Using the best video conferencing software has become a necessity in the post-Covid-19 world. Not having regular face-to-face meetings in an actual meeting room is something we all had to get used to as the pandemic brought about a new normal for the whole world.
In this new normal, everything from how business is conducted to internal staff meetings to meetings with potential clients and all the way to conducting classes has shifted to virtual meetings in some shape or form.
The pandemic brought about a new age of virtual conferencing which is now more popular than regular meetings and there are no signs of the world reverting back to the old ways.
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Why should you use video conferencing softwares?
There are plenty of reasons you can use to justify why you do not have to invest in the best video conferencing software but we beg to differ.
Video conferencing software has taken the world by storm over the past few years. Even if we ignore Covid – 19 and how it forced us into the uncomfortable settings of virtual conferencing, we learned that video meetings are the future we were too stubborn to acknowledge.
Reasons why video conferencing adds value for you:
- People can work from home which means that they need less sick or casual leaves
- You can run your business from anywhere in the world even if you are travelling
- The world is your oyster and you are not restricted to finding potential clients and customers in your close vicinity anymore.
- Same goes for employees, you can hire the best talent from around the world rather than just looking for employees in your own city.
- Schools and universities can conduct classes and take examinations online
- Holding trainings, webinars and seminars online does not require you to book an auditorium anymore
- Working from home reduces costs that were previously incurred like renting and running an office building.
Google Meet
One of the best video conferencing software out there is Google Meet. Created by Google for the corporate world, Google Meet offers all the features you look for in a video-conferencing application.
Features offered include:
- Creating instant meetings
- Schedule future meetings
- Google Calendar sync
- Integration with other applications like Slack for reminders
- Conference room booking
- Up to 250 team members can join a single meeting room
- Live stream option for up to 100,000 viewers
- Change video call backgrounds
- Screen sharing
- Raising hands and chat features during video calls
Google meet also has a free version which is very useful for a small team. You get all the basic features like scheduling meetings, unlimited meeting hours but you lose on more premium features like recording meetings. Under the free plan, you can hold a 1-hour long meeting.
Google meet is very intuitive and user-friendly. It is so easy and simple to use that even a person who has never used it before can very easily join a meeting.
One great feature of Google Meet is that when you schedule a meeting and send out invites to Gmail, the people can join the meeting within the Gmail application on chrome and even on their smartphone so you do not need to download a separate application for it.
Pricing
- Free version available
- $7.99 per month for individual plan
- You can contact their sales team for the enterprise plan
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome
Teams
If you use other Microsoft products like Office 365 or Outlook, then the best option for you by far is to use Microsoft Teams. Microsoft teams have all the necessary tools and with its tight integration with other Microsoft products, it is arguably the best video conferencing software for 2022.
Features offered include:
- Creating instant meetings
- Schedule future meetings
- Microsoft Calendar sync
- Integration with other applications like Outlook and Office 365
- Up to 250 team members can join a single meeting room
- Live stream option for up to 100,000 viewers
- Change video call backgrounds
- Screen sharing
- Chat feature during video calls
One downside of Teams is that it is not as easy or friendly to use as some of the other applications on the list. It feels highly compartmentalized and requires you to go through multiple steps before completing a simple task like finding a conversation.
On the other hand, Teams comes bundled with other Microsoft products so you will not have to pay extra for a video conferencing tool.
Pricing
- Free version available
- $4 per user per month for Essentials plan
- $5 per user per month for Microsoft 365 Business basic plan
- $12.50 per user per month for Microsoft 365 Business standard plan
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome
Live Webinar
This is one of the best video conferencing software available for use in 2022. Live Webinar is a cloud-based virtual meeting platform that offers a whole host of features.
Features offered include:
- Creating instant meetings
- Schedule future meetings
- Livestream games
- Dedicated chat-rooms for meeting hosts
- Integration with other applications
- Easy one click link sharing option
- Up to 1000+ team members can join a single meeting room
- Change video call backgrounds
- Screen sharing
Live webinar, as the name suggests, is perfect for conducting webinars. Under its paid plans, it can be really powerful with features such as adding thousands of attendees and proper full HD video recording capabilities of up to 8 hour-long sessions. A live webinar is also very simple and easy to use.
Pricing
- Free version available
- $14.99 for Pro version with 100 team members and 6 hour recording limit
- $199 or $95.20 per month paid annual subscription for Business version with 8 hour recording limit
- There is also a custom price available
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome
Zoom
Zoom took off during Covid – 19. It became the most popular video conferencing app and many consider it the best video conferencing software simply because it just works. It is super simple and easy to use. You do not need to install the application as it can run in your browser.
