Want to jump straight to the answer? The best video conferencing service for most people is RingCentral.
Video conferencing software has to work perfectly, or it doesn’t really work at all. If there’s any lag in the video, it’s nearly impossible to have a conversation. If someone doesn’t get the invite, you may have to reschedule.
Below you’ll find my top picks for video conferencing services. These are affordable, reliable, secure options your business can depend on.
The 7 Best Video Conferencing Services
- RingCentral — Best video conferencing service with VoIP business phone plans.
- ClickMeeting — Best video conferencing software for webinars.
- Zoho Meeting — Affordable video conferencing service with basic features.
- Microsoft Teams — Best video conferencing software for internal communication.
- Zoom — Best video conferencing service for scalability.
- Webex — Best video conferencing software for cloud collaboration.
- GoTo Meeting — Best video conferencing service for small businesses
These video conferencing services are not ranked— all have pros and cons. Use the in-depth reviews below to compare them, and find the one that works best for your needs.
RingCentral – Best Video Conferencing Service With VoIP Business Phone Plans
- Free up to 100 participants
- Video, screen share, & messaging
- VoIP phone service plans
- Small to enterprise solutions
Just for starters, RingCentral is our top choice for video conferencing.
But they go well beyond video conferencing services. They also offer VoIP business phone services.
You can get rid of your traditional phone plan, too. RingCentral provides video conferencing features as an added bonus.
You can always purchase RingCentral Meetings as a standalone product. Those plans are below:
Free — $0 per month
- Up to 100 participants
- Unlimited one-on-one meetings
- 40-minute limit on group meetings
Essentials — $14.99 per month per user
- Up to 100 participants
- Unlimited group meetings
- 24/7 phone support
- 1,000 call minutes per license
Advanced — $19.99 per month per user
- Up to 100 participants
- 2,500 call minutes
- Real-time usage dashboard
- SLA available
The free plan is decent if you compare it to others on the list. The meetings cap at 40 minutes each, but you can still have up to 100 participants.
Paid plans are also limited to just 100 participants, which is low compared to the competition. However, you can add on larger meeting options to your plan for an upcharge.
RingCentral also has great enterprise solutions. You’ll need to contact their sales team to get a custom quote. But you can save some money by bundling RingCentral Meetings with a VoIP business phone.
Check out our complete RingCentral video review to learn more.
ClickMeeting – Best Video Conferencing Service For Webinars
- Free 30-day trial
- Best for webinars
- Up to 1,000 attendees
- Enterprise solutions available
ClickMeeting is a bit different compared to some of the other video conferencing services. This platform has a unique feature: webinars.
It’s a great option for anyone who wants to hold large online events, market products with video demonstrations, and host online courses or training sessions with live video.
ClickMeeting also offers traditional video conferencing solutions for team meetings and business collaboration. However, if that’s all you need, I’d look at other options on this list.
Pricing is complicated too. There are two plans, and each offers different levels and costs depending on how many attendees you have.
Here’s an overview of those price points per month for each plan:
Live
- Up to 25 — $30
- Up to 50 — $45
- Up to 100 — $79
- Up to 200 — $149
- Up to 500 — $179
- Up to 1,000 — $309
Automated
- Up to 25 — $45
- Up to 50 — $55
- Up to 100 — $95
- Up to 200 — $179
- Up to 500 — $229
- Up to 1,000 — $359
For video conferences with more than 1,000 attendees, contact the ClickMeeting sales team for a custom enterprise solution.
You can try ClickMeeting free for 30 days and run webinars with up to 25 attendees to try it out. Save up to 20% with annual billing instead of a month-to-month contract.
The Automated plan is your best option for broadcasting professional video webinars. This plan comes with advanced features like auto-streaming to Facebook or YouTube, automated follow-up emails to attendees, Google Analytics integration, and certificates of attendance.
ClickMeeting is definitely pricey compared to the other options on our list, which is why I wouldn’t recommend it for just basic video conferencing use. But the price is worth it if you’re planning to use the webinar features.
Zoho Meeting – Most Affordable Video Conferencing Service With Basic Features
- Plans as low as $3/month
- Screen sharing
- Moderator controls
- Integrates with Zoho CRM
Zoho Meeting is arguably the most straightforward video conferencing solution on the market today. There aren’t a bunch of bells and whistles.
Some of Zoho’s top features include:
- RSVP scheduling
- Screen sharing
- Moderator controls
- Embed meeting links
- In-session chat
- Lock meetings
You’ll also have the ability to switch a presenter, give someone control, and remove users from a video conference.
As expected, Zoho Meeting integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM. So if you’re already using a Zoho product, this will be a top option for you to consider.
This isn’t the most feature-rich video conferencing software out there. But it’s a quality solution for small business owners who just need basic features and already utilize Zoho products.
