Google Hangouts [EOL] vs Skype for Business comparison

Google and Microsoft are both solutions in the Virtual Meetings category. Additionally, 93% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 79% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Google Hangouts [EOL]

Read 59 Google Hangouts [EOL] reviews

93% willing to recommend

Skype for Business

Read 63 Skype for Business reviews

2,665 Views
1,972 Comparison Views

79% willing to recommend

Google Hangouts [EOL]

Skype for Business

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 27, 2025

Skype for Business and Google Hangouts are tools in the communication and collaboration category. Google Hangouts seems to have the upper hand due to its simplicity and ease of use, while Skype for Business scores high on integration with Microsoft products.

Features: Skype for Business offers integration with Microsoft products, VoIP capabilities, and strong audio and video conferencing. Its persistence in chat and stable international communication supports its popularity. Google Hangouts is noted for its intuitive interface, ease of use, and Google Suite integration, making it ideal for seamless meetings and collaborations.

Room for Improvement: Skype for Business needs easier setup, reduced bandwidth usage, and improved non-Microsoft interoperability. Users want it integrated better with Teams and scalable for growing needs. Google Hangouts should improve performance over poor connections, enhance security, and offer more call recording options in its free version. Users also desire more advanced features for intensive use.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Skype for Business offers both cloud and on-premises deployment, which can be cumbersome for those with limited technical experience, though Microsoft's support is well-regarded. Google Hangouts enjoys a cloud-based, user-friendly deployment experience with straightforward support services that align with user expectations.

Pricing and ROI: Skype for Business, integrated with Microsoft Office suites, is cost-effective for existing Microsoft users, though potentially expensive in some markets, offering robust features for swift ROI. Google Hangouts, available free with Google accounts or via subscription for advanced features, offers low-cost entry, although the appeal has tempered slightly due to recent pricing changes.

To learn more, read our detailed Virtual Meetings Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Virtual Meetings

March 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Google Hangouts [EOL]

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Skype for Business

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Virtual Meetings (5th)

Featured Reviews

Mariana-Piñeres

Customer Success Manager Latam at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees

Recording and transcription enhance global client meetings

Google Hangouts sometimes consumes significant resources. When comparing it to WhatsApp on desktop for calls, there are instances when Google Hangouts freezes or stops working, but switching to WhatsApp runs smoothly. This might be related to the resources Google Hangouts requires. The service occasionally experiences lag issues where the image gets frozen or the voice transmission becomes interrupted. When these issues occur, possibly due to internet connectivity or other factors, WhatsApp continues to function properly while Google Hangouts does not perform well.

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reviewer1854369

Executive at a government with 201-500 employees

Relying on dependable communication features for efficient collaboration

I work with Microsoft Exchange. We use Microsoft Azure, though I am not involved with the back-end operations. I work with Microsoft Exchange and ServiceNow for the service desk. I do not work with Cloud Observability or Automation Engine. We use Microsoft Copilot with Teams. We do not use Microsoft Security Copilot as it is not cloud-based. We have moved from Skype for Business to Teams recently, though some of us still use Skype for Business because it is convenient. Skype for Business is particularly useful for remoting onto people's devices. I prefer Skype for Business over Teams for screen sharing. Sometimes there are compatibility issues when running Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business together. Phone calls in Teams might ring and then go silent, or the microphone might not detect calls from either application. I rate Skype for Business a 9 out of 10 because it works effectively with minimal issues.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It has efficient recording features."

"Stable communication tool with a good history feature and very easy installation."

"The ability to share a screen during a meeting is one of the most valuable features."

"The most valuable features of the solution are its ability to allow the sharing of screens and the way it allows a user to take control of another system."

"I appreciated having the basic features like screen sharing and camera options."

"Its ease of use is most valuable. It is just a click, and you're in the system."

"We use Google Hangouts as our major mode of communication."

"I think the simplicity of the whole thing is its valuable feature."

More Google Hangouts [EOL] pros

"The solution is easy to use and includes the ability to text message, video and voice chat, and transfer files."

"The product's initial setup phase is very easy."

"Using it is very straightforward, and it just sits on your desktop as an icon, so it's easy to access when you need it."

"I rate the solution's stability a nine on a scale where one is not stable and ten is very stable...I rate the solution's initial setup a nine on a scale where one is difficult, and ten is easy."

"It's is a very good product to have -- a solution for IM, voice telephony and video communication bundled into one."

"The solution is easy to use and includes the ability to text message, video and voice chat, and transfer files."

"File sharing and email invitations for a conference. I can have a meeting with people at the opposite end of the Earth, sharing documentation; it is quite easy."

"There are free versions of the solution available."

More Skype for Business pros

Cons

"One improvement could be integration with Google Calendar to help find available timeslots when scheduling meetings with many participants."

"The stability of Google Hangouts has had some issues, such as video call delays. The stability could improve."

"The solution could integrate more automation into the product."

"I would like to see support for showing virtual backgrounds."

"The platform's screen-sharing feature and the participant panel could be improved."

"The design could be a little bit better."

"The only issue with the solution is that we can't split the video of participants into separate screens, which can make it difficult to manage the cameras of participants."

"There could be more precise instructions for beginners using the solution."

More Google Hangouts [EOL] cons

"The solution's functionality needs to be moved to Microsoft Teams. Its technology is outdated."

"There were stability issues and scalability issues."

"The tool needs to have a dynamic file updating feature, so people you share a file with could update the file dynamically, all at once, all at the same time."

"I should be able to make a desktop phone call when I click a member of my Lync directory."

"The user experience during long sessions could be improved to avoid issues like intermittent disconnections or login failures."

"We need a feature where you can virtually raise your hand to silently let the presenter know that you have a question."

"The solution lacks to provide reporting functionality, and I would like to see the solution provide that feature."

