Here we describe the best video calling apps for PCs, giving you the essential information on each program. Check out our table of top 12 video calling software to quickly navigate to the app of your interest. We’ve also included information about a screen recorder in case you want to record your call.
Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder
OS: Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac
The reasons why you want to record a live video chat may be various. For example, you might want to keep a memory of a conversation with a distant relative, save an important business call to review its details later on, or simply record your chat with a friend. In this case, you’ll need convenient and powerful screen capturing software, such as Movavi Screen Recorder. Launch your video calling app for PC and easily capture your video calls, cut out unwanted moments, and save the video in any popular format. Download the free trial of the program and try it out yourself.
Features
Our goal is to provide you with only verified information. To ensure this, Movavi Content Team does the following:
The team tests all the products mentioned in this article.
When testing, we compare the key characteristics of the products, which include selecting capture area, schedule recording, showing keystrokes and mouse, and other significant features.
Best video calling app for your computer
Zoom
Best for: family reunions, work-related meetings
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Maximum free users: 100
G2 rating: 4.5/5 stars, 39k reviews
Zoom is a video calling app for PC, Mac, and Linux computers. If you hesitate which video calling app for PC to download for large groups of people, try this one. Created specifically for collaborative purposes, Zoom can accommodate up to 100 users. Zoom is more than just a communication platform for business meetings and family reunions; governments and communities tend to choose Zoom as means of communication, too. Apart from video conferencing, screen sharing, and call recording, Zoom users can enjoy such helpful features as polls and whiteboard.
Main features:
Unlimited one-to-one meetings
Group messaging
Video and audio conferencing
Screen sharing
Pros:
Call recording
Integration with Google services
Tools like polls and whiteboard
Cons:
The free version can only host 40-minute long meetings
FaceTime
Best for: joining ongoing video calls via Google Chrome
Compatibility: Mac, iOS
Maximum free users: 32
PCMag rating: 4.5/5 stars
FaceTime is another free video call app initially designed for mobile platforms but has successfully incorporated features that afford unlimited video talk time via their personal computers. There is no video calling app for PCs, but Google Chrome users can join video calls created by hosts with macOS/iOS devices. All you need is an invitation from the video call creator (which is basically a link to the room).
Main features:
Free video calls for large groups of users
FaceTime Audio option for voice calls
Picture-in-picture view
Pros:
Animoji and Memoji avatars
Stickers, filters, and other effects
Cons:
Only accessible on Apple devices
Skype
Best for: cross-platform video calls
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Xbox, and web
Maximum free users: 50
PCMag rating: 4.5/5 stars
Skype is by far the most popular live video chat app for PC on this list. It has been around for about 15 years, and many consider it the best video calling app for PC. Skype’s easy-to-use and straightforward interface is one of its most striking features. The app has significantly evolved over time, and there’s a paid and free version now. You can make free calls to anyone with the Skype app, while the paid version allows you to make calls to any mobile number anywhere in the world.
Main features:
Computer-to-computer video calls and messages
Computer-to-phone calls at low rates
Call forwarding and voicemail options
Pros:
Free group and one-to-one video calls
Good sound and video quality
Cons:
Calls to mobile phones are not free
Best for: video and voice calls, media sharing
Compatibility: iOS, Android, web
Maximum free users: 50
Capterra rating: 4.7/5 stars, 13k reviews
WhatsApp is arguably the most popular Skype alternative, although much of its popularity is owed to the mobile application. If you want to use this online video calling software for PC, you’ll need to download the WhatsApp application for PC. The web application does not give room for video calls. The major advantage of this video calling app for PC is that it allows users to share images, videos, documents, and much more.
Main features:
Group video and voice calls
All communication encrypted
Pros:
Free voice messages
Document sharing (up to 100 MB)
Cons:
Video calls only available on mobile devices
Google Hangouts
Best for: use alongside with Google-integrated tools
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome
Maximum free users: 10
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 stars, 10k reviews
Google entered the digital communication niche with a simple email service. However, they have grown in leaps and bounds ever since. Google Hangouts is one of the best free video chat apps for Windows. You can make free video calls to anyone with a Gmail ID. The video chat rooms can accommodate up to 10 people at any given point in time. Google Hangouts can be accessed via Gmail or Google web application.
