Google Hangouts is being used for virtual meetings, whether that's face to face or you're presenting your screen. There's also a whiteboard where you can brainstorm on the call itself, so that's about it.
Content Marketing Strategist at Niswey
Has a free version that works well for small-sized teams; technical support is responsive
Pros and Cons
- "The technical support team for Google Hangouts has been pretty responsive and could solve whatever challenges arise, within a day or two."
- "I would like for the platform to have a call recording feature in the free version."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Whatever features are on offer right now on Google Hangouts, I find all of them useful. I don't have a preference, and Google Hangouts doesn't have time limitations.
What needs improvement?
Google Hangouts is pretty good as it is, so there's nothing I would like to change about it.
I would like for the platform to have a call recording feature in the free version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Google Hangouts is a stable platform.
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Google Hangouts, being a Google product, is available and scalable. The free version works well for small-sized teams that have thirty to forty people, and that's good enough for us.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support team for Google Hangouts has been pretty responsive and could solve whatever challenges arise, within a day or two.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up Google Hangouts is very, very easy. You just open a Gmail account to get access to all the Google tools, including Google Hangouts. It's very easy to just set up a Gmail account, and you don't have to do anything else.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are a small team and a small organization such as ours just uses the free version of Google, so there's no cost associated with Google Hangouts at the moment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Zoom and Microsoft Teams. We use Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, but use Zoom more often compared to the other two platforms.
What other advice do I have?
Sometimes my company uses Google Hangouts, but that's very rare. Typically, the team uses Zoom, and Google Hangouts is used once or twice a month, and that's about it. My company is an end-user, not a partner of Google.
At the moment, there's no plan of increasing the number of users of Google Hangouts.
I would rate Google Hangouts eight out of ten.
I'd recommend the platform to other people.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Google
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Deputy Manager - Radio Frequency Planning at RF-SMART
Useful for external meetings and communication
Pros and Cons
- "Google Hangouts is user-friendly. It supports low internet bandwidth."
What is our primary use case?
We use the tool for external meetings and communication.
What is most valuable?
Google Hangouts is user-friendly. It supports low internet bandwidth.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution's stability a six out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the solution's scalability a seven out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
I have never contacted the solution's support.
How was the initial setup?
Google Hangouts' deployment is easy and can be done in two to three minutes.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Google Hangouts doesn't require a license.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall product a seven out of ten. Our use depends on others. If somebody asks us to use Google Meet, we use it.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Google Hangouts
June 2025

Learn what your peers think about Google Hangouts. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
System Administrator at Access Techy Limited
User-friendly, easy to deploy, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to use and navigate."
- "The scalability has room for improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for virtual meetings.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use and navigate.
What needs improvement?
The scalability has room for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I give the stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I give the scalability an eight out of ten.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Zoom and switched to Google Hangouts because it was cheaper.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and takes under one hour. The deployment was completed by one person. To use the solution we must set up a Gmail account and create meeting links.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation was completed in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is no license cost.
What other advice do I have?
I give the solution an eight out of ten.
We have 15 end users and plan to gradually increase that number.
Google Hangouts is user-friendly and I recommend it to others.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Google
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
AVP, Automation Center of Excellence Head at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
It has multiple features, such as polling, whiteboarding, and captioning
Pros and Cons
- "What I like best about Google Hangouts is its integration with other Google solutions, so scheduling is easy because you have the calendar. It also has a whiteboard feature. I also like its polling feature and that it even has a captioning feature."
- "Google Hangouts has breakout rooms now, but not as extensive as Zoom, so that's one area for improvement. I mentioned that I like the Google Hangouts captioning feature, but that could be improved. For example, importing Filipino-English captions here in the Philippines would be great."
What is our primary use case?
We use Google Hangouts for meetings and alignment.
What is most valuable?
What I like best about Google Hangouts is its integration with other Google solutions, so scheduling is easy because you have the calendar. It also has a whiteboard feature. I also like its polling feature and that it even has a captioning feature.
What needs improvement?
Google Hangouts has breakout rooms now, but not as extensive as Zoom, so that's one area for improvement.
I mentioned that I like the Google Hangouts captioning feature, but that could be improved. For example, importing Filipino-English captions here in the Philippines would be great.
I want to add a Zoom feature in Google Hangouts, where multiple people can interact with what's shown on the screen and draw and put shapes, for example.
For how long have I used the solution?
