Video conference platforms
The best video conferencing software and applications make it simple to video chat and meet with coworkers, colleagues, and family members. Thanks to advancements in cloud technology, dependable video conferencing has become more accessible and affordable, and it can now readily serve the modern workplace. This is especially important in light of the current pandemic.
Video conferencing has become a way of life for many businesses, allowing workers to work from home and use videoconferencing solutions for meetings, updates, and general communications.
Both corporate and residential customers are frequently served by the same video conferencing services. As a result, we’ve included both commercial and free videoconferencing software programs.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting has a new front-end design that is both intuitive and competitive, including a smart assistant that performs administrative chores such as automated transcribing.
Best for Small Business Web Meetings
Pros
- Solid Feature Set.
- Large attendee numbers per plan.
- Works on all platforms.
- Smart assistant.
- Unlimited cloud recording.
Cons
- Desktop Version lags in UI design
- Lacks translation to other languages for transcription
- Webinar features are in a different product
- Background blurring requires separate application
GoToMeeting is a web based web conferencing service provided by LogMeIn. It provides audio and video conferencing, as well as screen sharing, for users of the Logmein app.
One of the things that distinguishes GoToMeetings is its mobile friendliness: you can set up and start a conference from your smartphone, which is something that other big-name software brands would struggle to achieve. There are additional options for improving call and image quality, as well as one-tap invitations to meetings and conversations.
The Standard package includes unlimited meetings for up to 50 people and five hours of video recording per month. Pro subscriptions accommodate up to 75 people and include 20 extra hours of recording. The software includes sophisticated call statistics, and connection with collaboration tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams. Both plans can be paid for yearly to receive a discount.
Mobile applications are available for Android and iOS, and both have a large amount of favorable reviews, which contrasts with some other providers that struggle to reconcile quality and usability with mobile use.
In terms of cost, the most basic payment tier includes virtually all typical services. Even the 150-person maximum is reasonable, and for most firms, this is all that is necessary.There is a Business plan option that extends the number of participants to 250 and adds a few admin capabilities as well as drawing tools and mouse sharing. Up to 3,000 people can be accommodated on the Enterprise package.
While GoToMeetings has a lot of positive features, if you’re looking for a corporate VoIP solution, GoToConnect offers a cloud-based phone system that includes GoToMeetings as part of the package, and it could be more cost-effective to sign up for that instead.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams comes with a plethora of capabilities, including tight integration with other Microsoft products. If your company uses Microsoft products, it’s an excellent team chat tool.
Best for Microsoft 365 Customers
Pros
- Highly Customizable.
- Tightly integrated with other Microsoft Office Apps.
- Plentiful Integration options.
- Included with Microsoft 365 business accounts.
Cons
- Most effective only in a Microsoft Centric environment.
- Compartmentalized design gives an air of formality and rule following that may inhibit open dialogue.
Microsoft Teams allows users to plan video or audio meetings with a single person or a group of people all from one application. Webinars and big gatherings with up to 10,000 people can also be organized by administrators.
Calls may be simply planned and invitations sent across the business thanks to full connectivity with Microsoft 365, and external visitors can join from their web browser without having to download the program.
Microsoft Teams also provides the full range of features expected from a leading video conferencing software provider, including screen sharing and call recording, live captions, background blur technology, and chat functionalities. Integration with Microsoft 365 makes the platform the market leader in video conferencing and digital workspace integration.
Users may join conversations from nearly anywhere thanks to the platform’s strong video conferencing software and hardware choices. Mobile devices, desktop PCs, and Bluetooth conferencing headsets can let you communicate while you’re working alone or on the road.
Viva: A New Way of Communicating in Teams
Microsoft unveiled a completely new “employee experience platform” named Microsoft Viva in February 2021, which would be integrated into Teams. Viva is simply a fancier and more interactive version of traditional intranets. Instead than having a static homepage containing internal corporate information, it will have dynamic components that alter for each user, similar to a dashboard. For example, new recruits may access training courses and other learning modules tailored for employee onboarding. Managers, on the other hand, may view visualizations that indicate a breakdown of where their staff spends their time, such as the percentage spent in meetings, on email, or chatting with one another.
Is Microsoft Teams a competitor or a replacement for Skype?
Microsoft Teams will replace Skype for Business as the major business communication tool. Companies who use Skype for Business for group conversations and online meetings will find it simple to switch to Teams.
Overall, Microsoft Teams is a good fit for companies who already use Microsoft 365 or want to rethink their digital communication and collaboration environments.
