings
CISCO WebEx
Cisco WebEx
The Cisco webex platform is mostly targeted at corporates. However, they also offer a relatively convenient free version. For fifty minutes, you can hold group calls for a maximum of a hundred participants.
Cisco Webex Free Features
- 100 maximum participants
- 50-minute time limit for one-on-one and group calls
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meeting
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is more targeted at business use. However, Microsoft came up with a free personal version, and all you need is a Microsoft account to use it. It allows for a maximum of one hundred participants for a maximum of sixty minutes.
Microsoft Teams’ Free Features
- 100 maximum participants
- 60-minute time limit on one-on-one conversations
- 60-minute time limit on group calls
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meetings
Google Meet
For anyone with a Google account, Google Meet provides a very efficient and simple way to video call your friends, family, and colleagues, as long as they also have Google accounts. The Meet link is available in the Gmail app in all appointments made with the Google calendar.
Google Meet’s Free Features
- 100 maximum participants
- 24-hour time limit on one-on-one calls
- One hour time limit for group calls
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meetings
Jitsi Meet
You’ve probably never heard of this one. This is an open-source videoconferencing platform that allows you to make video calls by simply going to the website and clicking on “Start Meeting”. It allows you to do things like chat, record sessions to Dropbox, add fake backgrounds and expel unruly participants. In addition, it allows developers to create their own videoconferencing apps using the Jitsi Videobridge.
Jitsi Free Features
- 100 maximum participants
- No time limit on one-on-one and group meetings
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meetings
Glip Pro
You’ll need to have a Google account or a work email and grant Glip Pro permission to access your contact list to use Glip. It allows you to do things like record meetings, screen share, chat, add virtual backgrounds and more.
Glip Pro Free Features
- 100 maximum participants
- 24-hour time limit for one-one-one and group meetings
- Allows Screen sharing and recording of meetings
Spike
This is a web-based platform that offers videoconferencing platform. It is available to its subscribers and anyone else that would want to use it. You just need to go to video.spike.chat, type in a username, and click on “Join Video Chat Meeting”. Spike will create a unique URL for your chat. Even more, it allows you to share your screen.
More Alternatives
There are other Videoconferencing apps out there like Google Duo, Talky and RemoteHQ. Most of them lack free versions, or extremely limit the maximum number of participants. We choose to include only the best of the best in our list and we hope you found one or two that suit you most.
