6 Video Conferencing Software and Why They Stand Out
Video conferencing software is the answer for businesses interested in increasing productivity, reducing travel expenses, and fostering stronger relationships.
Instead of dealing with endless email chains, your business gets to interact with clients, employees, and vendors in real-time. You can also share dynamic presentations, read body language, and get decisions made faster.
And with the work-from-home culture now becoming a norm, it makes sense for teams to have easy-to-access video conferencing software that keeps them connected.
Additionally, according to research, most businesses plan to increase their spending on web and video conferencing software in 2021.
However, before you can take out your checkbook, you need to know how to deal with the current saturation of video conferencing software.
How can you tell what video conferencing software will suit your business needs?
What features should you look for, and which are the best video conferencing platforms currently available?
In this post, we make the process of choosing simple by listing the best video conferencing software, features that make them stand out, and their pricing. We also tell you how hard it will be to use the tool and whether you need advanced expertise to handle them.
Let’s dive in.
6 Video Conferencing Software for Businesses Seeking Success
Before we can get into the list of video conferencing software, here are the most important features your brand should look for:
Screen sharing: Ensure the video conferencing software you choose has a share button feature. This way, you don’t have to send items before the video meeting and hope people look through them.
Analytics: Analytics on a video conferencing platform allow you to monitor service quality so that you can streamline your virtual meetings experience.
Integrations: Look out for a video conferencing software that integrates with other software you use.
Moderator tools: This gives the moderator the power to mute those not presenting, choose who presents, and place attendees on hold.
Recording functionality: Meeting recordings allow you to keep even those who didn’t attend the video meeting in the loop.
Multiple device support: Video conferencing solutions should support different operating systems and devices.
Quality audio and video: Make sure you can clearly see and hear what others say or share during video conferences.
Strong security: Security helps you avoid situations where strangers join your meeting or steal sensitive information.
And now that you know what features matter most, here are the video conferencing software you can choose from:
1. Zoom
As a popular video conferencing software, Zoom lets you hold audio and video calls across multiple platforms.
What’s more?
This video conferencing software is scalable and offers numerous supportive tools that make communication effective for any kind of business.
Key Features
- Unlimited group and one-to-one meetings
- Record meetings to cloud and leverage searchable transcripts
- Streamlined calendar and team chat
- Meeting moderation tools and easy screen sharing
- Ability to host webinars with up to 50,000 people and Livestream events on social media
- Create, build, and easily manage events
- Zoom meeting room with advanced features including Smart Gallery, Hot Desking, virtual receptionists, enhanced voice commands, etc.
- Industry-specific features including those for education, healthcare, finance, and government
- Ability to build integrations and apps that enrich your zoom experience
Pros
- Social media streaming
- HD video and audio
- Team collaboration tools
- Video recording features for both free and paid plans
Cons
- Zoom has security issues and poor customer support.
Usability
- Easy to use
Tool Level
- Beginner
Pricing
- Free
- PRO — $14.99 per month per license
- BUSINESS — $19.99 per month per license
- ENTERPRISE — $19.99 per month per license
2. Microsoft Teams
As one of the more robust video conferencing software, Microsoft Teams provides features you need for conferencing, file sharing, messaging, calling, and collaborating in one place.
Best of all?
Microsoft Teams has a free version suitable for individuals, startups, and small businesses and a paid version for large businesses that need more comprehensive features.
Key Features
- Video, audio, and call recording plus live transcriptions
- Robust functionalities for screen sharing, setting up calendars, holding video calls, adding team members, etc.
- Share different types of content, including your device screen, PowerPoint slide deck, Microsoft Whiteboard, and audio
- Host monitoring features including the ability to prevent attendees from turning on their cameras
- Ability to customize backgrounds and viewing modes
- Security features including data encryption while in transit and rest
- Powerful chat capabilities including the ability to search, pin chats, categorize conversations, etc.
Pros
- Numerous collaboration features and cloud storage
- Easy file sharing
- Detailed team analytics and reports
- Microsoft Office integrations
Cons
- The user interface on Microsoft Teams may not be friendly for beginners or people without some technical knowledge.
Usability
- Moderately easy
Tool Level
- Intermediate
Pricing
You can try the paid plans for one month free
- Microsoft Teams — Free
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic — $5 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard — $12.50 per user per month
3. Google Meet
Google Meet is a video conferencing software developed by Google and formerly known as Google Hangouts Meet.
It’s also a video conferencing solution that integrates easily with other Google apps, caters to many meeting participants, and doesn’t require installing to hold meetings.
Key Features
- Good video and audio quality with background noise filtering capability
- Screen sharing and the ability to dial-in phone numbers
- Record meetings and easily save them on Google Drive
- Live streaming option with up to 10 000 participants
- Moderation features including polls, Q&A, hand raises, breakout rooms, etc.