I joined the company in 2020, and that's the time I started using Google Hangouts.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Google Hangouts is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
So far, I'm happy with Google Hangouts in terms of scalability, but that still depends on your license because that dictates the number of users you can have in a room.
How are customer service and support?
Google technical support is okay, but I used it for a different solution, Google AppSheet, and not for Google Hangouts. The team gave me a fast response for other solutions. However, for my Google AppSheet concern, it took a while to receive feedback from Google because the general support team needed to pass my question to a real expert.
How was the initial setup?
Google Hangouts is installed on the web browser, so setup or installation-wise, it's okay.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
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.
What other advice do I have?
My company uses Google Workspace, which includes Google Hangouts.
In my company, more than five hundred people use Google Hangouts.
I'm happy to recommend the solution to others because it's web-based and extensive, with features for emailing, documentation, and conferencing.
My rating for Google Hangouts is nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Manager server admin and security at Vivaconnect
Video conferencing solution that is readily accessible and facilitates presentation sharing during meetings
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature has been the ability to present presentations during meetings."
- "It would be great if this solution could be added to smart TVs. We would also like the ability to broadcast to a YouTube channel when having a meeting or session using this solution."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for video calls for group meetings. It used by more than 50 people in our business.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature has been the ability to present presentations during meetings.
What needs improvement?
It would be great if this solution could be added to smart TVs. We would also like the ability to broadcast to a YouTube channel when having a meeting or session using this solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable solution.
How are customer service and support?
We have not experienced any issues so have not reached out to the customer support team.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used WebEx and Zoom. WebEx is very complicated but does have enhanced features compared to Google Hangout. However, Hangouts is a lightweight solution that can be used across devices including phones. It is easy to download and is readily available. You don't need to sign in separately and this makes it convenient to use.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Google
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Student at Kabale University
Useful meeting recording, stable, and simple setup
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Google Hangouts is the ability to record the classes that I'm not able to attend. I can use the class recording to view whatever I missed later."
- "Google Hangouts could improve by allowing someone to record a meeting without the need to have a company email. You cannot record with a Gmail account."
What is our primary use case?
I am using Google Hangouts for classes online if we do not have physical lectures in the classroom. For example, a lecturer schedules a class at a specific time and then we use a link to join the video call.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Google Hangouts is the ability to record the classes that I'm not able to attend. I can use the class recording to view whatever I missed later.
What needs improvement?
Google Hangouts could improve by allowing someone to record a meeting without the need to have a company email. You cannot record with a Gmail account.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Google Hangouts for approximately three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Google Hangouts is stable as long as you have a reliable internet connection and there is nothing wrong with our system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Google Hangouts has been good in my experience. We only have a few people in the class and we haven't faced any problem with anyone having to be kicked out of the meeting because it was not able to accommodate the numbers.
We have approximately 40 people per class that are using the solution. In our whole university, I am not sure of the total number of users that are using it.
We have a number of online lectures and they have increased this year, there is a plan to increase the usage.
How are customer service and support?
I have not had any problems with the need to contact support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Google Hangouts is straightforward. The setup was basic, it only involves opening an application, scheduling, or starting a call immediately.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation of the solution can be done in-house and it does not require a third-party implementation.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Google Hangouts a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PAM Architect at GCA
Good, reliable source of communication, but it is not compatible with every device, it's browser-based
Pros and Cons
- "Google Hangouts is an excellent tool."
- "Google will not have two identical chat platforms. Google Chat is always a winner because it is compatible with my device."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use Google Hangouts to communicate with one another. We've moved on from Google Hangouts and are now using Google Chat. You will notice that people are getting out of Hangouts. Hangouts will be going to go away.
I haven't used Google Hangouts in two months, and I used to use it more than two dozen times a day.
What is most valuable?
It's really good, it works out pretty well.
Google Hangouts is an excellent tool.
What needs improvement?
Hangouts will go the way of the Dodo. Google will not have two identical chat platforms. Google Chat is always a winner because it is compatible with my device. Google Hangouts, however, was not. Google Hangouts is a browser-based application.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable. We have no issues with the stability of Google Hangouts.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Google Hangouts is very scalable.
What other advice do I have?
In terms of Webex and potentially losing some quality having a good meeting often entails muting everyone except the speaker and then switching from one speaker to another. Because whenever there is an open forum, or there is a larger audience, and I believe the number is usually around 16, your chances of having a know-it-all who has something to say about everything skyrocket. Being able to mute somebody, would be very valuable.
