The Best Free Apps for Staying Connected with Family Across the Country

Living far from family is hard. You miss the little things. A grandchild’s new smile. A daughter’s funny story at dinner. A son’s weekend project in the garage.

But your phone or tablet can close that gap. Today there are free apps that let you see faces, share photos, and chat in groups. You do not need to be a tech expert. Most of these apps take just a few minutes to set up.

Here are the best free apps for staying connected with the people you love most.

FaceTime (iPhone and iPad)

If you and your family use Apple devices, FaceTime is the easiest choice. It comes already installed on every iPhone and iPad.

What it does: Video calls and audio calls with one person or a group.

How to start a call:

Open the FaceTime app (the green icon with a white video camera).
Tap the + button at the top.
Type the name or phone number of the person you want to call.
Tap the Video button to start.

Why it’s great for families:

The picture quality is very clear.
You can add up to 32 people on one call. Perfect for holiday gatherings.
It works over Wi-Fi, so it will not use your phone data at home.

Good to know: FaceTime only works between Apple devices. If some family members use Android phones, try the next option instead.

Google Meet

Google Meet works on every phone, tablet, and computer. It does not matter if your family uses iPhones, Android phones, or laptops. Everyone can join.

What it does: Video calls with up to 100 people for free. Calls can last up to 60 minutes.

How to start a call:

Download Google Meet from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Sign in with your Google account (your Gmail address works).
Tap New Meeting, then tap Send an Invite.
Share the link with your family by text or email.
They tap the link and join the call.

Why it’s great for families:

Works on any device.
You can turn on captions so words appear on screen. This helps if you have trouble hearing.
The link makes joining easy. Family members just tap it.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. More than 2 billion people use it. It is completely free.

What it does: Text messages, voice messages, photo sharing, video calls, and group chats.

How to set it up:

Download WhatsApp from your app store.
Open it and enter your phone number.
WhatsApp will send you a code by text message. Type that code in.
Add your name and a photo if you like.
WhatsApp will find your contacts who already use the app.

Why it’s great for families:

Family group chat. Create one group with your whole family. Share photos, updates, and plans in one place.
Voice messages. Do not feel like typing? Hold the microphone button and talk. Your family hears your actual voice.
Video calls. Tap any contact, then tap the video camera icon. You can add up to 8 people.
Photo sharing. Send photos and short videos right in the chat. No need for email.

Tip: Ask one family member to create a group called “The [Your Last Name] Family” and add everyone.

Marco Polo

Marco Polo is like leaving a video voicemail. You record a short video message, and your family watches it whenever they have time. No one needs to be free at the same moment.

What it does: Video messages that people watch on their own schedule.

How to use it:

Download Marco Polo from your app store.
Create an account with your phone number.
Add a family member or create a group.
Hold the red button to record a video. Let go to send it.
Your family watches and records their own reply.

Why it’s great for families:

No scheduling needed. Record a message at 7 a.m. Your grandchild watches it after school.
You see faces and hear voices, not just text.
It feels like a real conversation, just spread out over the day.
Great for sharing daily moments. Show your garden, your breakfast, your walk.

Shared Photo Albums

Photos keep families connected between calls. Two great free options let everyone add photos to one shared album.

Google Photos (works on all devices)

Open Google Photos (download it if needed).
Tap Sharing at the bottom.
Tap Create Shared Album.
Name it (like “Family Photos 2026”).
Invite family members by email or phone number.
Everyone can add their own photos to the album.

Apple Shared Albums (iPhone and iPad)

Open the Photos app.
Tap the + at the top and choose Shared Album.
Name the album and invite family members.
Everyone in the group can add photos and leave comments.

Tip: Make it a family habit. Ask everyone to add at least one photo each week. You will love scrolling through them.

Zoom

You may have heard of Zoom during the pandemic. It is still one of the best apps for group video calls, especially for larger gatherings.

What it does: Video calls with up to 100 people. Free calls last up to 40 minutes.

How to join a call:

Download Zoom from your app store.
When someone sends you a meeting link, tap it.
Tap Join with Video.
That is it. You are in the call.

Why it’s great for families:

Very reliable, even with a slower internet connection.
Easy to join. You just tap a link.
Great for big family events, like a virtual birthday party or holiday dinner.

Tip: Ask a family member to be the “host” who sets up the call and sends the link. You just need to tap and join.

Which App Should You Start With?

Not sure where to begin? Here is a simple guide:

All Apple family? Start with FaceTime. It is already on your phone.
Mixed devices? Try WhatsApp for daily chats and Google Meet for group video calls.
Busy schedules? Marco Polo lets everyone connect without matching calendars.
Love sharing photos? Set up a Google Photos shared album this week.

You do not need to use all of these apps. Pick one or two that fit your family. The best app is the one everyone will actually use.

Getting Started Today

Here is a simple plan to get connected this week:

Today: Pick one app from this list and download it.
Tomorrow: Call or text one family member and ask them to download it too.
This weekend: Make your first video call or send your first photo to a shared album.

The technology is free. The setup is simple. And the reward is huge. Seeing your family’s faces and hearing their voices makes the distance feel much smaller.

You do not need to learn everything at once. Start with one app, get comfortable, and add more later if you want. The goal is not to master technology. The goal is to stay close to the people you love.

Reported by David Kim with additional research from the SeniorDaily editorial team. For corrections or updates, please contact us.