Review of Google Hangouts
We primarily use Google Hangouts for internal meetings. We use gmail as our email service, so google hangouts integrates easily into our …
Overview
What is Google Hangouts (Classic)?
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…
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Popular Features
- Video conferencing (79)9.393%
- Audio conferencing (79)9.393%
- Mobile app for iOS (73)8.686%
- Mobile app for Android (71)8.181%
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Pricing
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What is Google Hangouts (Classic)?
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…
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://workspace.google.com/pricing.ht…
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Alternatives Pricing
What is Google Meet?
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…
What is Zoom?
Zoom helps consolidate communications and collaboration in the boardroom, classroom, operating room, and everywhere. Zoom is an intelligent collaboration platform that makes connecting easier, more immersive, and more dynamic. Zoom technology facilitates collaboration through solutions like Zoom…
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What is Google Hangouts (Classic)?
Google Hangouts is a communication platform that includes messaging, voice, VoIP, and video call capabilities. This platform is part of Google’s G Suite offering and integrates with applications such as Gmail and Google+. Pricing for G Suite plans range from $5-$25 per user per month.
Callers can use Hangouts to:
- Start a chat conversation or video call.
- Make phone calls using Wi-Fi or data.
- Send text messages with a Google Voice or Google Fi phone number.
Hangouts sync automatically across devices. Hangouts started on a computer, can continue with chat on another device, like a phone.
- In March 2017, Google announced plans to evolve classic Hangouts to focus on two experiences designed to help bring teams together: Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet. Both Chat and Meet are available for G Suite customers and will be made available for consumer users as well. Google is planning to transition users from classic Hangouts to Chat and Meet after June 2020.
- Classic Hangouts is not available in China.
Google Hangouts (Classic) Video
What is Google Hangouts?
Google Hangouts (Classic) Technical Details
| Operating Systems | Unspecified |
|---|---|
| Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Reviewers rate Video conferencing and Audio conferencing and Instant messaging highest, with a score of 9.3.
The most common users of Google Hangouts (Classic) are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Reviews
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June 27, 2023
Review of Google Hangouts
- Product integration into workflows
- easy of use
- Tools (screen-share, breakout groups, whiteboard)
- Can be a little glitchy
- Ability to share asset (presentations) without sharing your whole screen
- better/more filter options
September 01, 2022
Love this!
- Easy to access
- Clear signal
- Ability for multiple people to join from different IP addresses
- Cleaner dial in options
- Ability to blur background
- Offering of different backgrounds similar to zZom
November 25, 2021
Google Hangouts is reliable and easy to use, but will be phased out soon in favor of newer Google product
- Fast
- Reliable
- Easy to turn history on/off
- Larger default chat window.
- Compatibility issues with Google Meets.
November 04, 2021
Best performance for calls and finding frequent contacts.
- Easy to find frequent contacts
- Light calls
- Fast chats
- Handling multiple work-spaces
- Handling multiple accounts in the same window
July 25, 2021
Free and must have communication tool
- It can be accessed smoothly with laptops, mobile and desktops.
- Easy to sync calendar, reminders, and set up meetings.
- Not limited to internal users only. Mostly available with external vendors as well.
- I wish more compatibility with other apps like Dropbox.
- It is limited to typing only. If a voice message option can be added, that would make a lot of difference.
- Auto settings to mute/unmute other users is recommended.
- Easy to setup platform especially if the organization is already in Google ecosystem.
- User interface is very easy on the eye & minimalistic.
- All the Gmail events are properly synced up with google hangout.
- Very good & versatile mobile application.
- Call & video quality connection becomes very unstable when on low latency network.
- Could improve on its sending invite option & make it more easy.
- Automatic away status can be implemented if not active on platform.
June 09, 2021
Google Hangouts (Classic) Review
- Audio Connection
- Video Connection
- Ability to quickly invite others
- Ability to Chat
- Tile layout for headshots used to be a tricky item
- I don't believe it had a recording capability in years past
- Conversations from chat were not archived / emailed to host
May 19, 2021
A great product for its time!
- Has built in calling and video calling from within the app or web page
- Can be used by anyone with a Google account
- On Android phones, can be used to receive SMS messages as well
- Has now been superseded by Google Chat
- Does not work with Google for Education accounts
- No longer integrated with Gmail after the phase out completes
- Ad-hoc video conferencing / meetings with external collaborators
- Mobile video conferencing
- Integration with other Google-based tools.