"Skype for Business is not suitable for giving lectures."

More Skype for Business cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I think there is a need for payment for licensing, but as students, we didn't have to pay for it when we were using it. Our professors were the ones paying for it since they needed to record the sessions."

"We access the solution through Google Workspace. It is inexpensive to use."

"We pay an annual license to use the solution."

"I believe my company has a yearly license for Google Hangouts, but I'm not sure because this is a corporate account, so I don't have the details."

"I pay $6 per user per month for Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Hangouts."

"There is an annual subscription to use this solution."

"We are using the free version of Google Hangouts."

"For individual use, there's no license requirement as such. For storage or some other purposes, if I go beyond 15 GB, then I need to buy something."

More Google Hangouts [EOL] pricing and cost advice

"Skype for Business' pricing is reasonable."

"It may be considered costly for certain markets, such as in India."

"We are using the subscription-based version of Skype for Business. There is a free version of the solution."

"We purchased an open license."

"I am using a corporate account for which I have not made any payments."

"We negotiated a fair price with Microsoft. It is definitely worthwhile to negotiate with them for the best price for your solution."

"Our company pays for a license for us to use the solution."

"The licensing is billed on a yearly basis."

More Skype for Business pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

22%

Marketing Services Firm

10%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

19%

Marketing Services Firm

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	28
Midsize Enterprise	16
Large Enterprise	18

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	18
Midsize Enterprise	19
Large Enterprise	27

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Hangouts?

Google Hangouts comes as a package, so it's difficult to say or comment on the price of this particular product.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Hangouts?

Sometimes when we have a call and need to share audio or play a video, we find it challenging to switch from sharing the complete desktop to only a particular Chrome tab, as it doesn't support audi...

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What is your primary use case for Google Hangouts?

My main use cases for Google Hangouts are for calls and coordinating with my team. I find the recording feature in Google Hangouts very useful, as it normalizes what happened in the call, even thou...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Skype for Business?

Skype for Business is affordable and has decent pricing. The video quality is a bit lower than Teams or Zoom, but it remains a good solution overall.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Skype for Business?

I cannot think of many ways in which Skype for Business could improve in general. It works fairly efficiently for our purposes with Skype for Business. There is one issue regarding the audio settin...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Skype for Business?

We use Skype for Business for internal meetings, conference calls, remoting into PCs, and phone calls. Our virtual meetings typically include two or three participants, keeping them small. It is ea...

See all answers

Comparisons

Zoom Workplace Business vs Google Hangouts [EOL]

Compared 80% of the time

GoToMeeting vs Google Hangouts [EOL]

Compared 20% of the time

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Zoom Workplace Business vs Skype for Business

Compared 15% of the time

TeamViewer vs Skype for Business

Compared 11% of the time

Microsoft Teams vs Skype for Business

Compared 8% of the time

GoToMeeting vs Skype for Business

Compared 8% of the time

Webex vs Skype for Business

Compared 8% of the time

More Skype for Business Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Hangouts [EOL]

April 2026

Download Google Hangouts [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

Skype for Business

March 2026

Download Skype for Business product report

Also Known As

No data available

Skype for Business Plan 1, Skype for Business Plan 2, Lync Server

Overview

Google Hangouts [EOL] offered a versatile communication platform with features like screen sharing, Google Suite integration, and reliable performance, enabling flexible meetings without time limits and a seamless intuitive experience for users.

Google Hangouts [EOL] provided an effective tool for both personal and professional communication, enhancing virtual meetings through superior audio and video quality, easy scheduling, and scalability. Integrated with Google Calendar, it allowed straightforward organization of meetings with tools to enhance collaboration, including transcriptions and AI capabilities for note summarization. However, room for improvement included better integration with other platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, as well as enhancing features like screen sharing and participant interaction options such as virtual whiteboards and audio sharing.

What are the key features?

Screen Sharing: Facilitates presentations and real-time collaboration.
Google Suite Integration: Seamless connectivity with Gmail and Calendar for scheduling.
Reliable Performance: Consistent quality in video and audio without interruptions.
No Time Restrictions: Unrestricted meeting duration enhances flexibility.
Scalability: Easily manage a large number of participants.

What benefits should users look for?

Flexibility: Adapts to diverse meeting types and requirements.
Enhanced Collaboration: Integration with other Google services streamlines communications.
Cost-effective Communication: Reduces expenses related to traditional meetings.
Simplified Scheduling: Works seamlessly with Google Calendar to organize meetings efficiently.

In education, Google Hangouts [EOL] supported remote teaching and collaboration, while businesses utilized it to maintain communication and productivity across distributed teams, highlighting its role in adapting to remote work needs during the recent pandemic. Its ability to facilitate interactions anywhere made it a valuable tool across industries.

Google

Skype for Business offers features including presence, IM, voice and video calls, online meetings, conferencing, and telephony solutions that support enterprise-level collaboration requirements. Skype for Business Record meetings, share your screen, and annotate PowerPoint for real-time collaboration with up to 250 people and use whiteboard, polls, Q&A, and built-in IM during your business meetings to make them more productive. Skype for Business provides new client experience, Skype for Business Server provides several new features to improve manageability of on-premises servers and hybrid solutions. Skype for Business also supports the Lync client experience so that you can choose a phased upgrade approach to the new client experience for users. Skype for Business is also an integral part of Microsoft Office 365, providing PSTN Conferencing, Cloud PBX, PSTN Calling, and Skype Meeting Broadcast capabilities to Office 365 users.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services,LA Fitness, MedcoEnergi International, Tampa General Hospital, and HopewellHoldings Limited.

Find out what your peers are saying about Zoom Video Communications, Cisco, TeamViewer and others in Virtual Meetings. Updated: March 2026.

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