Price: Free; Microsoft's video-conference app is one of the pioneers in the field. First released back in 2003, the software has grown into a trusted service and became so ubiquitous a.
- Using Skype To Video Chat
- Skype Video Call App
- How To Video Chat On Skype App Macbook
- Skype How To Video Chat
- How To Video Chat On Skype App Mac Desktop
- Skype Online Chat Video Chat
- Start Video Chat On Skype
You already know about some of the world’s biggest communication apps, like Gmail, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, and so on! These email, messaging, and video chat apps are excelling at different tasks! Enabling everyone stay connected across devices. across networks!
Check out the recommendations to see which communications apps are best for social, search, gaming, work collaboration, and more. These are best cross-platform messaging apps for not only Windows and Mac, but also for iOS, and Android too!
The Best Chat and Messaging Apps for Windows & Mac
Some of the world’s best and most popular communications apps for Windows and Mac powered computers are listed below, just explore them!
# WhatsApp Desktop
Get WhatsApp Desktop App for your Windows or Mac available for free to download at Microsoft App Store as-well-as in iTunes App Store for Mac. With this app on the desktop, you can seamlessly sync all of your chats, and messages to your computer so that you can chat on whatever device is most convenient to you, all day!
Download WhatsApp Desktop for Windows or Mac
# Messenger App Desktop
This is another most downloaded and best-rated cross-platform communication app made by Facebook, available at Windows and iTunes App Stores for free to download! With the amazing Facebook Messenger app, you can keep your conversations going on wherever you are! Send and receive chat, messages, and do much more!
Download Facebook Messenger App for Windows or Mac
# Telegram Desktop App
Telegram Desktop is another pure instant messaging — fast, simple, and secure, that can be synced across all your favorite devices, used by millions of active users worldwide everyday for all their chat and messaging needs! The fastest communication app on the market, connecting people. With it access messages from all devices at once.
Download Telegram Desktop Free Messaging App for Windows or Mac.
# IMO Desktop App
Get imo desktop free video calls and chat app available at the Microsoft and iTunes App Stores for free to download. With this communication app for Windows and Mac you can message and video chat with your friends and family for free, no matter what device they are on. Send unlimited instant messages, and do more!
Download IMO Desktop free video calls and chat App for Windows or Mac.
# WeChat Messaging App
WeChat is another popular messaging and calling application that allows you to easily connect with family & friends across the boundaries. It’s the all-in-one communications app for text, voice, video calls, and files. Send video, image, text, and file messages. Create group chats, group video calls, and much more!
Download WeChat communication App for your Windows or Mac.
Viber is said to offer the best-quality voice calls; video calls; texts, photos and sticker messages for free! (Image via V3)
# Viber Communication App
Viber for Windows and Mac lets you send free messages and make free calls to other Viber users, on any device and network, in any country across the globe! It syncs your contacts, messages and call history with your synced device. Get the best-quality voice calls; video calls; texts, photos and sticker messages for free.
Download Viber Free Chat and Messaging App for Windows or Mac.
# LINE Communication App
LINE is another amazing communication app widely popular around the globe, bringing people closer to their family, friends, and loved ones — for free! With this app get voice and video calls, messages, and a limitless variety of exciting stickers, you’ll be able to express yourself in ways that you have never thought possible, ever!
Download Line Free Communication App for Windows or Mac.
# Skype Communication App
Skype is another popular communication app for Windows and Mac computers. With this app share your PC’s audio when you share your desktop. Watch videos and listen to music together! See your images without having to leave the app. Tap on an image in a conversation and try this out. Stay in touch with family and friends – anywhere.
Download Free Skype Communication App for Windows or Mac.
# Nimbuzz Messenger App
With Numbuzz get Free messages, Free Calls. Unlimited! It combines the power of Internet and smart messenger into one, and lets you send unlimited chat messages and share files on any device across popular messengers. Nimbuzz Messenger is available not only for Windows and Mac, but also for Android, iOS, Blackberry platforms.
