Are there any (free) alternatives to Zoom/Google Meet etc?

[BIWI]

We have a regular call with my SIL, which also can involve DS2 - who doesn't live with us. As we sometimes do a quiz that also means that DH and I are often logging in with different laptops too.

During the pandemic we were using a paid-for version of Zoom, which I paid for before I retired. Now that I am retired, though, I'm trying to cut down on the things I pay subscriptions for.

As Zoom meetings are restricted to 40 minutes (and they are now cut off very promptly!), we switched to Google Meet. But now they've started restricting their meetings to 1 hour as well, unless you pay for their premium plan.

Same is true for Microsoft Teams!

We don't regularly go over an hour, but it's nice to not have that cut-off hanging over our heads!

Are there any other alternatives that we could try? DH and I use our laptops (he's a Windows user and I'm a Mac user), SIL uses her iPad and DS2 uses his android phone.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ios-15-lets-iphone-and-android-users-facetime/ - does this help? Appears that someone on Mac or iPad can send Windows/Android users a link and they can join in facetime calls... I've not tried it as I'm an Apple junkie but it might be worth a look.

Do you have apple phones/tablets? If so, use them. Or FB "rooms".

Can you not just use whatsap/FaceTime calls on your browser on laptop?

Good suggestions - thanks! I'll try those out.

Facetime doesn't work with someone who has an Android. Have just tried that.

... and Whatsapp video calls are only one-to-one, not groups, unfortunately!

With zoom you can just log straight back in after the 40 mins, takes a minute but is no bother really.
I use it for book club, we all know and expect it, just click the link again and carry on the chat.

Same...I just log straight back in (using the same meeting link). It's really no bother 🤷‍♀️

Yes, that's the other option @bumpertobumper, I was just hoping for something a bit more seamless

You can do a group WhatsApp chat:

faq.whatsapp.com/android/voice-and-video-calls/how-to-make-a-group-video-call/?lang=en

They're not

Thanks @MrsSchrute - that certainly works from a phone, but not from a laptop, unfortunately. (When we're having our regular family quiz I need it to be on my laptop as that's where my questions/scoring sheets are!)

But a definite contender.

I'm pretty sure telegram allows group video calls on any platform for any length

WhatsApp calls can definitely be group!

I can't do it on a laptop though @Whataboutitthen!

I'm not sure if Telegram does group calls.

What about Facebook Messenger?

You can do wattsapp group but only on one device per person so you could use your laptop, someone else use their own phone.

OH says have you tried Skype?

OMG I'd forgotten all about skype!

Thanks for the reminder