FaceTime for Android: Free Video Calling Apps
FaceTime is an Apple exclusive, and it’s one of the best free video calling services available. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any Android contenders. With that in mind, I searched for a few alternative apps for Android, and I found the best ones that you can use.
Just so you know, FaceTime is just like any other app that has a video calling feature. And there are plenty of apps that offer free calls on your Android device. Apps such as Facebook messenger and Instagram also have a video calling feature, and they’re an app that I do recommend before trying out the other apps.
Which apps should I download?
With the thousands of apps available on the Google Play store, there’s definitely an app that’s similar to FaceTime. Most social media apps already have a video calling feature that you can use for free. There are also dedicated video calling services such as Google Duo.
1. Video calling apps for Android
I highly recommend checking out our list of free Android video calling apps. You can easily download and install these FaceTime alternatives for Android from the Google Play store.
The function where you can make a video call via cellular network will depend on your carrier, country, and phone. If you have data then you’ll be able to use the apps without any trouble.
Related Article: Android Apps for Chatting with Strangers
2. Google Hangout
If there’s one app that I can strongly recommend as an alternative to FaceTime for Android, it’s Google Hangout. You can turn a conversation into a video call with just one tap. You can either talk one-on-one or invite friends for a group call with up to 10 people.
If you wish to learn more about the Google Hangout app, you can read our in-depth Hangout review. You can also easily download and install it from the Google Play store.
3. Google Duo
Google Duo is a reliable high-quality video calling application that works on both the iOS and Android devices. Duo doesn’t have text messaging capabilities, but you can send video and voice messages to your friends.
This app has received good reviews on the Play Store, and has received a great deal of praise from its users, which I, too, can offer. If you want an app that has all the functions of FaceTime and more, then this is a great app for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
All you need is a stable connection!
Fortunately, there are a lot of Android video calling apps on the Play Store. There are also apps that cater to certain audiences such as a messaging app for couples, or communication apps made for the elderly. Depending on what you’re gonna use it for, I suggest choosing the most basic app if you don’t need all the additional features.
It’s best to try and test different alternative apps for FaceTime and find the one that’s best for you–especially since they’re all free!
If you have any comments or suggestions, let me know in the comments section below!
Why can’t I use hangout to video call people ??
How do you work it please tell me
Soo if you have hangout can you facetime with others ?
Yes
But I don’t know how to work it please tell me.
Hi Ellie,
What is it that you want to do exactly? =-)
U
Hi
Yes
Yes
yes it actually works
Hi Ayana,
Thanks for sharing your opinion. =-)
I meant can you video call with facetime users if you have hangout ?
Yes, you can use Hangout to call people. You just need to install Hangout on both the mobile phone that you want to video call with. “Facetime” is the term generally used to describe Apple device to Apple device video call. If you want to video call someone across platform, you need to make sure you have an app that is available on both these platform. Eg: Hangout, Viber, Skype – These are all available across platforms.
Nice thing about Tango is that it works on iPod touch 4.
Absolutely!
Is there an app where the iphone user doesn’t have to install and only the android and it appears just like facetime
Nicole
No Apple is very restrictive in connecting their apps with third party ones. Sorry.
This is no help at all people aren’t looking for apps that you can use to video chat that’s what Skype is for. People want a way like apples FaceTime so that they can video chat with people we don’t want apps that the person on the other end has to download.
Tyler,
Facetime is also an app. Similarly we have recommended such apps. Well google hasn’t released any app like apple’s facetime that is common across all android mobiles.
Yep, u nailed it. Thanks
It seems like the people commenting here are pretty damn lazy and don’t want to take the 20 seconds needed to install an additional app on their phones.
Just to clarify – Can Android users (whom already have Google Hangouts) video chat with iPhone users that have also downloaded Google Hangouts?
I have Android, my wife has iPhone. Can we use Hangouts (for free) to video chat on the go using only our smartphones?
Thank you for your assistance!
Yes you can Andrew 🙂
I think I just installed both tango and fring. Fring was requiring to get a form of payment to receive minutes but I only want to use the video call option, so I tried Tango. Is it possible to use both? And can I still continue to communicate using original regular texting and phone calling as usual?
So basically long story short there is no way to facetime from iPhone to android without both the iPhone and the android user downloading the same app in the app store? I have Skype I don’t think I need to download any more apps. What I wanted was a way to have someone with an iPhone use the built in facetime app for Apple to face time me on my android without either of us having to download additional apps. But I’m guessing this is not possible since android doesn’t have facetime. Oh well at least I have skype.
This is exactly what I was looking for. We are an android family and most of my daughters’ friends have iPhones. They are always wanting to FaceTime. Their parents are opposed to downloading Hangouts (which we have and use) and swear up and down that we should be able to use FaceTime. I guess they will have to communicate like we did pre-smart phones.
Hi Laura,
I am glad that you found what you were looking for. I remember the pre- smartphone era, ah the memories. =-) Thanks for commenting.
nice
Do i need internet for using the TANGO app.?
what app. should i use for video call using iphone to samsung without using internet?
Hi Catherine,
Yes you do need an Internet connection. Thanks for your comment.
is the best
Hi There,
Which one did you like?
Dani, hi. Do fring and/or Tango permit you to face-talk while driving anywhere that you have service from cell-towers?
Also, is Video Chat the same as just talking Face-to-Face? Or does that mean it’s video-ing the conversation for later playback?
Thank you from a real Newbee.
Video call
Hi Ravi,
I don´t understand. Can you please rephrase your question?
I use skype and viber because these two are the best…skype is best for video calling and viber is best for audio calling.
