Google Duo or Hangouts? This is the question that many users of Google applications ask themselves when they want to make calls or video conferences. In recent months, Google has been making a lot of changes and each time the applications share more characteristics. Furthermore, recently Hangout Meets has been replaced by Google Meet and Chat, so these applications are being integrated. However, there are differences between Google Duo and Hangouts Meet (Google Meet). In this post we will explain which is the best option for each situation and what are the main differences.
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What is Hangout Meet? (Google Meet)
Hangout Meets (now Google Meet) is a Google application for video conferencing, designed primarily to improve the team collaborationeither at work or in education. It is for this reason that one of the main characteristics that differentiates Duo is the possibility of making video calls with many participants. Hangouts Meet (Google Meet) has a function and a reason for being similar to competing applications such as zoom either Skype.
Main differences of Hangouts Meet (Google Meet)
The main features of Hangouts vs Duo are the following:
1. Price
Hangout Meets (Google Meet) is included in the collaborative space in the Google cloud, Google Workspace. It is for this reason that in order to use the application you must have a Workspace payment plan. Prices range between €5.20/user/month and €15.60/user/month. However, you do not pay only for the Google Meet application, but these plans include all of Google's collaborative space: Gmail with a professional account, Calendar, Drive, Docs, more storage space and security controls.
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2. Participants
In this application you can make video calls with more participants. Depending on the plan that you have, you can do them with a limit of between 100 and 250 participants.
3. Security and control
Hangouts (Google Meet) It is designed for professional environments where it is required more security, as is the case with companies or educational centers. It is for this reason that it is a better option when you need to have more control over video conferences.
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4. Text messages
In this case, Hangouts (Google Meet), Yeah Allows you to send text messages. It has a chat on the left side where participants can write or share content. However, the chat is only active during the video call, so all messages are lost when the video call ends.
5. Share screen
This application is fully prepared to collaborate as a team, so it has advanced options to be able to work better. One of them is the possibility of screen sharing with users.
6. Record screen
Finally, if you have a plan Business Standard, Business Plus or Enterprise, you can record your screen to be able to share video calls with your team.
What is Google Duo?
Google Duo is an application dedicated solely to calls and video calls but, in this case, personal. It has features similar to those of competing services, such as Facetime or the options to make voice and/or video calls from WhatsApp and Facebook. Therefore, although we will explain it in more detail now, Google Duo is aimed at single users who want to call or make a video call with other users, personally. It is a more suitable option for the domestic use than for the professional.
Main differences of Google Duo
The main features of Google Duo vs Hangouts Meet are the following:
1. Price
This Google app is totally free, so it is included in many Android devices and it is also free to use on the web. In this way, if all we want is to make video calls in a non-professional environment with a single user (or few, since it also accepts small group video calls) this is a good option. Note that, being a free service, you cannot benefit from other advanced features of Google Workspace, such as Drive, increased storage space and advanced security settings.
2. Participants
As we have already mentioned, Google Duo is especially aimed at people who want to make calls or video calls with another person. However, it also contemplates the option of doing them in groups, but with a limit of 12 participants.
3. Security and control
Google Duo It has the standard Google security settings. Although these are good, probably They are not the most appropriate for companies and educational centers, which need to have greater control of who enters, what kind of features users have activated during the video call, anti-hacking control of video calls... If you need all these features, you'd better use Hangouts (Google Meet).
4. Text messages
Another major difference between Google Duo vs Hangouts, is that No It has the ability to send text messages.
5. Share screen
Google Duo is specifically created to make video calls with another user. Therefore, it does not have collaboration functionalities such as user screen sharing.
6. Record screen
In line with the previous point, it also does not have any option to record the screen.
Google Duo or Hangouts? When to choose each
After having analyzed the functionalities of each application, you may be wondering when to use each one. Here is our recommendation:
- GoogleDuo: choose this app if you want to do calls or video calls for home use, with only one person or a group reduced. If what you want is to be able to make these calls without having to contract any service, since they are for private use, your best option will be Google Duo.
- Hangouts Meet (Google Meet): instead, if you need to do regular video calls Y without have to worry about him participant limit, you'd better use Hangouts (Google Meet). Besides, this is also the best choice for companies and educational centers, since the application offers possibilities designed for these environments. Also note that in these situations it is much better to usesecure applications and offer a greater control.
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If you are determined on hire Hangouts Meet (Google Meet) with licenses from Google Workspace Do not hesitate to contact us here. What Google Premier Partner, we can help you hire your professional domain (if you need it), migrate and implant Workspace in your organization and train your team, so that change is easy and you make intelligent and efficient use of the collaborative space. You can also purchase your plans directly Google Workspace here.
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