A free video chat app on your desktop computer keeps you in touch with friends and family around the world. All you need is an active internet connection, sufficient bandwidth, a webcam, and audio input and output devices (microphone and speaker).

Skype is one of the most popular apps for voice and video calling. In the mobile market, it is not as popular as WhatsApp and Viber, but it is still a prominent tool for free communication on desktop computers.

Skype offers HD quality voice and video and is often considered the best when it comes to both visual and audio quality. Video and audio calls are free between Skype users. A paid subscription is required to make audio calls to landlines.

Google Meet is great for a few reasons, including the fact that many people can use it right away if they have a Gmail account. A connected Google account makes signing in easier and gives you access to the contacts you already have stored in Gmail.