Google Meet
Google Meet is a great video conferencing tool on its own, but you won’t be able to use it to its full capacity until you pay for a Google Workspace membership.
Ideal for Google workspace users
Pros
- Generous Free Tier
- Includes document collaboration
- Installable app not required
- Recordings to Google Drive
- Integrates with Google Workspace and other Google apps
Cons
- Requires Google Workspace subscription for full feature set
- No transcription features
- No virtual meeting assistant
- Lacks built in remote control
Google Meet, previously Google Hangouts Meet, is a component of Google Workspace, a platform for workplace efficiency (formerly known as G Suite). Google Meet, which just underwent a rebranding, aspires to be the best conferencing service available.
It was designed particularly for corporate requirements, and it can accommodate a large number of users at once, as well as utilize smart participation and a quick interface to eliminate the need to wait.
Google Meet, an enhanced version of Google Hangouts, seeks to make it easier to collaborate with external clients. It accomplishes this first by delivering a web app experience, which eliminates the need for software to be down loaded. Second, it has a dedicated dial-in number, which not only allows personnel on the move to participate, but also ensures that line quality is maintained and there are no drop-outs.
Google Meet can operate with current conferencing equipment in addition to having specialized apps available for mobile users in the Apple AppStore and Google Play store for Android. All that is necessary for Skype for Business users is that it adhere to SIP and H.323 standards. This also applies to Cisco, Lifesize, and Polycomm, and Pexip Infinity may participate in Hangouts meetings.
Another significant benefit of being within the Google Workspace platform is the ease with which data from other apps, most notably Google Calendar, can be used to not only schedule meetings but also build up event details as needed when people check in.Another significant advantage is that Hangouts does not have the high monthly fees that other providers may impose.
Google Meet does not need significant upfront hardware investments, making it particularly accessible to companies of all sizes. While it does not include a transcription function or an artificial intelligence-powered meeting assistant, this should not deter you if you are seeking for a mainstream option.
Zoom
Zoom Meetings’ outstanding performance, easy design, sophisticated capabilities, and generous free plan have all contributed to it rising to the top of the video conferencing software rankings, making it an industry favorite.
Ideal for small businesses and consumers
Pros
- Free accounts
- Competitively priced paid plans
- Fantastic performance
- Rich features for hosts and participants
- Easy to use
- Good rack record for prompt support resolution
Cons
- No toll free dial in numbers for South Africa or the US
- Can’t add description or meeting agenda to invite from the app
- Mixed record of accomplishment for company response to privacy and security concerns.
Zoom Meetings is a video conferencing and messaging solution for desktops and mobile apps that strives to be quick and easy to start up while still providing a wide variety of scalable capabilities.
It not only supports HD video and audio, but it can also handle up to 1,000 people at once and up to 49 videos on a single screen. Such huge meetings are probably best suited to large-screen displays.
Meetings and transcripts with searchable text may be stored locally or in the cloud. Furthermore, participants may share their displays and work together to contribute their own comments as needed, allowing for cooperation.
In addition, a team chat tool allows for file sharing, a searchable history, and a ten-year archive. Meetings can also be escalated into one-on-one calls. Security is built in, with 256-bit TLS encryption for both meetings and shared data, and automated scheduling is possible via Gmail, Outlook, and iCal.
Even better, a feature-rich free tier is offered, with capacity for up to 100 individuals for up to 40 minutes and extra capabilities for team administration and management, as well as specialized corporate and enterprise usage.
Zoom’s 2020 Controversies
As the number of people who use ZOOM grows, so does the number of those who try to take advantage of it. Zoom has had a number of mistakes and blunders. For the most part, the firm has responded quickly with explanations and solutions. However, it has occasionally failed to provide answers that are acceptable to a large number of people.
- First, Zoom claimed to employ end-to-end encryption (E2EE). It had to change the claim to state that end-to-end encryption was only utilized for calls between people using Zoom applications or Zoom Room, and only if no one was recording the call (which is in the app). However, end-to-end encryption is not accessible for Zoom when utilizing other devices, such as calling into the audio of a Zoom conversation using a phone.
- In June 2020, the issue of encryption became more difficult. After initially stating that it would not provide E2EE to free account holders, the firm reversed its stance, stating that it would encrypt all calls but only if free account holders verified their accounts using a phone number. Furthermore, this phone verification method will not be implemented immediately. The criticism stems from the impression that Zoom would only safeguard users’ chats from law authorities if they paid. They later altered their minds, but users still did not believe it was behaving in their best interests by delaying the launch of E2EE for everybody and adding an extra hurdle for non-paying customers.
