The best video conferencing services
Do you want to go straight to the answer? The best video conferencing service for most people is undoubtedly RingCentral or GoToMeeting.
More than ever today, I consider that an excellent video conferencing service is essential for any business. Whether you have employees, clients, prospects, or team members remotely located across multiple sites, you need reliable video conferencing software.
Tools like Skype or Facetime are not robust enough for businesses. They are too often lagging behind, cannot handle groups well, and are cumbersome for organizing meetings.
If you are ready to take the next step in your video conference calls, you must read this guide.
I have already done all the research and steps necessary to help you choose the best video conferencing service for your company. Regardless of the size of your company, your industry or your conference needs, there is certainly an option for you below.
The 8 best video conferencing services
Out of the dozens of options available, there are actually only eight solutions that I would recommend to a business owner. In no particular order, they are as follows:
RingCentral
GoToMeeting
ClickMeeting
Zoho Meeting
Zoom
The Microsoft teams
Join me
Webex
As I mentioned, these video conferencing services are not in any particular order and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Use the in-depth studies below to compare them.
RingCentral
Free for up to 100 participants
Video, screen sharing, and messaging
VoIP Phone Service Plans
Solutions for small businesses
Start for free
RingCentral is more than just a video conferencing platform. It is also a professional VoIP phone service.
You can finally get rid of your traditional phone plan as well. RingCentral also offers video conferencing features.
But you can still purchase RingCentral Meetings as a standalone product. For the purposes of this study, these are the plans we will focus on.
Free - $0 per month
Up to 100 participants
Unlimited individual meetings
Limit of 40 minutes for group meetings
Essentials - $14.99 per month per user
Up to 100 participants
Unlimited group meetings
24/7 phone support
1,000 minutes of call per license
Advanced - $19.99 per month per user
Up to 100 participants
2,500 minutes of call time
Real-time usage dashboard
SLA available
The free plan is actually quite decent when compared to the other plans on the list. Although the number of minutes per meeting is limited to 40, you can still have up to 100 participants.
At the same time, paid plans are also limited to only 100 participants, which is low compared to the competition. However, you can add more meeting options to your plan for an additional fee.
RingCentral also offers high-quality enterprise solutions. You will need tocontact their sales team to get a personalized quoteBut you can save money by combining RingCentral Meetings with a professional VoIP phone.
GoToMeeting
Free 14-day trial
HD Video Conferencing
No time limit for meetings
Mobile application and Slack integration
Get started for free
GoToMeeting is the top choice for video conferencing and meeting room capabilities. The platform allows you to easily transform any video conference into a highly collaborative workspace.
It is one of the best video conferencing solutions to meet the needs of remote workers and clients.
Another major advantage of GoToMeeting is its ability to integrate with the systems that your company currently uses. It is also used by sales managers, business owners, and IT teams.
GoToMeeting also offers an all-in-one hardware and software kit for those of you who want to transform your physical conference room into a digital room. This equipment is more advanced than the cameras, microphones, and speakers built into your current devices.
The use of GoToMeeting for video conferencing offers other important features and benefits:
Collaboration in the clouds
Automatic bandwidth adjustments
Available on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android
Start and join sessions with just one click
Multichannel support
Integrated programming
Unlike other platforms we have reviewed so far, GoToMeeting only offers two plans for you to choose from
Professional - $14 per month
Businesses - $19 per month
The plans are very similar. GoToMeeting offers unlimited meetings and unlimited meeting durations with both options. You will also benefit from integration with Salesforce, the Slack meeting launcher, and an admin center with each of them.
The biggest difference between professionals and businesses is that they can respectively accommodate up to 150 and 250 participants.
In addition to a larger number of participants, the Business plan gives you access to transcriptions, keyboard and mouse sharing, unlimited cloud storage, and mobile cloud recording.
I think it's a no-brainer to sign up for the Business option rather than Professional. The additional benefits are well worth the $5 per month.
GoToMeeting offers business plans for up to 3,000 participants. However, these prices are not available online. You will need to contact a sales representative to get a personalized quote.
