Warning: The free version of Google Meet will enforce time limits soon

UPDATE: Sept. 30, 2020, 10:10 a.m. EDT Google announced that the free version of Google Meet will not enforce its time limit until March 31, 2021.

The free version of Google Meet has been a godsend for some people during the COVID-19 pandemic, but all that's golden is never real.

Google released a free version of its business-focused video call app earlier this year, which allowed for more people in a call than Hangouts, its other video chat app.

At the time, Google noted that the free version would carry a 60-minute time limit for calls, but that it wouldn't be enforced until Sept. 30.

Well, it's the end of September, which means we only have a handful of days before free Google Meet users need to start planning for shorter calls. That, or they'll have to get used to ending the call, starting a new one, and sending the link around to everyone again. In fairness to Google, the 60-minute time limit is more generous than Zoom's 40-minute limit on free calls.

If you don't want to deal with time limits at all, there are a handful of other free services that won't burden you in such a way. FaceTime is always acceptable for Apple users, while Facebook Messenger Rooms certainly, uh, exists for Facebook users. Jitsi Meet gets the Mashable seal of approval for both usability and privacy protections. We have a guide for how to use it here if you feel so inclined. You could also just pay $8 per month to lift the Google Meet time limit, if you're so inclined.

Google might have killed the free Meet dream, but that doesn't mean you have to stop chatting with your friends.