- Compatible with Android or iOS and browsers including Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox.
- Easy integrations with the G-suite tools and Google calendar
Pros
- Unlimited meetings
- Strong security
- Easy tool to use for clients familiar only with Google tools
Cons
- Functionalities such as noise cancellation, dial-in phone numbers, and breakout rooms are only available in paid plans.
Usability
- Easy to use
Tool Level
- Beginner
Pricing
- Google Meet — Always free
- Google Workspace Individual — Currently at $7.99 per month and set to increase to $9.99 per month starting January 2022.
- Google Workspace Enterprise — Contact sales for pricing
4. Zoho Online Meeting Software & Platforms
Zoho Meeting is one of the simple-to-use video conferencing software for anyone looking for basic features.
It enables you to host webinars or web conferences and offers various features that make it easy to connect with audiences and clients at an affordable cost.
Key Features
- All-in-one solution for audio-conferencing, webinars, and video conferences
- Join meetings through phone calls
- Record, store, share, or download meeting links
- Screen sharing available for applications or monitors when making demos and presentations
- Sync online meetings with your Google email calendar and receive meeting notifications and invitations straight to your inbox
- Scheduled and instant meetings with the ability to share joining links via SMS, email, or chat
- Moderator controls and ability to hold private meetings
- Integrations with Zoho sales & marketing tools plus group collaboration tools
Pros
- Available on browser and mobile apps
- Automated email reminders
- Strong security features
- Interactive conferencing feed
Cons
- This video conferencing platform has fewer features compared to others with better pricing.
Usability
- Easy to use
Tool Level
- Beginner
Pricing
Zoho meeting offers volume discounts on monthly and yearly billing.
- Free Plan
- MEETING — Per host per month at $3 for 10 participants, $6 for 25 participants, $9 for 50 participants, and $12 for 100 participants.
- WEBINAR — per organizer per month at $19 for 25 attendees, $29 for 50 attendees, $39 for 100 attendees, $79 for 250 attendees, $125 for 500 attendees, and $200 for 1000 attendees.
5. CyberLink U Meeting
CyberLink U Meeting goes beyond basics to give your comprehensive video conferencing software features for medium-sized and small businesses.
What’s more?
It’s a handy video conferencing software for teachers and people who rely on online course platforms.
Why is this?
With it, you can hold roll calls online, ask for student information, hold breakout sessions, generate discussions, etc.
Key Features
- Schedule online meetings and sync them with your Outlook or Google calendar
- Collaboration and interaction tools including virtual whiteboards, desktop screen sharing, annotation pens, and laser pointers
- Record, store discussions, and hold breakout sessions
- Ability to collect participant information and take roll-calls
- Broadcast feature to manage who can join meetings as a viewer or participant
Pros
- Numerous viewing options
- Strong security features
- Dedicated features for educational organizations plus public/ private organizations
- Tutorials on software use
Cons
- Compared to other video conferencing software, their video quality is disappointing.
Usability
- Easy to use
Tool Level
- Beginner
Pricing
- Basic — Free for 25 participants and max 30 minutes
- Pro 50 — $9.99 per month per host for up to 50 participants and 24hrs max per meeting
- Pro 100 — $14.99 per month per host for up to 100 participants and 24 hrs max per meeting.
- Pro 200 — Contact sales
- Enterprise — Contact sales
6. RingCentral HD Video Conferencing
For a comprehensive series of robust features, leverage video conferencing software from RingCentral.
Their HD Video Conferencing solution offers flawless HD quality video and audio plus powerful in-meeting capabilities.
What’s more?
You can choose to set up a live virtual meeting room or schedule a meeting with flexible joining options.
Key Features
- All-in-one solution for video, calling, and instant messaging
- Host meetings with up to 500 people and easily share applications, presentations, desktops, whiteboards, etc., from your device
- Advanced annotation tools to comment on or highlight parts of shared documents
- Record and easily distribute meetings
- Create up to 50 breakout sessions where attendees can share video, screens, audio, whiteboards, etc.
- Integrates with Microsoft Outlook, iCal, and Google Calendar so you can easily sync calendars, schedule, or update meetings
- Ability to share content, files, and presentations from Google Drive or Dropbox
- Build your own integrations or integrate with popular cloud applications
Pros
- Multi-device connectivity
- Real-time analytics
- Strong security features
- Cloud-based
Cons
- Advanced analytics and integrations on this video conferencing software are only available with the paid plan.
Usability
- Easy to use
Tool Level
- Beginner
Pricing
- RingCentral Video Pro — Free plan
- RingCentral Video Pro + — $14.99 per user per month
Originally published at Attrock.com.
About The Author
Gaurav Sharma is the Founder and CEO of Attrock, a results-driven digital marketing company. Grew an agency from 5-figure to 7-figure revenue in just two years.
