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Source-backed analysis11

Review basis

Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.

11 reference sources

Information updated Nov 10, 2026

How we review
Google Meet logo

Google Meet Review

Browser-based video meetings built into Gmail, Calendar and Google Workspace

Editorial Team7.5/10Write the first review

By Official AppDuo editorial team · Updated

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android
Freemium · Free
Visit Google Meet
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Decide at a glance

Our verdict

Google Meet suits people and organisations already in the Google ecosystem: no install, join from a link, and free accounts can host up to 100 participants. The trade-offs are a 60-minute cap on free group meetings, recording and other advanced features behind paid plans, and reviewer complaints that it is bare-bones next to rivals.

Best for: Teams, schools and small businesses already on Gmail, Google Calendar and Workspace

Skip it if: Anyone who needs free group meetings longer than 60 minutes

Pros

  • Free tier for up to 100 participants; 1:1 calls have no time limit
  • Built into Google Calendar, Docs, Sheets and Slides; runs on web, iOS and Android
  • Live captions, noise cancellation and a waiting room for host approval; Gemini notes and summaries on paid tiers

Cons

  • Group meetings on free accounts are capped at 60 minutes
  • Recording, transcripts, 1080p video, breakout rooms and other features are paid-tier only
All pros and cons · Who is it for?

Pros

  • Strong ratings: 4.8/5 on the US App Store, 4.4/5 on Google Play, 4.6/5 on G2

Cons

  • Reviewers report dropped connections in large meetings, occasional audio/video dips, and outside guests needing a Google account or waiting for admission

Best for

  • People who want quick link-based meetings in a browser or on a phone with nothing extra to install

Skip it if

  • Large broadcast-style events: a G2 reviewer called Meet poor as a broadcasting tool for mass conferences

Problems it solves

Experience & key features

What is Google Meet?

Google Meet is Google's video meeting and calling service. According to Wikipedia, it launched formally on 9 March 2017 as an enterprise version of Hangouts, initially for up to 30 participants. In April 2020 it opened to all Google accounts and reached 100 million daily users; on 1 November 2022 Meet replaced consumer Duo and Hangouts was retired. It runs on web, iOS, Android and ChromeOS.

Key features

Google's product page lists live captions, noise cancellation, lighting and background adjustments, polls, Q&A, breakout rooms, screen sharing and integration with Docs, Sheets, Slides and Calendar. Gemini provides notes, translation and meeting summaries; recording and live streaming need Workspace or certain Google One plans. Hosts admit people from a waiting room, and Google Meet room hardware can also join Cisco Webex and Zoom meetings.

Pricing and value

A free Google account can host up to 100 participants, but group meetings stop after 60 minutes; 1:1 calls are unlimited. Per the pricing page, on a one-year commitment Workspace Business Starter is $7/user/month (100 participants), Standard $14 (150) and Plus $22 (500). From 24 Nov 2026 to 24 Nov 2027 new customers get an intro discount for the first 20 users on Starter and Standard. The page says the annual commitment saves 16% but does not show the flexible month-to-month price. For many teams the value is that Meet comes with Gmail, Drive and Calendar.

More analysis

Who it's for and how it compares

Meet fits teams already in the Google ecosystem who want quick meetings with little setup. For webinars, larger breakout use or more customisation, Zoom is the usual comparison; organisations on Microsoft 365 will find Microsoft Teams a closer fit. G2 and Capterra reviews are broadly positive but flag limits for large broadcasts and for guests without Google accounts.

Screenshots

Screenshot 1 from the Google Meet App Store listing (US storefront)
Screenshot 1 from the Google Meet App Store listing (US storefront)
Screenshot 2 from the Google Meet App Store listing (US storefront)
Screenshot 2 from the Google Meet App Store listing (US storefront)
Screenshot 3 from the Google Meet App Store listing (US storefront)
Screenshot 3 from the Google Meet App Store listing (US storefront)

Plans & pricing

Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026

Free

Personal

Free

Per Google's product page: up to 100 participants and 60-minute group meetings; 1:1 and mobile calls have no time limit. Recording and live streaming need Workspace or certain Google One plans.

Workspace Business Starter

Business

$7/mo/user

Meetings up to 100 participants. $7/user/month on a one-year commitment. New customers pay $3.50/user/month for the first 20 users from 24 Nov 2026 to 24 Nov 2027.

Workspace Business Standard

Business

$14/mo/user

Meetings up to 150 participants. $14/user/month on a one-year commitment; new customers pay $8.40 for the first 20 users during the same promotion.

