THE BEST VIDEOCALLING APPS

Chat with friends, family and colleagues on your Mac

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When the pandemic W struck in 2020, the world got a fast lesson in video-calling apps. If you didn't know how to use one before, you certainly did after and, for many of us, the world of work was changed forever.

These days, video-calling apps are still with us - for many people, they're an absolutely essential part of day-to-day life. But they're not just for work, and are ideal for catching up with friends and family in your downtime. Whether you need to discuss your tasks with colleagues or just want to hang out with mates for casual group chats or organising get-togethers, you can bet there's an app tailored to what you need.

With so many options, which one should you pick as your videoconferencing app of choice? That's what this group test is all about. We've put together six of the best video-calling apps, from the casual Discord to the work-focused Teams, with plenty more spanning the spectrum in between. By the end, you'll know exactly which one fits your needs. So, let's dive in and sort the video wheat from the virtual chaff.

How we tested

> Using Continuity Camera with an iPhone 12 Pro for consistency, we set up each of the video-calling apps on our Mac and called friends and family members to assess each app's capabilities. Aside from video and audio quality, we tested the apps' extra features, including call recording, noise cancellation, screen sharing, and more. We also investigated their mobile companion apps, although the focus remained primarily on the Mac versions.

Things to consider...

1 Call time limit

While some apps like Discord and FaceTime let your calls go on indefinitely, other apps impose limits and ask you to pay for more time.

2 What's the purpose?