Around vs Google Meet — Which One Wins?
Pick Around if: Design and product teams already using Miro who want lightweight video calls without leaving their workspace
Pick Google Meet if: Google Workspace teams who want frictionless video calls that just work from Calendar and Gmail
Our take: Around for simplicity, Google Meet for power users.
| Around | Google Meet | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (now part of Miro) | Included with Miro paid plans | Free for 60-minute meetings (100 participants) | Google Workspace Starter $7.20/user/mo |
| Features | Floating circle video bubbles, Auto noise cancellation, Low bandwidth optimization, Screen sharing, Miro whiteboard integration | No download required (browser-based), Live captions and translation, Meeting recordings (paid), Noise cancellation, Deep Google Calendar integration |
| Best for | Design and product teams already using Miro who want lightweight video calls without leaving their workspace | Google Workspace teams who want frictionless video calls that just work from Calendar and Gmail |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Easy |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
Around stands out with Floating circle video bubbles and Auto noise cancellation. Google Meet counters with Live captions and translation and Meeting recordings (paid).
Around's Achilles heel: absorbed into miro — standalone product identity is fading, and you’re locked into miro’s ecosystem now. Google Meet's: feature-light compared to zoom — no breakout rooms on free plan, limited recording, fewer controls. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value floating circle video bubbles and design and product teams, go with Around. If google workspace teams who matters more, Google Meet is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.