Google offers two video calling apps called Duo and Meet. The question is why? Google Duo comes pre-installed on most Android smartphones and is aimed at consumers. Google Meet, on the other hand, focuses more on video conferencing than video calling and targets teams and corporate users. Surprisingly, Google has made Meet available to everyone due to the explosive growth it has witnessed in recent months. This raises a question – which video calling app should you use?
Whether you have noticed it closely or not, there is a fundamental distinction between both apps. Google Duo is more of a casual video calling app, and Meet is suitable for video conferencing and webinars. However, there are many subtle differences under the hood that we’ll explore in more detail below.
Let’s start.
user interface
Both Duo and Meet follow Google’s Material Design philosophy, with a clean user interface. When you open Duo, it launches the selfie camera with a search bar at the top and an option to create a friend group at the bottom. Swipe down from the bottom to see a list of your phone contacts, or from the top to see options to record voice or video notes, take photos, or write notes.
There are filters and effects you can try without starting a search. Whether you like them or not will depend on your personal taste.
Google Meet is even less complex. The app opens directly in camera mode and there are only two simple options at the bottom. You can create a new meeting or join an existing meeting. Transparent floating buttons for microphone and video can be used to disable one before you create a new meeting or join an existing meeting.
Google Meet integrates Google’s Calendar app; this means you can use it to schedule meetings and to be just as intimate with everyone.
Both apps offer an easy-to-use and clutter-free interface.
Making a Video Call
Video calls are all the rage these days and people are constantly looking for an app/service with the least barriers to make calls. Currently, many people stay indoors, unable to travel for business or personal meetings. Video calling can simulate professional meetings and you can use them to meet with family and friends.
In Duo, you can invite your friends to a call or create a group to initiate group calls quickly and effortlessly. Duo currently allows up to 12 people in a group video call and this number will increase to 32 people in the near future. This should be enough for most users and even small teams.
Meet competes with Zoom and aims to provide a similar video conferencing experience. Open the Meet app, tap New Meeting and you will have the option to share the meeting invite code. Unlike Duo, Meet can be used for messages, but only after you initiate the video call. I was hoping it would connect to Google Drive and allow users to attach files to the chat window.
Features and Key Differences
Once you start a video call, you will see two options – captions and the ability to present the screen. The current screen option means screen sharing only.
Screen sharing lets you show all participants what’s on your phone/laptop screen. Some examples might be presentations or troubleshooting steps. Note that the microphone and sound will be muted when sharing a screen. Subtitles, on the other hand, are more useful for non-natives who may have trouble understanding their language accent. Finally, there are a few volume controls that you may find useful.
Duo offers dark mode which is cool. I wish there was Meet. There is also a data saving mode in case network connectivity is an issue where you live. This should also save some battery juice. Low Light mode helps you show a better quality photo even in low light conditions.
It has Tap Click feature where you can view the live video feed of the caller in real time before choosing to answer the call. The door acts as a peephole. Last but not least are Duo moments that you can use to take screenshots of important or beautiful moments during a call.
You can use the note feature to write on colored backgrounds and get creative with this space. Color, pen and font options are limited. Speaking of notes, Meet could do with a whiteboard with annotations. Even Zoom offers whiteboard and doodle tools in the free plan.
Recording audio or video notes is as easy as tapping the record button. Just like any camera or recording app. Unless you’re using a third-party screen recording app, there is no way to record live Duo calls. If you plan to do so, be sure to check the law of your land and get the approval of the other people in the conversation.
There is a feature hidden deep in the Duo app that not many users know about. Open Settings > Message settings and you can choose not to save Duo messages. All opened or even sent messages, notes and photos will be automatically deleted after 24 hours. But what if the same messages are stored before they expire or the recipient takes a screenshot? Be careful what you share.
Meet integrates with Gmail for G Suite users who can use it in a browser. You can create or schedule meetings from Gmail. Maybe in the future it will integrate with Drive or even third-party apps.
Another key difference is the ability to record meetings in Google Meet. This feature is only available to G Suite users in the web version, but it’s still very useful. Here’s how the web app looks and works.
Pricing and Platforms
Duo is free for everyone with no conditions, but Meet has a free version followed by some paid plans. Things were different when Google only allowed G Suite users to create meeting rooms in Meet, but not anymore. Meet supports 100 participants on the free plan, while Duo supports up to 12 users (32 in the future) in a group video call. Minutes in the free version of Meet are limited to 60 minutes per session (unlimited until September 2020). And meetings can only be recorded by G Suite users. There is no time limit on Google Duo. Both apps are available on Android, iOS, and the web. Meet also integrates with Calendar and Gmail.
Meet Dynamic Duo
Google Duo is for anyone who wants to connect with their friends and family members in a more convenient and convenient way. There are filters and effects you can use and it’s completely free. Google Meet is designed for business users and offers features such as more attendees, screen sharing, and video recording, among others. You can also host webinars. One is a video calling application and the other is a video conferencing application. Now, you know the difference and their purpose.
Next: Do you use Google Duo for video calling? Here are 15 things you need to know when using Duo to send video messages.