Hi Rabbi,
Glad to hear that you have found what works for you. Thanks for commenting.
Used oovoo for a call from Montreal to Boston and it worked perfectly . Love all your tips . ..
Hi Gail,
Thanks for your suggestion and I am happy that you liked all the tips. Thanks for commenting.
Asome
Hi Ronniha,
Happy to read that you liked the information. Which app did you try out?
Can the others beside Skype go between laptop/PC and PC or phone?
Hi Cynthia,
Google Hangouts is a great option. I use it all the time to talk to my sister. I would use my Android phone and she would be on her Mac. Hope this helps. =-)
With Hangouts on android, to video call an iPhone, does the iPhone need to have the Hangouts app installed?
Yes it does.
I have found that video skype android to Skype iPhone (or vise versa) only one side gets the video and it can be on either side that has the issue.
Think I’m going to get my iPhone contact to try hangouts since I’m already a user.
LG G4 & Gpad.
Hi Shannon,
Hangouts is a great option. I use it all the time. Let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for reading. =-)
thanks
Hi Abdisa,
You are most welcome. Thanks for commenting. =-)
Hi
Hi Jinu,
Is there anything I can help you with? =-)
Hi There,
Is there anything I can help you with? =-)
You can also use snap chat now
Hi Jeahronimo,
Have you used it already? =-)
I know this is an old thread, but I just stumbled upon it. With Skype – I’m not seeing the option to connect by video next to the people who I know have iPhones (I have Android). The Skype “help” website doesn’t seem to address this anywhere, unless maybe I’m not looking in the right place. I’ve been able to call them with audio, just not video. Can you offer any help? Or maybe it’s simply not an iPhone/Android “issue”, but something else entirely?
Hi Kelly,
Have you given Skype or has it asked you for permission to use your camera? Device´s can be unpredictable and won´t always behave themselves, so maybe it never asked you and that´s why you can´t make video calls. Please check and let me know what happens. =-)
Hi. I am using an android and a friend of mine uses an iphone, I just want to know,how is the quality of both our front cameras affected by the app that we choose e.g. skype or hangouts?
Hi Palesa,
I don’t see how the services you may use will hurt the quality, but there are things we can do to make video calls better such as good lighting and making sure the settings are just right. Thanks for commenting. =-)
Hi I have an android and my husband has an iphone …. what would be the best video app to download for both of us in order for us to just video chat with each other???
Le, Based on this article and thread it likes the 2 most popular and/or reliable appear to be Skype and Google Hangouts.
Hi There,
Thanks for your suggestion. Which one do you use? =-)
Use Skype people. It works on all platforms. Android, iOS, Windows, OS X.
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your suggestion. =-)
Yo we need messages up and down you guys don’t even respond
Hi Tommy,
How may I help you? =-)
I’m want to put tango on my iphone and android. but, it wont allow it. I already have on
my tablet. Now I want to it on my phone. I don’t carry my tablet all the time so I want to be
alerted. I tried putting it (Tango) on the phone and it keeps saying we’re sending sms code to your number but, the phone never rings with a code like it did for the table! Please send help asp,
thank you.
It could be a problem with the app itself, have you tried contacting the developer to see if the app is having any issues?
I have just purchased an android tablet that I don’t plan to use as a phone, only connecting via wifi to the internet. Will any or all of these apps work on my tablet without a phone number, to connect with other android phones or iphones that have the same app?
Don’t worry, no phone number is needed.
I want to talk to my cousin video chat but he won’t use anything but FaceTime and I have an Android I don’t know what to do
Currently, there is is nothing that will chat with facetime other than facetime.
Hey, I’m trying to install oovoo but it’s not working..
That’s pretty vague. You’ll need to give a little more info about what’s going on, your phone, and anything else you can think of that might help troubleshoot the problem.
You guys rock! You educated me on exactly what I was seeking, ie: myself an Android fan and my significant other, he has an iPhone, but we both have Hangout, so problem solved! Many Thanks!
Awesome! So glad we could help!
We use Hangouts for everyone’s phones and tablets.
OMG SERIOUSLY why doesn’t Google make a (FACETIME) built in application to COMPETE!!!!!!
Google does! It’s called Duo, and allows calls between Android and iPhone users, unlike Facetime.
Whatsapp has video calls if I’m not mistaken
You’re correct, Whatsapp does support video calling.
Apart from making video calls between Android and iPhone, you can make video calls between computers and Android or iPhone devices using apps like R-HUB HD video conferencing servers. It works on all platfors viz Windows, MAC, Android, iOS etc.
This is a great point, Prasanta! Thanks for sharing!
We tried to call from a new android phone to an iphonex through hangouts. After it asked us a couple setup questions, like access the camera ect we tried to video call to the we . But it asked us again hangouts would like to access the microphone, but there is only an “ok” button and after pressing that it exits the call. Does anyone know what we are missing?
Hi, Nat. Go to Settings -> Applications -> Hangouts and give permission to access the microphone from there, then try placing your call.
Are any of these apps good for US-EU video calls?
Tom, they will all works regardless of the location, even if being at the South Pole, in Space or whatever, as long you get access to the net somehow. The only exception is if you get a very poor and very slow and unreliable Internet connection, but then you would have issues even if using FaceTime.
Hangouts App is best video calling app for android. I appreciate your blog. Thanks and keep sharing.
Thanks for giving this article. Very informative information.
thanx for the alternative facetime app, I loved reading it and surely recommend it to others.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this valuable information. This provided information was really so nice, thanks for giving that post.
Welcome!