Today, when entire countries are put on lockdown and people are advised to wait out the coronavirus crisis in self-isolation, apps for video chat have become the main means of communication for those of us who are distanced from their loved ones.

If you have not yet decided which android app for video chat to use to always stay in touch with your friends and family, we have compiled a list of top-five most reliable and functional smartphone applications that will remove the boundaries of social distancing and bring you closer to one another.

Skype

It is safe to say that Skype is the best-known and most-favored free video chat tool that allows you to quickly connect with your friends and family around the world. This video-calling platform will be a suitable pick, even for less tech-savvy users due to its intuitive design and simple navigation.

The smartphone app might feel a little limited compared to the desktop version; however, it still boasts a huge variety of helpful features such as free video calls to up to 25 people at a time, handy text chat for instant messaging, and a wide collection of emojis and emoticons to brighten up your communication. You can also use the app to leave voice messages whenever you fail to catch someone online, exchange videos and photos with your contacts, share your screen, and record your Skype sessions.

• Pros: fast, functional, easy integration with FB and Microsoft accounts; free to use.
• Cons: needs a good and stable Internet connection; uses your mobile data heavily.

Google Hangouts

This app is a great way to start video-chatting with your close ones without the need to download or sign up for anything. Google Hangouts comes preinstalled on Android smartphones and is automatically linked to your Google account.

This cross-platform video-conferencing tool is very straightforward, clear, and free. It enables you to start a video chat with any of your Google or Gmail contacts, send messages even if the other party is offline, arrange group conference calls and video meetings, exchange multimedia files, and share your screen. The mobile application supports a wide choice of emojis, GIFs, maps, and allows posting status messages.

• Pros: free-to-use; excellent quality of the video; clear navigation.
• Cons: limited functionality when compared to other video chat apps.

Zoom

This simple but powerful video chat app has become extremely popular during the COVID-19 outbreak, especially among office workers and college students who are now confined to their homes but have to always be in touch and be able to gather online in large groups for a business meeting or a group study session.

The free version of the application, while somewhat limited compared to its more advanced paid plans, is still enough to let you hold a 40-minute long video-conference featuring up to 100 partakers, make one-on-one calls, share your screen, and record Zoom meetings.

• Pros: free mobile version; no limit on one-on-one video calls; allows group meetings of up to 100 participants; has a cool whiteboarding feature; comes with many cool customization options.
• Cons: there are certain safety and privacy concerns associated with the use of the mobile app; extended functionality is only available in paid versions.

Viber

Viber is another well-known cross-platform application that has been around for many years and has accumulated tons of nice and useful features that can come in very handy during self-imposed isolation. The mobile app allows making free video and voice calls, exchanging instant text messages, videos, audio files, and images, organizing group chats, sharing contacts, following news feeds, and using emojis and stickers to liven up your virtual dialogs.

You can also use the application to place landline and mobile calls to users outside your Viber list of contacts, but this feature is available for a fee.

• Pros: free; provides a secure channel for communication; texts are properly encrypted; a very user-friendly interface.
• Cons: needs a stable and uninterrupted Internet connection; otherwise, the sound/video quality drops significantly.

JusTalk

JusTalk is a lesser-known smartphone app, which is primarily geared towards fun and relaxed communication via video chatting. The app allows arranging 1-on-1 video calls as well as group meetings with unlimited participants, sending instant texts, sharing multimedia files, recording video and voice calls, translating voicemail to text, forwarding calls.

You can use JusTalk to play fun games, doodle during video calls, use animated GIFs and stickers, change ringtones, and more.

• Pros: free, fun, and reliable way to stay in touch; tons of customization options.
• Cons: riddled with ads and in-app purchases; not very suitable for business communication.

Be Сonnected While Staying Apart

The social distancing definition broadly goes like this: “It’s a set of non-pharmaceutical measures assumed to stop the quick spread of an infectious disease by keeping a physical distance between people and limiting their close contacts with each other.”

While social distancing is a crucial part of today’s coronavirus-fighting strategy that has proven to be effective for many countries, for those of us who are used to hugging, kissing, and shaking hands, staying at a distance from our close ones can be a real struggle.

To make self-isolation less painful and emotionally stressful, try one of the amazing smartphone apps we recommended in this post. Also, make sure to teach your parents and senior family members how to install and use these awesome programs to be able to reach out to you whenever they feel lonely or need help.

What smartphone video apps are you using? Do you know anyone who prefers a chat video app for PC instead? Tell us in the comments! Help our readers by sharing your ideas on how to leverage technologies to feel socially connected during the coronavirus pandemic.