Introduction
A lot of "best free video calling apps" lists still recommend Skype and Google Duo. Neither is a current option: Skype was retired for consumers in 2025, and Duo was folded into Google Meet years ago. What's actually worth using in 2026 is a shorter list, each with its own real participant and time limits.
This guide compares the free video calling apps that are genuinely active today, with their actual limits, so you can pick one that fits without hitting a surprise cutoff mid-call.
- Zoom's free plan caps group calls at 40 minutes with up to 100 participants; 1:1 calls have no time limit.
- Google Meet's free tier allows up to 100 participants, with group calls capped at 60 minutes.
- Microsoft Teams Free also allows up to 100 participants with a 60-minute group-call cap, and unlimited 1:1 calls.
- FaceTime now works with Android and Windows guests too, who join through a browser link, though only an Apple device can start the call.
- Skype was retired for consumers on 5 May 2025, and Google Duo no longer exists as a separate app; it was merged into Google Meet.
Free Video Calling Apps Compared
| App | Free group-call limit | Participants | 1:1 calls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom | 40 minutes | Up to 100 | No time limit |
| Google Meet | 60 minutes | Up to 100 | Up to 24 hours |
| Microsoft Teams (Free) | 60 minutes | Up to 100 | No time limit |
| No stated time limit | Up to 32 (video) | No time limit | |
| Discord | No stated time limit | 25 active video/audio at once | No time limit |
Zoom
Zoom's free Basic plan allows unlimited one-on-one meetings and group meetings for up to 100 participants, but a group call (3 or more people) is capped at 40 minutes from the moment it starts, regardless of when people join. Zoom's paid Pro plan removes that cap. In 2026, Zoom restructured its AI features, retiring the "AI Companion" branding while keeping meeting summaries and transcription on eligible paid plans, and launched a separate paid AI add-on called ZoomMate.
Google Meet
A free personal Google account can host a Meet call for up to 100 participants, with group calls (3 or more people) capped at 60 minutes and a warning shown at 50 minutes. One-on-one calls can run up to 24 hours. Joining doesn't require a Google account: Meet supports guest join by link or code with host approval.
Microsoft Teams (Free)
The free version of Microsoft Teams supports meetings up to 100 participants, with group meetings capped at 60 minutes and no limit on one-on-one calls. It includes unlimited chat and 5 GB of storage, but leaves out meeting recording and admin controls, which sit behind Teams' paid business plans.
FaceTime
Starting a FaceTime call still requires an Apple device (iPhone, iPad or Mac), but Apple now lets Android and Windows users join a FaceTime call from a browser link, using the latest Chrome or Edge. Screen sharing and SharePlay aren't available to those web participants, but the core video call is.
WhatsApp and Discord
WhatsApp's group video calls now support up to 32 people, the same limit across mobile, Windows, macOS and web. Discord's voice/video channels support up to 25 people actively transmitting audio or video at once; more people can be in the channel, but only 25 get an active slot at a time. Both are free with no app-imposed call-length limit, but like WhatsApp's other calling features, they only connect users who have the app.
Ringflow's cloud phone system includes video meetings on the same mobile and desktop apps your team already uses for calls. Start a free trial and try it out.
What Happened to Skype and Google Duo
Skype was officially retired for consumers on 5 May 2025. Existing users were moved to Microsoft Teams (Free), which they can sign into with their old Skype credentials to bring over contacts and chats, though not everything transfers. Google Duo, meanwhile, no longer exists as its own app: Google merged it into Google Meet starting in 2022, and the remaining legacy Duo calling infrastructure is scheduled to be phased out entirely. If a list still recommends either one as a current option, it's out of date.
Conclusion
For free video calling in 2026, Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams all land in the same range: around 100 participants and a 40-to-60-minute cap on group calls. WhatsApp and Discord skip the time cap entirely but only connect people who already have the app. Skype and Google Duo are gone, so cross them off any list you're comparing against.
If video calls are a regular part of how your team works, having them built into the same system as your phone number cuts out a lot of app-switching. Ringflow's video meetings run alongside your business line, with a free trial to test it first.
Ready when you are
Need Video Calling Built Into Your Business Line?
Ringflow's cloud phone system includes video meetings alongside your business calls, on mobile and desktop apps. Start a free trial and test it with your team.
FAQ
It depends on your group size and call length. Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams all support up to 100 participants; Zoom caps group calls at 40 minutes while Meet and Teams allow 60. WhatsApp and Discord have no stated time cap but only connect app users.
No. Skype was officially retired for consumers on 5 May 2025. Existing users were moved to Microsoft Teams.
Google merged Duo into Google Meet starting in 2022. Duo no longer exists as a separate app.
Yes, through a browser link using the latest Chrome or Edge, though only an Apple device can start the call, and features like screen sharing aren't available to web participants.
Up to 100 participants on the free Basic plan, with group calls (3 or more people) limited to 40 minutes.
Group calls (3 or more participants) are capped at 60 minutes on a free personal account; one-on-one calls can run up to 24 hours.
Up to 32 people, the same limit across mobile, Windows, macOS and web.
Yes. Teams Free supports meetings up to 100 participants with a 60-minute cap on group meetings, unlimited chat, and 5 GB of storage, but doesn't include meeting recording or admin controls.
