Best Alternatives to the Hangouts Plugin for Microsoft OutlookGoogle Hangouts used to be a common choice for integrating chat and video into users’ email workflows. Its Outlook plugin let people schedule meetings, start calls, and quickly message contacts from inside Microsoft Outlook. Since Hangouts has been phased out and Google has shifted users toward Google Chat and Google Meet, many organizations and individuals using Outlook seek reliable alternatives that restore or surpass the same convenience: scheduling, presence, chat, and one-click video/voice meetings from within Outlook.
This article reviews the best alternatives to the Hangouts Plugin for Microsoft Outlook, grouping options by likely needs (enterprise-ready, small business/freelancer-friendly, lightweight chat-focused, and privacy-centered). For each option I’ll explain what it does, how it integrates with Outlook, core features, pricing basics, and which user types it’s best for.
What to look for in a Hangouts replacement for Outlook
Before comparing options, here are the capabilities you’ll usually want from a replacement:
- Calendar and scheduling integration (create/join meetings from Outlook events)
- One-click video/voice calls from calendar invites or email threads
- Presence and chat inside Outlook (see if colleagues are available and message them)
- Contact and directory sync with Microsoft 365 / Active Directory
- Cross-platform clients (Windows, macOS, web, mobile)
- Security and admin controls for enterprises (SAML/SSO, compliance, retention)
- Easy deployment and Outlook add-in availability (Microsoft AppSource or Exchange add-in support)
Enterprise-grade alternatives
Microsoft Teams
Why it’s a top choice
- Deep native integration with Outlook, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 (calendar, scheduling, presence).
- One-click join for Teams meetings from Outlook calendar events; Teams meeting add-in is preinstalled for many Microsoft 365 tenants.
- Built-in chat, voice, meetings, screen sharing, and document collaboration (SharePoint/OneDrive).
- Enterprise security, compliance, and admin management (DLP, eDiscovery, Conditional Access).
Best for: Enterprises already on Microsoft 365 that want the smoothest integration and centralized IT control.
Pricing: Included with most Microsoft 365 business plans; free tier available with limited features.
Zoom (with Outlook add-in)
Why choose Zoom
- Market-leader in video quality and meeting features (breakout rooms, webinar mode, large meeting support).
- Outlook add-ins allow scheduling Zoom meetings from Outlook, joining with one click, and adding meeting details automatically.
- Supports calendar integrations (Exchange, Office 365, Google Calendar) and SSO for enterprises.
Best for: Organizations prioritizing advanced meeting features and large-scale webinars.
Pricing: Free tier with 40-minute group meeting limit; paid plans for extended duration and advanced features.
Cisco Webex
Why choose Webex
- Strong enterprise feature set (meeting reliability, security, PSTN dial-in options).
- Outlook integration via add-in; schedule and join Webex meetings directly from Outlook.
- Enterprise-grade encryption and administrative controls.
Best for: Regulated industries and organizations needing advanced telephony and security features.
Pricing: Various tiers, including paid plans with advanced admin and calling features.
Small business / freelancer-friendly options
Google Meet (with Google Workspace add-ons)
Why consider Google Meet
- Simple, reliable video conferencing that integrates tightly with Google Workspace; can be used alongside Outlook via add-ins and calendar connectors.
- One-click joining from calendar invites; Meet add-ons can insert meeting links when creating calendar events.
- Good cross-platform clients and browser-based access.
Best for: Small teams using Google Workspace who also rely on Outlook for mail or calendar.
Pricing: Included with Google Workspace plans; free tier available with limitations.
BlueJeans
Why choose BlueJeans
- Focus on simplicity and high-quality audio/video; good interoperability with various platforms.
- Outlook add-in for scheduling and joining meetings; supports enterprise features like recording and analytics.
- Integrates with Microsoft 365 and calendar systems.
Best for: Small-to-medium teams that want simple, high-quality meetings without heavy enterprise complexity.
Pricing: Paid plans with different meeting feature sets.
Lightweight chat-focused alternatives
Slack (with Outlook Calendar and Outlook add-ins)
Why Slack might fit
- Best-in-class persistent team chat, channels, and lightweight huddles (audio/video).
- Official Outlook Calendar integration and add-ins allow presence and quick meeting links; Outlook emails can be sent to Slack channels.
- Rich app ecosystem and workflow automation (Slack apps).
Best for: Teams that prioritize chat-first workflows and lightweight calls rather than full-featured video conferencing.
Pricing: Free tier with limits on message history and integrations; paid tiers add security and retention controls.
Mattermost / Rocket.Chat (self-hosted options)
Why choose self-hosted chat
- Open-source, self-hosted alternatives to Slack for teams wanting full control over data.
- Integrations and bots can connect to Outlook/Exchange via APIs or third-party connectors.
- Strong privacy and customization options.
Best for: Organizations needing on-premises control or strong privacy/compliance requirements.
Pricing: Community editions are free; enterprise editions add support and features.
Privacy-focused and niche alternatives
Jitsi Meet
Why choose Jitsi
- Open-source, privacy-focused video conferencing that can run on public servers or your own infrastructure.
- No account required on public instances; can be integrated into workflows via links added to Outlook invites.
- Lightweight, browser-based, and supports basic meeting features (screen share, recording with Jibri when self-hosted).
Best for: Privacy-conscious users or small teams capable of self-hosting.
Pricing: Free for public instances; hosting costs if self-hosted.
Signal / Element (for messaging)
Why these matter
- Signal provides end-to-end encrypted messaging and voice/video calls (mobile-first). Element (Matrix) offers decentralized, E2EE-capable chat with bridges to other systems.
- Not direct Outlook plugins, but can be used alongside Outlook for secure person-to-person communications; calendar invites can include secure meeting links or voice numbers.
Best for: Individuals or teams where message privacy and encryption are paramount.
Pricing: Free/Open-source; hosting costs for self-hosted Element/Matrix homeservers.
How to choose the right replacement
- If you’re fully on Microsoft 365: Microsoft Teams is usually the best fit due to built-in Outlook integration and centralized management.
- If you need advanced webinar or large meeting features: consider Zoom.
- If privacy and self-hosting matter: consider Jitsi, Element, or self-hosted Mattermost/Rocket.Chat.
- If your workflow is chat-first rather than calendar-first: Slack or Microsoft Teams (chat-centric use) are strong choices.
- For regulated industries requiring telephony/PSTN: Cisco Webex or enterprise Teams Calling bundles are preferable.
Example workflows (quick)
- Scheduling a meeting from Outlook: install the provider’s Outlook add-in (Teams/Zoom/Webex), create a calendar event, click the provider’s “Add meeting” button — the meeting link appears in the invite automatically.
- Quick chat from email: use the add-in or integration (Teams or Slack) to message the sender or create a channel message from the email.
- Joining on mobile: install the provider’s mobile app and join from the calendar notification or app meeting list.
Final thoughts
There’s no exact one-to-one replacement for the Hangouts plugin because modern solutions have split into specialized chat and video platforms—most with Outlook add-ins that restore the convenience Hangouts once provided. For tight Outlook/Exchange integration and enterprise management, Microsoft Teams is the default recommendation. For best-in-class video features choose Zoom; for privacy and self-hosting, use Jitsi or self-hosted Matrix/Element.
If you want, I can:
- recommend the single best option for your organization given your size, compliance needs, and budget, or
- provide step-by-step instructions to install the Outlook add-in for any of the options above.
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