Main features:
Free video calls and group conferencing
Free voice calls
Pros:
HD video and sound quality
Built-in screen sharing
Cons:
Not designed for large groups of people
Chanty is a great, user-friendly, easy on the pocket app that lets companies of all sizes collaborate and communicate efficiently. With its affordable features, you can enjoy an unlimited searchable history if you’re new on the team and want to catch up on anything from before.
Additional useful features include unlimited video and audio calls, guest users, data import, multiple integrations, and more.
Main features:
Public and private conversations
Built-in task management
Voice messages
Pros:
Dedicated support line
Great review history
Cons:
Free plan only accommodates 10 users
No Windows 10/11 version
ooVoo
Best for: high-quality voice and video calls
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Maximum free users: 8
G2 rating: 3.4/5 stars, 31 reviews
Although it may not be in the same ilk as the apps mentioned earlier, the ooVoo video calls and messaging app is pretty popular. Its major strength lies in its user-friendly interface. Essentially, ooVoo is more than just a calling app for your computer, it’s actually a mini social media platform. You can make unlimited voice or video calls using the app, and it also gives room for conference calls. The conference calling feature can accommodate only eight people at once.
Main features:
Free video messages
Video chat rooms
Pros:
Contacts import from social media, email account, messengers
Clear sound and image
Cons:
Project is not supported anymore
RingCentral
Best for: short business video calls
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
Maximum free users: 100
PCMag rating: 4.5/5 stars
The RingCentral developers position their product as a business communications platform. And for a reason: their video calling app for PC supports messaging, video-conferencing, faxing, cloud PBX (Private Branch Exchange), and other features that both small businesses and large enterprises value. RingCentral Meetings, the video calling service, can accommodate up to 100 participants, but the sessions are limited to 40 minutes in the free version.
Main features:
Fully featured PBX administration service
Best for businesses and enterprises
100% cloud service
Pros:
AI integration
Supports faxing
Available on mobile platforms
Cons:
Complex tier system for advanced versions of the service
Some add-ons to the basic features are paid
LINE
Best for: high-quality video feed; sharing videos and voice messages
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and web
Maximum free users: 4
LINE is a fairly popular video calling app for PCs among Asian users, which is understandable because it was launched by developers in Japan. Although LINE is more popular on mobile devices, this video calling software is free to download on your PC. LINE guarantees high-quality video feeds, and it also has an impressive collection of emoticons that come in handy when using the chat feature. LINE also gives room for sharing videos, audio messages, and images with fellow LINE users.
Main features:
Free voice and video calls
Two group video call layouts
Pros:
Group messages with up to 100 people
Video calls with clear sound and echo reduction
Emotion effects
Cons:
Calls to numbers outside LINE are not free
Not designed for large groups of people
Viber
Best for: use on both PC and phone
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web
Maximum free users: 20
PCMag rating: 4/5 stars (Android app)
Viber’s numerous features and user-friendly interface make it impossible to leave it out of our list of best free video calling apps. Like most other apps on this list, Viber has a huge mobile following, but its face chat application for PC remains relatively unpopular. A significant advantage of Viber is that it allows you to sync your mobile application with your Viber video calling app for PC. Besides the video calling feature, Viber gives room for chatting with other users. It also boasts a massive collection of stickers.
Main features:
Free video calls in HD quality
Windows Viber software synchronization
Pros:
International calls
A large variety of stickers
Cons:
Calls outside the US are not free
Best for: video calls, chatting, and transferring files
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Maximum free users: 10
WeChat is one of the better-known free group chat applications. It’s a video calling app for PCs, Mac OS computers, and mobile phones. Having the WeChat software installed, you can connect with others via chats and video calls. Whenever you’re logged in on the WeChat website, the application would no longer send your notifications to you but to your desktop. The inability to seamlessly sync the mobile app with your PC appears to be one of the shortcomings of WeChat. On the plus side, the desktop application allows the transfer of files from one user to another. Not all the video calling software on this list gives you that.
