Every Proximity Chat, Metaverse, and Video Conference Socializing App

I regularly host online events like Learning Night, Creating Crew, and Idea Club, and I haven't yet settled on what proximity video chat app to use. So I decided to try them all.

There are more than 50 of these now and I created this repo because I wanted to keep track of them all in one place.

If you want to add your app, feel free to open a pull request to add your app to the list. You can list your app under the appropriate category in alphabetical order. If you want your app removed from this list, you can also open a pull request to do that too.

I tried every app here and wrote a short description of it based on my experience. If you are the owner of the app and want a different description, feel free to open a pull request to change it (the description must fit into one line).

Browser

These apps can be run directly in the browser.

• Airmeet: Virtual event networking platform
• Around: Enhanced video call software
• Bramble: Proximity chat app made by Artery
• Branch: Spatial conversations for remote work
• Brella: Virtual event hosting platform for enterprise
• Calla: Simple, open-source proximity video calls
• Campfire: Hosted team socials with activities updated every week (Peloton business model)
• Chatmosphere: Open-source proximity chat prototype
• CozyRoom: Peer-to-peer spatial audio environment
• flat.social: A platform for hosting fun online events and meetings
• Fresco: A 2d spatial chat focused on workshops and team meetings.
• Gather: Isometric proximity chat with customizable virtual rooms, games, and embeddable iframes
• Gatherly: Online networking events platform built for enterprise
• Gatheround: Crack the culture code
• GroupRoom: Spatial video chat with a virtual background and embeddable objects
• Here: Fun virtual canvas with videos
• High Fidelity: Live spatial audio platform and API
• Hopin: Virtual event platform for enterprise
• Hubbub: Host group video social events with fast dynamic conversation bubbles.
• Hubs by Mozilla: Private 3D social environment. Can also be used with a VR headset.
• inSpace: Proximity-chat virtual classrooms for educational institutions.
• iVent: Online event platform
• Kumospace: Customizable 2.5D virtual space with proximity chat
• Laptops in Space: Lightweight 3D meeting space with no registration required
• Mibo: 3D networking, meetings, hanging out app in a virtual world
• Mixaba: Chatroutlette-like app for event planners
• Orbital: Audio-first virtual office with integrated collaboration tools.
• PingPong: Collaboration for distributed teams in different timezones
• Pluto: First-person 3D virtual world
• Preciate: Recognition and rewards for teammates and virtual socializing for teams
• Qube: Virtual office for remote work
• Rally Video: Host virtual events where participants can hop between breakout rooms with one click
• Rambly: Virtual space with a 90's style video game theme
• Remo: Webinars in a virtual office
• Reslash: Proximity-based avatar chat with a virtual background and embeddable objects
• Skittish: 3D audio-only proximity chat with cute animals and real-time object placement
• Sococo: Online remote work collaboration space for enterprise
• SpatialChat: Proximity-based avatar chat with a virtual background and embeddable objects
• Speakeasy: Easily host an event to hang out with your friends
• Spot: Fully customizable virtual office space
• Sprout: Virtual whiteboard with video calling
• Teamflow: Virtual office space for enterprise
• Topia: Peer-to-Peer proximity video chat in customizable virtual worlds
• TORB 2020: 1st person online conference
• Virbela: 3D world builder for enterprise
• Wave: Online concerts
• Wonder: Online virtual space to meet and talk
• WorkAdventure: Isometric map for remote working

Mobile

These apps have the best experience when used on a phone rather than on the computer.

• Glimpse: Speed networking app

Video Games

These apps require you to purchase a separate video game (e.g. Minecraft, Among Us) to use as the virtual world.

• Activeworlds: Create your own 3D environment
• Crew Link: Proximity voice chat for Among Us. Free and open source.
• MCParks: Downloadable Minecraft maps that are 1:1 scale reproductions of theme parks
• MumbleLink: Proximity voice chat mod for Minecraft
• Skoice: Proximity Voice Chat running on Discord for Minecraft

VR

These apps require a VR headset to use.

• AltspaceVR: Attend meetups with VR avatars
• Kitely: Self-hosted 3D virtual world
• Rec Room: Online universe for playing games with friends
• Sansar: VR Concerts
• sinespace: Social VR environment
• Somnium Space: VR world integrated with the blockchain
• Tivoli Cloud VR: Open-source inclusive metaverse
• Vircadia: Open-source 3D VR interface and server
• Vivecraft: Turn Minecraft into a VR experience
• VRChat: Social VR experiences, powered by creators; also works without a headset on Windows

Not working

These apps cannot currently be used because they are not open for signups, are broken, 404, or slow. They may have worked at some point in the past and are included here for completeness.

• Bash: Throw an Online Party with video chats, virtual worlds, and games
• CubeChat: Proximity call in 3D
• Happy Hour: Basic app to create breakout rooms
• Houseparty: Mobile app for video rooms and games with your friends
• Huddle
• Icebreaker: Virtual networking and happy hour, now Gatheround
• Jel: Live collaboration tool
• MakeSpace: Proximity chat with embeddable apps and objects (now moved to Sprout)
• Metaverse
• Muse
• Online Town: The old version of Gather
• Party Chat: HTTPS error
• Pop
• slash talk: Stealth startup working on an "anti-meeting tool"
• Spatial Video Party
• Squad: Acquired by Twitter