With social distancing becoming the norm these days, the rise of video conferencing apps and tools has increased like never before. All you need is a smartphone or a tablet with a good front camera and you’ll be ready to make a video call. While Skype, FaceTime, and Google Duo are some of the ubiquitous options for video conferencing, there are quite a few new names on the market right now. And Houseparty is one of them.
One of the main reasons Houseparty has gained notoriety is its games. Yes, you can play multiple games while video calling with your friends.
And when it comes to Google Duo, we can safely say that over the years it has become one of the popular apps for video chats. So it would be fair for us to compare Google Duo with Houseparty to see which video conferencing app is more suitable for your needs.
Since it will be a long post, let’s get started.
Availability and Installation
Google Duo and Houseparty are mobile apps available on smartphones and tablets. Naturally, the tablet seems like the smarter choice if you want a larger audience (more on that later) in your group conversations.
But Houseparty has a slight advantage in this case. If you are a Chrome user, you can get an extension for it and move on.
At the same time, signing up for Google Duo is an easy process. You will need to have an active phone number and a Google account, that’s all. As long as you have a proper internet connection, you will be able to call users this way with Duo.
Again, signing up for Houseparty means you have to go the traditional route.
On the other hand, you do not need to provide your phone number to sign up. .
Accessibility
Google Duo and Houseparty carry a modern interface. Of the two, Duo’s interface is pretty easy to understand. Would you like to make a call? Just tap a contact name. The same is true for group calls. All it takes is a simple tap on the group call button.
And this is not the end of the story. There are quite a few options that you can access by swiping down on the screen.
Houseparty has a slightly different approach when it comes to adding friends and making calls, an interesting one if it can be called that.
First you need to add your friends. There are two options for now. You can choose to connect to your phone’s contact book. Or you can connect your Facebook account and add your friends from there.
The next time you open the app, your friends will be notified (hence the name) that you are ‘at home’ and ready to start the party. They can tap the notification for the well, start the ‘party’ (video call).
At the same time, you’ll be able to see when you swipe up from the app’s home screen if a Houseparty video call is already in progress.
The number of participants
Before the days of social distancing, video calls were limited, and that’s to a single person. At least that was the case with me.
However, due to the worldwide lockdown, most of us are open to the idea of video conferencing apps that allow you to talk to a larger group.
Fortunately, HouseParty and Google Duo do not disappoint.
Duo lets you add up to 12 people to a video call, while Houseparty lets you add up to 8 people per video call.
The bonus is that both apps have no restrictions on the number of group calls. Also, there is no limit to the amount of time you can spend on a group video call. All you need is a stable internet connection.
Video Call Features — Click Click, Caller Preview and Games
Therefore, both apps allow you to keep in touch with your friends and family. What sets them apart? Is there any difference between Google Duo and Houseparty?
Yes, there are many differences between them.
For one, you can also play cool games like Heads Up, Trivia, Chips and Guac, and Quick Draw with Houseparty.
Tap on the small Dice-shaped icon in the upper right corner and all the games will be shown to you.
And that the games are interesting and that they are gold in these times. I especially loved Quick Draw, where you’ll get hints and draw on canvas. It becomes interesting even if you are bad at drawing.
Interestingly, Duo brings together a unique feature called Knock Knock. This nifty feature lets you see a live video preview of the caller’s video and adds to the fun element.
That said, there are a few additional fun features like Face Filters. You can also record a video message or send a note or photo to your 32 contacts.
Another feature that makes Houseparty interesting is that any of your friends can join your party. For example, if you’re on a call with three of your friends, a fourth friend might come and join your party.
But fortunately, there is an option to stop this from happening.
Aptly named Lock, this feature lets you lock your room if you don’t want any random person crashing your party.
Serious or Fun
The decision to choose one of them is quite simple. If you want a hassle-free video conferencing app with good call quality, group calling option, and call history records, Google Duo is your best bet. It carries no ads and is easy to use.
While there is no option to schedule a call, you can always record and send a video message. And you don’t need to wait for your friends to join the room. You can just go ahead and call them.
Meanwhile, Houseparty is more suitable for casual use, and the mix of games makes it more interesting. If you have plenty of time to kill and want to get into the spirit of competition with your friends, Houseparty is the app you should get.
The interface is a little hard to understand on the first try, but you’ll quickly get used to it.
Next: Looking to improve your Google Duo game? Read the article below and discover some nifty tips and tricks.
