Top 5 Free Video Calling Apps
There is no doubt that people have cut the cord when it comes to communication; smart phones have revolutionised the way we stay in touch. No longer do you have to be at home to call someone across the miles. It’s hard to imagine that this was ever the case, now that we are used to being able to communicate instantly.
Back in 2003 this instant communication took on a whole other form, with the launch of Skype. This event meant that now you were able to have a face to face conversation with someone in a different country. There is no doubt that the introduction of Skype helped to make the world seem an even smaller place. For years Skype dominated the video call market, but that is no longer the case. Of course, Skype is still a popular means of communication but it’s been joined by many other providers. Video chat and smartphones have also joined together so that you can chat to your friends face to face even if they are on a different continent. Let’s take a look at five of the most popular video calling apps that can keep you connected with people across the world.
Skype
We are going to start with Skype because although it has been joined by many others, in the world of video chat, it’s still the original and has a wide array of users; around 700 million in total, across the globe. The size of the user base for Skype is one of its biggest attractions, together with the high level of compatibility across a range of devices including smart TVs, desktops, tablets and smartphones. The great thing about Skype is that its basic facilities are free to use, with access to other functions, such as calls to users outside of Skype, available at minimal cost.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook is such a huge draw to people internationally that the inclusion of Facebook Messenger in our list should come as no surprise. If you are looking for a video calling solution to use then Messenger is a perfect choice because so many people already use it for communicating on a daily basis. Messenger is also really simple to use when it comes to video calling. It’s simply a case of choosing the person you want to call, from your list of contacts. Then, all you have to do is tap the camera button and you are all set to chat away to your heart’s content. It really is that simple to use Facebook Messenger to video chat.
ooVoo
If you connect ooVoo with your Facebook profile you can communicate with any of your Facebook contacts. It’s a really simple app to use and it’s also free if you are messaging a fellow ooVoo user, or having a video chat with them. You do have to pay a fee if you want to call an outside mobile or landline number. One of the benefits of using ooVoo is that you can chat with multiple people at the same time; as many as twelve. This makes it a great way to catch up with a whole group of friends.
Viber
It’s worth noting that you can only use Viber to call other people who also use the app. That being said, it’s an excellent way of calling, video calling and messaging friends across the miles, without it costing you anything. You are not restricted to one on one conversations either; you can use the app to have a group call with up to forty people. It’s certainly a great way of creating a party atmosphere without actually having to be in the same room. If you use Viber you also have access to a fun set of emoticons and emojis which you can use.
Facetime
Facetime is only available to users of iOS and Mac OS X but it made our list because it’s already built in by Apple. You can simply use your Apple device to make a video call when you need to. You do not need any additional software. The functionality of Facetime is pretty basic but it commands our respect for being a simple to use, readily available, video chat solution.
If you want to keep in touch with friends then video calling is an excellent means of doing so. In this age of smartphone technology you do not have to wait to tell your best friend about your shopping trip, you can video call them while you are out and they can give you the benefit of their advice. It’s so much better to be able to see as well as hear the person you are calling.
In this article we have talked about five of our favourite video calling apps which we feel offer some of the best benefits when it comes to functionality, availability or ease of use. Why not take a look at some of these apps for yourself and see which one is the best choice for you.