Hangouts or Google Allo which is better?

In the field of instant messaging, Google has mounted a major mess. It launched Google Allo to compete against WhatsApp, but so far it has not managed to gain the foothold that the company expected. It has definitively closed Google Talk, a movement that in theory will benefit Hangouts, which has been in the doldrums for years.

With this goodbye, a little piece of the history of the great G is leaving, which has not managed to reign in the world of messaging apps.The competition is very tough: WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger... But Google is not giving up. Hence, he continues to strive with Google Allo and Hangouts. If we put them on a scale, which is better? It is evident that everyone's taste comes into play here, so let's compare what each one offers.

Differences between Google Allo and Hangouts

Although both services belong to the category of free instant messaging, they differ in several aspects. For starters, Hangouts is cross-platform, while Google Allo is only available for Android and iOS.

This is a point in favor of the first one, because we have the convenience of being able to use it interchangeably from both the smartphone and the computer. But be careful, because it seems that Google Allo could soon arrive in its desktop version.

It also allows you to make video calls, which is something Allo doesn't offer.It does not have this function to favor its companion Google Duo, which is an application specifically designed for this service. We also cannot make Voice over IP calls, those in which the voice signal travels through the Internet. With Hangouts yes.

Another difference lies in the type of registration needed to use these services. While in Hangouts we are only asked for a Google account, in Allo it is also mandatory to provide a phone number. As with WhatsApp, permissions must be granted with a verification code that we receive via SMS and has end-to-end encryption for greater security.

When it comes to group chats, both applications are compatible. The limit is wider in Allo, because they can be up to 256 members, compared to 150 in Hangouts.Although, honestly, I don't think it's a feature to take into account because the groups are not usually that big.

What may interest you is that with Hangouts it is possible to have video calls with up to 10 people at the same time. This is especially useful in the workplace, to hold meetings, for example.

Google Allo is smart and wants to help you

It is important to highlight the artificial intelligence of Google Allo It is a feature that even the almighty WhatsApp envy ( although with its more than billion users is not that he laments too much either). But what exactly is Google Allo's smart reply for?

Well, the point is that this application is capable of learning from the answers we type What it does is follow the course of the conversations so that he can offer us suggestions based on what he “learns” from us.In this way, he manages to anticipate what we are going to answer.

Thanks to its intelligence, Allo provides feedback to the user in a way that other applications do not. That's not all, because it also has the invaluable help of Google Assistant. That's why we can search for any information without having to leave the conversation we're in.

This integration with Google's intelligent assistant is undoubtedly the main asset that Allo plays with, especially in its fight against WhatsApp. But it also offers other interesting features, such as incognito chat. With self-destructing messages, we can have secret conversations. If you know Snapchat, it will surely sound familiar to you, since it is the same thing.

Conclusion

Seeing the characteristics of these two services, it is obvious that there are differences. Google Allo uses more advanced technology, while Hangouts has lagged a bit behind. Not surprisingly, Allo is Google's big bet for instant messaging. It has left Hangouts aside, which remains afloat as the direct heir of the disappeared Gtalk.

In terms of visuals, it should be noted that Allo is a more refined application and presents a more intuitive interface. As I mentioned, it is a matter of taste. Each user has needs and it depends on which service will be most useful.

For example, I don't use Allo because all my contacts are on WhatsApp (and I don't need an app to talk to myself). However, I do use Hangouts a lot for video calls, although I don't usually send messages there. Which one do you prefer?