The short answer
To meet and video call new people from your PC, run X Live Video Call in a free Android emulator and call anyone who uses the app on their phone. To call someone you already know, use the app they have: WhatsApp Desktop, or a Google Meet link that opens on their phone. All of these are free.
What you need on the PC
- A webcam. Most laptops have one. On a desktop PC, plug in a USB webcam. Windows 11 can also use an Android phone as a webcam (Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mobile devices).
- A microphone or headset. A headset stops the echo you get from speakers.
- A stable connection. Wi-Fi close to the router or a cable is better than a weak signal.
- Camera permission. If the camera stays black, open Windows Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and allow access, and allow the camera in the browser's site settings.
| Way | Download on the PC? | The phone needs | Free limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| X Live Video Call | Yes, an Android emulator | X Live Video Call | Free, no coins |
| WhatsApp Desktop | Yes, free app | No time limit | |
| Google Meet | No, runs in the browser | Meet app or browser | 24 hours one-to-one, 60 minutes for groups |
| Microsoft Teams (free) | App or browser | Teams app or browser | 30 hours one-to-one, 60 minutes for groups |
| Messenger | No, runs in the browser | Messenger | No time limit |
| FaceTime link | No, joins in the browser | An iPhone that sends the link | No time limit |
1. X Live Video Call on your PC
X Live Video Call is made for Android phones, and a free Android emulator such as BlueStacks runs it on Windows. Install the emulator, sign in to Google Play inside it, install X Live Video Call, and allow the emulator to use your webcam and microphone. You can then chat with and video call people who use the app on their phones: PC to mobile, free, with no coins to buy.
See what X Live Video Call can do →
2. WhatsApp Desktop: PC to WhatsApp on a phone
Install WhatsApp for Windows from the Microsoft Store (or WhatsApp for Mac), then link it to your phone: on the phone open WhatsApp › Linked devices (in the ⋮ menu on Android, in Settings on iPhone) › Link a device, and scan the QR code on the PC. Open a chat and click the camera icon. The call is free and end-to-end encrypted. The desktop app is the reliable way to call; WhatsApp in the browser is mainly for messages.
3. Google Meet: video call online with no download
Go to meet.google.com in Chrome or Edge, sign in with a Google account, click New meeting and copy the link. Send it by text or chat. The person on the phone taps it and joins in the Meet app or the phone's browser. Free calls between two people can last up to 24 hours; calls with three or more people end after 60 minutes.
4. Microsoft Teams: the free replacement for Skype
Skype closed in May 2025, and Microsoft moved its users to Teams Free. Create a meeting link in Teams on the PC (app or browser) and share it; the other person joins from the Teams app on their phone. One-to-one calls can last 30 hours, group calls 60 minutes.
5. Messenger in the browser
If you both use Facebook, open Messenger on facebook.com in your browser, open the chat and click the video icon. The person answers in the Messenger app on their phone.
6. FaceTime link: PC to iPhone
A Windows PC can't start a FaceTime call, but it can join one. The iPhone user opens FaceTime, taps Create Link and sends it to you. Open the link in Chrome or Edge on the PC, type your name and join. They let you in from the iPhone.
Phone Link: calls from the PC, but not video
The Phone Link app in Windows (with Link to Windows on Android, or with an iPhone) connects your phone to the PC over Bluetooth. You can make and answer normal phone calls on the PC, read texts and see notifications, but the calls are voice only: Phone Link doesn't do video calls. For video, use one of the ways above.
Call a phone from a computer for free
Calls between apps are free, because they go over the internet. Calling a real phone number is different. In the US, Google Voice lets you call US and Canadian numbers free from a browser. Elsewhere, calls from a computer to normal phone numbers usually cost money, so it's cheaper to ask the person to install WhatsApp or open a Meet link.
Frequently asked questions
Can I video call a mobile from my PC without downloading anything?
Yes. Create a Google Meet link at meet.google.com in your browser and send it. The person on the phone joins from the link.
Is a video call from PC to mobile free?
Yes, with WhatsApp, Google Meet, Teams, Messenger and FaceTime links. The call uses your internet connection, not call credit.
Can Phone Link make video calls?
No. Phone Link makes and answers normal voice calls through your phone over Bluetooth. Use WhatsApp Desktop or Google Meet for video.
Which video call app should I download for PC?
To meet new people, X Live Video Call in an Android emulator. To call your contacts, WhatsApp for Windows; for work, Microsoft Teams. Google Meet needs no download.
Why is my webcam not working in video calls?
Check Windows Settings › Privacy & security › Camera, allow the browser or app to use it, close other apps that may be using the camera, and pick the right camera in the call settings.
Can I video call from a PC without a webcam?
You can join with audio only, or on Windows 11 use an Android phone as the webcam through Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mobile devices.
Make free video calls on Android
X Live Video Call: video calls, voice calls, chat and games. Free on Google Play.