Not all video apps are created equal.
In the modern educational era, the challenge isn’t just connecting; it’s engaging. “Zoom fatigue” is real, and students are finding it harder to focus on generic screens.
The best teaching tools today go beyond simple video and audio; they offer features that foster interaction, manage classroom dynamics, and, crucially, re-establish the human connection that gets lost through a lens.
We have analyzed the market to bring you the 5 best video call apps for teaching, ranked by their ability to solve current educational challenges.
Let’s get started.
1. FaceCall
When we think of teaching tools, we often think of whiteboards and breakout rooms. Yet, the single biggest hurdle in remote education, particularly in tutoring or parent-teacher relationships, is the “cold start.”
Traditional video platforms are blind. You send a link, and you wait.
The student or parent joins, and there is an awkward moment of reorientation. FaceCall takes the top spot on our list because it radically innovates the most crucial part of teaching: the initial point of engagement.
FaceCall features the world’s first video calling app with video caller ID. This means that before the student or parent even answers your call, they see a live video hook or a pre-recorded intro from you on their ringing screen – making FaceCall one of the top contenders of best video calling apps for remote classes.
Key Features:
- AI-Powered Intros: Teachers can use built-in AI tools to create engaging, professional video introductions with masks or templates, perfect for younger students to make the “ringing” phase fun rather than anxiety-inducing.
- Real-Time Translation: For educators working with ESL students or diverse parent populations, FaceCall breaks down language barriers directly within the video call, translating speech in real-time.
- End-to-End Encryption: Essential for maintaining student privacy and complying with educational data standards.
Pros:
- Unmatched Engagement Starter: Solves the “awkward start” to virtual sessions better than any other platform.
- Builds Instant Rapport: Allows the educator’s personality to shine through before the connection is even established.
- Excellent for 1-on-1s: The ideal tool for private tutors, counselors, and parent-teacher conferences where personal connection is paramount.
Cons:
- Mobile-First Focus: While powerful, its unique features are most impactful in a mobile environment.
2. Zoom
Zoom remains a powerhouse in the educational space due to sheer reliability and a massive suite of features designed to replicate the dynamics of a physical lecture hall.
While it lacks the pre-call engagement innovation of FaceCall, Zoom is the robust workhorse required for managing large groups of students simultaneously.
Its feature set has evolved significantly based on feedback from educators over the last few years.
Key Features:
- Advanced Breakout Rooms: Zoom still sets the standard here. Educators can pre-assign students to groups, shuffle them randomly, and hop between rooms to monitor progress—essential for collaborative project work.
- Interactive Whiteboarding: The built-in whiteboard features allow both teachers and students to annotate simultaneously, useful for math problems or brainstorming sessions.
- Polling and Quizzes: Teachers can launch instant polls to check for understanding mid-lecture, keeping students active rather than passive watchers.
- “Focus Mode”: A great feature for test-taking or lectures, where the teacher can see all students, but students can only see the teacher, reducing distractions from peers.
Pros:
- Feature Rich: If you need a specific classroom management tool, Zoom likely has it.
- Ubiquity: Almost every student above the age of 10 already knows how to use Zoom, reducing the technical learning curve.
- High Capacity: Can handle massive lecture sizes reliably.
Cons:
- The “Fatigue” Factor: The standard grid layout is associated with burnout for many students.
- Privacy Concerns: While largely addressed, historical issues with “Zoombombing” mean teachers must be vigilant with security settings.
- Time Limits: The free plan’s 40-minute limit is a major hindrance for most standard class lengths.
3. Google Meet: The Best for G Suite Schools
Google has aggressively updated Meet to compete with Zoom, and its biggest strength is how frictionless it is within the Google Workspace for Education.
The platform works well on slow internet. There are also no apps to download; it just works in the browser, which is a massive plus for schools using Chromebooks.
According to Google, over 150 million students and educators rely on Google Workspace for Education worldwide, making it the largest educational ecosystem on the planet. (Source: Google for Education)
For K-12 districts and universities already embedded in the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Docs, Classroom), Google Meet is often the default, and increasingly preferred, choice.
Key Features:
- Google Classroom Integration: This is the killer feature. Teachers can create a unique Meet link for each class directly within Google Classroom, ensuring only students on the roster can join.
- Live Captions and Translation: Google’s AI speech recognition is superb, providing real-time captioning that is crucial for accessibility and helpful for students in noisy environments.
