James Martin/CNET

Google Meet, Google’s video chat tool, is a solid free and convenient option but a majority of its offerings are aimed at professionals and businesses. The app offers a free version, but unlike Zoom’s free tier, it’s pretty devoid of bells and whistles. 

If you’re just looking for a place to have a digital catch up with friends, Google Meet’s free tier will more than do the trick. You can squeeze into a call with 100 of your closest friends for an hour without paying a dime. It’s about as easy to use as Zoom, but goes one step further — if you have a Google account, Meet is automatically available with no extra sign up or hassle. If you don’t have a Google account, you can still join a meeting without one.

Meet’s biggest selling point for me is its integration with other Google apps like Slides, Sheets and Docs. The fast access to Google apps would be a handy tool for study groups, collaborating on projects and organizing events.