Workspace Business Plus

Business

$22/mo/user

Meetings up to 500 participants, $22/user/month on a one-year commitment, no intro price. Enterprise (contact sales) allows up to 1,000 participants.

Free plan limits
A free Google account can host up to 100 participants, but group meetings end after 60 minutes. 1:1 and mobile calls have no time limit. Recording, live streaming and Gemini notes need a paid plan.
Free trial
14-day free trial · no credit card
Cancellation & refunds

No Meet-specific refund policy was found on the pages read; Meet is part of Google Workspace, so billing follows the Workspace agreement.

Privacy

Google's privacy policy (effective 16 Oct 2026) says it may collect account details, device and location data, call logs (phone numbers, times, durations) and microphone or camera input when you use them. You can delete or auto-delete activity data, export data via Takeout and manage ads in My Ad Center; Google says it does not use Drive, Gmail or Photos content for ads unless you choose to share it. Workspace organisations are covered by a separate Google Cloud privacy notice. Meet's help page says data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Audio and video of 1:1 and group calls in the new Meet app are end-to-end encrypted and not stored on Google servers; the page states this only for the new Meet app. With live captions on, audio is sent temporarily to a Google transcription server, not linked to user identifiers and not stored.

Official pricing page

Google Meet alternatives

Google Meet logoVSZoom logoGoogle Meet vs Zoom
Google Workspace logo8.1/10

Google Workspace

Gmail, Docs, Meet and Drive for business, built around the browser

Free trial
Zoom logo7.5/10

Zoom

Dedicated video meetings with a 40-minute free tier and built-in AI notes

Freemium
All alternatives

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Meet free?

Yes. A free Google account can host up to 100 participants; group meetings are capped at 60 minutes while 1:1 and mobile calls have no time limit. Recording needs a paid plan.

How long can a Google Meet group call last?

Free accounts get 60 minutes for group meetings. Google's product page says some Google Workspace and Google One plans allow group calls of up to 24 hours.

How much does Google Meet cost?

Meet is included in Google Workspace. Per Google's pricing page, on a one-year commitment Business Starter is $7, Standard $14 and Plus $22 per user per month; Enterprise requires contacting sales.

Are Google Meet calls encrypted?

Google's help page says data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Audio and video of 1:1 and group calls in the new Meet app are end-to-end encrypted, but the page does not say this applies to every meeting.

Review evidence & sources11

Scores

Ease of use
8.5
Why this score

Joining is a link in the browser with no install; Capterra and G2 reviewers often praise ease of use and the Google Calendar tie-in. Marked down because outside guests sometimes need a Google account or must wait for approval.

Features
7.3
Why this score

Live captions, polls, Q&A, breakout rooms and Gemini notes/translation, but many sit behind paid plans. Reviewers call it fairly bare-bones next to rivals and weak for large broadcasts.

Value for money
8.0
Why this score

A free tier for 100 participants is generous, and Workspace Business Starter at $7/user/month (one-year commitment) also includes Gmail and Drive. The 60-minute free group cap and paid-gated features hold the score back.

Performance
7.4
Why this score

No independent call-quality data in the sources read. Capterra reviewers mention drops or lag with many participants and occasional audio/video quality dips.

Support
6.5
Why this score

Google offers a help centre and documentation; the pages read describe no direct support for free accounts. Workspace plans have their own support, but its details were not verified in this research.

Privacy & security
7.0
Why this score

Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, calls in the new Meet app are end-to-end encrypted, and deletion and export tools are offered. Marked down because Google's broad policy collects many data types, personal accounts still get personalised ads, and end-to-end encryption is stated only for the new Meet app.

What users say

Sources

Specs & compatibility
Developer
Google LLC
Headquarters
United States
Launched
2017
Category
Business

Capabilities

  • AI features
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Integrations
  • Mobile app
  • End-to-end encryption

Platforms

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android

Interface languages

  • Vietnamese
  • English
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Thai
  • Indonesian

Integrations

  • Google Calendar
  • Google Docs
  • Google Sheets
  • Google Slides
  • Gmail
  • YouTube

Support

  • Help center
  • Community forum

Change history

  1. Update.Meet adopts a new logo.
  2. Company.Meet replaces consumer Duo and Hangouts is officially retired.
  3. Limits.Group calls on free Gmail accounts are capped at 60 minutes after several postponements; 1:1 calls remain unlimited.
Full change history (5)
  1. Feature.Google makes Meet free for all users, not just Workspace customers; usage grew about 30-fold from January to April 2020, reaching 100 million daily users.
  2. Launch.Google formally launches Meet, an enterprise-friendly version of Hangouts, initially for up to 30 participants.
About the author

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