Forget Zoom: Google Meet just got a huge upgrade

Google Meet
(Image credit: Google)

Google Meet just got one of its best features yet in its battle against Zoom. Meet integration has come to the Gmail mobile app, making it even easier to join a video conferencing call.

The web versions of Google Meet and Gmail started to get more tightly integrated last month. But this move by Google to bring the the video chat platform to Gmail’s mobile app weaves the two services even more tightly together. 

With the new integration now rolling out, Gmail users on Android and iOS should start to see a new Meet tab in the app where they can check Meet meetings that have been scheduled in Google Calendar. In this tab you can quickly start a meeting or join a meeting with a code, allowing you to easily get into a video conference without the need to bounce into a separate Meet app. 

This feature should prove handy if you’re out and about but need to quickly dial into a call. And for smartphone users who like to keep their home screens as clutter-free as possible, the integration means you only really need the Gmail app handy rather than the Meet app as well. 

This update makes life a little easier for Gmail users, and is another feather in Google’s cap when it comes to attracting people away from Zoom. 

The latter video conferencing service has been enjoying a surge of success as more people work from home, though it's also been ridden with security issues. Google looks very keen to steal Zoom’s thunder, making Meet free to use and rolling out some clever noise-cancelling tech to help cut out irritating background noise in video calls. 

As such, Meet is starting to look like a very attractive alternative to Zoom and other video conferencing services, particularly as it keeps getting regular tweaks and improvements. 

Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face. 

Latest in Video Conferencing
A composite image showing Skype and Microsoft Teams side by side
I used Skype for years, and Teams is a poor replacement for the video calling service that started it all
Google Meet
Google Meet is getting a very handy automatic picture-in-picture mode — what you need to know
Project Starline 3D video conferencing
I just tried Google’s 3D video conferencing tool launching next year — here’s what Project Starline is like
Microsoft Teams
New Microsoft Teams is live — here's the 3 biggest upgrades
Google Meet update
It's official — Google Meet is getting one of Zoom’s best features
Zoom call on MacBook
Zoom flaw allows hackers to take over your Mac — update right now
Latest in News
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19 — all the rumors so far
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 11 (#639)
An image of a CAPTCHA
Hackers are using reCAPTCHA to trick users into infecting their own PCs with malware — how to stay safe
Gmail logo on iPhone
Gmail just got a huge AI upgrade that will save you a ton of time
Nina Oyama and Kate Box in Deadloch
One of my favorite shows on Prime Video has been totally overlooked — and it's got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Xbox handheld
Xbox handheld reportedly arriving this year, new PC-like console in 2027