Zoom vs. Google Hangouts: Which video chat service is right for you?

Zoom vs. Google Hangouts: Which video chat service is correct for you?

(Epitome credit: Zoom; Google)

Comparing Zoom vs Google Hangouts comes down to your priorities and needs for communication. They're both video chat clients that have been widely pop for a while, and tin both exist found on a variety of platforms — and while Zoom is under fire for a serial of privacy flaws, Google keeps adjusting and expanding Hangouts, too every bit See, which is more than competitive with Zoom.

And as we all spend more than and more time apart, these services accept become all the more important, then nosotros've looked closely at both Zoom and Google Hangouts to see how they differ. Surprisingly, they've got big differences on a couple of key features.

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While each service is rather simple to utilize, one is more limited than the other in terms of the size of the groups it appeals to — and the other doesn't care nearly how much fourth dimension y'all spend chatting away. There's likewise some other competitor out in that location, check out our Skype vs Zoom face-off to encounter how a long-standing video call service is competing with Zoom.

For those still figuring out how to utilize Zoom or how to gear up a Zoom meeting, nosotros've got guides for that, and more. Here's everything you lot need to know to figure out your selection of Zoom vs Google Hangouts. (Oh, and bank check out our best webcams for video calls guide so everyone can see you conspicuously!)

Zoom vs Google Hangouts at a glance

	Zoom	Google Hangouts
Supported devices	Windows 10, macOS, Linux (including Ubuntu), iOS, Android and Blackberry	Web browsers (Chrome, Safari and Firefox on both PC and Mac), Linux, Android, iOS
Maximum number of participants	100, with up to 49 visible at once	25 (100 in Google Meet), up to 10 visible at once
Special features	Custom virtual backgrounds, terminate to end encryption, Hd video and audio	Google app integration
Is there a free tier?	Yeah	Yes
Is in that location a paid tier?	Zoom Pro ($14.99 per month per host)	Google Run across (formerly Hangouts Meet) was paid, just is currently free. Enterprise versions however exist, with more perks.
Paid tier perks	Coming together elapsing limit is 24 hrs, 1GB of deject recording, Skype for Business concern (Lync) support	Enterprise Come across has 250 video callers at once

* Google Hangouts Encounter has been rebranded to Google Run into. Then, Google announced that Google Meet, the premium video meetings product, is now free for all Google account holders, until September xxx. Meet calls take a limit of 100 people, and while there volition be a threescore minute fourth dimension limit for calls, that will not be enforced until Sept. thirty.

Why y'all should use Zoom

Zoom is bluntly the more impressive offering. I've seen Zoom's behemothic chats for myself, and those big 5x5 grids of faces expect unlike anything I've seen on Hangouts. Read more about how to see everyone on Zoom.

With Zoom, you tin get up to 100 video callers on the line at once, and see as many equally 49 of them at the same time. That towered over the 25 video conversation participants number from Google Hangouts, but Google Meet (formerly Hangouts Meet) meets Zoom at its 100 caller cap.

Information technology's likewise the more-fun version. Sure, people can utilize emojis to react on Hangouts, just that'south table-stakes. As y'all'll see in our guide on how to change your Zoom groundwork, you tin prepare a variety of colorful backgrounds that brand it look like you're somewhere other than on your couch or at a makeshift domicile function.

There'south also a Zoom web app, and so you don't need to download Zoom to use it. But this version of the software is much more limited.

Why you should apply Google Hangouts

Hangouts wins for me considering of utter simplicity. While it has an app on iOS and Android, it works entirely over the web for most folks. Zoom tries to get yous to download an app, which might exist worth its bonus features listed above, but I don't actually need those.

And since my Hangouts aren't going to be for more than than 25 people, I'm paying more attention to the free Zoom'southward other limit: fourth dimension. Zoom calls with 3 or more people have a forty minute time limit, while a Google Hangout lets you hang out for as long as you like with no time limit.

Google Run into, equally I've noted above, which is free for all until Sept. 30, has a cap of 100 users and has no fourth dimension limit (though that changes to hour on Sept. 30).

I'1000 also defaulting to Hangouts over Zoom because that'south the account I already take. For those who don't apply Google services, I can get why it would be annoying to make an account for Hangouts. Just Google's video chat app makes sense for those relying on Gmail and Google Calendar, which Hangouts seamlessly integrates into.

Outlook

It's pretty much all in their names. Y'all're primarily gonna want to chat with Zoom if yous've got a wide enough set up of video phone pals that yous demand to zoom in and out. Hangouts, in turn, is all-time suited to smaller groups looking to spend more fourth dimension in their chat (and Google fans who demand more people in the room should check out Meet). Neither is bad, they're both pretty simple to use and direct.

But I wouldn't be surprised if some long distance relatives were surprised when Zoom told them their time was up later on xl minutes.

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Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past vi-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'due south Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.