Video Conference Software
What Video Conference Software Is Best For You?
Working from home has become more prevalent due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. But, just because people are away from their offices, does not mean they have to be away from their coworkers and teams. Video conferencing software has also seen an increase in use, enabling workers to connect while still social distancing. By using video conferencing, workers are encouraged to stay productive despite the setbacks of working remotely. There are several free and paid-for software options that are user-friendly, able to accommodate team size, and compatible with many devices, operating systems, and internet browsers.
Zoom
Zoom may currently be the most popular video conferencing software available. The free version has plenty of positive features, including screen-sharing and allowing 100 participants. Zoom can be upgraded for a monthly fee to increase the number of participants, admins with more controls, and the ability to record meetings. Keep in mind that your meeting will be stopped after 40 minutes if you are using the free version.
Microsoft Teams
Office 365 apps are integrated with Microsoft Teams, so you can pull up files to use during meetings. There is no free version, but guests can join calls even if they do not have a Teams account. This is great software choice for your team if you want to utilize all the features. If you are mainly looking for video conferencing, this option may be more than you need.
Cisco Webex
There is a reliable free version of Cisco Webex for video conferencing for small groups, but you can also upgrade for more in-depth features. This software is best known as a video platform used for business training, online learning, and webinars.
join.me
You can only have small numbers of participants in your meetings while using join.me. The free version allows 3 participants, while the paid version goes up to 10. Join.me is geared more toward conference calls, webinars, and screen sharing than online video meetings with a lot of people.
GoToMeeting
This product is owned by the same company as join.me and is the better choice for video conferencing. There is not a free version of GoToMeeting.
Skype
There are no options for video conferencing with more than 50 people, but Skype is a familiar resource most people can easily use. Look to some of the other video conferencing options if your meetings require a lot of features.
Google Hangouts Meet
If you have a Gmail account or G Suite Basic, you can use the free version, Google Hangouts, allowing 10 participants per video conference. Opt for the paid version, and you will be able to have up to 250 participants. Anyone can join from any device, but you need G Suite for Google Hangouts Meet.
BlueJeans
There is no free plan, but there are also no downloads or installation required. Real-time chat, raising hands during meetings, and intelligent meeting recaps are included in the BlueJeans experience.
Cyberlink U
You can take live notes and send messages during a meeting. The Cyberlink U paid plans are more expensive than other video conferencing options, but there are several nice features with the free plan.
Lifesize
You can experience 4K hosting with Lifesize, and security is a priority with end-to-end encryption. The free version will allow no more than 25 participants. But, you can go up to as many as 300 participants by choosing a paid plan.