The demand for video conferencing Software has dramatically increased in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. We now have to adapt how we conduct business due to technology.
Through the use of online audio and video transmission, video conferencing software enables you to hold live conferences with anybody, anywhere. Most of the software you see today offers many more functions than just conferences, including screen sharing, playback, and mobile access.
Video conferencing becomes an indispensable service as your company depends more on it. As a result, you should spend as much money as possible on the best video conferencing software.
This review roundup is meant to aid you in doing that. Continue reading to discover additional things to consider when choosing the best video conferencing software for your company.
The Best Video Conferencing Software Comparison Table
| Our Picks | Zoom Meetings | BlueJeans Virtual Meetings | Intermedia AnyMeeting | Webex by Cisco | RingCentral Video | Goggle Meet | GoToMeeting | ClickMeeting | Microsoft Teams | Zoho Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free version offered | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | YES |
| Multi-Language Support | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Whiteboard Tools | YES | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| In App Messaging | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Audio Recordings | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Video Recordings | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| 24/7 Phone Support | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Cloud Storage | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Transcription | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | NO | NO | NO |
Our 10 Best Video Conferencing Software
Based on user reviews and ratings, we’ve produced a list of the top ten video conferencing software options to assist you in choosing the best option.
1. Intermedia AnyMeeting – Best for General SMB Conferencing Needs
Intermedia AnyMeeting is a top-notch video conferencing software that will improve your meetings or presentations with its easy-to-use controls, good visuals, AI transcriptions, and creative whiteboard tools.
Pros
- Allows you to share your screen directly from a browser.
- Creative whiteboard function
- A computerized transcription
- Enables you to lend your keyboard and mouse to others.
Cons
- Absence of breakout rooms
- Webinar support is a separate product
Why We Picked It: Intermedia AnyMeeting is a user-friendly, appealing solution with enough capabilities to meet the needs of any enterprise. Our favorite feature was its AI-powered Virtual Assistant, which provides reasonably accurate transcriptions of video meetings and can even highlight action items depending on what was said.
Additionally, AnyMeeting’s pricing is comparable to most of its rivals despite its being expensive.
2. Webex by Cisco – Best for Enterprise Conferencing
If your company has the vast finances to support it, Webex is a feature-rich video conferencing software that enables you to take advantage of Cisco’s appealing hardware ecosystem.
Pros
- Simple user interface
- Powerful whiteboard and application sharing features
- Cloud recording Included
- transcribing in real time
- Breakout spaces
- Clean and helpful reactions feature
Cons
- Real-time translation is more expensive.
- Comparatively pricey
- Only 10GB of cloud storage available
Why We Picked it: Webex has been operating since 1995 and is one of our list’s best video conferencing software. It has the special advantage of benefiting from integration with the vast ecosystem of tools, hardware, and intelligent conference room systems that are now controlled by networking giant Cisco.
It is, therefore, the preferred option for some of the most illustrious companies in the Fortune 500.
3. Zoom Meetings – Best Overall
Zoom Meetings’ claims to fame are outstanding performance and a generous free trial. Paid plans include reasonable prices and a wide range of extra features.
Pros
- Generous free account
- Paying options that are reasonably priced
- Outstanding performance
- For participants and hosts, many features
- Simple to use
- A solid track record of quickly resolving support issues
Cons
- The US and UK don’t have any toll-free dial-in numbers
- A meeting agenda or description cannot be added to an invitation sent using the app.
- Company responses to privacy and security issues have a patchy history.
Why We Picked it: Possibly the COVID-19 epidemic was responsible for popularizing Zoom and popularizing the term “zooming.” Despite a few security setbacks along the way, it has since quickly expanded into one of the more comprehensive and well-respected video conferencing software on our list.
Additionally, it has constantly gained features, such as connections to an expanding range of commercial applications from third parties.
4. BlueJeans Virtual Meetings – Best for Multi Platform Conferencing
BlueJeans makes it simple to set up and run video conference calls with breakout rooms, transcriptions, and compatibility for almost all common platforms.
Pros
- Dolby Sound-compatible hardware and directional audio for rooms
- The M-Score tool provides information on meeting quality and feedback.
- Supports desktop, mobile, and browser platforms
- Conference transcription
- Includes conference rooms
Cons
- The desktop application and browser versions are not completely equal.
- Does not allow sharing of the keyboard and mouse.
- Absence of a free tier
Why We Picked it: Since being purchased by Verizon in 2020, BlueJeans has arguably become an even more formidable competitor in the video conferencing providers. It is a strong candidate for businesses that deploy many platforms because it provides specialized client apps for every OS, including Linux and mobile devices.