Pricing is tiered based on the number of participants in a meeting, and charged per host per month. Here’s a breakdown of what that looks like:
- 10 participants — $3 per host per month
- 25 participants — $6 per host per month
- 50 participants — $9 per host per month
- 100 participants — $12 per host per month
- 150 participants — $14 per host per month
- 200 participants — $16 per host per month
- 250 participants — $18 per host per month
There’s also a free forever plan with limited features that supports 100 meeting participants and 100 webinar attendees.
You can save up to 15% when you sign up for annual billing. Try Zoho Meeting for free with a 14-day trial.
Microsoft Teams – Best Video Conferencing Service For Internal Communication
- Free entry level plan
- Premium plan starts at $12.50/mo
- Chat, audio, and video capabilities
- Best for 1-on-1 meetings
Microsoft Teams is an instant messaging service with chat, audio, and video capability. The platform is designed specifically for internal comms in the workplace.
With the ability to support group sizes of 10 or 10,000, MS Teams is the ultimate in-house communication solution.
MS Teams shines over competitors like Slack with its superior technology and video conferencing features. But the setup, usage, and onboarding are a bit more complex compared to other options on the market.
MS Teams is best when it’s accessed from a desktop device or web app. Your team can also take advantage of the mobile app version of the software, but it’s not as easy to navigate as the web version.
Let’s take a quick look at the plans and pricing options:
- Microsoft Teams — Free
- Microsoft Teams Essentials — $4 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic — $6 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard — $12.50 user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium — $22 per user per month
All paid plans are only available with an annual contract.
You’ll still have access to quite a few features with the free version, including video calls. But you’ll need Office 365 Business Premium to get the most out of this software.
Paid plans have 140+ app integrations, 1 TB of storage, scheduled meetings, meeting recordings, and administrative support. Our in-depth Microsoft Teams review covers its features and capabilities in greater detail.
Aside from its complexity, MS Teams does have some limitations. It’s not really a true video conferencing service. Instead, it’s better for one-on-one video meetings or smaller groups.
If you want to host large-scale video conferences and make presentations to clients, you should look elsewhere for a more suitable solution.
Overall, this is a solid option for any business that’s committed to using a Microsoft ecosystem.
Zoom – Best Video Conferencing Service For Scalability
- Free for up to 100 participants
- Pro plan starts at $14.99 per month
- HD video conferences
- Cloud recording features
Since launching in 2011, Zoom has quickly become an industry leader in the video conferencing space. The software is trusted by large businesses like Ticketmaster, Uber, Pandora, and GoDaddy, just to name a few.
Zoom shines with its simplicity, which is highlighted in our full Zoom review. There’s a plan for businesses of any shape and size, including a free-forever option.
Zoom has video conferencing capabilities with up to 1,000 participants, and up to 49 videos on the screen simultaneously.
The platform is secure and has role-based user security options, password protection, and waiting rooms. Zoom makes it easy for your team to collaborate with screen sharing, filing sharing, and other interactive features.
Zoom is modern, so naturally, the service can also be accessed from a mobile app. This is perfect for participants who are on the go and unable to reach a computer for a meeting.
Here’s an overview of Zoom’s pricing model:
Basic — Free
- Unlimited one-on-one meetings
- Up to 100 participants
- 40-minute limit on group meetings
- Unlimited number of meetings
Pro — $14.99 per month per host
- All basic features
- 24-hour meeting limit
- User management tools
- Admin feature controls
- Reporting tools
- 1 GB of cloud recording
Business — $19.99 per month per host
- All of the Pro features
- Up to 10 hosts
- Up to 300 participants
- Dedicated phone support
- Company branding
- Cloud recording transcripts
- Admin dashboard
Enterprise — $19.99 per month per host
- All of the Business features
- Up to 50 hosts
- Up to 1,000 participants
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Dedicated customer support manager
- Executive business reviews
- Bundle discounts available for Zoom Rooms and webinars
As you can see, there is a plan for everyone. The free option is an excellent choice for a small team or freelancer who only needs to video chat once in a while for brief meetings.
Beyond personal use, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro or Business plans to get the most out of Zoom. Fortunately, Zoom makes it easy for you to scale to another plan as your company grows.
Just be aware that your plan will impact the level of customer support you receive. To get premium support, you’ll need to upgrade.
Webex – Best Video Conferencing Service For Cloud Collaboration
- Free up to 50 participants
- Upgrade for as low as $16.95/mo
- Unlimited meetings
- Cloud storage features
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Cisco is a brand name that’s synonymous with superior business technology. So it should be no surprise that Cisco Webex ranks so highly on our list for video conferencing software.
With Webex, you can host massive virtual events with up to 100,000 participants and run an interactive webinar for 3,000-person audiences.
Webex is perfect if you need to run on-demand training lessons for large groups as well. This is a great tool for onboarding employees at scale throughout multiple locations.
The Webex mobile app is another standout feature of the platform. Hosting and joining meetings are both simple and accessible from anywhere.
Arguably the best part about this video conferencing software is the cloud collaboration features. It’s easy to share files and screens with other meeting participants to stay organized and make the conference more interactive. That’s what makes them great for teams.
