So you’ve recently jumped from using an iPhone to an Android smartphone. Don’t tell me, I already know that you’re missing the ability to FaceTime your contacts at a moment’s notice. FaceTime is one of those apps that Apple has really done well.
FaceTime is one of the easiest video calling apps to use.
So now that you’re on Android, you’re probably asking if you can use FaceTime for Android because of course, anybody who has used it would want that. Or you may find yourself in any one of these positions. Click them to take your straight to the answer:
- Are you a new Android user?
- Are you looking for FaceTime alternatives on Android?
- Are you looking for technical reasons around FaceTime on Android?
If you’re asking any of these three questions, read on and get the answers you have to these burning FaceTime questions.
Can You Use FaceTime on Android?
If you’ve been using an iPhone for a long time and just recently jumped on to an Android device, there’s a big chance that you’re missing FaceTime. Don’t worry, I would too.
Video calling is available on Android.
FaceTime is such a solid video calling app, and so easy to use, that you’re hoping it is somehow usable on Android. Here’s the difficult truth: You can’t use FaceTime on Android.
Apple’s architecture is locked, which means FaceTime can only be used for video calls between Apple devices. And as much as Android is tweakable and “hackable”, you will not find some kind of FaceTime hack to make FaceTime usable on Android.
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This might be a sad thing for you as a user, but fret not! There are numerous alternatives for video calling cross-platform from Android to iOS, and a lot of the great ones are free to use.
Check out this next section for alternatives you can use for FaceTime on Android.
What Are Good Alternatives for FaceTime on Android?
Fortunately for us, FaceTime is only one of the many apps you can use cross-platform – that is, video calling from Android to iOS and Apple devices.
Here are the best recommendations I can give you. These are great apps, and most of them you can even use free.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is probably not the best among these apps, but this should be the easiest recommendation I can make. Most of your friends who use an iPhone are probably on Facebook anyway.
Most of your friends are probably on Facebook, so video calling them on Messenger should be convenient.
Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s chat app, but it also allows you to make voice and video calls for free on data and WiFi connections.
The greatest thing about this is that you won’t have to convince a lot of people to get a new app or service, because they probably have Facebook, to begin with.
Skype
Skype is probably one of the oldest and well-known messaging apps that have scaled well into the video calling generation. The app does well as a video calling medium because a lot of people still use it.
Skype is one of the most popular messaging apps around.
Skype is a free messaging app that has premium features, the latter allowing you to do overseas calls for a price. If you use a WiFi or data connection, you can easily do video calls.
You need to have your iPhone friends download the app to use it, but that’s not going to be much of a problem because the app supports a wide range of devices, even being compatible with some smart TVs and game consoles.
Google Duo
Google Duo is probably the simplest app on this list – and by “simple”, I mean that it does nothing else but video calls, person-to-person, 1-to-1.
Google Duo is a simple 1-to-1 video calling app.
There are no overly complicated features here – you install Google Duo and it ties your phone number to the app. Ask your iPhone friends to download and install the app and you’re good to go.
This Google app may not have fancy features like group chat and other stuff, but for good old video calling, this will do the job. It’s the closest you can get to FaceTime for Android.
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is Duo’s big brother – it is Google’s full-fledged chat app, with all the bells and whistles. If you want to message in any form, Hangouts is how Google wants you to have it.
Google Hangouts is Google’s answer to Facebook Messenger, and it’s pretty good.
Hangouts will allow you to do video calls and so much more. You can have a “hangout” on video call (hence the name), and you can be joined by up to 9 of your friends in one hangout.
You will need to have your iPhone friends download and install Hangouts on their iPhone, but once that’s done – it’s like having FaceTime for Android, only that it’s for Android.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp is another popular messaging service, and it only grew more in popularity when Facebook stepped in and bought the company in 2014. There’s a big chance your iPhone friends already have WhatsApp installed.
WhatsApp will give you video calls and so much more.
The users of WhatsApp already enjoy a lot of great features within the app – voice calls, private messaging, group chat, and yes, even video calls. You can even send recorded audio and video messages to your friends if they’re not online.
WhatsApp will probably be one of the “go to” choices if people want to do video calls, so you might want to try it as a great alternative for FaceTime on Android.
Why Is FaceTime Not Usable on Android?
You will have to chalk this down to the difference in strategies between Google and Apple when it comes to their mobile operating systems. These two giants have very different approaches when it comes to apps on their platforms.
Apple, if you still don’t know, uses a closed ecosystem for most of its software. The iOS operating system on Apple devices is not open to tweaks and third party add-ons. You can only do it one way, and that is Apple’s way.
So for FaceTime, the only real way to use the app is to have two Apple devices using it. There is just no way that Apple will allow FaceTime to be used cross-platform.
Google has championed the open source ecosystem with Android, and it reflects on its open approach to apps. Android is heavily customizable, and the apps on Android are distributed from a wider range of sources.
This obviously makes Android the “less secure” platform of the two, but it also opens up the operating system to a lot of customizability and it is friendly to cross-platform processes.