It is a feature-rich service with options like breakout rooms and premium customer support that rivals do not offer.
5. Microsoft Teams – Best for Microsoft 365 Customers
Microsoft Teams offers numerous capabilities, including close integration with other Microsoft applications. This is a good team messaging and best video conferencing software if your company uses Microsoft products.
Pros
- Highly adaptable
- Linked closely with other Microsoft Office applications
- Several integration possibilities
- Included with Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 for businesses
Cons
- Only in Microsoft-centric environments is it most efficient
- Compartmentalized designs have a stiff, rule-following vibe that could prevent candid communication.
- Finding the discussions you need can be challenging.
- Not all features are accessible during testing
Why We Picked it: Teams follows the pattern of Microsoft’s products, which is to add features slowly. From small beginnings, it has grown into a powerhouse in team communication and an essential component of the Microsoft 365 package.
It is also a fully-featured video conferencing software apps that can be used for much more than just one-to-one video chats, unlike other rivals (like Slack), which is perhaps more significant.
6. RingCentral – Best for Free Tier of Service
A platform for video chat and video conferencing with high value is RingCentral Video. With a free plan that provides so much value, it’s difficult to dispute. However, you could choose a service that offers mouse/keyboard sharing and Q&A moderator facilities, both of which RingCentral Video does not.
Pros
- Callers can participate without download software.
- To take part in calls, no account is necessary.
- Generous plan for free
- All major platforms, including the web, have apps.
- May quickly swap between devices while on a video conversation
Cons
- Lack of Q&A moderator tools and keyboard/mouse sharing
- Unique account sign-in URL missing
- Poor task management
Why We Picked it: RingCentral is well-known for its voice-over-IP (VoIP) service for business communication technology. Although it’s still catching up to some of the more established players, RingCentral Video’s foray into the video conferencing world is nevertheless a strong offering.
Its generous free price tier, which allows you to hold meetings with up to 100 participants and lasting up to 24 hours at a time, is one advanced feature.
7. Google Meet – Best for Goggle Workspace Uses
Google Meet is a great video conferencing program with a rich free tier, collaboration tools, and automated conference recording, especially when combined with Google Workspace.
Pros
- Generous free tier
- Document collaboration included
- Completely operates within your browser
- Meeting recordings are automatically saved to Google Drive.
- connects to further Google Workspace applications
Cons
- Google Workspace membership is required for business functionalities.
- No integrated transcription capability
Why We Picked it: Google Meet conferences may only be joined through a web browser, yet what might initially appear to be a drawback may also be its greatest asset. Because there are no separate programs to download and set up, everyone with a current browser should be able to use Google Meet, regardless of OS platform.
Of course, the fact that Meet is compatible with the enormously well-liked Google Workspace users of productivity tools also helps.
8. GoToMeeting – Best for Small Business Web Meetings
GoToMeeting has a few oddities and omissions, but it also has a lot of options that make it a valuable free video conferencing software, especially if your business has already made an investment in the GoTo ecosystem.
Pros
- Work with all platforms
- efficient smart assistant
- Cloud recording is limitless
- When screen sharing, you can annotate
Cons
- Virtual backdrops need a different, cost-free product
- Whiteboard functionality is absent
Why We Picked it: The company GoTo, which was originally known as LogMeIn, offers a sophisticated video conferencing tool called GoToMeeting.
It strikes a decent mix between price and functionality and delivers competitive features like smart transcription and limitless cloud recording. Additionally, it interacts with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace calendars.
9. Zoho Meeting – Best for Cheap Video Meetings
If you are already a part of the larger Zoho ecosystem, Zoho Meeting, a free video-conferencing software, will be most helpful to you. Although it has made considerable progress, complex AI functions like video recording are still missing.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- 25 video feeds may be active at once.
- Provides virtual background support
- Includes responses
Cons
- There is no automatic transcribing
- Limited notebook capabilities
Why We Picked it: The attractiveness of Zoho Meetings is its inexpensive cost, even though it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of its rivals. It offers a generous free tier that enables you to host meetings for up to 100 attendees, in contrast to many of the services on our list.
Additionally, it is effortlessly integrated with the remaining Zoho business software applications.
10. ClickMeeting – Best for Webinar and Event Hosts
For small enterprises, ClickMeeting is a capable all-around video conferencing software, but it shines in large-scale live events and webinars. Casual users will be disappointed by the lack of a transcribing tool and think the sophisticated capabilities unnecessary.
Pros
- UI is quick and simple to use.
