Whether you're looking to video chat with your friends and family regularly, or if you're simply looking for a visual calling solution for your company, a video conferencing system is a must. Audio phone calls are increasingly out of fashion because who doesn't want to see the reaction on a loved one's face? Or be able to discuss more accurately a vital business matter with potential clients? With the urge to work remotely ever-growing, it's particularly crucial for small businesses to take advantage of video calls, but really, we can all benefit from it.
Find out the best video conferencing software for your needs here, and just why specific solutions are better than others, depending on your situation.
What should I look for in a video conferencing solution?
It's essential that you know why you need a video conferencing solution first and foremost. Is it for your small business? Then a business-based video conference software tool is the best option here. That's even more so the case if you need integration features like support for Office 365 or CRMs. If you just want to make it easier for you and your friends or family to gather online, one of the many free versions out there might be a better option.
It's also worth considering the number of participants you need the video conference software to cater for. Some software has strict limits, while others allow for 100 participants to thousands of users. Whatever software you choose, rest assured that all the recommendations listed here allow for virtual face to face video meetings.
Best for webinars
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ClickMeeting
Focused squarely on presentations, ClickMeeting is an ideal solution for the education sector.ClickMeeting isn't cheap if you want the full set of features or the ability to invite hundreds of attendees, but it's worth it if you're serious about offering webinars.
Best for large meetings
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Microsoft Teams
For existing Microsoft 365 users, it's hard not to ignore the appeal of Microsoft Teams.Microsoft Teams is available for free with limitations, but businesses should expect to fork out extra to get the features they need. That's where the service can get expensive though, because ideally, you need to have a Microsoft 365 business or the enterprise plan to get the most from it and that can be expensive on a per user basis. As an all-in-one solution though, it's quite appealing. Being able to discuss then immediately edit documents is sure to be helpful during an important meeting.
Best for mobile users
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GoToMeeting
Simple to use, GoToMeeting is excellent for making video conference calls wherever you're located.If you don't want to be restricted to making conference calls from your desktop, this is an ideal solution. It's reasonably well priced too, and can accommodate a healthy number of participants. For real flexibility, it's a great way of making video conference calls.
Best free option
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Google Hangouts
Simple and easy to use, Google Hangouts is ideal for a quick video call but not much beyond that.Unless you invest in an official business account, the free option isn't a good choice for businesses or those trying to complete collaborative tasks together, but it's still a valuable service for when you need something free and effective.
Best sound quality
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Bluejeans
For the sharpest audio quality, you can't go wrong with Bluejeans.For a business meeting, tone and inflection can be everything, so it's useful to have such great Dolby Vision support. Elsewhere, Bluejeans has valuable security features, extensive support for various apps and browsers, and well-priced plans. The cheapest plan offers up to 50 participants, for instance, while still allowing for unlimited meetings and five hours of recording. It might not be perfect, but it's undoubtedly useful, and an intuitive admin interface makes it all the better for less tech-savvy businesses.
Best for a virtual office
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RingCentral Video
Potentially too advanced for some, RingCentral Video is ideal for a business looking to collaborate.For a small business that works remotely around the world, RingCentral Video is an ideal and simple way of acting more like a virtual office setup. The only downside here is that things can get expensive, which may make it not worthwhile for some startups or side hustlers.
Best for small business meetings
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Intermedia AnyMeeting
A little complex to use, but very inexpensive, Intermedia AnyMeeting is the ideal starting point for many businesses.The only downside? It's not the most intuitive of systems. Intermedia AnyMeeting has the features, but it can be a little clunky to get things done, so you might all need a some time to settle into getting used to how to use it.
Best for security
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Zoho Meeting
Simple to use for a variety of purposes, Zoho Meeting is an appealing proposition for many.Lack of advanced integration with third-party services (although some are catered for), along with no shared whiteboards, is a missed opportunity. Still, for some, this will be far from a big issue compared to superior security. The sheer simplicity in using the product is undoubtedly a welcome change compared to others too.
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