For small businesses, video conferencing systems have become indispensable because they facilitate better collaboration, lower travel expenses, and higher productivity. Video conferencing facilitates seamless participation in meetings, screen sharing, and real-time discussions among distant team members, thereby promoting a more cohesive and productive workforce.
These platforms also enable remote client meetings, which enables companies to reach a wider audience and uphold solid connections with clients and partners regardless of location. Furthermore, a lot of video conferencing software integrates with other crucial business apps. Some even provide cutting-edge features akin to those found in VoIP systems for businesses.
Table of Contents
Your needs will determine which video conferencing system is best for your company. While some businesses will only require the ability to hold standard video meetings, others will require more sophisticated features like webinars, online training, and large-scale presentations. We evaluate top video conferencing services according to their functionality, features, and performance to assist you in selecting the one that will work best for your business. Here are our top selections for the category, complete with links to in-depth reviews and some useful purchasing advice.
An Overview of the Video Conferencing Software
The field of video conferencing has advanced remarkably. Initially, offices offered it as an expensive, high-end system that integrated both hardware and software into conference rooms. Right now, cloud-based services are the best since they don’t need a lot of specialized infrastructure.
These new services’ hardware agnosticism allows you to use the webcam and microphone on your computer or purchase specialized hardware. Moreover, a lot of them offer a fully browser-based experience, eliminating the requirement to install an app. There are notable apps for iOS, Android, and Chrome OS, even though desktop apps are frequently the best option.
Modern video conferencing systems have a plethora of new features that none of their forerunners ever had. Top-notch video conferencing services include text chat, file sharing, screen sharing, remote desktop access, digital whiteboard communication, and even the option to broadcast conferences to listeners only, like webinars. Furthermore, business voice over IP (VoIP) packages can integrate certain services, enabling users to seamlessly transition between voice and video calls and initiate a shared meeting with a single button push, all without disrupting the connection.
Why Is Video Conferencing Software Significant?
Video conferencing software is an important tool in your corporate toolbelt. With hybrid work models here to stay, creating employee connections is a new top priority. One of the easiest ways to engage your workers is through meaningful video calls. We know how important video chats are for building team connections.
When we work remotely, all our staff meetings are audio calls. The monthly phone calls are long, boring, and completely unengaging. Once the pandemic struck, we switched over to video conferences instead. It was a simple change, but it made a world of difference.
As a result, we could now see all of my colleagues face-to-face, get a read on their emotions and personalities, and have deeper interactions. Don’t just take our word for it. According to research, 87% of remote employees feel more connected through video conferencing. Also, 90% of people find it easier to convey their point of view during video calls.
Key Features that Make the Best Video Conference App
When it comes to video conferencing, video quality is everything. This extends beyond the image’s appearance—even the highest quality becomes ineffective if calls frequently drop or people disconnect. We tested every online meeting app to see how well it functioned with varying internet connection quality.
However, that wasn’t the only thing on our minds. Many consumer-facing video chat applications, like FaceTime from Apple, are incompatible with video conferencing apps. For meetings, businesses require more than just a reliable video link. In summary, these are the top applications for video conferencing.
- Continually provide audio and video in high quality. This has to be the only thing that web-conferencing software is capable of.
- Make scheduling, joining, and terminating meetings simple. You should easily schedule and add meetings to your calendar, and there should be clear links to click on when it’s time to join the call.
- Include tools for collaboration. Chat and screen sharing are the absolute minimum. Beyond this, the best online video conferencing apps provide features like direct collaboration and whiteboarding.
- Permit the taking of videos. Not everyone is able to attend every meeting, but recordings can fill the void. Recording a meeting should be as simple as clicking a button with your online meeting software.
- Make it simple for external users to join your organization. With minimal effort, anyone should be able to click on a link and join your meeting (although security measures should be in place to prevent unwanted attendees).
How Much Do You Have to Spend on Buying a Video Conferencing System?