Save 16% on your GoToMeeting plan with an annual contract.
You canTry GoToMeeting for free with up to 250 participants for 14 days.
ClickMeeting
Free 30-day trial
The best for webinars
Up to 1,000 participants
Business solutions available
Start for free
ClickMeeting is a bit different from some other video conferencing services we have reviewed. This platform has a specific webinar feature.
This is an excellent option for those of you who wish to organize large events online, market their products with video demonstrations, and conduct classes or training online with live videos.
Of course, ClickMeeting offers traditional video conferencing solutions for team meetings and professional collaboration, but if that's all you need then I would probably lean towards another option on our list.
ClickMeeting's pricing is complicated. There are two plans, but the prices are based on the number of participants in the webinar you want to have.
Here is an overview of the monthly price points for each plan:
Live
Up to 25 - 30 dollars
Up to 50 - 45 dollars
Up to 100 - 79
Up to 200 - 149 dollars
Up to 500 - 179 dollars
Up to 1,000 - 309
Automated
Up to 25 - 45 dollars
Up to 50 - 55 dollars
Up to 100 - 95 dollars
Up to 200 - 179
Up to 500 - 229 dollars
Up to 1,000 - 359
For video conferences with more than 1,000 participants, contact ClickMeeting's sales team to obtain a personalized enterprise solution.
You canTry ClickMeeting for free for 30 days and organize webinars with up to 25 participants to try it out. Save up to 20% with annual billing instead of a monthly contract.
The automated plan is your best option for broadcasting professional video webinars. This plan comes with advanced features such as automatic streaming on Facebook or YouTube, automatic sending of follow-up emails to participants, integration of Google Analytics, and participation certificates.
As you can see, ClickMeeting is definitely more expensive than the other options on our list, which is why I do not recommend it for basic video conferencing use. But the price is worth it if you plan on using the webinar features.
Zoho Meeting
Plans starting from $8 per month
Screen sharing
Moderator controls
Integrates with Zoho CRM
Start for free
Zoho Meeting is arguably the simplest video conferencing solution on the market today. There aren't a bunch of bells and whistles. Just a straightforward plan for video conferencing.
The pricing is simple; it is $10 per month per user, or $8 per month for an annual contract.
This plan comes with everything you need in a video conferencing service. However, it is limited to 100 participants per meeting and 10 recordings.
This is not professional quality software, but it is an affordable and appropriate choice for many small business owners.
Here are some of the main features of Zoho:
RSVP programming
Screen sharing
Moderator controls
Integrate meeting links
Chat in session
Lock meetings
You will also have the possibility to change presenters, give control to someone, and remove users from a video conference.
As expected, Zoho Meeting integrates perfectly with Zoho CRM. So if you are already using a Zoho product, this will be a top choice option to consider.
If Zoho Meeting is not the most comprehensive video conferencing service out there, it is a high-quality solution for small business owners who only need basic features.
Zoom
Free for up to 100 participants
The Pro plan starts at $14.99/month
HD Video Conferences
Cloud recording features
Start for free
Since its launch in 2011, Zoom has quickly become an industry leader in the field of video conferencing. The software is used by large companies such as Ticketmaster, Uber, Pandora, and GoDaddy, to name just a few.
Where Zoom shines is in its simplicity. It offers a plan for businesses of all shapes and sizes, with a free option.
Zoom offers video conferencing capabilities with up to 1,000 participants, and up to 49 videos on the screen simultaneously.
The platform is secure, with security options for users based on roles, password protection, and waiting rooms. Zoom allows your team to collaborate easily through screen sharing, file sharing, and other interactive features.
Zoom is modern, so naturally, the service is also accessible from a mobile application. This is perfect for participants who are on the go and cannot reach a computer for a meeting.