- Collaborative Activities: Seamless integration with Google Docs and Sheets allows for real-time collaboration during the call.
- Moderation Controls: Teachers can mute all students, remove participants, and control who can share their screen with ease.
Pros:
- Seamless Ecosystem: If you use Google Classroom, Meet is the logical extension.
- Browser-Based Accessibility: No software downloads required, making it easy for students on any device, especially Chromebooks.
- Strong Security: Tightly integrated with organizational Google accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
Cons:
- Feature Lag: While catching up, it still sometimes trails Zoom in advanced features like complex breakout room management.
- Requires Google Account: To get the most out of it, everyone needs to be in the Google ecosystem.
4. Microsoft Teams: The Best Hub for Higher Ed
Microsoft Teams is more than just a video chat app; it is a persistent digital workspace. It is particularly dominant in higher education and enterprise learning environments where long-term project collaboration is as important as the live lecture.
Teams combines video meetings with persistent chat channels, file storage, and deep integration with the Microsoft 365 stack (Word, PowerPoint, OneNote).
Microsoft Teams usage has skyrocketed to over 320 million monthly active users, with adoption in more than 270,000 educational institutions globally. (Source: Microsoft Fiscal Reports)
Key Features:
- Class Teams and Channels: Educators can create a “Team” for a course and separate “Channels” for different topics or student project groups, keeping communication organized outside of video calls.
- Together Mode: An innovative viewing mode that uses AI to cut participants out of their video boxes and place them in a shared virtual environment (like a lecture hall auditorium), designed to reduce psychological fatigue.
- Assignment Integration: Teachers can distribute, collect, and grade assignments directly within the Teams interface without leaving the app.
- Immersive Reader: An excellent accessibility tool built into chats and posts to help students with reading difficulties.
Pros:
- The “All-in-One” Hub: Centralizes communication, assignments, and video calls in one application.
- Deep Office 365 Integration: Perfect for courses that rely heavily on collaborative documents or PowerPoint presentations.
- Persistent Chat: Unlike Zoom, the chat history remains available after the meeting ends.
Cons:
- Complexity Overload: The interface can be overwhelming and confusing for younger students or less tech-savvy users.
- Resource Heavy: The Teams application is known for being demanding on computer hardware, which can be an issue for students with older laptops.
5. Whereby: The Easiest for Instant Tutoring
Sometimes, you don’t need a complex educational ecosystem. You just need a reliable video room that works instantly without forcing the student to download software or create an account.
That is Whereby’s niche.
Whereby is a favorite among private tutors, freelance music teachers, and counselors who need zero-friction entry for their clients. It operates entirely in the browser with unique, permanent room URLs.
In user satisfaction surveys regarding “Ease of Use,” Whereby consistently ranks in the top percentile (scoring 9.5/10 on G2), significantly higher than the industry average for video conferencing software. (Source: G2 Software Reviews)
Key Features:
- Permanent Room URLs: You can create a personalized link (e.g., whereby.com/OurMathRoom). You don’t need to generate a new link for every session; students just “knock” on your door when it’s time.
- No Downloads Required: It is purely browser-based using WebRTC technology. This is incredibly helpful when working with students on locked-down devices or parents who struggle with technology.
- Simple Screen Sharing and Recording: The interface is minimalist and intuitive, making basic teaching functions easy to access.
- Picture-in-Picture: Allows you to browse other tabs while keeping the student visible in a floating window.
Pros:
- Zero Friction Entry: The easiest platform for a student to join a call.
- Minimalist Interface: Very clean design that focuses on the video feed rather than complex menus.
- Customizable Branding: You can brand your waiting room, which looks professional for private tutors.
Cons:
- Limited Free Tier: The free version is restrictive on group sizes and session lengths compared to competitors.
- Lacks Advanced Tools: No native polling, complex breakout rooms, or advanced whiteboard features found in Zoom or Teams.
Also Read: Best Group Video Call Apps
The Verdict
The “best” app ultimately depends on who you are teaching and what you need to achieve.
Statistics show that 55% of communication is nonverbal.
If your priority is re-establishing that human connection, reducing the anxiety of remote outreach, or engaging students and parents one-on-one, FaceCall offers a unique and powerful solution that traditional platforms cannot match.
In this era of hybrid learning, the technology that helps you connect emotionally is just as important as the technology that helps you connect digitally.
Download FaceCall now.
