A video conferencing platform is essential for a successful and productive team. When meeting in person is not possible, it enables individuals to meet and collaborate productively "face-to-face." This makes remote meetings much more human, which is essential for helping users feel and stay connected.
A platform for video, audio, and seminar conferencing is referred to as a video conferencing platform. It has built-in communication tools like screen sharing, chatting, and recording. These programs are combined to improve teamwork and remote communication. Since the beginning of COVID-19, video conferencing platforms and software have been embraced more, and as more organizations seek remote collaboration, there is a huge demand for internet conferencing products.
Takeaway
- Besides enhancing communication, Video conferencing platforms improve productivity
- Brings teams together without the need to travel, saving cost and time
- Offers better advancement and better attendance management
- Provides employees with the convenience of attending from anywhere
- Some of the top features you will need to evaluate the video conferencing platform include
- Unlimited meetings
- Unlimited recordings
- Screen sharing
- Dynamic presentation features
- Chat features
- Performance reports
- HD video
Best Video Conferencing Platforms
Zoom
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform that can be used for webinars, live chat, audio conferencing, recorded meetings, and video conferencing meetings. Users can create and join online meeting spaces where they can interact with each other via audio and video. Participants may be able to share files, show their screens, and text chat with other attendees privately or in the meeting group with the additional features. It offers a simple meeting setup, and the ability to quickly create and share a private meeting link with a person or team.
Its top features include:
- 1-1 and group meetings
- Host up to 100 participants
- Private and group chat
- HD video and audio
- Scheduled meetings
- Screen sharing
- Host controls
Dialpad Meetings
Dialpad Meetings is a web conferencing and online meeting tool created for businesses of all sizes. Through a specific web interface, the platform enables conference calls to be scheduled, monitored, and controlled. Users can easily identify the speaker, view participants, and even mute distracting background noise. The free version is best for teams of ten or fewer, and it only allows for 45-minute video calls, making it perfect for shorter meetings. This video conferencing tool can be used for ongoing meetings, such as one-on-one consultations or monthly team discussions, as it supports unlimited video conferences.
The functionality offered includes:
- HD Video
- Screen Sharing
- International Calling
- Call Recording
- Custom Hold Music
- Document Sharing
- Call Analytics
- Unlimited Conferences
TrueConf Online
TrueConf offers a free plan with up to three participants in video calls. This option is fantastic for small teams or individuals who require a straightforward tool to facilitate video calls or work with smaller groups. The collaboration tools, like remote desktop control, are useful for support staff who might need to assist a client in solving a problem. In addition to providing a variety of collaboration tools for any platform, TrueConf Server ensures secure, offline operation in LAN/VPN, encryption, and total control over your communications. It also seamlessly integrates with VoIP and conference room systems. Up to 1000 people can participate in the video conference and a functional free version is available.
Additional functionality offered includes:
- HD Video
- Recorded Calls
- Document Sharing
- Screen Sharing
- Polling and Recording
- Personal and Group Chat
- Remote Desktop Control
- Shared Virtual Whiteboard
Skype
Small teams with fewer than 10 members can get along well using Skype's free version. It is a useful tool if you want a straightforward method of video chatting from your computer, phone, or tablet and prefer smaller group meetings or one-on-one conversations. Besides that, Skype provides a feature for online education called Skype in the Classroom. Instead of using standard phone lines, Skype's VoIP technology enables you to make phone calls, video calls, group calls, and more over the Internet.
Additional functionality offered includes:
- HD video calling
- Video call recording
- Interactive video chats
- Screen sharing
- Location sharing
FreeConference
FreeConference is a conference calling service that provides a full range of complimentary audio and web conferencing features for organizing conferences with groups of any size, anywhere, at any time. It assists a variety of people, companies, communities, and organizations around the world, including start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses, churches, non-profit organizations, consultants, and life coaches, who rely on VoIP for their calls. The fact that there are no downloads necessary to start using this video conferencing tool is a major benefit. The person directing the video conference can also maintain order by using moderator controls.
Top Free Features:
- Text Chat
- Screen Sharing
- Moderator Controls
- Document Sharing
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is an easy way to communicate with Google contacts (or people outside of your network) and can be used for both personal and professional purposes. It can be used for private discussions, recorded presentations, team meetings, and more. As a result of Google Hangouts' discontinuation, some features are no longer supported and have been moved to Google Meet and Google Chat. You can start a conversation with someone using their email address or phone number, as well as their name if they're already on your contact list.
Top Free Features:
- Up To 25 Video Participants
- Video, Audio, and Messenger Conversations
- Join Calls Using Google Calendar
- Video Meeting Recordings
- Screen Sharing
Lifesize Go
Lifesize Go is a tool for audio, web, and video conferencing that improves team communication. It has chat functionality and the ability to record and share video calls. Including a management dashboard, an integrated search-based directory, web conference screen sharing, and audio conferencing via PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). It also has calendar integrations, limitless guest invitations, and audio conferencing. Clients who rarely host larger group meetings, remote freelancers, remote employees, or other professionals can use Lifesize Go. Although their paid plans offer solutions for larger teams, the free version has a nice selection of features for one-on-one and small-group conversations.
Top Free Features:
- Unlimited Guest Invitations
- No Restrictions on Meeting Length
- Screen Sharing
- Calendar Integrations
- Management Dashboard
Slack Video Calls
The instant messaging service Slack was created by Slack Technologies and is owned by Salesforce. Slack has become popular as a community platform despite being designed for business and organizational communications. Users can communicate with video calls, voice calls, text messaging, media and files in private chats or as part of communities called "workspaces". Furthermore, Slack makes use of IRC-like functions like private groups, direct messaging, and topic-based persistent chat rooms (channels). It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Windows Phone, and iOS.
Top Free Features:
- Group Calls of up to 15 People
- Individual Calls
- Messenger
Facebook Live
Facebook Live is a feature found on Facebook's website and in the Facebook mobile apps. You can start a live video using this feature, and your followers and friends can watch it and participate in the conversation in real-time. It's a perfect fit for companies, influencers, or individuals who want to stream live demos and videos or show off their company culture. You can choose a specific audience for the video and schedule videos in advance to generate excitement. Your Facebook followers can also comment and chat in real-time.
Top Free Features:
- Advanced Scheduling
- Broadcasts up to Four Hours
- Custom Audiences
YouTube Live
With YouTube Live, you can easily reach your audience in real-time while demonstrating a product and answering live questions, hosting an educational session to share knowledge, using a screen share or whiteboard, or having a live conversation with team members. Digital videos can be uploaded, viewed, and shared by online users. While Facebook uses multiple uploads and content options to keep people in touch, YouTube solely focuses on video.
Top Free Features:
- Three stream quality options (normal latency, low latency, ultra-low latency)
- Live questions from the audience
- Private live streams (people can only access with the link)
- Added delay
- Advanced scheduling
- Location tags
- Live automatic captions
Not all video conferencing platforms are created equal, but most of them are rich with features. We hope that this curated list has provided you with some useful suggestions. There are free versions of most of the videoconferencing platforms and the premium version may also offer different pricing packages from which you can select the one that best fits your budget and technical requirements.