- There are numerous features for webinar and event hosts
- Live streaming is supported by default
- Easy file collaboration
- Able to accommodate large audiences
Cons
- Boring general-purpose conferencing
- Automatic transcription is absent
- Comparatively pricey
Why We Picked it: By focusing on customers who want to run webinars and other sizable presentations, ClickMeeting differentiates from the competition. It can scale to audiences of up to 1,000 people, which is different from the other services in our review (although not all will be able to participate actively).
Additionally, it provides ample online storage for recording meetings, giving those who couldn’t attend a live session the chance to listen to it afterward.
What a Video Conferencing System can do for you
Free Video conferencing has quickly become a crucial business tool, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak. All of the programs in this roundup provide webcam video calls, frequently combined with several other capabilities, including text chat.
Considering that some of these same features have recently crept into team messaging systems like Microsoft Teams and Slack, it can be difficult to understand what really qualifies as a best video conferencing software. Because microsoft Teams provides a full video conferencing solution, we’ve reviewed it here.
However, Slack and some of its rivals only offer person-to-person video calls, so we haven’t included them in this compilation. All of the systems we’ve looked at here are made to support multi-party video conferencing.
You’ll probably need a few other features besides video calls. Screen sharing, for instance, is crucial for presentations. Additionally, you might want to search for alternatives that allow you to share specific files, pictures, or programs (like Microsoft PowerPoint) rather than the entire desktop.
Video annotation and virtual whiteboards, which allow meeting attendees to collaborate, are other features that many packages enable. Many services allow you to start automated recording by pressing a button. Usually, the call recording is automatically shared with all participants and saved to cloud storage.
Another highly requested function is automatic transcribing. Video meeting assistants who manage activities like attendance tracking and meeting transcription into PDF or Microsoft Word documents are increasingly a common feature of new video conferencing software.
The documents can then be shared via cloud storage or sent to everyone participating in the debate.
What Equipment do you Need for Video Conferencing?
Beyond the video conferencing software, you should also consider the supporting hardware. Thankfully, most contemporary laptops, tablets, and smartphones have a built-in microphone and a passable (albeit generally subpar) webcam.
Many higher-end mobile gadgets and some computers, such as the Apple MacBook Pro and Microsoft Surface from 2021, are equipped with high-definition 1080p webcams.
On the other hand, desktop PCs require additional hardware. The greatest microphones and most expensive webcams are required if you want to improve the clarity of your audio or video. Additionally, some corporate monitors have built-in capabilities for video conferencing.
Hardware made for consumers is sufficient for the majority of use cases. However, you might need to invest in extra green screens, ring lights, and LED panels if you want the best video quality for webinars and client meetings.
The good news is that you’ll still save money compared to outdated, end-to-end conferencing solutions, even while these hardware purchases raise the overall cost of your video conferencing solution.
You don’t have to invest a lot of money all at once. Instead, you can purchase the required licenses and expand naturally by adding new seats, significantly lowering costs.
How Video Conferencing Software Cut Costs
In the modern digital age, video conferencing is quickly becoming the most popular tool. The popularity of video conferencing as a collaborative tool has grown due to better, more affordable technology, green IT initiatives, and high travel expenses.
Many organizations are transitioning to an agile workplace to reduce operational costs and improve employee well-being. Businesses can significantly reduce costs through hot-desking, promoting remote or home working, and shifting their workers to smaller, more cost-effective locations.
Investing in technology is one approach to support this new working dynamic. The most recent video communication alternatives, like those provided by Zoom, have cutting-edge technology advancements that can yield a sizable return on investment in various circumstances.
The two most crucial ones are reducing business travel costs, which may quickly eat up a company’s budget, and increasing productivity by fostering collaboration between staff members, clients, and suppliers, wherever they may be located.
Due to the money businesses save on travel and associated expenditures, video communications frequently pay for itself when it comes to cost reduction in a matter of months. Even when employees fly or drive to meetings, recent Frost & Sullivan research demonstrates that business trips can be extremely expensive when long-distance travel is involved.
Businesses can save hundreds or even thousands of pounds for everyone who does not need to travel by car or plane to the meeting. It doesn’t take many attendees for the cost of a single in-person meeting to reach five figures.
Advanced communications and collaboration technology are transforming how people conduct business in an increasingly virtual workplace with employees worldwide. The new video conferencing tools can increase revenue, minimize costs, shorten cycle times, and increase staff productivity.
Multi-platform video conferencing apps are a huge benefit for virtual organizations. These organizations can use the technology to leverage face-to-face communications between any and all employees without having to pay the high travel expenses and lose time associated with in-person meetings.
No matter the weather, the result is increased production and a highly appealing ROI.
