Google Meet vs Skype vs WhatsApp: which communication app should you choose?

Choose Google Meet for Google-connected video meetings, Skype for cross-platform calling and screen sharing, or WhatsApp for everyday private messaging and calls.

At a glance

Google MeetGoogle LLC
Google Play4.4 out of 5
PriceFree
In-app purchasesNo
PlatformsAndroidiPhone
Age ratingEveryone
SkypeSkype
Google Play4.4 out of 5
PriceFree
In-app purchasesYes ($2.99 - $96.79 per item)
PlatformsAndroidiPhone
Age ratingEveryone
WhatsApp MessengerWhatsApp LLC
Google Play4.6 out of 5
PriceFree
In-app purchasesYes ($0.40 - $199.99 per item)
PlatformsAndroidiPhone
Age ratingEveryone

Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.

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How we compared them

Google Meet, Skype, and WhatsApp all offer voice and video communication, but they serve different habits. Meet is oriented around video meetings and Google services; Skype combines calls, chat, and screen sharing; WhatsApp makes messaging and media sharing central.

This comparison weighs their stated features and drawbacks alongside Google Play ratings, install counts, and pricing. It also explains which app fits each use and what trade-offs to consider.

How we compared them

We compared the apps’ communication features, strengths, and trade-offs, then considered their Google Play ratings, install counts, prices, ad status, and in-app purchases. Store figures were read on November 7, 2026, so ratings and install counts may change.

Google Play declares that WhatsApp shares no data with third parties, collects several categories of data including contacts and payment information, encrypts data in transit, and lets users request deletion. No data-safety declaration for Meet or Skype is included in this comparison. We did not conduct hands-on tests or measure call quality, data use, or battery use.

Google Meet icon

Google Meet

by Google LLC

4.4 out of 5 on Google Play

Best for: Google users who primarily want video meetings

Meet is the clearest fit for video conferencing, with high-quality calls, screen sharing, and integration with Google services. Its Google Play rating is 4.4 from 11,945,580 ratings, and it has 10,000,000,000+ installs.

The app is free with no in-app purchases or ads. It requires a Google account, and its free version has limitations, including no virtual backgrounds; connectivity problems and resource demands may also be drawbacks.

Price
Free
Platforms
Android, iOS
Age rating
Everyone

Pros

  • Google services integration
  • Screen sharing and recording features
  • Free, with no ads or in-app purchases

Cons

  • Requires a Google account
  • Free version has feature limits
Skype icon

Skype

by Skype

4.4 out of 5 on Google Play

Best for: people who want calls, chat, and screen sharing across platforms

Skype combines video calls, instant messaging, and screen sharing, making it a flexible option for people who use different platforms. It has a 4.4 rating from 11,726,754 Google Play ratings and 1,000,000,000+ installs.

The app is free to download, with in-app purchases ranging from $2.99 to $96.79 per item. Its drawbacks include a Microsoft account requirement, limited free features, and reports of connection, data-use, and resource concerns.

Price
Free
Platforms
Android, iOS
Age rating
Everyone

Pros

  • Cross-platform support
  • Video calls and instant messaging
  • Screen sharing

Cons

  • Requires a Microsoft account
  • In-app purchases and limited free features
WhatsApp Messenger icon

WhatsApp Messenger

by WhatsApp LLC

4.6 out of 5 on Google Play

Best for: everyday messaging with friends and family

WhatsApp makes free text, voice, and video communication easy to combine with multimedia sharing. It has the strongest Google Play rating of these three at 4.6 from 246,492,605 ratings, and 10,000,000,000+ installs.

Its end-to-end encryption is a notable privacy feature, but the app requires an internet connection and some features depend on contacts using WhatsApp too. Google Play also says it collects several types of data, including contacts and payment information, while sharing no data with third parties.

Price
Free
Platforms
Android, iOS
Age rating
Everyone

Pros

  • Highest Google Play rating among these three
  • End-to-end encrypted calls and messaging
  • Voice, video, text, and media sharing

Cons

  • Some features depend on contacts using WhatsApp
  • Collects multiple categories of user data

Which one should you pick?

Skype

Best for calls and screen sharing across platforms

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FAQ

Which app has the highest Google Play rating?

WhatsApp has the highest rating of the three at 4.6 from 246,492,605 ratings. Google Meet and Skype each have a 4.4 rating.

Which app is best for video meetings?

Google Meet is the most meeting-focused option here, with Google services integration and screen sharing. Skype also supports video calls and screen sharing.

Are Google Meet, Skype, and WhatsApp free?

All three are free to download. Skype and WhatsApp offer in-app purchases; Google Meet has none. Skype's purchases range from $2.99 to $96.79 per item, and WhatsApp's from $0.40 to $199.99 per item.

Which of these apps offers end-to-end encryption?

End-to-end encryption is included among the stated strengths of Skype and WhatsApp. Meet is described as providing secure and encrypted communication, but end-to-end encryption is not specified for it.

Mobexer compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and prices are shown for reference and can change.