What Was Google Hangouts?

Google Hangouts was discontinued in 2022 and replaced by Google Chat. Like other online meeting tools, you could use Google Hangouts to conduct meetings or host web conferences. It also let you send messages and make video and audio calls with Google Voice, which is still in service.

Google Hangouts Features

In its basic form, Google Hangouts was a text messaging platform. From a computer or phone, you could call and text people, send emojis and media files, and browse videos with its built-in video search function.

Here are some other notable features offered by Google Hangouts:

• Voicemails could be stored in your account.
• Up to 250 people could exist in a group text conversation.
• A video chat could consist of 25 people.
• Texting was supported during calls.
• A link to a Google Hangouts call could be shared with anyone you wanted on the call.
• The app let you send your current location.
• Conversations could be favorited and listed first for easy access.

Is There a Google Hangouts Replacement?

Google has other similar services like Google Chat and Google Voice. Both are free and share lots of the same features as Google Hangouts. You can make free calls to any phone with Voice and text with other Google users with Chat. There's also Google Meet for one-on-one or group meetings.

If you want to move away from Google's options, countless apps serve as a great Google Hangouts alternative. Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are well-known messaging and calling apps, but there are plenty of other options. Similarly, we keep a list of the best texting apps which includes options like WhatsApp and Telegram.