Is Google Hangouts Free to Use?

Is Google Hangouts Free to Use?

Hey there! Wondering if you can use Google Hangouts without shelling out any cash? Well, the good news is yes, you absolutely can! Google Hangouts is totally free to use. No need to reach for your wallet or worry about any subscription fees. It’s all on the house!

When it comes to messaging, video calls, and voice calls, Google Hangouts has got you covered. Whether you want to chat with your buddies, host a virtual meeting, or catch up with family and friends, it’s all just a click away. Best part? You don’t have to pay a single dime for any of it.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, what’s the catch?” Well, there isn’t one, really. Google Hangouts makes money by offering additional features and services for businesses. So, if you’re a business owner or need extra functionalities like larger meetings or advanced support, there are paid options available. But for regular folks like you and me, the basic features are completely gratis.

Imagine being able to connect with people around the world, see their smiling faces, and have a conversation as if you were in the same room, all for free. That’s the beauty of Google Hangouts! So, go ahead and give it a try. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Happy chatting!

In 2013, Google made the decision to separate Hangouts from Google+. Now, it’s a standalone communication app. In other words, it became a chat and meeting app as part of Google’s G-suite services.

Even though it was originally targeted towards businesses, like Microsoft Teams or Skype for Business, there are also regular consumers who use it. But here’s the question: Is Google Hangouts free?

Freemium Models

When Hangouts was split in 2017, it became two different products.

One was Hangouts Meet, which focuses on businesses and is used for video conferences and calls. This is extremely valuable for larger companies.

The other is Hangouts Chat, a “lite” version meant for a more casual crowd. Essentially, it’s an instant messaging app with added features like threaded messaging and bot assistance. An example of another app that offers a similar service is Slack.

While the business-oriented Meet version is paid, the Chat version follows a freemium model. But what does this mean for the average consumer who just wants to know if they can make free calls?

So, Can I Call for Free?

Well, the answer is yes, but there are some things to consider.

If you want to receive calls through Hangouts, you’ll need a Google Voice account. Unfortunately, currently you can only set up a Google Voice account if you’re in the United States. Maybe this will change in the future, but for now, if you’re a US citizen, you’re good to go.

But here’s the thing: if you’re a citizen of another country, you can still make calls to the US. The only limitation is that you can’t receive calls at the moment.

According to Google, calls made to the US and Canada from within the United States are free, except for a few specific cases that cost you one cent per minute. It’s not too expensive, and you can find a list of rates for other countries and regions if you’re curious about the cost of calling.

Alright, How Can I Make a Call Then?

If you meet the requirements I mentioned earlier, then you’re good to go. But before you can start making calls, there are a couple of things you need to take care of:

1. First things first, make sure you have Hangouts installed on your device as an app. If you prefer, you can also check if it’s accessible from Gmail. If you’re using Gmail, you’ll see the Hangouts widget on the bottom left side of the screen. Don’t worry if you don’t see it, you might have disabled it. Alternatively, you can just go to this link to access it.
2. Now, let’s talk about the technical side of things. You need to make sure you have a working microphone and speakers. If you want the best experience, you can use a headset with a good microphone too.
3. Once you’ve accessed Hangouts using one of the methods in Step 1, click on the “Call” tab on the left side of the screen. Or you can simply click on the big phone icon on the main screen, easy enough, right?
4. A search bar will appear on the top left, but if it doesn’t, just click on the “New Conversation” icon. In the search bar, enter the number you want to dial and click on the small phone icon to start the call. It’s as simple as that!
5. Here’s a little note for you: if you’re calling from a country other than the US or calling a place that isn’t free-to-call, you’ll need to add funds to your Google Voice account. Fortunately, there’s a small button to the right of the dialer that you can click on. It will take you to your Voice account menu where you can add phone credit using this link.

And that’s all there is to it. The process has been simplified so that both tech-savvy people and those new to this kind of app can easily use it without any trouble.

Hanging Out Turned Out to Be a Breeze

That’s expected from a service used by a large audience, whether it’s a big company or family members living far away from each other. No doubt about it, Google Hangouts is a useful tool that often gets overlooked and deserves more credit as a great alternative to Skype.

If you have any other suggestions or tips about the app or anything useful, feel free to share them in the comments below.