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Google Hangouts pros and cons

Vendor: Google
4.1 out of 5
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Pros & Cons summary

Google Hangouts offers valuable screen sharing and Google Docs integration, praised for ease of use and unlimited meeting durations. Its audio-video quality is highly rated, with features like background blurring, though it lacks recording and stability, experiencing video delays and limited browser support for screen sharing. Hangouts provides seamless integration with other Google services but does not support virtual backgrounds or direct Zoom device integration, making it feature-limited compared to rivals like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Google Hangouts offers easy integration with other Google services like Google Docs and Calendar, enhancing scheduling and collaboration.
The ability to share screens and work on documents collectively is highly valued, especially in professional settings.
Google Hangouts provides excellent stability, with features such as unlimited meeting durations and efficient recording capabilities.
The platform is very easy to set up and use, requiring minimal configuration and allowing users to join with just a meeting link.
Google Hangouts' voice and video quality are consistently praised, with features like voice calling, video conferencing, and additional enhancements like background blurring and captioning.

CONS

Google Hangouts integration with Zoom is lacking, causing issues when trying to use both platforms together.
Users report issues with disconnectivity and audio during meetings, indicating a need for improved stability and voice quality.
The absence of a recording feature and limitations on session durations are significant drawbacks.
The platform lacks advanced collaboration tools and features compared to competitors like Microsoft Teams and Slack, particularly in document sharing and real-time collaboration.
Features like screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms are not as comprehensive as desired, making it unsuitable for professional environments.
 

Google Hangouts Pros review quotes

Sukanya Bharati - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 13, 2023
I think that Google Meet allows for easy interaction and has additional features, such as background blurring, among others.
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reviewer1254288 - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 21, 2020
The screen sharing is the most valuable feature. It ties in with Google docs and Google sheets so that we can work on a single document as a whole group of us at once. That's the biggest feature we rely on.
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SH
Jan 29, 2024
The installation part of the product is easy since one generally needs to use a browser to use the product.
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Google Hangouts
February 2025
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Gary Jolley - PeerSpot reviewer
Dec 15, 2021
Google Hangouts is an excellent tool.
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PB
Feb 1, 2023
I find it valuable that Google Hangouts is a lightweight tool that doesn't take up a lot of memory and doesn't require a lot of resources.
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Olivier Bourdon - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 6, 2022
The solution is extremely stable.
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reviewer1374795 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 5, 2020
It is very easy to use and is available as soon as you open a Google account.
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reviewer936699 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 31, 2022
Communication platform that's effective in project planning, project status communication, and virtual meetings. Setting it up is straightforward.
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SG
Jul 13, 2020
The most valuable features are that you don't have to create a separate account, it's easy to use, and you don't have to enter an ID or password to start video conferencing.
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Kanchi Kh - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 18, 2023
The most valuable feature of Google Hangouts is there are no predefined or meeting durations. For example, Zoom meetings have a set duration, typically ranging from thirty minutes to an hour, whereas Google Meet meetings can continue indefinitely. Additionally, it is effortless to generate a meeting, whether it is a live session or for future use, and distribute your link to others, making these aspects appealing to me.
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Show 10 more reviews (out of 53)
 

Google Hangouts Cons review quotes

Sukanya Bharati - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 13, 2023
The product was quite unstable during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when we shared our screens, as it often resulted in a black screen.
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reviewer1254288 - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 21, 2020
The way it works with anonymous users should be improved. That could be strengthened to let anonymous users do more.
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SH
Jan 29, 2024
It would be better to have a feature for recording the meetings in Google Hangouts.
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Buyer's Guide
Google Hangouts
February 2025
Free Report: Google Hangouts Reviews and More
Learn what your peers think about Google Hangouts. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2025.
DOWNLOAD NOW
837,501 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Gary Jolley - PeerSpot reviewer
Dec 15, 2021
Google will not have two identical chat platforms. Google Chat is always a winner because it is compatible with my device.
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PB
Feb 1, 2023
Collaboration in Google Hangouts has room for improvement compared to Microsoft Teams. On Microsoft Teams, you can share a document directly and work on that document all at once, in real-time, with other team members, which isn't the case with Google Hangouts.
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Olivier Bourdon - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 6, 2022
We don’t have any complaints.
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reviewer1374795 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 5, 2020
I would like to see support for showing virtual backgrounds.
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reviewer936699 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 31, 2022
The stability of Google Hangouts could still be improved. How virtual backgrounds are handled also needs improvement.
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SG
Jul 13, 2020
Google Hangouts restricts you to those with a Gmail account.
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Kanchi Kh - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 18, 2023
Google Hangouts should add a feature to show how someone connects, such as via a laptop or phone. If you know if someone is using a laptop you can ask them to share their screen.
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Show 10 more reviews (out of 52)

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