This is why a lot of video calling apps on Android are usable on Apple as well. Android’s strategy just makes for better cross-platform usage.
Conclusion
Are you sad that you can not use Facetime for Android. Don’t be! While FaceTime is indeed one of the best video calling apps known to man, there isn’t any reason why you can’t use an alternative.
And these alternatives not only work, but they also give you great features as well! Your friends using iPhones certainly won’t mind using an app that has great features and allows you to video call between Android and Apple.
So enjoy cross-platform video calling with the apps I’ve suggested. Who knows, you might just start falling in love with Android.
Still, have questions? Know of any other great FaceTime alternatives? Have other suggestions for video calling on Android? Drop them in the comment section below!
Baby Face on
Why can’t I use hangout to video call people ??
Ellie on
How do you work it please tell me
Naomi Iezzis on
Soo if you have hangout can you facetime with others ?
Ellie on
Yes
But I don’t know how to work it please tell me.
on
Hi Ellie,
What is it that you want to do exactly? =-)
Rodney on
U
Aot on
Hi
kaylee on
Yes
Paige on
Yes
ayana bowman on
yes it actually works
on
Hi Ayana,
Thanks for sharing your opinion. =-)
Naomi Iezzis on
I meant can you video call with facetime users if you have hangout ?
on
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.
Mike on
Nice thing about Tango is that it works on iPod touch 4.
on
Absolutely!
Nicole on
Is there an app where the iphone user doesn’t have to install and only the android and it appears just like facetime
on
Nicole
No Apple is very restrictive in connecting their apps with third party ones. Sorry.
Tyler on
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.
on
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.
melissa balding on
Yep, u nailed it. Thanks
Andrew on
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!
on
Yes you can Andrew 🙂
Carm on
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?
me on
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.
Laura on
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.
on
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.
khelu on
nice
catherine on
Do i need internet for using the TANGO app.?
catherine on
what app. should i use for video call using iphone to samsung without using internet?
on
Hi Catherine,
Yes you do need an Internet connection. Thanks for your comment.
EGM Moses on
is the best
on
Hi There,
Which one did you like?
Betty on
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.
Ravi Shastri on
Video call
on
Hi Ravi,
I don´t understand. Can you please rephrase your question?
Rabbi Khan on
I use skype and viber because these two are the best…skype is best for video calling and viber is best for audio calling.
on
Hi Rabbi,
Glad to hear that you have found what works for you. Thanks for commenting.
Gail on
Used oovoo for a call from Montreal to Boston and it worked perfectly . Love all your tips . ..
on
Hi Gail,
Thanks for your suggestion and I am happy that you liked all the tips. Thanks for commenting.
Ronniha on
Asome
on
Hi Ronniha,
Happy to read that you liked the information. Which app did you try out?
Cynthia on
Can the others beside Skype go between laptop/PC and PC or phone?
on
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. =-)
Sam on
With Hangouts on android, to video call an iPhone, does the iPhone need to have the Hangouts app installed?
on
Yes it does.
Shannon on
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.
on
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. =-)
Abdisa on
thanks
on
Hi Abdisa,
You are most welcome. Thanks for commenting. =-)
Jinu on
Hi
on
Hi Jinu,
Is there anything I can help you with? =-)
on
Hi There,
Is there anything I can help you with? =-)
Jeahronimo on
You can also use snap chat now
on
Hi Jeahronimo,
Have you used it already? =-)
Kelly on
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?
on
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. =-)
Palesa on
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?
on
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. =-)
Le on
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???
Loungen-X on
Le, Based on this article and thread it likes the 2 most popular and/or reliable appear to be Skype and Google Hangouts.
on
Hi There,
Thanks for your suggestion. Which one do you use? =-)
scott on
Use Skype people. It works on all platforms. Android, iOS, Windows, OS X.
on
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your suggestion. =-)
TOMMY YANKA on
Yo we need messages up and down you guys don’t even respond
on
Hi Tommy,
How may I help you? =-)
Debra on
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.
on
It could be a problem with the app itself, have you tried contacting the developer to see if the app is having any issues?
Cool on
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?
on
Don’t worry, no phone number is needed.
Breeanna Scuffham on
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
on
Currently, there is is nothing that will chat with facetime other than facetime.
here on
Hey, I’m trying to install oovoo but it’s not working..
on
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.
Angel on
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!
on
Awesome! So glad we could help!
Yvon Lemieux on
We use Hangouts for everyone’s phones and tablets.
Yohon Sabastian on
OMG SERIOUSLY why doesn’t Google make a (FACETIME) built in application to COMPETE!!!!!!
on
Google does! It’s called Duo, and allows calls between Android and iPhone users, unlike Facetime.
Melissa on
Whatsapp has video calls if I’m not mistaken
on
You’re correct, Whatsapp does support video calling.
on
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.
on
This is a great point, Prasanta! Thanks for sharing!
Nat on
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?
on
Hi, Nat. Go to Settings -> Applications -> Hangouts and give permission to access the microphone from there, then try placing your call.
Tom on
Are any of these apps good for US-EU video calls?