- Security
- Integration into the formal corporate toolset
- Integration into Office365
April 26, 2021
Google Hangouts - Good connectivity, audio/visual quality, and best of all ease of use within Gmail Calendar
- 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.
- The quality of the visuals is not always great. Seems like what is displayed is always dark.
- We typically use Google Hangouts (Classic) with only a small group. For some reason, it's not the preferred choice for a long list of attendees.
- I am not aware of background feature[s] within Google Hangouts (Classic)(for example, overlay of pictures or backdrop of a city, etc.)
April 22, 2021
A great tool for instant messaging, not much more.
- Ease of use
- Ability to create groups
- File sharing systems
- Ability to use apps and web based
- It could use more integration with calendar
- Better notification setting for web based solution
- Should allow to have the ability to withdraw messages
- Friendly user interface, sometimes it does not feel like you are chatting about work
- It comes in all devices and all have slick UI. Not like some other messaging apps which are inconsistent between desktop / mobile version
- Amazing alternative option for sms / mms
- Lack of organizational chart if you are in a big organization
- Some concerns regarding to privacy
- Cannot communicate with other messaging softwares
April 13, 2021
A good addition if you're already in the Google system, but far superior platforms exist for businesses.
- Integration with Gmail for a full experience, everything is in 1 place!
- Ability to send/share images and files quickly via hangouts.
- Chat function and group chats.
- Emojis are difficult to use and not the best vs. iPhone.
- Slow video features, less attractive than other video platforms.
- The phone app is difficult to use, very easy to accidentally make a video call, and hard to back out of it. App can be very sluggish.
April 13, 2021
Pretty good deal
- Use for impromptu meetings.
- Use as an open virtual lounge to drop_in on meetings.
- It’s user friendly.
- Accessibility.
- More capabilities for webinar meetings.
- Sleeker look.
- Quick, casual chats
- Easy to use and non-intrusive
- Archived chats are searchable, for reference
- Seamless UX across all devices
- Wish it was easier to search previous chats on the mobile app
- Custom away messages would be helpful
- Occasionally face a lag with the mobile app, showing notifications at a delay
- No Software Installation (no local client needed)
- Integration with Google Calendar (meeting links generated seamlessly)
- Mobile client is lightweight and fast
- Users cannot rename themselves, or you cannot rename users (for labelling users or adding additional information)
- No breakout rooms
- No poll or interactivity features
April 08, 2021
Easy IM feature for organizations who use G Suite
- It is convenient for sending quick messages to contacts who have Gmail accounts.
- It is available as an app and is a good instant messaging alternative that uses data, not minutes.
- The interface is not as slick as other apps. It feels like it has been abandoned by the developer.
- You cannot customize the look and feel of it, in case that is important.
- Videoconference
- Google Workspace/GSuite Integration
- Screensharing
- Webinar features
- Recording available at all levels (not just higher tier)
- Improve video sharing experience
April 07, 2021
A tool of the past
- Shrug emoticon
- Notifications
- Sharing images and starting meets
- Gif integration
- Searching
April 07, 2021
Google Hangouts- Simple Solution for Quick Communication
- Simple screen share
- Minimal setup
- OS agnostic including mobile
- Works well with low speed connections
- Screen share on mobile
- Better chat extension on Chrome
- Better invite options
- Can set up different user groups with various personnel. In our case, we have different groups for different vehicle brands, one group for service advisors, one group for management, etc. Information can then be tailored to the correct people.
- It is a contact less form of communication in an environment where various different people NEED to interact with one another throughout the day. Very helpful given the covid.
- Setup and implementation are incredibly easy. Especially if work domain for email is attached to gmail like ours is
- Ability to use Gmail search bar to search through chat history is very handy
- 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.
April 05, 2021
Google Hangouts (Classic) is awesome!
- Connecting people
- Ease of use
- Accessible
- Better interaction in the meeting
- Better ways to invite others
- Recording sessions
April 02, 2021
Google Hangouts delivers easy of use
- Video chat
- Easy to connect
- Easy to set up and use
- There's audio/video problems once in a while
November 24, 2020
Great tool but still has room for improvements
- Chats
- Group chats
- Audio/video calls
- Fun stickers
- Audio call
- Video call
- Stickers
- Mobile apps
November 03, 2020
Free Video Conferencing Tool
- Easy to set up
- Allows screen share
- Free
- Allow recording
- Access is not tied to email
- In some settings, it allows for more participants