Google Hangouts (Classic) vs. Google Meet

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Google Hangouts (Classic)
Score 7.5 out of 10
N/A
The classic version of Google Hangouts is a communication platform that includes messaging, voice, VoIP, and video call capabilities. It was part of Google’s G Suite offering and integrated with applications such as Gmail and Google+. Users of the classic version of Hangouts will be migrated to the new Hangouts Chat collaboration tool, and Google continues to support conferencing via the new Hangouts Meet.N/A
Google Meet
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Google Meet, formerly Hangouts Meet, replaces the former Google Hangouts as the company's G Suite integrated web conferencing tool, allowing users to join meetings directly from a Calendar event or email invite from a computer, phone, or conference room. G Suite's Enterprise edition also creates a dial-in phone number for each meeting, as an additional convenience.
$6
per month
Pricing
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Google Workspace - Business Starter
$6
per month
Google Workspace - Business Standard
$12
per month
Google Workspace - Business Plus
$18
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Considered Both Products
Google Hangouts (Classic)
Chose Google Hangouts (Classic)
For its time, Google Hangouts (Classic) was a fantastic product and matched up well with all of its successors. Now however, with it having been phased on within Workspace for Education, I would not advise any new users use the product.

Google Chat, combined with Google Meet, …
Chose Google Hangouts (Classic)
Since our staff and students already used Google products it was easy to add on this feature. We deployed it district wide at the start of the pandemic. Students and staff were easily able to learn the interface and we could mass deploy it on our Chromebooks. We really liked …
Chose Google Hangouts (Classic)
Google Hangouts (Classic) is just as good as any of its competitors. Google Hangouts (Classic) has everything that is needed for an internal communication tool, besides the software makes work really fun with the cool and funny stickers. I have personally liked using Google …
Google Meet
Chose Google Meet
It is better integrated for business and education. It is much more professional than both Skype and zoom and it is the best option for professional discussions. It is minimalistic and easy to understand and it works on computer and mobile devices. Joining calls is very easy …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Cloud PBX
Comparison of Cloud PBX features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
6.4
57 Ratings
25% below category average
Google Meet
-
Ratings
Hosted PBX6.915 Ratings00 Ratings
Multi-level Interactive Voice Response (IVR)7.625 Ratings00 Ratings
User templates5.422 Ratings00 Ratings
Call reports9.034 Ratings00 Ratings
Directory of employee names3.245 Ratings00 Ratings
Call Management
Comparison of Call Management features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
7.9
66 Ratings
7% below category average
Google Meet
-
Ratings
Answering rules8.033 Ratings00 Ratings
Call recording7.537 Ratings00 Ratings
Call park7.018 Ratings00 Ratings
Call screening9.036 Ratings00 Ratings
Message alerts8.058 Ratings00 Ratings
VoIP system collaboration
Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
8.9
84 Ratings
7% above category average
Google Meet
-
Ratings
Video conferencing9.379 Ratings00 Ratings
Audio conferencing9.379 Ratings00 Ratings
Video screen sharing7.948 Ratings00 Ratings
Instant messaging9.352 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile apps
Comparison of Mobile apps features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
8.3
85 Ratings
0% below category average
Google Meet
-
Ratings
Mobile app for iOS8.673 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app for Android8.171 Ratings00 Ratings
Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.7
52 Ratings
9% above category average
High quality audio00 Ratings8.952 Ratings
High quality video00 Ratings8.252 Ratings
Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings8.843 Ratings
Mobile support00 Ratings8.947 Ratings
Screen Sharing
Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.0
52 Ratings
1% above category average
Desktop sharing00 Ratings8.952 Ratings
Whiteboards00 Ratings7.134 Ratings
Online Meetings / Events
Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.1
51 Ratings
1% below category average
Calendar integration00 Ratings8.850 Ratings
Meeting initiation00 Ratings8.750 Ratings
Integrates with social media00 Ratings7.225 Ratings
Record meetings / events00 Ratings7.539 Ratings
Slideshows00 Ratings8.440 Ratings
Online Events Collaboration
Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.9
50 Ratings
6% above category average
Live chat00 Ratings8.548 Ratings
Audience polling00 Ratings9.030 Ratings
Q&A00 Ratings9.333 Ratings
Online Events Security
Comparison of Online Events Security features of Product A and Product B
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.2
43 Ratings
1% below category average
User authentication00 Ratings7.940 Ratings
Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings9.338 Ratings
Confidential attendee list00 Ratings7.629 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Small Businesses
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Score 9.0 out of 10
TeamViewer
TeamViewer
Score 8.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Likelihood to Recommend
7.9
(91 ratings)
8.8
(54 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(1 ratings)
7.1
(6 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(7 ratings)
9.6
(12 ratings)
Support Rating
8.0
(36 ratings)
9.8
(18 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
-
(0 ratings)
8.6
(2 ratings)
Professional Services
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Google Hangouts (Classic)Google Meet
Likelihood to Recommend
Google
Had I completed this review a couple years ago, I would have given a rating of 9 or 10 as Hangouts (Classic) is an excellent product. However, now that Google Chat has succeeded Hangouts, I would not recommend that any new users begin using it where other more modern options are available. Android users who want an internet based instant messaging that also supports calling and video calling could benefit from using Hangouts (Classic) as Google Chat requires the user to also have Google Meet installed to make video calls and there is no voice only calling option.
