With social distancing quickly becoming the norm and working from home becoming mandatory, video calls have become the new normal. And here, WhatsApp video calls need no introduction. It’s designed for everyday use, and this little feature lets you make a call as easy as a real phone call. Another app that is fast becoming popular is Houseparty.
Launched in 2016, this great app allows you to not only communicate with your friends over video calls, but also play games with them. Since the pandemic began, Houseparty has seen over 50 million signups, and a simple question arises: Is WhatsApp better than Video calls?
Well, that’s what we’re going to learn in today’s comparison when comparing WhatsApp to Houseparty.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Supported Devices and Platforms
One of the main advantages of WhatsApp is that you can open the web version of the chat in your browser and chat. Whether it was downloading an image or creating a new group, WhatsApp Web or the WhatsApp app (for Windows and macOS) handled them without a hitch.
But when it comes to video calling, you’ll only have to consider your tablet or smartphone. Yes, you can only video call from your smartphone or tablet.
Houseparty, on the other hand, has a nifty Chrome extension that lets you play games or make calls directly from your laptop or PC, as long as you have a working webcam with you.
Apart from that, there is the usual method to start a video call via your phone or tablet.
Video Call Features
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s see the video calling features.
In the case of WhatsApp, to be honest, you don’t get much. There is an option to make a direct call or initiate a group call and that’s it. On the good side, a few minor features add to the experience.
First, making a video call is very simple. You have to tap the video icon at the top and that’s it.
Apart from that, it is quite convenient to switch between voice call and video call. Also, you are notified of missed calls and like any phone record, you can view the call history or delete your call logs.
Houseparty, on the other hand, handles calls a little differently. As soon as you open the app, your friends will be notified that you are at home and hence your name. Same goes for your friends – when they open the app, you’ll get a notification that they’re home.
So, if you want to make a call, tap the contact name. The interesting thing about Houseparty is that your other friends can come and spoil your party. So if you want to have a ‘private chat’ make sure you lock the room.
Like WhatsApp, you can add multiple contacts to a call. The stylish Plus icon at the top of your screen lets you do this. Also, there is an option to start text chats with your contacts.
However, Houseparty does not track calls like WhatsApp. But for an app designed for everyday use, I don’t think this should be a concern.
What Happens While A Call Is In Progress?
So what happens when you’re already on a video call?
If you are on a WhatsApp call and receive another call via WhatsApp, you will be notified with a notification at the top. You can choose to reply directly or disconnect.
If you remember, a WhatsApp call was disconnected before when you received a call over the cellular network.
As mentioned earlier, if you keep your room unlocked on Houseparty, anyone on your friends list can join your video call.
Group Calls
‘The age of group calls. Make a plan and gather your friends on a call and you can chat until sunset. So the real question here is how many people you can include in your glorious plan.
At the time of writing, WhatsApp only allows you to add up to four of your contacts. You can add them individually or directly from a group and the choice is yours.
Compared to other video conferencing apps, WhatsApp allows one of the lowest participants in a group call. But do not be discouraged, because there is talk of increasing this number.
In contrast, Houseparty allows you to have more participants in your calls. Speaking of numbers, you can have 8 participants in a single room. Talk about virtually blowing off the roof of a house.
The great thing about Houseparty is that you can have your share of the fun at these calls. If you are in the mood for it, you can play various games. This app is home to four games: Guac, Quick Draw, Heads Up and Trivia (see Great Online Board Games). Simply tap the Dice icon at the top to start the roll.
Do you know: Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, acquired Houseparty in 2019.
Privacy and security
If you’re into tech news, you must have heard about the privacy concerns with Houseparty. Many users accused hackers of gaining access to their premium Netflix and Spotify accounts after installing Houseparty.
So far, Houseparty has denied these allegations and even offered a $1 million reward for information regarding these rumors and misinformation.
According to the folks at Forbes, don’t worry about cybersecurity. But yes, Houseparty collects a horrendous amount of data. So be careful what you give when you sign up.
On the other hand, WhatsApp bundles end-to-end encryption and the conversation between you and your friends is private and no one else can eavesdrop on them. The best thing?
No one can interrupt your conversation without your permission. Call me old-fashioned but I like how my calls go, whether it’s a voice call or a video chat.
party time
So, which app should you use? You should have both apps on your phone and use them according to your needs. If you want to have fun and play games over video chat (more lively that way), then Houseparty is for you. The app’s interface looks a bit cluttered at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.
Party sessions are locked and you need to line up. Call quality is great and so is video quality.
You can turn to WhatsApp Video calls for its simplicity, ease of use and end-to-end encryption for meaningful conversations with friends and family. Video quality can be pathetic sometimes even if you are connected to high speed internet.
Next: Is the Mute and Block feature of WhatsApp the same? Read the post below to know the difference between them and what happens when you use them.
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