The best free video chat apps in 2026
There is no single best video chat app. The right one depends on who you are calling, which phones they have and whether they will install anything. Below are the free apps worth knowing, what each does best and where it falls short.
Based on the free versions of each app in October 2026. Features and limits change, so check the providers' own pages for details.
Quick picks
| If you want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Call family who all have iPhones | FaceTime |
| Call friends who already use a messenger | WhatsApp, Signal or Messenger |
| Call someone who will not install anything | Abeedesk or Google Meet in the browser |
| Talk privately, with nothing stored | Signal or Abeedesk |
| Run a work meeting with many people | Google Meet, Zoom or Microsoft Teams |
| Hang out with a group or community | Discord |
1. WhatsApp
If the people you call already use WhatsApp, it is the path of least resistance. Calls are end-to-end encrypted, work on Android, iPhone and desktop, and group video calls take up to 32 people. Everyone needs the app and a phone number.
2. FaceTime
FaceTime is the simplest choice between Apple devices, with excellent quality and SharePlay for watching together. People on Android or Windows can join a FaceTime call from a link in their browser, but they cannot start one.
3. Google Meet
Meet runs in any browser and in its apps, and works well for both family and work calls. You need a Google account to start a meeting, guests can join from a link, and free group calls have a time limit.
4. Zoom
Zoom is still the standard for large meetings, webinars and classes. The free plan limits meeting length, and the experience is best when everyone installs the app.
5. Microsoft Teams (free)
Teams replaced Skype, which Microsoft retired in 2025. The free version combines chat, calls and shared files, and suits people who already use Outlook or Microsoft 365.
6. Signal
Signal is the privacy choice among messengers: open source, end-to-end encrypted and run by a non-profit. Group video calls work well for families and small teams. Everyone needs the app and a phone number.
7. Facebook Messenger
Messenger works on phones and in the browser, and many older relatives already have it. You need a Facebook or Messenger account.
8. Discord
Discord is built for communities and gaming, with voice channels you can drop in and out of, video calls and screen sharing. It is great for groups of friends and study groups, less so for calling grandparents.
9. Jitsi Meet
Jitsi is free and open source, runs in the browser, and handles larger groups. On the public meet.jit.si service someone has to sign in before a meeting starts. Technical users can also host their own server.
10. Abeedesk
Abeedesk is our own tool, so we keep it last. It is a free video room in the browser for up to 4 people, with no account for anyone and nothing to install. You create a room, send the link and the other person taps it, on a phone or a computer. Video goes directly between participants and nothing is recorded.
- Best for: calls with people who will not install apps, quick work calls, tutoring and private consultations.
- Includes: chat, screen sharing from computers, a whiteboard and a room password.
- Limits: 4 people per room and no recordings.
How to choose
- Start with what the other person has. The best app is the one they already use or the one that needs nothing at all.
- Mixed iPhone and Android? Use WhatsApp, Signal, Meet or a browser link. See video calls between Android and iPhone.
- Older relatives? A link they tap is easier than any app. See video calls with elderly parents.
- Privacy matters? Prefer end-to-end encrypted or direct peer-to-peer calls. See peer-to-peer calls.
- Big group or webinar? Pick Zoom, Meet or Teams.
Questions people ask
What is the best free video chat app?
For most people it is the app their family or friends already use, usually WhatsApp or FaceTime. For calls with people who do not want to install anything, a browser-based option like Google Meet or Abeedesk is easiest.
Which video chat app works on both Android and iPhone?
WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger, Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, Discord, Jitsi and Abeedesk all work across both. FaceTime works fully only between Apple devices.
Is there a video chat app with no sign-up?
Abeedesk needs no account for anyone. Jitsi needs a sign-in only for the person starting the meeting on the public service, and guests can join Google Meet and Zoom without an account.
What happened to Skype?
Microsoft retired Skype in 2025 and moved users to the free version of Microsoft Teams.