Video conferencing is like talking to people over the internet using video and sound. Companies that provide this service have different plans you can choose from. Here’s a simple way to understand them:
- Free Plans: These are great for chatting with family and friends. Some people also use them for work sometimes. But, these free plans have limits. For example, you might only be able to talk for a short time or have a small number of people in the meeting.
- Paid Plans: If you need more features and use video calls a lot, you might need to pay for a plan. Paid plans give you more options, like longer meetings and more people in the call.
Different companies charge in different ways:
- Per User: Some services charge based on the number of people using the service. This is good if many people need to start their own meetings.
- Per Host: Other services charge based on the number of hosts. A host is someone who starts and runs the meeting. This is useful for big meetings where only one person needs to control everything.
In short, free plans are good for simple use, but if you need more, you might want to look at the paid options.
Tips to Choose the Best Video Conferencing Software for an Ideal Video Conferencing Experience
There are plenty of choices available! Here are some useful pointers to think about while you evaluate your needs and budget.
- Monthly payments are more costly for many video conferencing plans; annual payments are often less expensive.
- There are plans that charge per user. Verify the number of users permitted for each plan, and see if you can add more as needed.
- Request a demo of any video conferencing software you’re interested in if it doesn’t have a free plan or trial available, so you can check it out before deciding to buy.
The Best Video Conferencing App for Google Workspace Users and Large Video
1. Google Meet
Formerly known as Google Hangouts, Google Meet is a feature of Google’s G Suite productivity suite. All of Google’s products, including Gmail and Google Calendar, can integrate with Google Meet. You can set up a Google Meet call-in number and link automatically with Google Calendar.
Meet automatically detects and displays the speaker’s video feed, with the option to switch to gallery view. In order to remain competitive in the market, Google has made improvements to the platform’s audio and video quality, as well as noise reduction. Anyone with a free Google account can hold a meeting for up to sixty minutes. Paid premium features are available for use by businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations. One such feature is live streaming to a domain with up to 100,000 viewers.
Price details: Google Meet price plan
Pros
- Ensure a thorough connection with the Google Workspace apps.
- Real-time captioning
- In view-only mode, there are at least 100,000 people.
- As standard, Google Workspace is included.
Cons
- Occasionally sluggish during lengthy video conferences
- Not as gentle in terminating calls as Zoom
The Best Overall Video Conferencing Solution
2. Zoom
With so many options built into each plan, Zoom is a major player in the video conference space. This platform is our top choice for video conferencing because it offers instant sharing, excellent audio quality, and flawless video. Many Zoom users frequently switch to other conference call software due to their frustration with other platforms.
For users who want to easily and successfully connect remotely with customers and clients, Zoom is the best web meeting software. For added flexibility and secure socket layer (SSL) encryption to ensure secure communications, it also supports Chrome and Linux OS.
Price details: Zoom price plan
Pros
- Dependable and simple to use
- It enables video recording and has features for collaboration.
- It simplifies the process of welcoming people from outside your company.
Cons
- It’s not part of a software bundle, which can be expensive for large businesses.
Best for Microsoft 365 Customers
3. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams facilitates simple cooperation and efficiency. Its infrastructure and design make it highly interactive, and it integrates with Office programs like Word and SharePoint. Additionally, the business has successfully integrated Microsoft Teams with Skype for Business.
The increasing number of collaboration tools, such as Slack, that have taken the market by storm in recent years prompted the creation of this program. Although Microsoft Teams is a one-stop shop for office chat, its video conferencing feature is equally captivating and potent. Users can start video conferences right away from their chats.
Price details: Microsoft Teams price plan
Pros
- Excellent video conferencing with seamless Office 365 integration
- There are many features for collaboration.
- You can achieve excellent video quality even on lengthy calls.
Cons
- If you don’t use Teams as your team messaging app, it’s completely perplexing.
The Best Video Conferencing App for Video Quality
4. Webex Meetings
Cisco Webex is a top-notch video collaboration tool for webinars, online instruction, and remote assistance. It’s especially beneficial for companies that have real security concerns. This teleconference software includes Transport Layer Security (TLS), firewall compatibility, encryption, single sign-on, and secure scheduling options.