Here is an overview of Zoom's pricing model:
Basic - Free
Unlimited individual meetings
Up to 100 participants
Limit of 40 minutes for group meetings
Unlimited number of meetings
Pro - $14.99 per month per host
All basic features
Meeting limit of 24 hours
User management tools
Administrative functions controls
Information tools
1GB of cloud storage
Businesses - $19.99 per month per host
All the Pro features
Minimum 10 guests
Up to 300 participants
Dedicated phone support
Brand of the company
Transcriptions of cloud recording
Dashboard of the administration
Business - $19.99 per month per host
All the characteristics of businesses
Minimum 50 guests
Up to 1,000 participants
Unlimited cloud storage
Customer Support Manager
Leaders' activity reports
Discounts on packages available for Zoom rooms and webinars
As you can see, there is a plan for everyone. The free option is a great choice for an entrepreneur or freelancer who only needs a video chat occasionally for brief meetings.
Beyond personal use, you will need to upgrade to Pro or Business plans to make the most of Zoom. Fortunately, Zoom allows you to easily switch to another plan as your business grows.
Simply know that your plan will have an impact on the level of customer support you will receive. To benefit from quality assistance, you will need to upgrade to a higher level.
The Microsoft teams
Free entry plan
The premium plan starts at $12.50 per month
Chat, audio, and video features
The best for one-on-one meetings
Compare quotes
Teams is an instant messaging service with video capabilities, offered by Microsoft. The platform is specifically designed for internal communication in the workplace.
With its chat, audio, and video capabilities for groups of 10 or 10,000 people, Teams is the ultimate internal communication solution.
Slack is a direct competitor of Teams. But Teams shines with its superior technology and video conferencing features. However, the setup, usage, and onboarding are a bit more complex. So, it is important to be aware of this in advance.
Teams is the best solution when accessed from a desktop or web application. There is a mobile application, but overall, the web version is easier to navigate.
Here is a brief overview of the plans and pricing:
The Microsoft teams - Free
Office 365 Business Premium- $12.50 per user per month
Office 365 E3 - $20 per user per month
The two paid plans are only available with an annual contract. Both the Free plan and the entry-level paid plan have a limit of 300 users, while the Office 365 E3 option is unlimited.
You will always have access to a certain number of features with the free version, including video calls. But you will need Office 365 Business Premium to make the most of this software.
Paid plans include over 140 app integrations, 1TB of storage, scheduled meetings, meeting recordings, and administrative support.
The biggest drawback of teams is that they are limited. It is not really a full video conferencing service. It is more intended for individual video meetings or small groups.
If you want to organize large-scale video conferences and make presentations to clients, you should look elsewhere for a more suitable solution.
Join me
Voice packages start at $10/month
Video plans start at $20 per month
No time limits
Unlimited meetings
Compare quotes
The website boasts having very well-known clients such as TOMS, Foursquare, OpenTable, and Pinterest.
Join me, it's easy. The registration process is as quick as possible. There is no need to consult a sales representative or get a personalized quote. Just visit their website, and you can start a call in a few minutes.
To start a new video conference, simply invite other people to "join" your meeting (hence the name). You can invite people by email or with a personalized link.
Here is an overview of the plans and pricing options:
Lite - $10 per month per user
Up to 5 participants per meeting
No video feed*..
Unlimited meetings
No time limits
Personal link and customized background
Pro - $20 per month per user
Up to 250 participants per meeting
Up to 10 video streams
Recording capabilities
50 GB of cloud storage
Meeting schedule
Businesses - $30 per month per user
Up to 250 participants per meeting
1 Cloud storage
Bulk Importation by Users
Usage authorizations
Authentication of companies
Sales Force Integration
Unfortunately, the Lite plan does not include video conferencing, so you can skip that. It is also worth noting that all plans are offered with an annual contract only. Monthly plans are not available.
However, you can try it for freeJoin.me with a free 14-day trial. Compared to other options on the listJoin.me It is a bit limited in terms of participants in meetings and the number of video streams per meeting. But it is a good option for those of you who do not need more than ten simultaneous video streams per conference.
Webex
Free for up to 50 participants
Upgrade for as little as $16.95/month
Unlimited meetings
Cloud storage features
Compare quotes
Cisco is a brand that is synonymous with superior technology. It is therefore not surprising that Cisco Webex ranks high on our list of video conferencing software.
