What are the differences between Google Hangouts and Google Duo?

Let us understand the concepts of Google Hangouts and Google Duo before learning the differences between them.

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is a communications platform launched in the year 2013 by Google which helps the users to start and join in different communication channels like instant messaging, voice calls, and video calls.

Features

The features of Google Hangouts are as follows −

• Instant Messaging
• Voice Calls
• HD Video Calls
• HD Group Conferencing
• Auto Screen Focus
• Intelligent Muting
• Compatibility with multiple computing devices
• Built-in screen sharing
• Hangout on Air
• Integration with other Google applications
• Custom Control for Admins

Advantages

The advantages of Google Hangouts are as follows −

• There are no charges to be paid. It’s completely free.

• Good for quick chatting.

• It can be used seamlessly in your desktop, laptop or phones and tablet.

• The video quality is good. Thus it can be used for video calls and official video meetings as well.

• The chats are saved automatically making it easy for us to go back and check the past chats.

• One can set his status to available, busy, in meetings or set a custom status. This helps one to know who is available for chat.

• You can have one-on-one chats as well as group chats. Create groups and systemize easy chats.

• It is integrated with other Google products which are quite secure.

• The interface is very user friendly

• Being a Google product, the software is always getting updated and improving.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of Google Hangouts are as follows −

• You require an internet connection to avail Google hangouts

• The connection sometimes gets dropped in between. It requires high bandwidth and a stable internet connection.

• You cannot modify or delete a chat after it is sent.

• You need to send an invitation in order to chat with someone new. This lengthens the process.

• There is no call analytics

• The desktop version requires chrome as a web app. One has to download chrome to use Google hangouts on their desktop.

• There must be a voice / video recording feature included.

• Google Hangouts can be used for conducting office meetings, but it can be used for small and mid-sized meetings. It is not designed for large group meetings or big organizations.

Google Duo

It is a mobile app used for video chat launched in the year 2016 by Google. It is available on the Android and iOS operating systems.

To use Google Duo, we don't need to install any other video calling app as it is pre-installed on the latest Android devices. Google makes this app simple. There is no need to register an account to use this app. It is compatible with Android and iOS devices.

Features

The features of Google Duo are as follows −

• When data connection or Wi-Fi connection is excellent, it works well.

• The audio quality never degrades

• The conversations over Google Duo are protected.

• We can preview of person calling in Google Duo by using Knock Knock

• Automatically switches between Wi-Fi and mobile data

Advantages

The advantages of Google Duo are as follows −

• Easy to use
• Simplicity
• End-to-end encryption
• High definition calls.
• Video calls include up to 12 people for basic version

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of Google Duo are as follows −

• Privacy reputation
• It’s not most popular
• Difficult to enrol users
• Delay in sign in process

Differences

The major differences between Google Duo and Google Hangout are as follows −

Bhanu Priya

Updated on: 23-Mar-2022

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