- A second dispute erupted over encryption keys. Zoom has a large number of servers, some of which are situated in China. In 2020, China-based servers were producing encryption keys that were sent to customers in other countries, which is considered a security issue. Zoom handled the issue and provided a detailed description of what occurred and how the problem was resolved. Users may now choose which countries their video conferences are routed through.
- A third issue was Zoom bombing, which is when individuals disrupt meetings with inappropriate content. It appears to have happened primarily when meeting hosts were unaware that they needed to opt in to specific features in order to completely safeguard their calls. Zoom solved the issue by altering its default settings and making other security measures more visible so that users would be aware of using them.
- Finally, in California and New York, Zoom may face legal problems for exchanging data about user behaviour with Facebook without the user’s consent. As with the other concerns reported thus far, the firm was quick to recognize the problem and implement the necessary modifications.
Zoom is packed with useful functions and has a simple, easy-to-use interface. It has improved its quality and reduced system load, and now supports end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for its meetings. Zoom’s default settings do not help account security or privacy, but it makes up for it with sophisticated capabilities and simplicity of use. Zoom is perfect for businesses with rigorous video conferencing needs.
Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex has seen a considerable revamp but it remains one of the more expensive video conferencing solutions. The combination of enterprise integration and security with a newly simplified front-end is a nice match. Cisco also intends to keep expanding its offering, with the Webex Assistant, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered meeting assistant that will take care of administrative tasks.
Premium Enterprise Conferencing
Pros
- Free plan available
- Intuitive Interface
- Powerful application sharing and whiteboard features
- Cloud recording included
Cons
- More expensive on average
- Limited to 10GB of Cloud storage
With a name like Cisco behind it, Webex Meetings has a lot riding on it, and it doesn’t disappoint. While there are several Webex Meetings plans available, the free version should suffice in most cases. This allows you to have HD video meetings with up to 100 people and use features like screen sharing and private chat rooms.
When you create an account, you’ll be given a unique URL that you can use to manage all of your meetings, schedule video conferences, and access the recordings you’ve produced.
When it comes to having a video meeting, you have the option of utilizing the Webex Meetings app or just using the website, however the desktop apps may provide a smoother experience. Apps for mobile devices are also available.
The free plan comes with 1GB of cloud storage, unlimited meetings of any duration, and the option to record them in MP4 format. TLS 1.2 and AES 256-bit encryption ensure security, and performance is impressive thanks to Cisco’s networking expertise.
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a virtual classroom built from the ground up, just for teachers. It’s available in 65 languages and teachers all over the world have contributed to its design. BigBlueButton was developed in a school, not in a boardroom. The platform is continuously evolving to meet the real-world needs of teachers everywhere.
Pros
- Online learning
- Virtual classroom
- Online whiteboard
- Breakout rooms
Cons
- Difficult to set up but its free
BigBlueButton is an HTML5-based web application that runs within your browser. To join a BigBlueButton session, you click a link (such as in Greenlight) that opens a valid join URL.
There is no plugins to download, no software to install, and no installation is necessary. It provides high-quality audio, video, and screen sharing using the browser’s built-in support for web real-time communication (WebRTC) libraries.
BigBlueButton has a lot of features that are ideal for online learning webinars. You may share audio, video, presentations, and your desktop during sessions, as well as collaborate with students via a whiteboard, shared notes, polls, and chat.
BigBlueButton goes above and beyond typical video conferencing software in terms of capabilities that may be used in a virtual classroom. If you have a multi-user whiteboard, for example, you may split students into breakout rooms to work on problems together.
BigBlueButton is the most popular open-source video conferencing program for online education. It’s more complicated to set up than most of its competitors, but it’s free and includes all of the features of pricey commercial online learning videos. For single-classroom teachers and small companies solely interested in the video chat functionality, BigBlueButton will be overkill.
BlueJeans
BlueJeans is a video conferencing program that includes high-definition video and Dolby Vision sound, as well as secured conference calls and comprehensive user management. BlueJeans provides a slew of features that set it apart, such as encrypted conference calls and sophisticated use management.
Ideal for High Quality Video and Audio
Pros
- 30-day free trial
- Dolby voice support
- 24/7 Support
- Analytics
- Security
Cons
- More latency than many competitors
- No background blur option
BlueJeans is a video conferencing service that allows you to schedule and start meetings, and invite guests. BlueJeans never limits your meetings: conference calls can be left open for hours, even days. You can try out the software with a risk-free 7 day trial, before making any commitments.