Main features:
Lots of integrated third-party services
Easy media sharing
Integration with the WeChat Pay system
Pros:
High-quality video and sound
Huge variety of unique options such as Drift Bottles, Look Around, etc
Cons:
Mobile and desktop versions are not synchronized
Wire
Best for: switching seamlessly between the work and private profiles
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Maximum free users: 10
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 stars, 62 reviews
Wire was developed by the set of engineers that created Skype. This open-source software works well as an alternative to Skype. If you are looking for the best video calling app for PC, Wire would be one of the first names that’ll come to mind. Wire gives you room to make encrypted audio conference calls as well as video calls. However, a significant shortcoming is that the video conferencing capability is limited to four users at a time. A major advantage of Wire is that you can set up work and personal profiles on the Wire app and switch seamlessly between both. This facilitates excellent separation of work from private engagements, minimizing distractions. The open-source software is available under the GPL 3.0 license.
Main features:
Free voice and video messages
Encrypted video and audio calls
Easy media sharing
Pros:
Runs even on the weakest Internet connection
Conversation history recording
Cons:
Video conferencing can only support up to four users
The next time you need video calling software for PC, feel free to work with any app from our list. Rest assured, you’ll be getting a smooth video conferencing experience. Suffice it to say that this list of the best video calling software is far from exhaustive. There are many great free group video chat apps that are not on this list. You can also check out the article by Adam Enfroy discussing what is the best video calling app for PC. If you are looking for an app that can help you keep a record of your video conversations, Screen Recorder by Movavi is an option you should explore. The app possesses both screen recording and video editing capabilities. Indeed, it’s one of the best screen recording apps you’ll find for your Windows PC or Mac OS.
Before you start your video call, install and launch Movavi Screen Recorder. Then follow these steps:
Adjust the recording settings according to your needs. When the video meeting begins, click Start Recording and select the area you want to capture.
Make sure the Webcam, Microphone, and System Audio options are enabled.
To start recording, click the REC button. Click Stop to finish the process.
Edit the video if necessary.
Save the result in any chosen format.
Share the video with friends or colleagues.
What to look for in a video chat app for PC
Each program we describe in this article is worth trying, but how does one choose the perfect video calling app for PC? We hope the criteria below will help you make the right choice.
Maximum free users: Whether you’re planning a small family gather-together or an important business meeting, it’s vital to know how many users can be accommodated in one room for free.
Compatibility: Some of the programs mentioned in this article are available on both desktop and mobile platforms. If you’re planning to video chat on both devices, choose the appropriate program and app.
Functionality: Some reunions can involve specific activities, and some can go smoothly without special preparations. If you’re looking for video calling apps for laptops that provide advanced work-related features, it’s best to figure it out beforehand.
Summary
If you need to make a video call, there are limitless options available for any platform, and every program has its own pros, cons, and features. We hope this article has helped you choose the best video call app for your needs.
Movavi Screen Recorder
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.
Some video calling apps for PCs and Mac computers have a built-in screen-recording instrument, and some don’t. Regardless of the app you’re using, you can always record your video call with Movavi Screen Recorder.
To learn how to record a video call with the software by Movavi, please read the guide below.
Yes. If you are using the web version of WhatsApp, it is possible to record your video call. We suggest you do it with Movavi Screen Recorder. Please read the guide below to learn more about recording WhatsApp video calls.
It really depends on your needs. We suggest you try a video calling app for PC from the list below:
Zoom
Skype
Google Hangouts
You can learn more about other video calling programs by reading the article.
Movavi Screen Recorder
The perfect way to record anything from your screen
An easy way to record from your screen in HD. Make video footage of any application, record online streaming video, webinars, even Skype calls, and save clips in all popular formats.
Sign up for news and special offers