Hangouts are places used to facilitate group video chat (with a maximum of 10 people participating in a single Hangout at any point in time). However, anyone on the web could join the Hangout if they happen to possess the unique URL of the Hangout. On August 18, 2011 Google added a new addition to Hangouts - clicking on the Share button under any YouTube video reveals an icon that suggests watching the video with friends in a Google+ hangout.

Mobile Hangouts currently supports Android 2.3+ devices with front-facing cameras are available since September 20, 2011. As of July 10, 2012 Google+ users on iOS are able to use Hangouts on iPhone and iPad.

Hangouts On-Air gives users the ability to create instant webcasts over Google+. The broadcasts can also be recorded for later retrieval. This feature, announced on September 20, 2011, is currently limited to some videocast personalities, but the announcement indicates that it will be opened up. The first publicly broadcasted Hangout was with The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am on the night of September 21, 2011. The feature became available at a large scale on May 7, 2012. Hangouts with Extras allows users to share documents from Google Drive, share a scratchpad and share their screens with other users.

Hangouts were recently integrated into Gmail. Gmail users can now access the same hangouts through Gmail as they do through Google+. The feature was integrated in with the Gmail chat.