Free Video Chat Apps for Your Computer

Skype is the most popular app for voice and video calling. In the mobile market, Skype has been dethroned by WhatsApp and Viber, but it's still the most 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 sound quality. Video and audio calls are free between Skype users. A paid subscription is required to make audio calls to landlines.

Google Hangouts is great for many reasons, including the fact that many people can use it right away because they already have a Gmail account. A connected Google account facilitates login and accesses the contacts you already have stored in Gmail.

Since it runs entirely in your web browser, you don't have to download anything to run Google Hangouts. The app accesses your webcam and microphone through the Google Hangouts website and delivers HD transmission of both right through the browser.

Google Hangouts is also available as a video chat mobile app for Android and iOS.

If you have a Windows computer, Viber might be the perfect free video-calling app for you. It's as easy to use as selecting a contact from the Viber Only section of your contact list, and then using the video button to start the call.

Viber lets you turn the video off whenever you like, mute the call, or even transfer the call. It works so much like a regular phone that it should be one of the easier apps to use from this list.

Making a video call from Facebook is easy. Select the Messenger icon from the top right of the screen (whether from the desktop or mobile app). Open a message with someone and then select the small camera icon to initiate the video call. You may be advised that a plugin is necessary.

Facetime offers excellent video and audio quality with an easy-to-use interface. The only issue with FaceTime is that it works exclusively on Apple's operating system and devices, and only with other Facetime users.

If you have a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, make video or audio calls from the device almost exactly as you would a regular phone call.

Similar to Google Hangouts, Facetime lets you search through your phone's contacts to find someone to call. If your contacts use FaceTime, it's shown on their contact screen.