Features offered include:
- Schedule present and future meetings
- Google Calendar sync
- Video recording even with the free plan
- Up to 100 team members can join a single meeting room under the free plan
- Live stream option for up to 100,000 viewers
- Change video call backgrounds
- Screen sharing
- chat feature during video calls
Zoom has a very usable free version available. The only downside is that it restricts you to a 40-minute call. If you have a small team and do not mind starting a new meeting every 40 minutes, you will probably be fine without the Pro plan.
Pricing
- Free for 40 minute meetings and up to 100 participants
- $14.99 per month per host for the pro plan which removes all time and participation restrictions
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome
Team Viewer
TeamViewer is on the list of the best video conferencing software due to the unique set of features that it offers. It is the only virtual meeting tool that offers best-in-class screen sharing options and remote-control options. It is more of a remote monitoring system.
The Remote Desktop control option offered by TeamViewer makes it one of the best solutions for remote collaboration as it offers better productivity in a remote working environment. It is primarily recommended for IT professionals and support staff.
Features offered include:
- Creating instant meetings
- Best in class image quality
- Top tier encryption to make sure that no one else has access to remote desktop
- Provides access to all endpoints in your organization like desktops and laptops
- Mass deployment feature
One thing to consider with TeamViewer is that it is only recommended for teams that require frequent Remote Desktop usage. otherwise, you are paying for an overpriced virtual conferencing application.
Pricing
- Free version available
- $24.90 per month for the basic remote access to 3 computers
- $50.90 per month for the Business version
- $102.90 per month for the Premium version
- $206.90 per month for the Corporate version
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome, Linux
Cisco WebEx
Cisco WebEx Is on the list of the best video conferencing software because of how flexible it is. It offers integration with multiple other applications and you can hold multiple meetings concurrently. We have also noticed that it is very effective for education-based sessions like lectures and training.
Features offered include:
- Creating instant meetings
- Schedule future meetings
- Google Calendar sync
- Offers Cross-platform compatibility
- Change video call backgrounds
- Screen sharing
- Raising hands and chat features during video calls
- Easy document sharing
Pricing
- Free for up to 200 participants but under a free trial
- $13.50 per month per host for the starter plan with upto 50 participants
- $17.95 per month per host for the Plus plan with up to 200 participants
- $26.95 per month per host for the Business plan with up to 1000 participants
- There is an Enterprise version available too
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is one the best video conferencing software available for 2022. It is priced well enough to not break the bank, the meetings have one of the best video and audio conferencing quality. And their customer service and support is outstanding.
Features offered:
- HD video support
- Screen sharing from any smart device
- Hardware bundle kit
- A messaging application that can seamlessly transition from chatting to video calling with a single click
- An additional feature offers an option for toll-free numbers for more than 50 countries and the best part is that you only have to pay for what you use.
- Email invitations
- Integrated scheduling
The best and the most unique thing about GoToMeeting is that it is arguably the best video conferencing software if you have the standard of hardware equipment and high bandwidth internet connection of their requirement. Unfortunately, this is not possible with every team member working from a different device and having a different standard of internet connection.
Pricing
- Free trial available
- $14 per month for up to 10 team members
- $29 per month for up to 150 team members
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting is on the list of best video conferencing software available because it is amazing at what it offers especially at the price. Zoho Meeting Is the cheapest video conferencing software on the list. But just because it’s cheaper than the rest does not mean it lacks all of the necessary features
Features offered include:
- Creating instant meetings
- Schedule future meetings
- Google Calendar sync
- Change video call backgrounds
- Screen sharing
- Raising hands and chat features during video calls
- Lock meetings to avoid unwanted guests
One of the unique features of the Zoho meeting is that it gives you recordings of your 25 meetings on your home screen depending on your subscription plan. Zoho meetings are also easy to recommend as a webinar software but the subscription plans for the webinar version vary and are more costly.
If you run into any issues with the tool, their customer service is pretty good. They offer live chat and phone calls support and you can also register for training and onboarding sessions with their representatives.
Pricing
- Free version available
- $3 per month for a team up to 10 members
- $19 per month for a team up to 25 members
- $29 per month for a team up to 50 members
Platform support
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome
FAQs
What is the best free video conferencing software?
The best free video conferencing software would have to be Zoom. Zoom is the most popular video conferencing software out there and it’s considered the best video conferencing software for a reason.
Even the free version of Zoom allows you premium features like video recording which you can then share with team members who were unable to join. Zoom has over 300 million users now and its popularity grew because of what it offered for individuals and businesses alike.
What is the easiest video conferencing app to use?
None of the video conferencing software we have listed is particularly difficult to use. If we have to name just one, it will probably have to be Google Meet. We can not stress enough how easy and simple it is to use.
The one unique aspect of Google Meet that no other software provides is that if you use the Gmail app on your smartphone, you do not need to download the Google Meet app separately as it is also integrated within the Gmail app. This allows you to quickly jump on a video call through your phone regardless of whether you have used Google Meet or not.