The features of Cisco Webex include simple Outlook integration and cross-platform compatibility with Mac, Windows, and iPads. Additionally, Cisco Webex is a component of a network of compatible remote work solutions. You can add specific features for webinars, remote technical support, and training.
Webex price
You can hold meetings with up to 100 participants for free for 40 minutes, but they lack some crucial features like screen sharing and recording capabilities. The business plan includes closed captioning and noise cancellation for meetings with up to 200 participants.
Pros
- Outstanding quality for the video
- The collaboration features, like document annotation and a whiteboard, are fantastic.
- Real-time translation (at extra cost)
Cons
- Can be costly for big businesses.
- Certain users have reported experiencing problems with stability.
Best for Cheap Video Meetings
5. Zoho Meeting
When it comes to cost and usability, Zoho Meeting beats out the competitors. There are a few shortcomings with this platform, though, like the lack of sophisticated integrations with outside productivity tools.
For those who want reliable screen-sharing capabilities or the ability to schedule video meetings, Zoho Meeting is still worth a look, even though it doesn’t have all the fancy features that rival services offer.
This platform for video meetings may lack some popular features, like shared whiteboards and sophisticated integrations with outside services, but it has the benefit of simplicity—there are no complicated settings to set up before your first call.
The affordability of Zoho Meeting also attracts customers, especially when it comes to coverage for up to 100 attendees. Zoho Meeting is a favorable choice for webinars and online conferences.
Zoho Meeting Pricing
A free plan is available
Zoho Meeting paid meeting plans
Pros
- The price is reasonable for a large gathering.
- Easy-to-navigate interface
Cons
- Certain subscriptions are pricey.
- Does not have certain common tools
Best for unlimited video calls
6. Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet, an open-source video conferencing program, allows up to 100 people to participate in unlimited free video conferences.
With this simple and totally free video conferencing tool, you can make use of the following features:
- The option to share a screen with multiple people is available.
- recording of the meeting,
- whiteboard, chat, and
- poll.
Launching or joining a meeting from any browser only requires a single click, and the interface is very simple and intuitive. You don’t even need to download anything or create an account. To invite people, you can send an email invitation or simply share a generated link.
But take note that, when compared to other video conferencing programs like Pumble or Zoom, the audio and video quality are noticeably worse. Apart from that, the absence of a file-sharing feature is one of this software’s biggest drawbacks, which can lessen the effectiveness of meetings.
Jitsi Meet Pricing: Free
Pros
- Free, simple to use, and safe
Cons
- Any participant has the ability to shut down the meeting and silence everyone else.
- There is no option to share files.
Best Video Conferencing Software for Business Webinars and Event Hosts
7. ClickMeeting
Depending on your needs, ClickMeeting is a scalable video conferencing software system that can accommodate various hybrid meeting formats. Their interactive virtual meetings are ideal for small groups of up to 40 people. You can host live webinars for up to 1,000 participants using ClickMeeting, or expand to host large virtual events for up to 10,000 people.
Sending a straightforward link to invite people to a video meeting is as simple as it gets, just like with many other platforms. Their gallery view allows forty people to discuss and generate ideas at the same time during team meetings. Their presenter view is more appropriate for formal presentations or hybrid learning because it accentuates the main speaker. In addition, if you need assistance facilitating a meeting while you’re giving a presentation, you can delegate its meeting controls to other participants.
ClickMeeting is well-suited to facilitate marketing calls, product demos, and online courses and training sessions. During a presentation, you can quickly display slides or instructional materials, or make notes on a digital whiteboard. Advanced features of ClickMeeting include test and exam polls, event statistics, and tools for gathering feedback from attendees, such as a star rating system for your presentation.
ClickMeeting integrates with platforms such as Dropbox, Facebook, GetResponse, Google, HubSpot, Keap, LinkedIn, Moodle, PayPal, Pipedrive, Slack, and YouTube. They also have an API to facilitate further software integrations.
ClickMeeting Pricing
Through their website, you can also request a complimentary 30-day trial.