Anybody who needs that many people and you need professional services like that, it's time to start paying the subscription and support the product. If they want to have control of the venue, the only way to have control of the venue is with the paid version.
It pays for itself. Having a meeting go off the rails is an embarrassment.
Webex is probably one of my only 10s, but I am really starting to enjoy Microsoft Teams. It has the features that I need. It's built into Windows. I get it as part of my subscription to Microsoft Office from the company. I have only had one issue where I made a mistake. There's a little rule that you should have. If it's your meeting, it needs to be your meeting, it should be your tool choice. if it's your meeting, you should be the one to schedule it, even if it's very difficult, the project manager with the client wants to host the meeting himself.
For example, I had a very interesting little experience, only a few weeks ago, where it was my meeting, but the project manager from the client set up the meeting. I did not know this, but he had me muted. When I was responding to people, it was as if nobody was listening to me. I didn't know what was going on. Then, after about 15, or 20 minutes, the project manager said, "are you going to respond to this?" And I said, "Is anybody listening to me?" I've answered these questions I don't know how many times. One of the people on the call called me up, not even 15, 20 minutes ago, and said, "by the way that meeting you were in yesterday, you were muted." I would recommend if it's your meeting, it's got to be your tool.
It's PAM, and PAM Solutions are notoriously politically fraught by those who want to have their environment secured versus those that like things the way they are, and we had one of those.
I would recommend using Google Chat.
It was nothing out of the ordinary in comparison to others. I would rate Google Hangouts a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Google
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Structural Engineering at Tahaluf
An easy-to-install tool that is useful for setting up virtual meetings
Pros and Cons
- "The installation part of the product is easy since one generally needs to use a browser to use the product."
- "It would be better to have a feature for recording the meetings in Google Hangouts."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution mainly to attend meetings through a video call, especially when I have to present something and talk about it to a prospective client. I also use the tool for internal communications within my company so that I can communicate with my designer or project manager.
What is most valuable?
The features of Google Hangouts I find most beneficial for enhancing virtual communication stem from the tool's ability to provide its users with functionalities that allow them to make use of the product's sharing features. The fact that Google Hangouts is integrated with Google Calendar helps me to set up meetings easily. Most of my contact lists are in my Gmail account, making it very easy for me to pull out the details of the contacts or the potential attendees that I expect and want to invite to a meeting.
What needs improvement?
It would be better to have a feature for recording the meetings in Google Hangouts. I don't know if there is a feature in the basic version of Google Hangouts that allows for the recording of meetings, but I know that it is possible in Zoom. I think the advanced version or the licensed version of Google Hangouts may allow for the recording of meetings, but I have not explored it. Having a recording feature for the basic version of the tool would be helpful, as it is the only shortcoming of the product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Google Hangouts for around ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have not had any issues with the stability of the product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have not had any issues with the scalability part of the product since I operate in a small team. In general, I don't know much about this scalability part of the product.
Only two people in my company use the product. There is an extended group of freelancers attached to my company who use Google Hangouts through their personal Gmail accounts.
How are customer service and support?
I haven't had any issues with the solution's technical support. I rate the technical support a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I use Zoom to attend meetings. I use Zoom and Google Hangouts. Cisco Webex is a tool that I used to use fifteen years ago. I started to use Google Hangouts because of Google Workspace,which comes with functionalities that allow its users to send emails and share documents. Zoom is better than Google Hangouts when it comes to the video conference part.
How was the initial setup?
The installation part of the product is easy since one generally needs to use a browser to use the product. I can use the product on my phone by just installing the application, which is a pretty easy process with which I haven't had any issues.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
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.
What other advice do I have?
I integrate Google Hangouts into my workflow for external client meetings or presentations by using my official email ID in Google Workspace, through which I can send meeting links and make use of the calendar invite feature to ensure that the details of the meeting are automatically integrated with Google Hangouts. I just create a meeting link through the calendar invite, and then I use it.
Speaking about whether Google Hangouts integration with other Google services has added any value to my user experience, I would say that value addition doesn't come from Google Hangouts alone. When I want to share some documents or spreadsheets, it is easy to invite those who have a Gmail account with Google Hangouts.
I haven't experienced any significant issues with connectivity or quality during the calls on Google Hangouts.
I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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