.jpg)
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
As the new coronavirus spreads around the globe, many of us are practicing social distancing and limiting our exposure to the outside world as much as humanly possible (or we should be, anyway, if we’re able). Thank goodness, then, for technology, which allows us to achieve some semblance of togetherness even when we’re forced apart. As we adapt to our new normal, we’re finding more and more ways to connect with each other remotely.
That said, trying to puzzle out the best method of contacting friends and family in the middle of this pandemic can be overwhelming. Is FaceTime too casual for talking to colleagues? Is Zoom too professional for a virtual karaoke night with friends? What even is Houseparty? Find the answers to all your video-chatting queries, below. (And please, I beg of you, learn from my mistakes: Do not log on for a work Zoom wearing the “Body by Hamantaschen” T-shirt you got for free at the Jewish Museum Purim Ball, because yes, people can see you.)
Zoom
What is it best for? Talking to your coworkers, especially if your office doesn’t use the similar Microsoft Teams software and needs a way to connect.
How does it work? You’ll need to create a Zoom account, which is free. From there, you can host a meeting by sending a link to join via email or text message. You can even touch-up your appearance on Zoom via a filter, if you want to convince your colleagues that you’re totally applying makeup while you work from home.
How many people can be on it at a time? Up to 100 people can join at a time, but free accounts are limited to 40-minute group meetings. (If you’re really set on a longer meeting or planning to use it for longer social interactions, you can upgrade for $14.99/month.)
Download Zoom here.
Google Hangouts
What is it best for? Talking to a big group of friends. It feels more intimate than FaceTime but less professionally oriented than Zoom, which makes it perfect for going round robin with the people you’d usually catch up with at the bar. Plus, your friends are more likely to already have Gmail accounts than they are to be convinced into downloading Zoom.
How does it work? All you need is a Gmail account, which, like a no-frills Zoom plan, is free. From there, just send an invite to whoever it is you want to talk to. HD is an option, if it’s been too long since you’ve seen your squad’s faces close-up.
How many people can be on it at a time? Twenty-five people can share a Google Hangout, which makes it as close as we have to a “party app.” (Cursed phrase, I know.)
Download Gmail here.
FaceTime
What is it best for? Talking to family. The technology-shy, who might find additional apps a bit overwhelming, can still get in on a FaceTime; all they have to do is press “accept” when you call.
How does it work? You and your fellow FaceTimers will each need iPhones or Mac computers of some incarnation; if you have those, FaceTime is already built in. Newer-model iPhones can add effects like filters and emojis to their conversations, which is sure to delight younger family members. (Trust me, if you’ve never FaceTimed a three-year-old with an emoji of a giraffe next to you, you’re in for a treat.)
How many people can be on it at a time? You can FaceTime up to 32 people at once, but imagine that many people popping up on your phone screen! Absolute chaos. Stick to using it for those isolation-busting calls to mom and dad.
Download FaceTime here.
What is it best for? Talking to loved ones overseas.
How does it work? WhatsApp uses the internet to connect you to anyone in your phone contacts who also has it, and due to the fact that it can connect international calls for free with WiFi, it’s a great option for people stuck far from each other as travel bans go into effect.
How many people can be on it at a time? WhatsApp Group Calling allows up to four people to video call with each other at once.
Download WhatsApp here.
Houseparty
What is it best for? Hanging out virtually with smaller groups.
How does it work? This “face-to-face social network” is an app that can be downloaded on iOS, Android, and macOS. You just download it, sync your phone contacts, and swipe up to see your friends who are also on Houseparty.
How many people can be on it at a time? Eight, which is about how many people you’d want to invite to an intimate dinner party. In that spirit, why not all cook the same thing remotely, sit down together, and discuss anything but COVID-19?
Download HouseParty here.