Editors' Note, December 15, 2025: With this update, our lineup of recommended Android chat apps remains unchanged. The existing picks have been vetted for currency and availability.
In the video chat world, Skype used to be a generic verb like "Xerox." Years ago, you didn't call someone on your computer; you Skyped them. However, now that Skype is dead, there's a significant void to fill in terms of video chat functionality. This is especially true on Android phones, which don't have Apple's widely used FaceTime app. So, what should you do? Luckily, if you need an Android video chat app, you have several alternatives to consider. I took the leading candidates for a test drive to compare them, weighing in factors such as popularity, price, reliability, restrictions, and features. Consider these top apps the next time you need to talk face-to-face with coworkers, family, and friends.
Google Chat
Featuring strong video and audio calling features, the free Google Chat has replaced Hangouts as Google's out-of-the-box FaceTime alternative. One of the best things about Google Chat is that it's cross-platform, lives in your email, and is linked to your Google ID, so you can use it with any web browser. Keeping your Contacts in order lets you merge all your message streams into one easy-to-follow feed.
Alternatively, Google Meet is the company's more professional video conferencing app and is potentially a better option for teams, with even free users able to create calls with 100 members. Google Chat itself lets you call someone directly, but it uses Google Meet for starting larger video calls.
Tango
Tango (for Android)
Unlike the other apps on this list, Tango's primary platform is Android. The free service supports voice calls, video calls, text, and image chat. As long as everyone you want to talk to is using Tango, it's a solid all-purpose communication tool. Note that Tango's video chats are strictly one-on-one affairs.
Tango also doubles as a social network. That means public profiles, news feeds, games, stickers, and other cool features. If you’re looking for something that does FaceTime-like video calls but offers a whole lot more, Tango might be your jam.
Viber
Viber (for Android)
Viber is an audio, text, and video messaging app that has more than a billion users around the world. Its clean and intuitive design works on desktop and is especially great on mobile. You can join public communities or communicate privately with end-to-end encryption and self-disappearing messages. Group calls support up to 60 members.
Viber's biggest weakness is that it has no way to communicate with users outside of its service. Unlike other platforms that utilize SMS protocol, Viber doesn't let you send messages to contacts who aren't Viber users unless you use an awkward, external forwarding service.
WhatsApp is a massively popular messaging app, which is why Meta was so eager to acquire it. If you aren't sure what other messaging apps friends, family, or strangers may have access to at any given moment, WhatsApp is a safe bet.
WhatsApp on Android lets you start voice and video calls; you just need a phone number and a contact list. Video calls support up to 32 people, and the Communities feature gives you tools for managing larger groups. Video calls can feel even more intimate than voice calls, so privacy is key. Fortunately, WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption turned on by default, as well as self-destruct messages.
Zoom Meetings
Zoom One
It doesn't get better than this. Zoom Meetings is our Editors' Choice for video conferencing tools. Anyone working from home is probably used to hopping on a Zoom call multiple times per day from their computer. Fortunately, Zoom Meeting is also available on Android. It's easy to use, offers a generous free account, and offers stellar performance. Free basic Zoom limits you to 100 participants, but paying for a higher tier increases that cap.
In addition to our Zoom Meeting review, check out our article on top Zoom tips for better video conferencing.