How to use Google Duo, the video calling app that’s better than Apple’s FaceTime and works on any phone (GOOGL, GOOG)

Duo is a free video calling app that’s Google’s answer to FaceTime.

A few months ago, my older sister made a life change that was met with animosity among the rest of my family members: she switched from an iPhone to a Google Pixel 2.

Now, I’m a huge fan of the Pixel 2. It’s my favorite Android phone on the market, and I’m considering making the switch once I pay off my iPhone 6s.

My problem was that my sister lives nearly 400 miles away from me, and she has two young kids. By switching to an Android phone, she seemingly eliminated the easiest way for me to talk to my 2-year-old niece. That niece, by the way, is also a FaceTime devotee. Whenever my sister tries to call me the old-fashioned way, she says, “No, Mommy. FaceTime!”

Luckily for my niece and I, though, Google thought of a solution for people in a cross-platform relationship: a video calling app called Google Duo.

Duo is a free app that works on both iPhone and Android phones. It comes standard on the Pixel, and all I had to do was take two minutes to download it for iPhone from the App Store.

These days, my sister and I can video chat whenever we please. Here’s how it works:

When you first open Google Duo, it looks totally different from FaceTime.

When you first open Google Duo, it looks totally different from FaceTime.  (Avery Hartmans/Business Insider)

Duo is a little startling at first, because you see live video of yourself up top. Underneath, you’ll see your recent conversations, along with all the people you know who have the app.

When you scroll down, you’ll see all your contacts who don’t have Duo. If you see someone you want to chat with, you can quickly invite them to the app.

To call someone, just tap on their photo. Another thing that makes Google Duo different: you can enable the option to let the other person see your live video while the call is dialing.

To call someone, just tap on their photo. Another thing that makes Google Duo different: you can enable the option to let the other person see your live video while the call is dialing. 

This feature is both creepy and cool at the same time. When I called my sister last week, my video was on her screen before she even picked up (although I couldn’t see her yet).

Once the other person picks up, Google Duo looks a lot like other video calling apps. The other person’s video takes up the majority of the screen, and your own video will appear in the corner.

Once the other person picks up, Google Duo looks a lot like other video calling apps. The other person’s video takes up the majority of the screen, and your own video will appear in the corner.  (Google/YouTube)

There’s one major design difference between Duo and FaceTime: your video is in a round bubble rather than a rectangle.

This certainly looks better than FaceTime, but it can be hard to tell what’s in the frame or what the other person can see during your call.

One feature that makes Google Duo superior to FaceTime: if the other person doesn’t pick up the call, you can leave them a video message.

One feature that makes Google Duo superior to FaceTime: if the other person doesn’t pick up the call, you can leave them a video message.  (Google/YouTube)

All you have to do to leave a video message on Google Duo is press record. Then, the other person will get a notification that they have a video waiting for them.

All you have to do to leave a video message on Google Duo is press record. Then, the other person will get a notification that they have a video waiting for them.  (Google/YouTube)

To watch a video message, just click on the person’s picture. Once you watch it, you’ll have the option to save it to your camera roll.

To watch a video message, just click on the person’s picture. Once you watch it, you’ll have the option to save it to your camera roll.  (Google/YouTube)

One other nice feature: Once you’re done watching, a button will pop up inside the video that lets you call the person back immediately.

One other nice feature: Once you’re done watching, a button will pop up inside the video that lets you call the person back immediately.  (Google/YouTube)

Google Duo is free to download and works with both the iPhone and Android devices.

Google Duo is free to download and works with both the iPhone and Android devices.  (Google)

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