How to Video Call Without Downloading an App

Videocall Team · July 29, 2026

"Download the app to continue" is one of the more annoying moments in video calling — especially when all you wanted was a two-minute conversation. It turns out that step is optional. Here's how browser-based video calling works, and how to make a call without installing anything beyond Chrome itself.

Why do some video call tools need an app at all?

A lot of video calling software is built as a full desktop application because it wants deep access to your system, wants to run in the background, or was designed before browsers were capable of handling real-time video reliably. That app then needs its own installer, its own permissions, and its own updates — which is why joining a call sometimes means waiting through a 300MB-plus download before you've even said hello.

The technology that makes "no app" possible

Modern browsers, including Chrome, support a standard called WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication). WebRTC lets two browsers exchange audio and video directly, without either person needing to install separate calling software. When a connection can be made directly between the two devices — peer-to-peer — the video and audio travel straight from one browser to the other rather than being routed through a heavy client app.

This is the same underlying technology that powers Videocall. Instead of being a downloadable desktop program, Videocall is a Chrome extension that uses WebRTC to connect calls peer-to-peer whenever possible. The extension itself is small, installs in one click from the Chrome Web Store, and doesn't add a new application to your computer the way a traditional video calling program would.

How to make a call with just Chrome and Videocall

Add the extension. Visit the Chrome Web Store listing for Videocall and click "Add to Chrome." This is the entire install process — no separate download, no .exe or .dmg file, no restart required.
Choose a username. Open Videocall from your Chrome toolbar and set a username. There's no email or password account to create.
Add the person you want to call. Search for their username in the contacts panel and add them as a contact. They'll need the extension too, so send them a link to add it if they don't have it yet.
Click call. When your contact is online, click the call button next to their name. The call connects through your browser — no app switch, no separate window outside of Chrome.
Chat and share files as needed. While you're on the call, use the built-in chat to send a message, or drag a file into the chat panel to send it instantly.

What you're trading off (and what you're not)

Browser-based video calling is genuinely well suited to simple 1:1 conversations. Videocall doesn't support group calls or screen sharing today — it's built specifically for talking to one other person, with live chat and file sharing alongside the video. If that's the kind of call you're making, skipping the app entirely is a straightforward win: nothing to install, nothing to update, and no time limit on how long you talk.

Bottom line

You don't need to download anything beyond Chrome itself to have a real video conversation. Add the Videocall extension, pick a username, add your contact, and click call — the whole thing happens in your browser. For the full walkthrough with more detail on each step, see how to make a free video call in your browser.

Add Videocall to Chrome — it's free