With Hangouts Chat, you can communicate with teams and people in rooms—messages are organized into different topics, so you can hold multiple conversations at the same time.

Here are some key differences:

• On a computer, open the Chrome browser and go to chat.google.com.
• Download the Chat mobile app on your phone or tablet (Android or iOS).

For more information, see Get started with Hangouts Chat.

Currently, you can only invite people or groups in your organization to a room in Chat.

Yes. Direct messages that you receive in classic Hangouts are synchronized with Chat. Currently, group conversations and rooms in Chat aren’t synced with classic Hangouts.

Currently, there’s no way to delete a room. You can leave a room to hide it in your room list. If you created the room, you can ask all members to leave the room to effectively delete it for everyone. For more information on rooms, see Get started with Hangouts Chat.

Hangouts Meet takes away the hassle of requiring accounts, plugins, or downloads for teammates and clients to join a meeting. With a more efficient design, it's faster and easier to start your video calls immediately—all you need is the shareable URL. Here are some other key differences:

Aside from Hangout Meet's new logo and look, you can check the location of the participants’ list and meeting controls to see which version you're using.

Your G Suite administrator controls which one your organization uses. If you want to switch, contact your admin.

Hangouts Meet—Up to 25 (G Suite Basic and Business) or 50 (G Suite Enterprise) people at a time.

Classic Hangouts—Up to 25 people at a time.

For more information, see Get started with Hangouts Meet and Get started with classic Hangouts.

Hangouts Meet

• To create a video meeting, you need a G Suite account.
• To join a video meeting, you need the Chrome browser (no G Suite account required).

Classic Hangouts

• To create a video meeting, you need a G Suite account.
• To join a video meeting, you need to use Safari, Internet Explorer, or Chrome (no G Suite account required).

Yes, just click the link to the video meeting or enter the meeting ID for the video meeting you want to join at meet.google.com.

Hangouts Meet—Yes. You can grant access to external participants using a single shared link. However, someone from your organization needs to accept them to the meeting first.

Classic Hangouts—Yes. You can grant access to external participants through a combination of Calendar permissions and invites. Learn more about requirements for external guests.

Hangouts Meet—Chrome browser, a web camera, and a microphone. Learn more about system requirements.

Classic Hangouts—Supported Internet browser (Safari, Internet Explorer, or Chrome), a web camera, and a microphone. Learn more about system requirements for different devices.