So you need to make a video call but don't want to deal with downloads, signups, or hitting a paywall after 3 minutes. I get it. Last month I spent a week testing the most popular free video calling options to find out what actually works in 2025.

Here's what I found after comparing participant limits, time restrictions, ease of use, and whether you'll need to create yet another account.

Quick Comparison

App	Max Participants	Time Limit	Registration
Zoom	100	40 min (groups)	Required
Google Meet	100	60 min	Required
Microsoft Teams	100	60 min	Required
WhatsApp	8	Unlimited	Required
Jitsi Meet	100+	Unlimited	Not required
Gruveo	12	Unlimited	Not required
videocalling.app	4	30 min	Not required

The Apps

1. Zoom

Everyone knows Zoom by now. It became the default for work meetings, virtual classrooms, and family catch-ups during 2020, and it's still going strong with over 500 million active users.

What's good: The free tier supports up to 100 participants. Video and audio quality are solid. Features like virtual backgrounds, screen sharing, and breakout rooms work well. What's not: Group calls are capped at 40 minutes on the free plan. You need to create an account. The desktop app is hefty. Best for: Work meetings where everyone already has a Zoom account.

2. Google Meet

If you live in Gmail or Google Calendar, Meet fits right in. Click a meeting link from your calendar and you're there. No extra app needed if you're on Chrome.

What's good: 60-minute limit beats Zoom's 40. Integration with Google Workspace is seamless. Encryption is enabled by default. What's not: Requires a Google account. Some features like recording need a paid plan. Best for: Teams already using Google Workspace.

3. Microsoft Teams

Teams is Microsoft's answer to Slack and Zoom combined. The free version includes video calling, chat, file sharing, and 5GB of cloud storage.

What's good: 60-minute calls with up to 100 people. Great if you use Office 365. Background blur and noise suppression work well. What's not: The interface can feel cluttered. Requires a Microsoft account. Best for: Organizations already invested in Microsoft tools.

4. WhatsApp

Most people already have WhatsApp installed. Video calling is just a tap away from your existing chats.

What's good: No time limits. End-to-end encrypted. Works on both mobile and desktop. Recent updates improved video quality significantly. What's not: Limited to 8 participants. Requires a phone number. Not ideal for professional settings. Best for: Quick calls with friends and family who already use WhatsApp.

5. Jitsi Meet

Here's where it gets interesting. Jitsi is open-source, runs in your browser, and doesn't require any account. Just go to meet.jit.si, create a room, share the link.

What's good: Truly free with no time limits. No registration needed. Works on slower connections. You can even host your own server for complete privacy. What's not: Video quality can vary. Less polished than commercial alternatives. Best for: Privacy-conscious users and anyone who hates creating accounts.

6. Gruveo

Gruveo takes the no-signup approach even further. It's designed for quick one-click calls without any friction.

What's good: No downloads, no accounts, no plugins. Just share a link. Uses WebRTC for browser-based calling. What's not: Fewer features than full-featured apps. Less known. Best for: One-off calls where you don't want to deal with setup.

7. videocalling.app

Full disclosure: this is our app. We built it because we wanted the simplicity of Jitsi with better reliability.

What's good: No registration required. Works in any modern browser. End-to-end encrypted. Screen sharing included. What's not: 30-minute limit and 4 participants on free rooms. No mobile app (browser only). Best for: Quick meetings when you need something that just works without creating accounts.

Which Should You Pick?

For work meetings: Zoom or Google Meet if your team already uses them. The ecosystem integration matters. For personal calls: WhatsApp if everyone's already there. Otherwise, Jitsi or our app for no-signup convenience. For privacy: Jitsi Meet lets you host your own server. Signal is another solid choice if you're willing to create an account. For one-time calls: Browser-based options like Gruveo, Jitsi, or videocalling.app. No setup, no commitment.

Final Thoughts

There's no single best video calling app. It depends on who you're calling, how long you'll talk, and how much setup you're willing to tolerate.

If everyone already uses the same platform, stick with it. If you're starting fresh or need something quick without accounts, the browser-based options have gotten surprisingly good.

The days of needing to install Skype just to make a video call are over. Pick whatever works for your situation and move on with your day.

References

20 Best Free Video Calling Apps in 2025 - JusTalk Blog (2025)

The 10 best free video calling apps of 2025 - RingCentral (2025)

Best free video conferencing of 2025 - TechRadar (2025)

One-Click Video Conferencing - Gruveo Official Site

Jitsi Meet - Jitsi Official Site

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7 Best Free Video Calling Apps in 2025 (Tested & Compared)