Google Hangouts vs HCL Sametime comparison

Google and HCLSoftware are both solutions in the Virtual Meetings category. Google is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while HCLSoftware is ranked #19 with an average rating of 8.0. Google holds a 0.4% mindshare in VM, compared to HCLSoftware ’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 75% of HCLSoftware users who would recommend it.

Google Hangouts

Read 56 Google Hangouts reviews

1,698 Views
75 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

HCL Sametime

Read 5 HCL Sametime reviews

86 Views
44 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

Google Hangouts

HCL Sametime

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 3, 2025

HCL Sametime and Google Hangouts are competing in the communication solutions category. Data suggests Google Hangouts has the upper hand due to its wider feature range and user satisfaction with value for money.

Features: HCL Sametime includes persistent chat, video conferencing, and strong security protocols aimed at enterprises. Google Hangouts stands out with seamless integration with Google's ecosystem, compatibility across a broad range of devices, and user-friendly communication tools.

Room for Improvement: HCL Sametime can improve its integration with third-party applications and ease of use for non-enterprise users, and could benefit from a more intuitive user interface. Google Hangouts could enhance its security features, expand its data export options, and offer more advanced meeting management tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Google Hangouts offers a straightforward deployment process within Google Suite, making it easy for existing users of Google's services. HCL Sametime might require more complex implementation, ideal for enterprises needing dedicated support, benefiting from IBM's customer service expertise.

Pricing and ROI: HCL Sametime represents a higher enterprise-level investment focusing on security and coordination, reflecting in its pricing. In contrast, Google Hangouts provides a cost-effective solution with high ROI due to its inclusion in Google Workspace.

To learn more, read our detailed Google Hangouts vs. HCL Sametime Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Google Hangouts vs. HCL Sametime

April 2025

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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

Ranking in Virtual Meetings

5th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

HCL Sametime

Ranking in Virtual Meetings

19th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Virtual Meetings category, the mindshare of Google Hangouts is 0.4%, down from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HCL Sametime is 0.4%, down from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Meetings

Featured Reviews

ANIS QURESHI

Senior Specialist- IT Systems Management at GAL

Quick and seamless meeting setup offers a smooth experience

I sometimes use Google Hangouts for my personal meetings only I find that Google Hangouts is very quick and easy to create a meeting, which is its biggest benefit. It doesn't have a 40-minute limitation unlike Zoom. It is easy to set up as well, taking just a couple of minutes. So far, I think…

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Bogdan Chechlowski

Kierownik Biura Informatyki at EIB SA

Stable product, communicate very fast and allows to see who's online in the office or work environment

It was used for communication through text messages, primarily Being able to see who was online and communicate very fast was a good feature. The security was quite good. However, when we tried to implement it for email at a high level, we had to use another solution, FortiMail Gateway. I view…

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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

"The most valuable feature of Google Hangouts for me is content sharing."

"The ability to share a screen during a meeting is one of the most valuable features. You can also be directly connected on the computer and on the phone with the same account. It is flexible."

"The group chat is a very good feature, where you can see all of the participants on cameras."

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

"It's very easy to use."

"The most valuable features are that you don't have to create a separate account, it's easy to use, and you don't have to enter an ID or password to start video conferencing."

"The product is stable."

"The interface is simple and not complex."

More Google Hangouts pros

"The security was quite good."

"I can view the status and availability of colleagues or team members, which makes it easy to approach them when they are available."

Cons

"You only get 60 minutes of video conferencing."

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

"Collaboration in Google Hangouts has room for improvement compared to Microsoft Teams. On Microsoft Teams, you can share a document directly and work on that document all at once, in real-time, with other team members, which isn't the case with Google Hangouts."

"The user interface is an area with shortcomings and needs improvement."

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

"Google Hangouts is not good enough to be used in a professional environment or for some official work, especially when compared to a product like Microsoft Teams."

"I think the version that I'm using doesn't allow recording. I guess it's more of a licensing issue than anything else, and it needs to be improved."

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

More Google Hangouts cons

"The webinar should be integrated into Sametime for a larger number of participants."

"It lacks some features compared to modern solutions. For example, it doesn't allow sending screenshots or other files."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is no license cost."

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

"I don't need to buy Google Hangouts separately because it comes free with Google Workspace, and it is also available for my personal Gmail ID."

"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."

"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."

"Google Hangouts has reasonable pricing, but I don't use the paid version because I only have a small budget, though you get more features from the paid version."

"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."

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

More Google Hangouts pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

97%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

University

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Google Hangouts?

It's integration with Google is the valuable feature.

See all answers

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

I can't comment on the pricing as I have no idea about it.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Hangouts?

So far, I think it's going well. I haven't found anything that I feel should be added.

See all answers

What needs improvement with HCL Sametime?

I view it as part of HCL Notes and Domino, and my opinion is similar to those products. It lacks some features compared to modern solutions. For example, it doesn't allow sending screenshots or oth...

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What is your primary use case for HCL Sametime?

It was used for communication through text messages, primarily.

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What advice do you have for others considering HCL Sametime?

Overall, it was quite good. I would rate it an eight out of ten. It's a better product than some others from HCL, but overall, I wouldn't recommend it, given the availability of superior alternatives.

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Hangouts

April 2025

Download Google Hangouts product report

Buyer's Guide

Virtual Meetings

April 2025

Download HCL Sametime product report

Also Known As

No data available

Lotus Sametime, IBM Lotus Sametime

Overview

Hangouts Chat makes it easy for teams to be able to get their work done in one place. From direct messages to group conversations, Chat helps teams collaborate easily and efficiently.

Google

HCL Sametime. Secure Conversations Across Any Device

Your company can’t afford to take any data risks, but your teams still need to be able to interact and react quickly, wherever they are working. Sametime offers modern instant messaging, file-sharing, and online meetings with the proven security your business can trust.

HCLSoftware

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Connect2Cloud, Superior Group, Daifuku Co. Ltd., Seaward, The City of Fort Worth, Christian Brothers Services, Berlitz, Deutsche Notes User Group, Danske Fysioterapeuter, Slumberland, La Vacanza, Rheinmetall AG

Buyer's Guide

Google Hangouts vs. HCL Sametime

April 2025

Free Report: Google Hangouts vs. HCL Sametime

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