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Google
Google Meet was a perfect video conferencing solution for us during our training sessions. The only problems encountered were due to weak signals, which sometimes required us to turn off our video. All features worked very well in tying together a team across four different time zones. I was very impressed with the tool's performance
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Pros
Google
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) is embedded within Gmail's scheduler, so setting up the link is as quick as a click of the button. It's a one-step process.
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) is user-friendly and [has] features to share screens easily.
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) is much easier to use than its competitors.
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) have [a] good connection time and there are few glitches.
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Google
  • First off, the quality of the call is pretty good, especially when all of us are working remotely.
  • We can easily schedule our meeting in Google Calendar.
  • Sending an invitation link is easy.
  • What makes Google Meet stand out from other video conferencing tools is that we can use it for an unlimited time, even if we use the free account.
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Cons
Google
  • I would like to see improved video support, so that saved videos can be sent back and forth via Hangouts more easily, without having to start a separate meet chat
  • More pronounced notifications of messages would be helpful; pop up notifications are good, but once there is one, additional messages do not pop up
  • Custom muting times would be great, so that if I am in a 90 minute Zoom meeting, I can set it for that time; right now, it is 1 hour or 2 hours. Easy to forget.
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Google
  • Meet as it comes doesn't have a great way to handle large meetings.
  • I don't like the way they hide the mute button. It's a disruptive view to mute/unmute.
  • Chat box is the only way to document collaborations within the meeting.
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Likelihood to Renew
Google
No answers on this topic
Google
This app is still having a lot of redundant features as compared to other industry apps such as Zoom and Webex which offers much more on the functionality side along with the option to have greater user access control to the admin/host of the meetings. A sense of interaction is always found to be missing in Google meet which can be easily adopted in the Zoom
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Usability
Google
The tool is almost self-implemented. It is likely to be available in every pc or mobile device a user or potential user might have, and all you need to do is adding the company's account and you are done. Once you are setted up, you have almost all actual communication methods available in one tool
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Google
Google Meet is very easy and simple to use. I can schedule a meeting right on my calendar - it literally takes a few seconds. There is no additional app I have to open to schedule anything. Guests can click on the link easily to join any meetings. 10/10!
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Support Rating
Google
Google Hangouts works great and does not require a lot of work to troubleshoot. Everything is simple and easy to use. Google provides all of the tools that one requires to utilize Google Hangouts and any information can be found in the built-in help tools. There is also a forum for users to report issues and typically, Google responds well and will try to work out any issues.
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Google
Google does a great job of providing tech support for this product, as it does many others. Similarly, Google has FAQs that cover a large amount of issues faced by users. Problems have not persisted in our use of this product. Problems are resolved quickly and easily, with or without personal Google support.
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Alternatives Considered
Google
Google is the white cotton socks of the conferencing world. It’s a great ad-hoc tool, but not too much more. If you are not looking to spend money or operate completely on WiFi (without data charges), it’s a great free option as well. The benefit of being free and open is also the liability. It doesn’t have a great integration story with other corporate tools, but [it doesn’t have to] if you aren’t looking for that. All in all, it’s as helpful and ubiquitous as a public payphone…without the pay…and with a video capability.
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Google
The main positive feature in Google Meet over Zoom to me is the fact that Google meet can be seamlessly deployed in the browser with its full functionality. Unlike Zoom for which you need to download an extra application to use. This consequently makes workflow smooth when transitioning between something like emails and taking part in a meeting.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
Google
No answers on this topic
Google
I wasn't involved in the unit pricing factor. So far I used Google meet in the office where I got access to all these Google applications including the Google Meet feature. So I wasn't involved much in this pricing factor of Google Meet and also regarding the contact terms of the product.
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Professional Services
Google
No answers on this topic
Google
This is very good in the professional services as I started using this first for the professional service only. While using this Google Meet itself gives a professional feel as the UI works in a professional way. The video background modification, multi-screen feature, and some other features help in professional service.
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Return on Investment
Google
  • I believe it was part of the google suite that was purchased. It was worth the cost as it was cheaper. I believe it is now free, but also becoming deprecated. It is much better to use Teams, Discord, Telegram, etc. Google does not provide enough support or features to make using hangouts worth it these days.
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Google
  • Negative: on each webinar someone from our team had to write manually the people that were participating and after that matching it with the registered people list. We wasted time. It could be easily resolved by adding the export list feature
  • Positive: Collaboration and internal meetings. Calendar integration helps us save time.
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ScreenShots