There was a time when running a business from elsewhere where employees are scattered across the globe, all working from different cities considered a work of fiction.

There was a time when running a business from elsewhere where employees are scattered across the globe, all working from different cities considered a work of fiction.

How would they even communicate? How would they go about having team conferences? How would they get anything done?

These are just some of the questions that may have been raised. The video conferencing tool has dragged this fantastical business model from the realms of fiction into the realms of reality.

In this article, we will be looking into some of the best video conferencing software on the market right now. We’ll go through their features, pros and cons, best use cases, and pricing.

So without further adieu, let's dive right in!

Read more: 8 Best Presentation Software Tools in 2023

What is a video conferencing software, and why is it used?

Video conferencing software or apps are designed around the whole concept of connectivity and communication no matter where you are. They have been around for a while but having emerged from the recent pandemic the whole world came to realize the sheer brilliance and need for these tools. 

People used them to connect to their loved ones across the globe, schools, colleges and universities were able to schedule classes for their students no matter where they were around the world and businesses used it heavily to maintain their work efficiency and clear lines of communication among their employees.

The conferencing tool has revolutionized our concepts of a virtual workplace, team communication and work efficiency.

Best video conferencing tools

Zoom

Zoom is currently one of the most popular cloud-based video and audio meeting services on the market. It is a highly versatile tool that allows businesses to operate remotely from anywhere. Even if the employees are spread across the globe, they can maintain seamless and clear communication through zoom. Zoom provides a wide range of features that are intended to supplement the conferencing-related needs of a business. 

Best Features

• HD video and audio support along with a wide range of call options
• Screen sharing, simultaneous screen sharing and Co-annotations
• Clean UI and group message interface
• Breakout rooms, polls, quizzes etc
• Can host up to 200 people in a single session
• Fun background templates and background blurring also available
• Meeting recording available

Best use case

Zoom is extremely versatile with an extensive feature list hence it can serve the conferencing needs of all sizes of business.

Pros	Cons
Can support large audiences	Way too many packages and subscription models
Facebook streaming	HD video is selective
Scalable for different sized businesses
Ease of use

Pricing

Zoom offers multiple pricing tiers for multipurpose use. Please visit their site for more update.

Google Meet

Google meet is right up there with zoom in terms of use when it comes to meeting tools. It is a video conferencing tool offered by Google as part of its G suite series. It has all the standard features that are expected of a premium level meeting tool that is free for all google users. 

Best Features

• High quality video and audio available for meeting and conferences
• Active background noise filtering to ensure clear audio
• Interesting and fun background filters
• Screen sharing, break out rooms, polls are all available
• Meetings can be scheduled on Google calendar
• Can host up to 100 participants per meeting

Best use case

Similar to Zoom, Google meet is completely scalable for businesses of all sizes. Starting from enterprise level businesses to start ups, everyone can use Google meet and enjoy most of its features. 

Pros	Cons
Google calendar and Google jamboard accessibility	Screen recording not allowed
Easy and intuitive UI	Only accessible through a gmail account
Free

 

Pricing

Google meet is completely free for anyone who has a gmail account. Google meet is however inaccessible to people without a gmail account.

Skype 

Skype is perhaps the most well known video chatting and VoIP software out of all the conferencing tools currently available on the market with well over 1.95 billion users globally as of 2022. It is hard to find a person that hasn’t heard of Skype. Even with a dip in popularity in recent years with the rise of Zoom and Google Meet it is still used quite frequently around the globe. 

Best Features

• HD video calling quality
• Separate viewing features for hosts and participants (Gallery view, presentation view, compact view etc)
• Meetings can host up to 100 participants

Best use case

Skype is perfect for a small team consisting of 20-25 members.  

Pros	Cons
Accessible from many platforms	No Zoom in feature available during video meeting
Secure	Lacking some collaboration features such as jamboard, breakout sessions etc
Easy to use
Instant messaging, calling, and video chatting

 

Pricing

Skype is free for all to use. It has no premium version so if you have a small team you can enjoy all of its meeting features for no cost. 