Download Nimbuzz Free Messenger App for Windows or Mac.
# Wire – Secure Messenger App
Wire is a secure messenger app, that secures your business and personal chats, files and calls with end-to-end encryption. With it all data is protected, it combines strong end-to-end encryption with ease-of-use, and all the features to get work done in a team, or bring friends and families together on all major platforms and devices.
Download Wire – Secure Messenger App for Windows or Mac.
Those are some of the world’s best and most downloaded, rated and used communication applications for Windows and Macintosh computers. Those chat and messenger apps are free desktop messaging app used for instant messaging, sharing photos, videos, recordings and much more!
Download the app you love the most to get connected with the world. Use them to communicate with your friends, families and your loved ones, across multiple devices.
Have you tried other amazing communication apps, available on the app stores?
As government advice has us self-isolating, and limiting physical contact with friends and family, tech can play an important role in staying connected. Text messages are invaluable, but you might get more comfort from a video call.
As long as you have a camera-equipped computer, smartphone or tablet, you can make video calls free of charge to the people who matter the most. Popular services to help you get the job done include Facebook Messenger, Skype and WhatsApp.
Below, we’ve rounded up some video calling apps to help you stay in touch with your loved ones.
- Find out how video calling software scores for security and quality in our reviews of the best video calling apps.
What you need to make a video call
Whatever device you’re using, you’re going to need it to have a camera.
Using your smartphone for video calling is a great option. Mobiles are lightweight, easy to move from one room to another, and often have front-facing and rear-facing cameras that you can swap between. Most modern tablets will also have a built-in camera.
If you’re using a computer, you’ll need to activate the built-in webcam or purchase a plug-in webcam if that’s not an option. These plug into a USB port and sometimes ship with additional third-party software to help you tweak the picture settings.
Using Skype To Video Chat
There are countless video calling apps available, but we’ve picked out four of the most popular: Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Skype and WhatsApp.
All four services work on smartphones (FaceTime only works on Apple devices, though). If you want to use your computer to video call, your best bets are Skype or Facebook Messenger.
All of these are free to download and use over wi-fi. But note that if you’re using them over a 3G, 4G or 5G connection, you’ll eat into your mobile data allowance.
Crucially, if you’re using an app to video call, the person you’re trying to contact will need the same app.
Our expert lab tests uncover the best gadgets with built-in cameras. See our mobile phone reviews and laptop reviews.
How to make a video call on WhatsApp
Can you make video calls on smartphones? Yes
Can you make video calls on tablets? No
Can you make video calls on Windows? No
Can you make video calls on Mac? No
WhatsApp is a Facebook-owned service that you can use to transfer files, send texts, voice calls and video calls. You can download it from the Google Play store on Android, or Apple’s App Store if you’re an iOS user.
To create an account with WhatsApp (which is free to use), you’ll need to download the app to your smartphone. From there, open it up and work through the set-up assistant. You’ll need to give the app certain permissions that allow it to import your existing phone contacts.
To make a video call on WhatsApp on your Android smartphone:
- Open the WhatsApp app
- Tap the speech bubble icon in the bottom-right corner
- Select a contact from the list
- Press the video camera icon
- You should now be in a video call. Tapping the rotate icon (an outline of a camera with circular arrows) will swap which camera you’re broadcasting from, while the microphone button will mute your audio.
Skype Video Call App
To make a video call on WhatsApp on your Apple smartphone:
How To Video Chat On Skype App Macbook
- Open the WhatsApp app
- Navigate to the Chats tab
- Click the Pencil icon in the top-right corner
- Select a contact from the list
- Press the video camera icon.
Get WhatsApp today
How to make a video call on Skype
Can you make video calls on smartphones? Yes
Can you make video calls on tablets? Yes
Can you make video calls on Windows? Yes
Can you make video calls on Mac? Yes
Skype was primarily built with desktop in mind – its screen-sharing feature makes it a popular choice for those dealing with work-related video calls and group chats.