Pros
- Q&A surveys
- Tools for marketing
- Put productivity first.
- Automated Aftercare
Cons
- Lacking key components from more powerful competitors
Best Video Conferencing Platform for Small Business Web Meetings
8. GoToMeeting
LogMeIn offers a stand-alone videoconferencing service called GoToMeeting. As expected, it provides screensharing in addition to audio and video conferencing.
One of the things that makes GoToMeetings unique is that it is mobile-friendly; unlike some major brand software, you can organize and begin a conference right from your smartphone. In addition, one-tap invites to join meetings and chats are available, along with settings to optimize call and image quality.
Again, this differs from some other providers that find it difficult to strike a balance between quality and usability when it comes to mobile use. They offer separate mobile apps for Android and iOS, both of which boast a high volume of positive reviews. We price all standard features so that the lowest payment tier can access them practically.
The cap of 150 participants is quite generous, and this will be sufficient for the majority of businesses. There is a business plan tier that raises the maximum number of users to 250 and adds drawing tools and mouse sharing, in addition to a few admin features. There is an enterprise plan that can hold up to 3,000 people.
Even though GoToMeetings has a lot going for it, GoToConnect provides a cloud-based phone system that includes GoToMeetings as part of the package, so signing up for that might be more affordable if you’re looking for a business VoIP solution.
GoToMeeting Pricing
Through their website, you can also request a free demo or a 14-day free trial.
Pros
- Suited for mobile
- A wonderful selection of functional apps
- VoIP upgrade
Cons
- It is not as popular as Zoom, Teams, or Meet.
Tips to Select the Right Video Conferencing Camera
With so many different video conferencing camera options available, it can be difficult to decide which one best meets your needs and isn’t just the newest or most popular model. The majority of us currently work from home, and in the future, working habits will change.
Although adaptability is a fundamental requirement for all conferencing solutions, it is important to take into account the conferencing solution’s quality, collaboration possibilities, and operational requirements to make sure the purchase is a wise and economical one.
Think about the best option for your area
All of us have been in a meeting where something went wrong with the technology, and the majority of the time this was due to the equipment not being appropriate for the setting or the goal of the meeting. Perhaps there are too many people in the room for the camera to see, too few voices for the microphone to record, or too much space taken up by the technology.
You should still compare the features of different conferencing systems, whether it is a conference room, home office, huddle room, or large meeting space. An all-in-one USB solution, for instance, is ideal for small meeting rooms and doesn’t always require features like a strong zoom or pan-tilt zoom.
Maximize cooperation with approved products
In light of the sharp rise in the number of people working from home and the indications that remote work will become more common in workplace procedures going forward, it is essential that your conference camera be compatible with the platforms you use to interact with your colleagues.
Look for cameras that have received approval from Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Hangouts. Not only does this endorsement from Zoom, Google, or Microsoft guarantee a smooth and effective video conferencing experience for you and your team when using these platforms, but it also instills confidence in the manufacturer.
Plan ahead
Regardless of the size of your area or your available budget for technology, you should ideally look for a solution that can handle a variety of potential situations. For this, plug-and-play solutions are perfect since they require little setup and offer the highest level of flexibility, allowing you to work from any location while maintaining the same video conference experience.
Forecasting may be difficult in this year of unprecedented business; however, making the investment in the best video conferencing solution for your needs will pay off in the long run in terms of improved communication and operations.
Conclusion: Which One is the Best Web Conference software?
All video conferencing platforms make the same claim: they let you hold meetings from a distance while maintaining face-to-face communication. However, every video conferencing solution on this list—as well as those that aren’t—has unique qualities, unique features, and unique limitations. We recommend using Google Meet or Microsoft Teams first if you currently pay for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. If that doesn’t work, check out the other apps on the list.
Supriti is a seasoned Content Writer at SwiftPropel, boasting over 8 years of experience in SEO content writing. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling, search-engine-optimized content that not only engages readers but also ranks highly in search results. At SwiftPropel, Supriti combines her passion for storytelling with a deep understanding of SEO strategies to deliver content that drives traffic and converts leads.