Hangouts Alternatives
Hangouts is described as 'messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice calls – one to one or with a group!' and is a leading Group Chat app in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Hangouts for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Android, Linux, Mac and iPhone. The best alternative is Telegram, which is free. Other great apps like Hangouts are Signal, Element, Discord and Skype.
Hangouts alternatives are mainly Group Chat Apps but may also be Instant Messengers or Video Calling Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Hangouts.- Free • Proprietary
- Group Chat App
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Google Chrome
- Android Wear
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
258 alternatives to Telegram- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- Linux Mobile
- Android Wear
- PortableApps.com
- FreeBSD
Telegram is a messaging app created by former VK creators with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful.
Features
Telegram vs Hangouts opinions
Smooth, clear, and encrypted messaging and voice calling.
assistantphilrichardsSupports large audio files, does not compress photos when sending
Support audio and video conversation, fast and secure.
telegram is text messaging app only, and doesn't support audio and video conversation .
- Free • Open Source
- Encrypted Chat App
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
202 alternatives to Signal- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Flathub
- Ubuntu
- Debian
Signal is a messaging app with an unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all the features expected from a modern IM app. Signal has received a lot of praise from all around the world for its security and privacy-respecting technologies.
Features
Signal vs Hangouts opinions
GoldmasterFar better, with a much simpler interface and usage. With a focus on speed, privacy and security. This should be on everyone's phone.
Easy security for beginners, multi-platform, current development, doesn't restrict communications to insecure recipients, obvious visual indicators that you are communicating secure or non-secure.
JohnFastmanUnlike Google products, Signal offers end-to-end encryption, meaning that your messages cannot be intercepted or read by anyone except the intended recipient, if they have Signal too. Google's emails and messages are intercepted by mass surveillance and used to profile users as part of Google's business model. Signal is also open source, which means you can inspect the code yourself.
No web interface
(Otherwise, the service is great.)
- Freemium • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Encrypted Chat App
- Video Calling App
262 alternatives to Element- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Cloudron
- F-Droid
- FLATHUB
Element is a secure collaboration and messaging app based on the Matrix protocol. It’s decentralised to deliver digital sovereignty, and based on an open standard for easy connections and interoperability. It is end-to-end encrypted by default.
Features
Element vs Hangouts opinions
Supports all Hangouts features, as well as encrypted conversations. Respects your privacy, and you don't need an email address to sign up.
its deep architecture makes it better than Hangouts and the other security-focused alternatives too.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Group Chat App
- Video Calling App
- Encrypted Chat App
149 alternatives to Discord- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Epic Games Store
- Electron / Atom Shell
- FreeBSD
- Playstation
- Xbox
Whether you’re part of a school club, a gaming group, a worldwide art community, or just a handful of friends that want to spend time together, Discord makes it easy to talk every day and hang out more often.
Features
Discord vs Hangouts opinions
Discord is aimed at gaming. Gamers prefer this over alternatives like Hangouts and Skype.
AlanLeikenA lot more feature-packed and fun to use, though I may be biased as a gamer.
Doesn`t Have Video Chat Otherwise Great
Because it is the best way to chat, you can make all kinds of fancy edits and also the call quality is much better than hangouts in my opinion
Although it's complex, Discord has way more features than Hangouts and is more reliable than Google's half-hearted messaging efforts.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Group Chat App
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
311 alternatives to Skype- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Blackberry
- Chrome OS
- Windows S
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Android Wear
- PortableApps.com
Skype is the most popular free voice-over IP and instant messaging service globally. It allows users to text, video and voice call over the internet. Users can also call landlines and mobiles at competitive rates using Skype credit, premium accounts and subscriptions.
Features
Skype vs Hangouts opinions
skype is quite similar to hangouts
They offer the same thing, but Hangouts offers better service
5247009No web interface, numerous privacy concerns, and advertising.
- Free • Open Source
- Video Calling App
- Web Conferencing Tool
- Instant Messenger
71 alternatives to Jitsi Desktop- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- BSD
- Self-Hosted
Jitsi Desktop (previously SIP Communicator) is a legacy audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption, precedessor of Jitsi Meet .
Features
DiscontinuedJitsi Desktop is not actively developed anymore: last version, released in October 2017, can be still downloaded from GitHub. Its successor is
Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Desktop vs Hangouts opinions
- Free • Open Source
- Video Calling App
- Group Chat App
- Encrypted Chat App
121 alternatives to Jitsi Meet- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Apple Watch
- F-Droid
Go ahead, video chat with the whole team. In fact, invite everyone you know. Jitsi Meet is a fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing solution that you can use all day, every day, for free — with no account needed.
Features
Jitsi Meet vs Hangouts opinions
JohnFastmanFully functioning, free, open-source, end-to-end encrypted, browser-based (install nothing) Skype- or Google Hangouts alternative. Stable video and sound, screen share, password protection for rooms and a few other handy features. Highly recommended. No more reason to accept Skype and Google's surveillance of your conversations.
gitbreaker222Open source, works without account, easy access, good design, stable connection
- Free • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
130 alternatives to Matrix.org- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- WebRTC
- Python
- JavaScript
- Go (Programming Language)
- Cloudron
- Java
- Perl
Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralised communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control.
Features
- Free • Open Source
- Encrypted Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Group Chat App
179 alternatives to Tox- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
With the rise of widespread government monitoring programs, Tox is an easy to use application that allows you to connect with friends and loved ones without anyone else listening in.
Features
Tox vs Hangouts opinions
- Encrypted text, voice and video chat
- File and Desktop sharing
- Emoji and markdown (basic support on qTox) support
- Group chat
- Open source (Protocol: https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore)
- Multiple cross-platform clients (mainly qTox, uTox)
- No true offline messaging (decentralized by design)
- Still in development (but fully usable; contribute bug reports by trying out)
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Group Chat App
- Team Collaboration Tool
- Video Calling App
210 alternatives to Slack- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Electron / Atom Shell
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Slack is a unified communication platform built with an optimized workflow to keep modern teams focused and productive. A familiar chat interface facilitates discussions while advanced features are easily exposed based on context.
Features
Slack vs Hangouts opinions
michaelchung89Everything Hangouts has + integrations, seems to be their main competitive advantage.
allisoncorriganSurprised not to see it at the top of the list - best alternative to Hangouts! Fun to use, simple, and integrates with just about any tool.
stephenbarrow895Slack works great as a chat tool but it's much more than that, it's like a centralized notification hub for all other tools.