which app does video calling best?

Do you have an iPhone or Mac(Book) and do you want to make video calls? Then you have many options. In this article we put two popular video calling apps side by side: FaceTime and WhatsApp. Which app works better?

FaceTime: Apple’s 2010 baby

Apple launched FaceTime during the iPhone 4 event in 2010. It was revolutionary: we only saw video calling in science fiction movies at the time. The term ‘FaceTime’ is now fully established and even many Android users – who until recently could not FaceTime at all – regularly drop the term.

However, in the current tec landscape, FaceTime is no longer so special. The app has perhaps a hundred competitors, such as Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. In the Netherlands, one competitor stands head and shoulders above the rest: WhatsApp. It is the most used messaging app in our little country. Whatever smartphone or laptop you use – as long as you have a working camera, you can make video calls with WhatsApp.

Apple felt the competitive pressure when COVID-19 broke out and the entire planet went into massive video calling. Other video calling services gained ground. It didn’t help that only Apple users could FaceTime. That is why the iPhone manufacturer also brought the concept of ‘FaceTimen’ to Android and Windows in 2021.

FaceTime via an Android smartphone or a Windows laptop works similar to Zoom. An Apple user creates a shareable link in the FaceTime app, which can be opened by Android users.

Also read: This is how you do FaceTime with Android users

The benefits of FaceTime

FaceTime has recently gained a lot of distinctive features. For example, there is SharePlay, which makes it easier to share music, movies and photos with your friends and family. For example, you can watch a movie together or listen to music together. You don’t have to sit together in the same room for this, because you share the songs via FaceTime.

Important to know if you find SharePlay an attractive feature: not every app supports SharePlay. Apple Music of course, but then the other participants of the conversation must also have an Apple Music subscription. This also applies to many other services, such as Disney Plus. Spotify is by far the most popular streaming service in the Netherlands, but unfortunately: SharePlay support is still hard to find here.

You can also have group conversations with up to 32 people. WhatsApp offers the same option, but with ‘only’ eight people. In most cases that will be enough, but the option to add more people is still nice. The person speaking in a Group FaceTime call appears larger than the other participants. Spatial Audio is also supported in FaceTime; nice if you have AirPods 3, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max.

There is also the image quality – also not unimportant when it comes to video calling. FaceTime is known for crystal clear image quality. Of course, this only applies if all parties have a good network connection. Is the connection weak? Then you can see that immediately during FaceTime. The image quality deteriorates and the person you call turns into an ocean of stuttering pixels.

Users running iOS 15 or later can use portrait mode during FaceTime. This mode makes the background nicely blurred, so that you stand out extra and not everyone sees which books you have in the cupboard. In addition, portrait mode simply looks very nice. And there is something to be said for that.

The benefits of WhatsApp

Previously, WhatsApp had one big advantage: the fact that everyone could use it. Now that Android and Windows users can FaceTime, that advantage no longer applies. At least: not quite anymore. With WhatsApp, Android, Windows and Apple users don’t have to create meeting links, as they do with FaceTime. You simply press the video call icon and you’re done.

It’s just ‘obvious’ to video call via WhatsApp. If you are already chatting with someone, the video call icon will be prominent at the top of your screen. Then why would you go to the FaceTime app first?

Conclusion FaceTime vs WhatsApp

FaceTime and WhatsApp are quite evenly matched in 2021. You can now assume that the image quality is good, regardless of the service you use. FaceTime and WhatsApp are no exceptions. It doesn’t matter which app you choose for a good conversation at a distance.

It is actually mainly about preference and habit, or it is about the value you attach to certain features. FaceTime has more options than WhatsApp, but they are especially interesting for hardcore Apple users with hardcore Apple friends. (Read: people who, for example, also have an Apple Music and an Apple TV Plus subscription on top of their iPhone).

Which app do you always use for video calling? Be sure to let us know in the comments! Never miss anything again? Then keep an eye on this website, download the iPhoned app and sign up for the free newsletter. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.