Facebook Launches 'Catchup' Audio Calling App - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Facebook Launches 'Catchup' Audio Calling App

by

Facebook is testing a new app that's designed to help friends and families in the U.S. to coordinate phone calls or set up group calls with up to eight people.

CatchUp inline  img
"Catchup," built by Facebook's internal R&D group, differs from other group chat apps, in that the calls are audio-only, not video, and displays users' status to indicate they're available to talk.

Catching up has never been this easy. See who's available and effortlessly join one-on-one and group calls. Never play phone tag or make an appointment to call someone again. Keep in touch more, think about it less. Any time you're free to talk, CatchUp!

According to TechCrunch, the app appears to take cues from the recently highly popular Houseparty app. For its part, Facebook says the app was built so that people can make calls when they know the other person is free, because not knowing is "one of the key reasons people no longer make phone calls."


CatchUp won't need a Facebook account to use the service — the app works with your phone's contacts list. The app also gives users privacy settings so they can control who can join 1-on-1 and group calls.

Catchup is a free download for iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

ikir Avatar
80 months ago

So one of the highlights is that it’s audio only? ... lol
No for example another feature is Facebook recording all the calls.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
80 months ago

CatchUp won't need a Facebook account to use the service -- the app works with your phone's contacts list.
Nice! I can avoid the monetization of my personal information by not logging into Facebook and instead… uploading my contact list!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
80 months ago

Who cares if they are recording. None of us are that important for any big company to care to listen to any of the things we have to say. Same goes with people paranoid about privacy on the web. Once you signed up with an Internet service provider, your privacy was long gone.
i wish people who make those kind of stupid comments ever had to experience living in East Germany
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
80 months ago
So one of the highlights is that it’s audio only? ... lol
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
80 months ago
I assume the video only, text only, video and text only, video and audio only, audio and text only apps are coming soon? Did I miss any?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PinkyMacGodess Avatar
80 months ago
I still find it amazing that anyone still trusts Facebook.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

meta logo new%402x

EU: Facebook and Instagram's Infinite Scroll May Break Digital Rules

Friday July 10, 2026 5:37 am PDT by
Meta has been warned by the European Commission that its endlessly scrolling Facebook and Instagram feeds may violate the EU's new Digital Services Act rules. In preliminary findings published on Friday, the Commission said that its investigation into features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems, found that Meta "did not...
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Feature

'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30 am PDT by
Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...