We’re all missing our friends and family during the coronavirus lockdown, but there are some handy apps out there to help us stay connected! If you fancy a chat, playing games with friends, or even having a dance party, here are the best apps to keep in touch with your loved ones.

Lots of us are already familiar with video call apps like FaceTime, Skype, and Facebook Messenger, but a few newer apps have hit the market recently! All totally free, each of the following three apps provide fun ways to keep in contact with your friends and family in unique ways. Whether you just need a basic video call (perhaps you have older relatives who aren’t too tech savvy), or want to have fun with friends, take a look at these free apps!

Houseparty

Houseparty is a great app for playing online games with friends and family! You can group call between 2 and 6 people, share your screens, and play a huge range of games virtually such as Heads Up, themed pop quizzes (even Disney and Harry Potter!), and drawing too.

Zoom

Zoom is great for video calling, both personally and professionally! You can group call with up to a whopping 100 people (great if you’ve got a seriously huge family). The app promises high image and sound quality, so you’ll feel like you’re right at home with your friends and fam, even if they’re miles away.

Google Duo

Google Duo is the best simple video calling app around. You can use it to video chat across phones, tablets, computers, and even Smart Displays too. This is the easiest app to use with older members of the family who perhaps can’t get to grips with more complex softwares – all they need is a Gmail address to get chatting!

Which apps are you using to stay in touch?