Cisco offers four different plans for you to choose from, including a basic free option.
Free — $0 per month
- Up to 50 participants
- 40-minute limit on meetings
- Unlimited meetings
- 1 GB of cloud storage
Starter — $16.95 per month per host
- Up to 50 participants
- Unlimited meeting duration
- 5 GB of cloud storage
- Recording transcriptions
- User management
- Application and file sharing
Plus — $22.95 per month per host
- Up to 100 participants
- Assign alternate hosts
- Allow others to schedule meetings for the host
- Customizable Webex URL
- Admin portal
- 24/7 customer support
Business — $32.95 per month per host
- Up to 200 participants
- 10 GB of cloud storage
- Branding and custom options
- Single sign-on
- Active Directory sync
- Minimum five licenses per month
At first glance, the Webex prices appear to be higher than Zoom. However, you can save 20% per month with an annual contract.
It’s also worth noting that the Webex Plus plan doesn’t have any host minimums, and the business plan has just a five-license minimum. Zoom has a 10- and 50-host minimum for their plans at similar price points.
So Webex will be a better option if you want those business or enterprise-level features for a smaller team.
GoTo Meeting – Best Video Conferencing Service For Small Businesses
- Free 14-day trial
- HD video conferencing
- No time limits for meetings
- Mobile app and Slack integration
GoTo Meeting makes it easy for you to turn any video conference into a highly collaborative workspace.
It’s a fantastic choice for remote workers from sales managers to business owners to IT teams.
Why? GoTo Meeting easily integrates with the systems your business is currently using.
It 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 one. This hardware is more advanced than the built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers on your current devices.
Some other top features and benefits of using GoTo Meeting for video conferencing include:
- Cloud collaboration
- Automatic bandwidth adjustments
- Available on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android
- Single-click start and join sessions
- Multi-channel support
- Integrated scheduling
GoTo Meeting offers three plans to choose from:
- Professional – $12 per organizer per month billed annually
- Business – $16 per organizer per month billed annually
- Enterprise – Contact sales to request a quote
The Professional and Business plans are very similar. You get unlimited meetings and unlimited meeting durations with either plan. You’ll also benefit from Salesforce integration, Slack meeting launcher, and an admin center with both plans.
The significant difference is the Professional plan can host up to 150 participants while the Business plan supports up to 250 participants. In addition, the Business plan also offers extra video meeting features like transcripts, keyboard and mouse sharing, unlimited cloud storage, drawing tools, meeting lock, note taking, and mobile cloud recording.
I think signing up for the Business option instead of Professional is a no-brainer. The added benefits are worth the extra $4 per month.
GoTo Meeting also offers enterprise-grade plans for up to 3,000 participants. But those prices aren’t available online. You’ll need to speak to a sales rep for a custom quote.
Save 16% on your GoTo Meeting plan with an annual contract.
You can try GoTo Meeting for free with up to 250 participants for 14 days.
How to Find the Best Video Conferencing Services
Now that you’ve had a chance to review the top solutions on the market, how can you find the best option for your unique situation? This is the methodology that I used to come up with this guide.
I’ve identified each feature set that matters the most and why you need to take it into consideration when you’re evaluating prospective platforms.
Conference Size
In the world of work-from-home and distributed teams, video conferencing sizes are a very important consideration.
Make sure you 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 that you’ll never reach. But more importantly, you don’t want to be in a situation where your participant list is too large for your platform and plan.
Meeting Length
With the global pandemic putting a ton of people into remote work, businesses and schools need to be able to take as long as they need for certain calls.
That’s why we took a close look at how long each plan allows you to meet when determining this list. Often, they had to be counterbalanced with how many participants are allowed in a plan as well.
After all, a plan that offers unlimited time but with only a dozen participants might not be helpful for larger teams.
Scheduling Options
Good video conferencing tools allow you to schedule easily and across a wide breadth of calendar apps.
When looking at scheduling options, see if they integrate with common planning and calendar services such as Google Calendar, iCal, and Office 365.
Video Streams
You might be able to have a large number of participants in a conference, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every user will be able to broadcast a video stream.
For example, RingCentral plans have up to 100 participants per meeting, but limit you to just ten simultaneous video streams.
So don’t be swayed by the participant limits alone. Always check to see how many users can actually stream a video at the same time.
Collaboration Tools
Collaboration tools are crucial for groups and teams.
Features like screen sharing, built-in chat, file sharing, and cloud collaboration are very useful for presentations and group projects. It’s also helpful when a video conferencing service integrates with existing tools and platforms that you’re already using to run a business. You can look for features like Salesforce integration or Google Analytics integration.
The Top Video Conferencing Services in Summary
Video conferencing software has become the new normal for business use, especially with remote work and dispersed teams trending upward. For daily standups, interviews with prospective hires, and quick calls to prevent long email chains, video conferencing improves efficiency in the workplace.
It’s worth noting that your internet connection will impact the quality of your video conferencing calls. So you should always test your connection or sign up for a free trial to see how the quality holds up.
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