How to Buy Video Conferencing systems
Most video conferencing software offers the same fundamental functions, so selecting the best one for your company may initially appear difficult. However, before selecting a choice, you need to consider several aspects, and evaluating the software’s overall user experience (UX) is a smart place to start.
In each review, we go over how simple it is to sign up, set up a meeting, invite people, and set up audio and video controls. We also consider how meeting invitees interact with the user interface (UX) and how simple it is to use smart meeting controls like annotation, file sharing in the whiteboard style, and the aforementioned virtual assistant functions.
Each service’s key features have also been tested, but only you can decide which ones you really need. Do you require VoIP integration, dial-in numbers, or both, for instance?
What about tools like remote control or screen sharing? While some services give either VoIP calling or dial-in numbers (local or toll-free), others only offer one or the other. Several of them provide international dial-in numbers.
To test both registered and non-registered users’ experiences, we both organized and joined meetings during our testing. We explained the process of entering a meeting, including whether or not a participant must first download any necessary software (which could cause a delay or even be a deal breaker).
For certain services, attendees need only input a code to access the meeting.
The host’s administrative features are also covered in our reviews. The finest services allow you to set up different types of meetings, such as lectures where everyone is muted or discussions or Q&A sessions where speakers can mute and unmute participants as necessary.
Other possibilities include turning on and off webcams, barring latecomers from meetings, setting up a waiting area while getting ready for the meeting, and permitting break-out sessions.
Last but not least, don’t just believe us. You will have the chance to try out the most appealing product because most of these providers provide at least a 30-day free trial.
Make sure to involve important parties in your decision-making process, both inside and outside of your organization. With careful thought, you’re sure to find an affordable, simple solution that provides you with the required features.
How We Test Video Conferencing Systems
Regardless of the functionality, it is best to offer it in high quality to all users everywhere in the world. Due to its rising popularity worldwide, managing network usage and delay is essential to maintain high audio and video quality during calls.
Having said that, the main query is how to test the application to guarantee that level of quality.
Audio Quality:
The audio stream’s quality is the first thing that springs to mind. Does the individual sound as they ought to? We employ techniques like Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Analysis (POLQA) and the Virtual Speech Quality Objective Listener to assess the quality (ViSQOL).
The Mean Opinion Score (MOS), which enables marking the quality with a single value, is then calculated. The method uses two audio samples, one of which is the original and the other of which has been altered or degraded during the call by the service provider.
The key idea is to evaluate how closely the two resemble the original speech and compare the two.
Video Quality:
As already mentioned, video conferencing is becoming increasingly common. Thus, the conference call platform heavily relies on video quality. You can employ the Blind/Referenceless Image Spatial Quality Evaluator to evaluate the video quality (also known as BRISQUE).
It assesses each individual image (frame) rather than the entire video as a whole. Since there is no reference, you can use pre-made images and data to train and enhance the algorithm used to assess the quality. In the end, you may compute an average value by analyzing each video frame’s quality score.
Video Frame Rate:
The frame rate of the video during the call is another crucial aspect. 24 frames per second is the typical frame rate for films and television programs.
Accordingly, using the same value per second should also be sufficient to produce high-quality video movement during video conferences. But how can one quantify this metric? You can use QR-style markers that generate a special arrangement of four QR squares for each frame to quantify frames per second.
Then, after dividing each second into those frames, your system counts how many different QR combinations there are. This produces exact overtime graphs and values for each second of the call, which you can evaluate to look for abnormalities and responses to different network problems.
E2E Latency / Delay:
Since the signal must travel long distances to enable the call, a delayed signal is expected. There are three color markers in all in the video, and they all change color as the video progresses. These markers are on the video from the sender device, which transmits them to the recipient.
The program compares the received video with the original video markers after processing. With this measurement method, you can record delays up to 64 seconds. The combinations are counted before the same color markers on both videos are discovered on the receiver device because they change every second.
It enables us to calculate the delay for each and every call second, producing accurate results.
Network Bandwidth:
You can operate under the tenet that network bandwidth constraints have an effect on the other metrics listed. To ensure their services are up and running, it is vital to understand how it operates and how various apps use the available bandwidth.
Due to service availability, mobile network speed and bandwidth differ from one country to the next. During testing, you can alter and adjust this independent variable.
During the regular conference calls, you can alter the router queue size, dropped packets, and bandwidth in your lab, which enables you to study how the service responds and how the quality shifts (the change in other metrics).
Conclusion
Everyone who uses a remote video conferencing platform, whether they are businesspeople or students, wants it to be high-quality, functional, reliable, and efficient. Now that you have a list of the top video conferencing applications and an overview of their key features, decide which ones best suit your requirements by prioritizing those aspects.