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Which video call apps lead the pack?

Patrice Appleton • February 24, 2021

The popular apps taking centre stage in the remote work revolution

The chances are high that the pandemic-related restrictions have meant some or all of your team has been required to work from home for a period. With much of the country in the same boat, it’s no surprise that video calling apps are more in demand than ever, as everyone tries to stay in contact with clients, hold meetings and collaborate with co-workers.

While Zoom has been grabbing headlines right, left and centre since the start of the pandemic, there are a range of other video calling apps available. Here are the ones which are proving popular – along with some nifty features which might provide inspiration for your own small business app project.

Zoom

It’s the obvious starting point but no less impressive because of that! Zoom has been a staple tool in every professional’s remote working arsenal it seems but its popularity isn’t restricted to business use with everything from weddings and funerals to government business, virtual birthday parties, quiz nights and after work drinks now Zoomed on a regular basis.

The reason that this app ranks right up there as the best video calling tool is its range of functionality; there’s a free option for small group calls lasting up to 40 minutes plus a range of paid-for subscriptions for those needing something more. Video calls can be recorded, users can set their own backdrop for privacy, share files and messages in chat rooms and host conferences and live events as easily as a regular team video call. One of the key things to take from Zoom if you’re planning your own app is the importance of functionality and knowing what your audience wants and needs.

Google Duo

Google’s own video call offering, Duo is free to use and is pre-installed on a range of Android devices, making it super convenient. It also works on iOS, computers and smart devices and can be used for both one-to-one and video calls. Users can create a ‘group’ populated by selected contacts – this feature makes it quick and easy to begin calls so is handy for regular staff meetings for example.

Duo also boasts end-to-end subscriptions (reminding us of the importance of security and making user data safe) and permits calls between as many as 34 participants at any one time.

Facebook Messenger

While Facebook has increasingly been making inroads into the business space, it isn’t a platform that you would necessarily think of first when it comes to workplace communication. Facebook Messenger video doesn’t let that hold it back however and in fact, this is a useful, reliable and fast cross-platform video call choice. It has a generous 50 person limit on video call , can be used on desktop and phones to make communication easy but is a little lacking in specific business features. If you prefer to keep things simple, this is a popular choice.

Skype

An oldie but goodie, Skype was somewhat pushed aside when Zoom burst onto the scene but, it remains a reliable and solid choice for business users thanks to its ease of use, scalability and breadth of features such as call forwarding, screen sharing and messaging. Skype supports up to 50 participants per video call and supports international calling and texting – perfect if your remote team is scattered around the globe.

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