Before you start using FaceTime, you may be curious about what’s good and what’s not-so-good about it. To help you decide if you want to use this free app or not, we’re going to cover some of the pros and cons of it in this article.
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Pros
Free to use
FaceTime comes installed automatically on iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, and certain iPod devices. It doesn’t have to be downloaded, and the service itself is free to use.
You can send and receive both voice and video calls
You can use it to make and receive voice and video calls with your family and friends who also have Apple devices. We like that you have the flexibility of using audio only, or audio and video.
Don’t have to have cellular service or use up your monthly minutes
Since the app uses the Internet connection on your device, you don’t necessarily have to have cell phone service to use it, as long as you can access the Internet. If you can connect to Wi-Fi, you can still use FaceTime.
It can be used on almost any Apple device
FaceTime comes on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers, as well as certain iPods. If you have one of these devices, you can use it to call other people you know who also own Apple devices.
It’s a safe, secure, and private app
FaceTime uses end-to-end encryption, so your calls are safe, private, and secure, and can’t be infiltrated by others. If you want to learn more about what Apple does to protect your privacy, check out our article on FaceTime safety.
Cons
It’s only available on Apple devices
Unfortunately, it isn’t available on Android devices or PC computers. If your device didn’t come with FaceTime installed, you won’t be able to use it.
You cannot call landline phones
Unlike some other voice and video calling apps available today, FaceTime does not have the ability to call landline phones – only other Apple devices.
It does not offer group video chats
FaceTime can be used for 3-way voice calls, but not for video calls, like most other video chatting apps can.
Can use up your data plan quickly
If you’re using FaceTime over your device’s mobile data network, it can start to use up your monthly data plan. Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network, if possible, to avoid using up your data.
Overall: 8/10
FaceTime is great and convenient if you want to call someone else who has an Apple device. We like that it’s free to use and comes pre-installed on Apple devices. FaceTime doesn’t use a lot of data per call, and will not use any data if you connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Unfortunately, it can’t be used to call standard landline telephones, make group calls, or be used on anything other than Apple devices. However, we still think it’s a pretty great app for those who do have Apple devices.
That finishes off our review. We hope it helped you make the decision of whether you want to use FaceTime or not. If you want to get started with it, check out our next tutorial on how to set it up on your Apple device.
