Google Meet vs Skype

June 13, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Google Meet
(Formerly Google Hangouts) Video meetings for your business. Connect with your team from anywhere. With easy-to-join video calls, you can meet face to face without the added cost of travel.
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Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chats over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer, and videoconferencing. Skype alternative for enterprise is called Skype for Business.
Google Meet and Skype are both widely used video conferencing platforms, but they have distinct differences in their features, user experience, and integrations. Google Meet, part of the Google Workspace suite, offers features such as high-definition video and audio conferencing, screen sharing, chat, and integration with other Google apps. It focuses on simplicity, reliability, and ease of use, making it suitable for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Google Meet is known for its seamless integration with other Google services and its ability to support large-scale meetings and webinars.

Skype, on the other hand, is a popular video calling and messaging platform that offers a wide range of features including video conferencing, voice calls, instant messaging, and file sharing. It is known for its user-friendly interface and global reach. Skype provides a familiar and intuitive experience, making it accessible for users of all technical backgrounds. Skype also offers additional features such as call recording, live subtitles, and background blur. It is widely used by individuals and small businesses for personal and professional communication.

See also: Top 10 Video Calling apps
Google Meet vs Skype in our news:

2022. Google Meet gets automatic meeting transcriptions



Google has introduced automatic meeting transcriptions as a built-in feature for its video conferencing service, Meet. Previously, users had to rely on third-party services like Otter to record and transcribe their calls. This new functionality is currently available for meetings conducted in English, with support for French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese slated for release in 2023. It's worth noting that Microsoft Teams already introduced a similar feature for English meetings over a year ago. Although Google possesses expertise in speech-to-text services through products like Assistant and the Android Recorder app, the addition of this feature to Meet has been a long-awaited development. Nevertheless, it is a welcome addition to enhance the meeting experience within Meet.


2022. Google Meet’s new feature lets users consume YouTube and Spotify together



Google has recently announced the addition of live-sharing features, similar to Apple SharePlay, to Google Meet. This update aims to enhance collaboration during video calls by allowing participants to engage with content simultaneously in real-time. It's worth mentioning that Google had previously introduced live-sharing features, such as watching YouTube videos together, in Duo back in February. Now, with the integration of Duo into Meet, these features are being extended to the Meet platform. With the new live-sharing functionality, users will have the ability to watch YouTube videos collectively. These exciting features will be accessible through the Activities tab, which also includes options for Q&A sessions and polls, and can be found in the three-dot menu.


2022. Google Duo to unite with Google Meet



Google Duo, the consumer-focused video chat service by Google, is set to merge with Google Meet, the video chat service designed for business users. In this upcoming transition, the Duo app will incorporate all of Meet's features, including the ability to schedule calls. Subsequently, the Duo app will be rebranded as Google Meet, and the existing Meet app will seamlessly transition to the new combined Duo/Meet app. Although the process may appear complex, it is understandable considering the significant undertaking of migrating millions of users to the unified platform.


2021. Google Meet gets a refreshed UI, multipinning, autozoom and more



Google has introduced a significant update to its video-meeting service, Google Meet, incorporating a range of user interface enhancements for desktop users and introducing several new features. Noteworthy additions include multipinning, allowing users to highlight multiple feeds instead of just one, and new AI-driven video capabilities for light adjustments, autozoom, and a Data Saver feature that restricts data usage on slower mobile networks. For presenters who prefer not to view their own video feed, Meet now enables minimizing or hiding of their own feed. Additionally, users have the option to pin their own feed alongside other participants on the grid, providing the opportunity to briefly glance into their own eyes during the meeting.


2020. Google brings Meet to Gmail on mobile



Google has recently integrated its Meet video conferencing service directly into the mobile version of Gmail. Users of Gmail on Android or iOS now have the convenience of joining Meet meetings directly from their inbox when someone sends them a Meet event link. This eliminates the need to install the dedicated Meet app solely for joining calls via Gmail. Within the Gmail app, a new Meet tab will appear at the bottom of the screen. This tab will display all upcoming Meet meetings from Google Calendar, allowing users to initiate a meeting, obtain a shareable link, or schedule a meeting within the Calendar. If you prefer not to have the Meet tab visible, you also have the option to disable it.


2020. Google Meet takes on Zoom by going completely free for everyone



Google has made an announcement stating that its premium videoconferencing software, Google Meet, will now be offered for free to all users. Previously, Meet was exclusively accessible through Google's G Suite, a service package designed for businesses, with a starting price of $6 per month per person. However, it will now be accessible to anyone with a Google account. Google plans to gradually expand availability over the upcoming weeks, prioritizing the maintenance of a secure and reliable user experience. The free version of Meet will impose a time limit of 60 minutes on meetings, although Google will not enforce this limitation until after September 30. In comparison, the free version of Zoom imposes a 40-minute time limit on video calls. The free version of Meet also imposes other restrictions, such as a maximum of 100 participants, whereas the paid version supports up to 250 participants. Additionally, recording and saving calls are only available with the paid version.


2020. Google Meet adds Zoom-style gallery view



Google is introducing a gallery view, similar to Zoom, to its video-chat product, Google Meet. It's important to note that this service is not available for free to all Google account holders like Hangouts. Instead, it is a paid enterprise service primarily designed for businesses. Access to Google Meet starts at $6 per month, per user for the most affordable G Suite tier. The "most popular" version is priced at $12 per month, per person. Essentially, you are paying a premium for a feature that competing platforms like Zoom provide at no cost.


2020. Google is rebranding Hangouts services



Google has made a significant change to its enterprise G Suite offering by officially rebranding Hangouts Chat as Google Chat and Hangouts Meet as Google Meet. With this move, the Hangouts brand is no longer associated with the enterprise-focused services. However, Google will retain the Hangouts name for its consumer chat app, which was originally created as a successor to Gchat and emerged from Google's discontinued social network, Google+, in 2013.


2020. Skype has a Zoom-like video call function called 'Meet Now'



Skype made a notable comeback by reminding the world about its presence through a tweet. Surprisingly, Skype offers a video chat feature similar to Zoom, known as Meet Now, which doesn't necessitate having a Skype account or the app. With Skype Meet Now, users can generate a meeting URL to share with participants. While it is user-friendly on the web-based client, selecting the option to open the meeting in the Skype app may encounter issues. This brings us to the observation that Skype seems to have missed out on the surge in popularity of video calling platforms.


2019. Skype added features for work with important messages



Skype primarily serves as a platform for video communication, but it also aims to establish itself as a versatile messaging application. While competing with established players like WhatsApp and Viber may seem challenging, Skype is exploring new opportunities. In its latest update, the developers introduced some unconventional features for a messaging app: drafts and bookmarks. Drafts enable users to save partially composed messages, allowing them to return to them later and complete them. Bookmarks, on the other hand, allow users to save received messages for quick retrieval at a later time. These features specifically target important messages, suggesting that Skype may be seeking to carve out a new niche that falls between traditional messengers and email. Such functionality could prove valuable for business users.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com