What are the differences between Google Voice and Google Hangouts?

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

Google Voice

It is used to make calls to all Google users all over the world and was launched in the year 2009. It provided a lot of features along with voice calls like free messaging, blocking unwanted numbers, showing call history, etc. It is an internet-based telephony service.

Features

The features of Google Voice are as follows −

• Call forwarding

• Voice mail service

• Text message

• International call termination

• Free of cost

• Call history

• Call screening

• Blocking of unwanted calls

Advantages

The advantages of Google Voice are as follows −

• Simple to use

• Internet only service

• Call forwarding

• Calls on smartphones

• Good connectivity

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of Google Voice are as follows −

• Limited Functionality

• International support is not there

• Multiple numbers on single account

• Remove empty messages

• Not available in all of the countries.

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.

Differences

The major differences between Google voice and Google hangouts are as follows −