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft teams is a cloud-based team collaboration software that doubles as an excellent conferencing tool. It is part of Microsoft 365 and office 365 suite of applications. Microsoft teams are primarily used for business messaging, calling, video conferencing and file sharing. 

Best Features

• In meeting powerpoint presentation capabilities with features such as slide transitions and embedded videos
• Online video calling
• Video conferencing
• Screen sharing
• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) a feature that allows you to join a meeting over a phone call if internet isn’t available 
• Up to 250 participants can join a single meeting

Best use case

Microsoft teams can be used by businesses of all sizes. It provides near limitless functionalities and has a free version hence every one starting from startups to enterprises can use it as their collaboration tool.

Pros	Cons
Easy implementation	Group meeting functions less intuitive
Free version available	Increased security risks
Seamless file search, back up, sharing and collaboration.

 

Pricing

Microsoft teams free	$0
Microsoft teams essential	$2/user per month
Microsoft 365 business basic	$3/user per month
Microsoft 365 business standard	$10/user per month

 

Cisco WebEx

Cisco WebEx is one of the most conferencing tools on the market when it comes to ease of use. If you are new to using meeting tools for your business then WebEx should be your starting point. With its few clicks approach you can start meetings, switch presenters, screen share or even use the whiteboard instantly. 

Best Features

• High quality video and audio conferencing
• AI powered language translation, closed captioning and transcription
• Features such as polling, whiteboard etc
• Background active noise cancellation
• Third party recording tools 
• top notch encryption and security
• Up to 200 participant can join a meeting

Best use case

WebEx can be used by small to mid businesses because it has a free version available but to use its full capabilities a paid version is recommended hence it is more suited to enterprise level businesses. 

Pros	Cons
High quality audio and video	Confusing UI
Extremely secure	Free version has limited features
	Audio and video loading not seamless

Pricing

Basic	$0
Meet	$12/license/month
Enterprise	Custom pricing

 

Slack

Slack is also one of the best user friendly conferencing software currently on the market. It has great connected meeting capabilities along with instant messaging and video and audio conferencing. 

Slack stands out because it has integrations available for other famous conferencing tools such as Zoom, Microsoft teams, Cisco WebEx etc. 

Best Features

• Audio and video conferencing with instant messaging
• Screen sharing
• Extensive integrations available for Google drive, Office 365 etc
• Up to 50 participants can be hosted in meetings

Best use case

Slack has varied usability. It provides a free plan for small businesses and start ups and its paid plans also cater to large enterprise level businesses as well. 

Pros	Cons
User friendly UI	Conversations only last for 14 days
Conversation search	Limited file storage
Extensive integration

 

Pricing

Free	$0
Pro	$7.25/month
Business+	$12.50/month
Enterprise Grid	Custom pricing

 

TeamViewer

TeamViewer is unique when it comes to conferencing software. Besides having features of traditional conferencing software it provides extremely powerful remote functional capabilities. You can share your screen as well as your entire desktop access to some else in the meeting. This is a very unique feature. 

Best Features

• Remote desktop controlling capabilities
• VPN functionalities
• Screen sharing and recording
• Cross platform accessibility
• VOIP calling
• Can host up to 300 participants per meeting

Best use case

TeamViewer is a unique software and is intended for enterprise level businesses with massive support teams only.

Pros	Cons
Remote desktop control capabilities	Requires license to use for business purposes
Available across multiple platforms (Mac, Windows, Linus etc)	Expensive subscription fees
VPN functionality available

 

Pricing

Single user	$42.90/ month, billed annually
Multi user	$79.90/month, billed annually
Business	$164.90/month, billed annually

 

Conclusion

That concludes our list of 7 of the best conferencing software on the market right now. All of them are different from each other with unique selling points and features.  Some provide excellent video and audio quality, others provide extensive conference aiding features such as whiteboards and screen sharing. Our top recommendation however is Google Meet. 

Google Meet is an excellent platform for communication for small to medium businesses. It is a Google product hence its features are all premium and extremely well designed. The video and audio quality is excellent when it comes to video conferencing. It has features that aid collaboration such as break out rooms, polling and screen sharing. It can host up to 100 participants in a single meeting and if all that wasn’t enough for you, here is the kicker…..

IT’S FREE!