The Standard package includes five hours of video recording each month and unlimited meetings with up to 50 participants. Pro subscriptions allow up to 75 participants and include 20 hours of extra recording, sophisticated call statistics, and connection with collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Customized enterprise plans include up to 100 participants, unlimited recordings, brand customization, and ISP bypass for direct connections to BlueJeans servers.
BlueJeans software has a variety of distinguishing characteristics that will appeal to company owners and professionals. Meeting recordings, for example, may be divided into chapters with segment highlights, task assignment, and smart follow-up. In addition to meetings having no duration restriction, hosts may establish up to 20 breakout sessions and disperse participants as required, which is ideal for collaboration.
You can effortlessly share your screen, annotate using whiteboard tools, and even provide an assignee remote desktop access—ideal for seamless presentations. The option to block out backdrops for better privacy and distraction-free meetings, on the other hand, is lacking.
Administrators have sophisticated user management capabilities, including the ability to enable or disable functionality on a company-wide or group basis. BlueJeans’ UI is incredibly intuitive and simple to use. Meetings may be easily scheduled and started. All of the functions are easily accessible, including recording, participant management, and chat, as well as whiteboarding, screen sharing.
BlueJeans offers a variety of client-side and server-side measures to keep your meetings and data safe. While end-to-end encryption isn’t enabled (as is common with conferencing software due to the technological hurdles of encrypting video for numerous users), calls may still be secured using AES-128.
BlueJeans provides a wealth of tutorials and videos to help you get started, grasp features, and configure admin preferences for your specific organization. Furthermore, BlueJeans’ phone support and online chat are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week—a significant benefit for organizations that may want immediate assistance at any moment.
BlueJeans includes a number of useful business capabilities, including as video recording, meeting highlights with task assignment, and up to 20 breakout sessions for working on subtasks. The program was designed with security in mind, and administrators will like the extensive control they have over participants and features.
While the image and sound quality are great, the video conferencing solution lags somewhat longer than many other video conferencing options. Sign up for a free trial and try out the program on your own network to check whether the latency fits your requirements. If so, BlueJeans’ business-oriented capabilities, excellent security, and ease of usage are highly recommended.
Lifesize
Lifesize Video Conference System Communications, a Logitech business, has long been a pioneer in the video conferencing equipment industry. They are industry leaders who think that the actual benefit of HD video conferencing solutions can only be realized when they are widely accessible to anyone, everywhere. The Lifesize Video Conference system brings the immersive telepresence experience to conference rooms, executive offices, and remote employees, boosting productivity and collaboration while minimizing company interruption.
Pros
· Hardware devices included· Free tier· Supports 4k video · VC are more secure as you can add password for entering into any VC
Cons
- Webinar to explain the features
- Pricing
- Few of its features need improvement.
- It doesn’t operate well with Apple devices
Ideal for those wanting a one stop solution ( Software and Hardware )
Lifesize offers high-definition video conferencing endpoints, touchscreen conference room phones, and a video collaboration platform hosted in the cloud.
There are three different price categories for Lifesize. There is no free tier, but that has changed with Lifesize Go. It is a mobile-first experience designed to make video collaboration effortless. It is a free service that lets you collaborate one to one or with small groups, on any device, all free. Lifesize Go is a free video communication service that allows you to meet for as long as you want with up to eight participants.
With Lifesize, you can host as many meetings as you need to without incurring charges. There will be other advanced features, functionality and service tiers that will be paid for down the line, but the service itself will remain free.
Lifesize Go works on every operating system and most popular browsers. It is flexible enough for mobile meetings on the go while still offering stunning high definition worthy of any mission-critical meeting with clients or partners. Lifesize is built on top of open standards, on an enterprise-grade cloud network and a trusted secure architecture. That is not the case with some of their competitors’ services (whether free or not).
The Lifesize Standard is a small-team solution that includes limitless meetings, Single Sign on (SSO), personal meeting support, and lone chat and support. Small and medium businesses will benefit from Lifesize Plus, which offers Microsoft connections, real-time meeting analytics, and phone and email assistance. For companies with more specialized demands, a customized Enterprise edition is offered.
In comparison to other video conferencing options, Lifesize’s costs may appear to be a little high if you do not use the free version. This is more than compensated for by the addition of its own hardware. Users get many devices with each plan, so they do not have to rely on their own camera systems.
Lifesize Go will be a new and powerful way for teams to interact and communicate, whether they are huge corporations or small company owners and freelancers. Whether you work in construction and design, education, or technology, video conferencing is still necessary for business. So, give it a go.