But there’s no reason why you can’t try it out on smartphones and tablets to chat to your loved ones as well. It’s free to download, but you’ll need to create a Skype account to get started.
To make a call, Skype will need access to your microphone. If your microphone and camera need configuring, go to the main Skype menu, tap the three dots, then select Settings > Audio & Video.
To make a Skype video call on your computer:
Skype How To Video Chat
- Open the Skype app on your desktop
- Click the Calls icon and select + call
- Search for a contact to chat with
- Select your contact and click call
- With your audio call running, select the video camera to open up your webcam.
During a call, you can mute or unmute your sound at any time by selecting the microphone icon.
Get Skype today
How to make a video call on FaceTime
Can you make video calls on smartphones? Yes – iPhone models only (iPhone 4 or later)
Can you make video calls on tablets? Yes – iPad models only (iPad Pro, iPad 2 or later, iPad mini)
Can you make video calls on Windows? No
Can you make video calls on Mac? Yes
How To Video Chat On Skype App Mac Desktop
FaceTime comes pre-installed on the majority of Apple devices. If you and the person you want to video call both own an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac, it’s a sensible option.
To make a FaceTime call on your mobile device:
- Open theFaceTime app and sign in with your Apple ID. If you’re using an iPhone, FaceTime will automatically register your phone number. iPad and iPod Touch users will need to use an email address
- In the FaceTime app, tap the ‘+’ button
- Type the phone number or email address of the person you’re contacting
- Select Audio (phone icon) or Video (camera icon).
You can also activate your device’s camera through a normal phone call. While the other person is still on the line, tap the FaceTime icon in the Phone app to switch to FaceTime.
Here are the steps to run through if you’re looking to use FaceTime on a Mac:
- Open the FaceTime app and sign in with your Apple ID
- Use the search field to enter an email address or phone number
- Select Audio (phone icon) or Video (camera icon).
If you have Apple’s willing Siri assistant installed on your Mac, try saying ‘FaceTime [contact name]’.
How to make a video call on Facebook Messenger
Can you make video calls on smartphones? Yes
Can you make video calls on tablets? Yes
Can you make video calls on Windows? Yes
Can you make video calls on Mac? Yes
If you already use Facebook on your smartphone, the free-to-download Messenger service is just a single tap away. You can reach it by selecting the chat bubble on the top-right corner of your homepage.
Although both apps are owned by the same company, Messenger is separate to Facebook. Therefore, you’ll need to download it for free from the Google Play store or Apple’s App Store.
To make a video call on Facebook Messenger from your Android or iOS smartphone:
- Open the Messenger app
- Under the Chats menu, tap the Pencil icon in the top-right corner
- Type the name of the Facebook contact you want to call and tap their picture
- Select the video camera icon to start a video call.
While in a Facebook Messenger call, you can rotate your camera, mute your audio or add another contact into the chat.
If you have Facebook open on a PC or Mac, click the chat bubble in the top-right corner and select New message. Select your contact and a new chat bubble will pop up. From there, select the video camera icon to start a video call.
Get Facebook Messenger today
Making a group video call
Many chat services will let you make a video call with several different contacts at the same time. This is a great option if you want to catch up with family members that are spread around different locations.
It’s not quite the same as a proper family gathering, but at a time when many UK households are in isolation, it’s a great way to have a virtual get-together.
Skype Online Chat Video Chat
All of the services we’ve listed in our article support group video calling.
Start Video Chat On Skype
- WhatsApp Up to four contacts. In an ongoing video call, select Add Participant.
- Skype Up to 50 contacts. In an ongoing video call, select the ‘+’ icon.
- FaceTime Up to 32 contacts. During a FaceTime call, select Add Person.
- Facebook Messenger Up to six contacts. In an ongoing video call, select the ‘+’ icon.