With Webex, you can organize large-scale virtual events with up to 100,000 participants and host an interactive webinar for an audience of 3,000 people.
Webex is perfect if you need to organize on-demand training courses for large groups as well. It is an excellent tool for integrating employees across multiple sites.
The Webex mobile application is another standout feature of the platform. Hosting and participating in meetings is both simple and accessible from anywhere.
Webex is designed for teams. The best part of this video conferencing software is undoubtedly the cloud collaboration features. It is easy to share files and screens with other meeting participants to stay organized and make the conference more interactive.
Cisco offers you four different plans, including a free basic option.
Free - $0 per month
Up to 50 participants
Limitation of meetings to 40 minutes
Unlimited meetings
1 GB of cloud storage
Beginner - $16.95 per month per host
Up to 50 participants
Unlimited duration of meetings
5 GB of cloud storage
Transcription recording
User management
Request and share files
Plus - $22.95 per month per host
Up to 100 participants
Assign substitute hosts
Allowing other people to schedule meetings for the host
Customizable Webex URL
Administrative portal
24-hour customer support, 7 days a week
Businesses - $32.95 per month per host
Up to 200 participants
10 GB of cloud storage
Brand and personalized options
Unique identification
Active Directory synchronization
Minimum of five licenses per month
At first glance, Webex prices appear to be higher than Zoom's. However, you can save 20% per month with an annual contract.
It is also important to note that the Webex Plus plan does not have a minimum number of hosts, and the business plan only has a minimum of five licenses. Zoom has a minimum of 10 and 50 hosts for its plans at similar prices.
Webex will therefore be a better option if you want these features to be geared towards a small team.
How to find the best video conferencing services
Now that you have had the opportunity to review the best solutions on the market, how can you find the best option for your unique situation? This is the methodology I used to create this guide.
I have identified each set of features that matter most and why you should take them into consideration when evaluating potential platforms.
Conference size
Each video conferencing plan has a certain limit on the number of participants who can join a meeting. This number can range from 25 to 100,000.
Make sure to choose a service and plan that can accommodate the number of people you need for your video conferences. You don't want to overpay for a plan that has participant limits you'll never reach. But most importantly, you don't want to find yourself in a situation where your participant list is too long for your platform and plan.
Video Stream
You can have a large number of participants in a conference, but that does not necessarily mean that every user will be able to stream a video.
For example, RingCentral plans allow for up to 100 participants per meeting, but limit you to only ten simultaneous video streams.
So do not let yourself be influenced by the only limits of the participants. Always check how many users can actually watch a video at the same time.
Collaboration tools
Collaboration tools are essential for groups and teams.
Features such as screen sharing, built-in chat, file sharing, and online collaboration are very useful for presentations and group projects. They are also helpful when a video conferencing service integrates with existing tools and platforms that you already use to manage a business. You can look for features such as Salesforce integration or Google Analytics integration.
Price
It is clear that cost will play a role in your decision-making process.
For the most part, video conferencing services are charged on a monthly basis per user. Prices typically range between 10 and 40 dollars per month per user for traditional video conferencing. However, you can pay much more than that for advanced features like video conferencing webinars. Solutions like ClickMeeting offer packages starting from 300 dollars per month.
Conclusion
Take your virtual meetings to the next level with a video conferencing software.
What is the best video conferencing service on the market? The answer depends on who you ask and what you are looking for. Here is a brief overview of the platforms discussed above.
RingCentral The best video conferencing service with business VoIP phone plans.
GoToMeeting - The best video conferencing service for small businesses.
ClickMeeting The best video conferencing software for webinars.
Zoom - The best video conferencing service for scalability.
The Microsoft teams - The best video conferencing software for internal communication.
Zoho Meeting Affordable video conferencing service with basic features.
Join me - Annual contractual video conferencing plans for small meetings.
Webex - The best video conferencing software for collaboration in the cloud.
Based on this guide, I am convinced that you will be able to find the best choice for your business. Whatever the specific situation you are in, these options can meet your needs. If you still don't know which one is best for you, fill out the short form below to further compare the best solutions.