8 Free Apps to Stay Connected Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

I absolutely love when my mom uses Facebook Messenger to call and video chat with me through her Facebook Portal. I can hear her dog, Mocha, barking in the background, and sometimes my niece pops in to say hello. Meanwhile, I proudly show off my adorable new English bulldog, Rhyis, to the grandma she's never met.

We keep this routine going even though we're over 3,000 miles apart. She lives in Clarkesville, North Georgia, while I'm in San Clemente, Southern California. It's the closest thing to being together. Although we didn't start this practice because of the coronavirus pandemic — which has led millions worldwide to stay home and practice social distancing to help prevent its spread — this method of connecting virtually has never been more meaningful than it is today.

I've put together a list of seven easy-to-use apps and services that will help you stay connected with the people you care about, no matter the distance.

1. FaceTime

Got an iPhone, iPad, or Mac? You can use Apple's built-in FaceTime app to make video calls to anyone in your contacts, as long as they're on an Apple device too. While FaceTime is designed mainly for video chats, you can also use it to make audio calls when you're in an area with WiFi or data but a weak phone signal. Group FaceTime lets you connect with up to 32 people at once and is available on nearly all iOS devices running iOS 12 or later.

2. Google Duo/Hangouts

The Google Duo app works on Android, iOS, tablets, and computers, allowing you to video chat with up to eight people at once. It uses your phone number and contacts list to help you create groups for chats. One of its coolest features is Knock Knock, which gives you a sneak peek of the person calling by activating their camera before you answer.

While Google Duo focuses on specialized video calls, Google Hangouts is better suited for desktop use. It supports messaging, group chats, and offers both voice and video calls. Integrated with Google+, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Voice, the app works across iOS, Android, and online platforms.

3. Marco Polo

This user-friendly app blends texting, social media, and video chats all in one place. If you're unable to video chat in real time because of a busy schedule or time zone differences, Marco Polo is your go-to app. It allows you to send video messages to individuals or groups, who can watch and respond at their convenience. Marco Polo keeps all your video messages without limiting video length, so you can revisit them later. You can also add fun filters and voice effects to make your friends laugh during the videos.

4. Skype

Skype allows messaging, as well as voice and video calls for both one-on-one and group conversations. It's available on mobile phones, PCs, Macs, Xbox, and even Alexa. You can message freely and make voice/video calls with groups of up to 50 people. For a small fee, you can call mobile or landline numbers and send texts online. Skype also offers the ability to record, save, and share video calls, and includes live captions and subtitles. It’s free to download on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, and is very user-friendly. Simply create an account and add your contacts to get started.

5. Facebook Messenger

With over 1 billion people using Facebook, the Facebook Messenger app allows you to connect with anyone on the platform. You can send instant messages, photos, videos, stickers, GIFs, emojis, and more. The app also lets you make free Wi-Fi video calls from nearly any location. Using Facebook Messenger is simple – just click the compose button, select the person or group you want to chat with, and start typing.

6. Netflix Party

Planning a movie night with your girls? You can still enjoy it using Netflix Party. This free Chrome extension can be downloaded to your computer. Once it's installed, just visit Netflix, choose a movie or TV show, and pause it once it loads. After that, click the red "NP" button to get a unique link that you can share with your friends to invite them into your "room." Now, you can watch the movie or show together, and even chat about it via the platform’s chat feature.

7. Watch2gether

Don’t have Netflix, but still want to enjoy videos with your friends? Watch2gether is here to help. Just visit the website and "create a room" — no registration needed. Start watching videos from platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and SoundCloud. You can also sign up for free and choose a unique nickname. This way, you can either invite friends to your own rooms or join others that are already created.

8. Zoom

Before the pandemic, few had heard of Zoom, and most probably only used it for work-related teleconferences. However, with the onset of the coronavirus, it quickly became one of the top platforms for online education, social gatherings, happy hours, virtual doctor visits, and yes, meetings. You can download the Zoom Meetings license for free on your smartphone or computer, which provides you with unlimited video meetings (with up to 100 participants) and both private and group chat features, perfect for all your needs.