Besides Zoom And Google Meet, This Free Video Calling Application Can Be Another Alternative

Choice of free video calling apps (photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - It has been more than two years that COVID-19 is rampant in almost all parts of the world. Since then, the government has requested that all outdoor activities be carried out from home.

Starting from the world of work (Work From Home), teaching and learning activities, even entertainment such as watching movies at the cinema are done at home through paid streaming platforms.

Doing activities such as gathering for meetings or just chatting should be done using a cellphone or laptop and PC.

For this reason, video calling applications are now often used. Perhaps the most widely known are Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype.

But it turns out that there are more free applications to make video calls with more than 2 people, which is what VOI has summarized from The Verge, below.

Zoom

Zoom is becoming one of the most popular video conferencing apps, and its name has quickly become synonymous with video meetings.

The free version of Zoom allows up to 100 users to meet, but with a 40 minute time limit for meetings of more than two people. Despite the limitations of the free version, Zoom has attracted a lot of public interest.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meetings: 40 minutes time limit Group meetings: 40 minutes time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: Yes

Skype

Skype has been a video calling platform for one-on-one conversations since its beta version was released in 2003.

However, the Meet Now feature (accessed by selecting the "Meet Now" button on the left side of the app) allows video conferencing of up to 100 people with a 24-hour time limit.

There's also a separate page that lets you create free video meetings without actually signing up for the service.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meetings: 24 hour time limit Group meeting: 24 hour time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: Yes

Cisco Webex

Webex is a video conferencing application that has been around since the 90s, and was acquired by Cisco in 2007.

Webex has a free version that is worth checking out. When the pandemic started, the features of the freemium version were expanded from 50 to 100 participants, and you can meet up to 50 minutes.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meetings: 50 minute time limit Group meeting: 50 minute time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No

Google Meet

Google Meet is a free video calling app from Google. Google Meet offers a very simple and efficient way to video chat with colleagues, friends, and family.

You can find the Meet link in the Gmail app and in any appointments 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 meeting: 60 minutes time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams was created as a competitor to Slack and is a really good idea if you are part of the Office ecosystem.

Initially, the app was focused on business use, but about two years ago, Microsoft launched a free private version of Teams, which lets anyone chat, talk, or hold video meetings in a virtual room.

You just need to create an account with Microsoft to use it. The free version allows up to 100 participants for a maximum of 60 minutes per meeting.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meetings: 60 minutes limit Group meetings: 60 minutes limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No

Google Duo

Apart from Google Meet, Google also has a Duo mobile app. Google Duo was first touted as an application that is used for one-on-one conversations and can only be used on mobile phones.

But now, you can create groups of up to 32 participants and include a web app. All participants must have a Google account.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 32 One-on-one meeting: No time limit Group meeting: No time limit Screen sharing: Mobile only Record meeting: No

Zoho Meeting

Initially, Zoho Meeting had a free version that only allowed two participants, but now it allows up to 100 participants. Unusually, the free version includes not only meetings but webinars as well.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meetings: 30-minute limit Group meetings: 30-minute limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No

Starleaf

Starleaf is usually used by companies. So, it's natural that you rarely hear about this application.

Starleaf is usually used with pretty low subscription plans, but apart from that, it also offers free basic video and messaging products for those trying to stay 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 meeting: No

Jitsi Meet

Jitsi Meet is an open source platform that allows you to easily meet online by simply going to the site and clicking “Start meeting.”

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meeting: No time limit Group meeting: No time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: Yes

Whereby

Whereby's free version gives you use of one meeting room with up to 100 participants. You will also get the ability to lock the room. Participants must "knock" to gain entrance.

Each room has its own URL that you can choose from. Whereby also has a chat function, lets you share screens, mute or log users out, 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 meeting: No

RingCentral Video Pro

RingCentral primarily sells business communication services, but also offers a free video meeting app called RingCentral Video Pro.

The app includes a variety of nifty features, including 24 hours of meeting time, screen sharing, chat recording, and virtual backgrounds, among others. It even offers closed captioning.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 100 One-on-one meetings: 24-hour limit Group meetings: 24-hour limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: Yes

Spike

Spike makes a basic video meeting web app available to anyone who wants one. Spike is also quite fast and easy to use.

Interestingly, unlike most of the other services mentioned earlier, at Spike there is no maximum number of participants.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: No one-on-one meeting: No time limit Group meeting: No time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No

Telegram

Telegram is a messaging chat app that also offers video group chats. This app has a feature that allows you to create groups with up to 200,000 members, and you can have private or public groups.

For now, video chat is limited to 30 people, still, it's a welcome add-on for Telegram users.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 30 One-on-one meeting: No time limit Group meeting: No time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No

Signal

Previously, Signal only allowed a maximum of five participants in a video call. However, it is now possible for up to 40 people to take part through its own open source Signal Calling Service.

However, Signal is intended for mobile devices. If you want to use it on your desktop, you'll need to link it to an existing mobile app.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

Maximum participants: 40 One-on-one meeting: No time limit Group meeting: No time limit Screen sharing: Yes Record meeting: No