Technology has made it easier for loved ones to stay connected with each other with apps and tools that are specifically designed to make it easier to talk and engage with the people who matter to you most. These can give you a sense of being closer to them, even when you are separated by physical distance. One such example is a family video chat app.
Top 7 Family Video Chat Apps
The search for the best family video chat app is over. This is a compilation of the best tools and apps currently available to connect you with your family and loved ones, wherever they may be in the world. If you need to connect with your loved ones virtually, you can use these apps and find out which one best meets your needs.
1. Zoog
Zoog is one of the best options on the market. It’s more than just a video chat tool. It is the perfect platform to share immersive stories with your loved ones and to keep the kids engaged.
It’s easy to start a memorable conversation with the tools and features available on Zoog. You can read a storybook to each other and actually become the characters. Your experience will be enhanced by AR masks, effects, backgrounds, and music. It’s a great way to inspire children’s love for reading and form special moments together.
Zoog works on any iOS device making it easier for your family to connect with each other in a fun and fresh way. And Zoog creations can be viewed on any device, so the whole family can enjoy!
2. Zoom
When the pandemic struck, the popularity of Zoom as a video conferencing software exploded. It became the go-to platform for virtual work meetings and conferences. Zoom is the ideal choice when video chatting with a large group, and it is also equipped with the ability to have mini chat rooms for specific members of the group. This will give you the opportunity to speak to certain individuals in a private chat alongside joining the rest of the group in a video chat. This feature is ideal in a work or business meeting, but can also be used for personal communication, such as when you want to catch up with specific relatives or family members.
Depending on the type of account you choose, you can host video chats from 1 to 1,000 people with Zoom. It is great for corporate use, but also a great tool for connecting with loved ones from all over the world.
The only downside to Zoom and most of the other video chat apps included in this list (in comparison to Zoog) is that they lack the engaging features that Zoog has. Zoom is best suited to adults, whereas Zoog is ideal if you have younger children joining the video chat session.
3. Google Hangouts
Just like Zoom, Google Hangouts is another video conference or chat app that is used for business communications and work meetings online. It is available through a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Google Hangouts can support a maximum of 25 people in a video chat session. It is a great option for smaller families or those who want to keep in touch with their loved ones in a smaller group. The best part about using Google Hangouts is that anyone who’s used Gmail or other tools in the Google suite will already be familiar with how to use this tool for video chatting.
4. FaceTime
For the iOS users out there, the FaceTime app is one of the go-to video communication tools available. Anyone who owns an iPhone, iPad, or Mac has FaceTime on their device. It’s a great tool to stay connected with your loved ones. You can even make the chatting experience more fun and engaging with stickers, creative filters, and doodling capabilities.
But that’s not all – group FaceTiming is also a great way to get the entire family together in a virtual chat. Since it was introduced to the iPhone, this app has greatly evolved and allows users to maximize its capabilities. New features that come to app are built directly into your phone, so you don’t have to take the extra step of downloading updates. The group video capability allows a maximum of 32 participants, so there is room for everyone in your family or group of friends!
5. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a communication app that is compatible with computers, tablets, and mobile phones. This is an especially handy app for those who travel internationally, and is a great tool for keeping in touch with family, friends, loved ones, and business partners.
WhatsApp is very popular among young people, but users of various demographics have caught on to its popularity and the convenience of its use. It is specifically useful to those who don’t have (or can’t afford) international phone plans, because all you need to do is connect to a Wi-Fi network to send texts or make phone calls.
If you are looking for a family video chat app, this one is recommended because it gives you a comprehensive communication experience. For instance, you can access messaging features during a call, which can be especially helpful if you want to reference something from a chat or you have an important message to share without exiting the call. However, WhatsApp lacks engaging features during video calls.
6. Skype
Before Zoom, Skype dominated the realm of group video calls. This was the go-to choice for many business professionals who wanted a reliable tool to communicate with their co-workers and collaborate on projects via video conferencing.
Nowadays, Skype is no longer exclusively for business use. It is also used for personal communication and is a reliable family video chat app, even for free users. It is available directly in your browser, on your computer, or via a mobile app for easy video conferencing on the go. Depending on the type of account you use, there is the ability to video chat with up to 50 people! It is a convenient app for families that want to get-together virtually.
The app has an easy-to-use interface, so even first-time users can get on a video call quite easily.
7. Facebook Messenger
Everyone is on Facebook these days, therefore, it is a no-brainer addition to this list, especially since Facebook Messenger can be downloaded for free.
Video chatting has emerged as one of the most popular features of Facebook Messenger and you can use it to connect with your loved ones. Even if you don’t have a Facebook account, you can still download and use this app. All you need is a Facebook Messenger account to get started video chatting with your family and friends.
There are plenty of options for a family video chat app. Whether you need one that offers basic video calling functionalities or you are looking for something like Zoog to keep everyone entertained during video calling sessions (especially little children), there are manyto choose from. Simply pick the ones that meet your needs and make a simple family video call extra special.
