imo video calls and chat HD

Review by eFreeware

imo is a communication app from the developer Baby Penguin, built around messaging and video calling rather than social feeds or file storage. The pitch is simple: talk to the people you care about without worrying about what device is in their hand. It has been on Google Play since August 2018 and was last updated in September 2024, so it is not a new experiment.

The main reason to consider it is that the core communication is free. Messages, voice calls and video calls are unlimited and cost nothing beyond whatever your network charges for data. That combination, plus group video calls and a large sticker library, is what the app is selling.

Who imo fits best

The people most likely to get value from imo are those who keep in touch with family and friends spread across different phones. Because it runs on both Android and iPhone, the person on the other end does not need the same hardware as you.

It also suits anyone who wants to avoid paying for SMS or voice minutes. If your conversations are mostly text, photos and short video calls over a data connection, imo covers that ground. The app is rated Teen, which fits a general audience rather than a young children's tool.

I would not describe it as a specialist tool for any one task. It is a general-purpose messenger, and the features it lists are the familiar ones: calls, messages, photos, video and stickers. If that is what you need, the app is aimed at you.

Calling and messaging features

The developer says the app handles voice and video calls on mobile networks as well as Wi-Fi, and describes the video quality as high definition. Calls and messages are unlimited, and data charges from your carrier may apply.

Group video calls are supported, which separates a messenger from a simple one-to-one call app. The developer also lists fast photo and video sharing inside conversations.

Hundreds of stickers are included at no cost. Stickers change how a chat feels, and a large free set means you are not limited to plain text. The overall package is broad rather than deep.

What imo costs and how it makes money

imo is free to download. It contains ads, and it offers in-app purchases.

The calls and messages themselves are described as free and unlimited, with the caveat that your mobile network may charge for data. The app does not charge you, but your carrier might. If you are on a limited data plan, a long video call still counts against it.

The app has more than 10 million installs and a 3.8 average from over 134,000 ratings. That is a large audience and a middling score, so read a few recent reviews yourself.

How it compares with other options

The obvious alternatives are other free messaging apps and the built-in SMS and calling tools on your phone. imo's argument is that it works across Android and iPhone and keeps calls and messages free.

There are also paid options, such as a traditional phone plan with voice minutes and SMS included. Those cost money but come with no separate app to manage. For someone who makes a lot of calls to landlines or to people who do not use messaging apps, a phone plan may still be the simpler route.

The choice comes down to whether the people you talk to will use the same app. imo's cross-platform support removes one barrier, but they still need to install it.

A free messenger for cross-platform families

imo is a straightforward free messenger with video calling, group calls, photo and video sharing and a large sticker set, available on both Android and iPhone. It is a good fit for families and friend groups who want to talk regularly without paying for SMS or voice minutes, and who are happy to use data instead. The developer's claim of high-definition video is the main promise to weigh, along with the data charges your carrier may apply.

The trade-offs are the ads and the in-app purchases that come with the free download, plus a 3.8 rating from a very large number of users. Neither is a reason to avoid the app outright, but they are worth knowing before you install it. If you want a no-cost way to keep in touch across different phones, imo covers the basics well.