Google Hangouts: The Best Alternatives

In this practical tips, we present the best alternatives to Google Hangouts.

1. Hangouts alternative: Skype

With the Hangouts alternative Skype you can both chat and make calls. Video telephony is one of the main components of the tool.
Skype is often more reliable than Hangouts, as we saw in another practice tip.
Skype is also available as an Android and iOS version. You can also use Skype within the browser, but only via detours.
Skype is a good alternative to Google Hangouts. Thanks to cross-platform compatibility, the service is highly recommended.

If you're looking for a hangout alternative for iOS, you'll find it with FaceTime. The Apple service is straightforward and easy to use. You can download the app for your Apple devices free of charge.
However, users complain that the quality of FaceTime is often poor. With older iPhones like the iPhones 4, this is partly due to the device itself. In principle, video telephony is only recommended over a wifi network.
Download FaceTime for your Mac free of charge at this link. We explain in a separate article how to set up Facetime on your iPhone.

Messenger Tox is an open-source and anonymous alternative to Hangouts.
The quality of the (video) telephony is satisfactory. Unfortunately, the client still lacks enough users. To do this, use the end-to-end encryption with the chat app.
A suitable app is also currently being developed for Android. If you are interested in the project, you will find instructions on how to install the pre-release version here.

The Mumble (beta) or Plumble clients also run open-source and with encrypted data traffic on your Android smartphone. The software is also available for iOS.
These apps are characterized by particularly low data consumption and good voice quality.
You don't have to do a video chat with Mumble clients.

In our practical tips, we will also explain how to fix connection problems with Skype.