The usage of video conferencing tools is exploding due to the surge in remote workers from Covid-19. Video conferencing can facilitate meetings, particularly when many platforms offer extensive features for free or very little cost.
Here is a list of video conferencing tools to run meetings. There are feature-rich enterprise platforms, free services for those on a budget, and simple tools for easy group calls. Most of these tools have free plans, and several have promotional deals during the pandemic.
Zoom Meetings
Zoom Meetings
Zoom Meetings offers video conferencing with high-definition video and audio, and support for up to 1,000 participants and 49 HD videos on-screen. Zoom Meeting also has real-time messaging, team chat, and content sharing, along with built-in collaboration tools. Record your meetings locally or to the cloud, with searchable transcripts. Zoom has had some recent security glitches with uninvited guests disrupting meetings (i.e., “Zoom bombing.”) However, Zoom has added new security to lock a meeting, control waiting room access, control chat, and ensure that all users properly secure their meetings. Price: Free for 1-to-1 meetings and group meetings up to 40 minutes. Paid plans start at $14.99 per month.
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Google Meet
Google Meet
Google Meet is the video conferencing service that comes with Google’s G Suite. Join meetings directly from a calendar event or email invite. Every meeting automatically includes dial-in details, which guests can activate with just two taps on their smartphone. And to support customers in the wake of Covid-19, Google is making the advanced enterprise features available to all G Suite customers until September 30, 2020, including up to 250 participants per call, up to 100,000 live-stream viewers, and meeting recordings and storage. Price: G Suite plans start at $6 per month.
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Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is the video conferencing and collaboration app that’s part of Microsoft’s Office 365 suite (replacing Skype for Business). It’s a good fit if you’re committed to Microsoft’s online platform of tools. Host meetings for one-on-one, small group, and web conferences up to 10,000 people. Features include scheduling assistance, note-taking, screen sharing, meeting recording, and instant messaging. Price: Part of Office 365, plans start at $8 per month.
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GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is the main group video service in LogMeIn’s suite of conferencing applications. Host meeting with up to 250 participants and 25 active webcams. Features include calendar integrations, automated calling, screen sharing, drawing-highlighting in real-time, personalized meeting rooms for repeated use, unlimited recording, Siri voice commands, searchable meeting transcriptions, and more. Price: Plans start at $12 per month.
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BlueJeans
BlueJeans
BlueJeans, a “meeting platform for the modern workplace,” enables one-touch meetings from scheduling and collaboration tools (and devices and room systems) with nothing to download or install. BlueJeans offers HD video, Dolby Voice audio with background noise cancellation, and up to 100 participants — with cloud recording, screen sharing, and in-app productivity tools. BlueJeans integrates with Microsoft Teams, Workplace by Facebook, Office 365, Google Calendar, Slack, Trello, and more. Join meetings from Dolby, Cisco, Polycom, Lifesize, and other systems with one-touch. Price: Plans start at $9.99 per month.
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Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting offers tools for meetings and webinars. Collaborate from anywhere with real-time audio, video, remote control, and screen sharing. Obtain remote control over a shared screen to collaborate. Steer the course of your meeting with moderator controls. Lock meetings, mute individuals or all participants, or remove participants to collaborate more securely. Use dial-in and toll-free numbers to join meetings from places with poor internet connectivity. Send email invitations with all the info attendees need. Set up reminders and get RSVPs. Record your meetings, and then share to replay online or download. Price: Meeting is $8 per month for 100 participants and storage for 10 recordings.
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Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex is a longstanding video conferencing app. However, it’s a feature-rich service, with upgraded promotional plans to support companies during Covid-19, including four free months with annual plans. Show up to 25 video meeting participants in one grid view. Screen share your desktop or share a document or application. Start a whiteboard for your ideas or the group’s. Launch video meetings from Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and popular learning management systems such as Canvas and Moodle. Cisco Webex supports Outlook, Office 365, Google, and more. Price: Free plans for up to 100 participants and unlimited meetings. Paid plans start at $13.50 per month for 5 GB of storage.
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Intermedia AnyMeeting
Intermedia AnyMeeting
Intermedia AnyMeeting is a video conferencing tool for businesses that’s free until 2021. It provides HD video for up to 12 webcams. Features include screen sharing, real-time screen annotations, unlimited recordings and storage, transcripts, custom branding, automatic meeting notes, and remote control. Price: AnyMeeting Pro is free until 2021. Starter plan is free for up to four participants. Paid plans start at $9.99 beginning in 2021.
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FreeConference.com
FreeConference.com
FreeConference.com is a video conferencing tool with screen sharing, document sharing, moderator controls, real-time text chat, video recording, whiteboard, live stream to YouTube, smart meeting summaries, online meeting rooms before the event starts, and more. Price: Free up to five web participants. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, with the first two months free.
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Join.me
Join.me
Join.me is LogMeIn’s quick and easy tool for group video calls. Customize the call URL and meeting background, and get one-click screen sharing. Meet for free, three at a time, or up to 10 people with a Pro account. Integrates with Outlook, Office 365, Trello, Slack, G Suite, HubSpot, Salesforce, and more. Price: Free for up to three participants. Paid plans start at $10 per month.
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Skype
Skype
Skype lets you host a group video call with up to 50 people for free. Skype also features HD video, screen sharing, file sharing up to 300 MB, chat invites, background blur, live texting, and meeting recordings available for 30 days. Price: Free.
