![]() The importance of privacy and security features in video conferencing apps has been brought to the fore with Zoom’s recent struggles with security attacks and call hijacking ( Zoombombing). You might also enjoy a more seamless call experience on FaceTime since its native integration with iOS allows it to make more optimizations than a third-party app as Google Duo can. Google recently updated the Duo app to allow group video calls with up to 12 participants, but FaceTime beats that with its limit of 32 participants. When it comes to group calls, however, FaceTime shines. Duo also has the option of sending text messages and sharing items from your photo library with your contacts, which is not available on FaceTime, and there is a low-light mode feature that makes you more visible to your contacts if you’re making a video call in low-light situations.įaceTime rings for only about 30 seconds before cutting unanswered calls, while Google Duo gives you about a minute to pick your calls. There are a couple of other features either available only on or implemented better in Google Duo: switching between Wi-Fi and cellular connections for video calls, limiting mobile data usage to avoid going over your subscription plan allocations, add your Google account to further expand your contact reach, and send audio and video messages to your contacts without calling them. This feature is not available on FaceTime. Some consider this creepy, but the app gives you the option to turn it off, so that’s not an issue at all. One of the unique features of Google Duo is one called Knock Knock, which is a feature that allows recipients see the video feed of their callers before picking up the call, similar to how you’d want to peep through a door’s peephole to see who’s knocking before allowing them in. This is a significant difference, but the effects offered by Google Duo aren’t bad either FaceTime’s just better. While you can use special effects and filters on both apps, FaceTime offers better ones, and in addition, supports live Animojis, and Animojis are available only on Apple’s platforms. Additionally, FaceTime automatically registers your phone number, so once you set up your iPhone, you’re also good to go on FaceTime and can start making audio and video calls right away.īoth apps have similar features, but there are some that set each one apart. SetupĪs mentioned above, FaceTime is installed by default on all iOS devices and most Mac OS computers, so you don’t need to manually perform an installation on your iPhone. ![]() FaceTime is installed by default on all iOS devices and also comes with Macs on OS X or later, which means you have access to every iOS and Mac user by default from FaceTime. There is a caveat here however: Google Duo shows only contacts in your phonebook that also have Google Duo installed and does not allow you manually input phone numbers or email addresses like Skype, effectively making it possible to only contact those who are also using Google Duo. Hence, Google Duo grants you access to a wider range of contacts, allowing you to keep all your communications in one place regardless of the device you’re using. Google Duo, on the other hand, is available on Android, iPhone, and iPad, and can be used on the web on any platform with access to an internet browser. Go check them out and use them to give yourself as much privacy as you can.As noted earlier, FaceTime is available only on Apple’s platforms (that includes iOS, watchOS, and macOS), which means there’s no way to make contact with people no other platforms from FaceTime. Fortunately, Google does give users a variety of privacy controls to delete and limit the collection of personal data. They say they never sell this data or share it without a users’ consent. ![]() Google is a huge ad company though, so know that they can collect data on your use of these apps (not necessarily the content of your calls and messages, but things like how and when you use these apps) and then potentially use that to feed their vast targeted advertising business. When a Google Project Zero researcher found a security vulnerability in Signal, Facebook, and Google chat apps, Google fixed the bug promptly. Google is a big company that does a pretty good job on security. Users can (and should) passcode protect their phone to keep unwanted people from accessing the app. Duo does not require a password as it is a simple calling app. Both Hangouts and Meet require a strong password to login, and you can (and should) set up passwords for sensitive calls or meetings. Hangouts and Meet aren't, but do use simple encryption, which is only OK. Google Duo is end-to-end encrypted, which is great.
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