Video conferencing is making a meteoric rise in the day-to-day lives of professionals across the world.
In fact, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom–arguably the most well-known video conferencing platform in the world–reported a 2,900% increase in daily users in the span of four months, even despite privacy concerns regarding the platform earlier this year.
And while Zoom has become a household name, it’s certainly not the only video conferencing platform on the market–and it may not be the best suited to your needs.
So, we’ve rounded up some alternative options for you to consider.
The 9 Best Zoom Alternatives for Video Meetings
If you’re looking for a different video conferencing platform, here are a few to consider–as well as why they might work better for you and your business.
1. Whereby: Whereby is a collaboration tool for professionals looking to host video meetings. In contrast to Zoom, Whereby is all about ease-of-use. Whereas many platforms force you to create an account and download and install software, Whereby is entirely web-based and doesn’t require an account. While doing so isn’t a big deal for frequent users, it can make it easier to coordinate single meetings with infrequent users than it is to do so with Zoom. Like Zoom, Whereby is also a freemium model, but it’s important to note that its free version is limited to four meeting participants (which is significantly lower than Zoom’s free version).
2. Microsoft Teams: For Microsoft users, Teams is a great option. It offers standard video conferencing tools like screen sharing and the ability to record meetings. Like Zoom, it also offers a chat feature in addition to its video conferencing abilities. Teams offers a freemium model with paid plans starting at as little as $5 per month per user.
3. Google Meet: Of all the Zoom alternatives out there, Google Meet is probably the most well-known and widely used. Unlike many video conferencing platforms, Google Meet is usually only available to paying G-Suite customers, but Google has added a free tier which will be available until the end of 2021 as a way to support businesses during the pandemic. With Google Meet, you can host video meetings with as many as 250 guests, hold presentations, record meetings, and save them all easily to your Google Drive.
4. GoToMeeting: One of the originators (albeit a seemingly lesser-known platform), GoToMeetings gives Zoom a run for its money when it comes to features. It offers standard tools like screen sharing and meeting facilitators. Also worth noting, GoToMeeting is accessible on all web browsers including Mac, PC, Linux, iOS, and Android so you’ll never have to worry about people having challenges getting on. There’s one catch, though: it’s a paid platform exclusively, but its entry-level plan allows for 150 guests and can accommodate up to 3,000 people with its enterprise package.
5. BlueJeans Meeting (by Verizon): If you’re looking for simplicity, BlueJeans is a fair bet. It definitely doesn’t pack the same bells and whistles as many of its competitors, but it boasts that it allows users to “schedule, join, and host one-touch meetings in just six seconds” from any device. It also utilizes high-quality HD video and Dolby Voice audio. It’s important to note, though, that it doesn’t offer a free tier–only a free 30-day trial. After that, plans start at $12,49 per month.
6. Facebook Messenger Rooms: What might seem like an unlikely place for a professional meeting is actually a pretty solid option, especially given how many people across all generations and demographics are already set up on the platform. A recent addition to its offering, Facebook has added video chat to its repertoire with Messenger Rooms. These can be either public of private video chatrooms and can accommodate up to 50 people for an unlimited amount of time (compared to Zoom’s free version accommodating up to 100 people for 40 minutes). And for those who still aren’t on Facebook? No worries. Non-users can still join Messenger Rooms via a link.
7. Slack: While primarily known as a direct-messaging platform for professionals and organizations, Slack also offers video conferencing solutions. There are limits to this, though: you need to have a paid workspace, the features are fairly limited, and they’re only available on desktop platforms. However, Slack video conferencing does offer all the necessities, including screen sharing, the ability to stream presentations, and even the option to draw on a shared screen.
8. ClickMeeting: If you host a lot of webinars, ClickMeeting is a great option for you. It’s loaded with features like screen sharing, the ability to play slideshows and videos, and you can even let attendees take over your mouse to explore an interactive display. It also offers Q&A sessions and live polls so you can engage more deeply with your meeting guests. The platform also integrates well with analytics and marketing tools, including the ability to embed a Facebook pixel on your webinar’s landing page or connect that page to your Google Analytics. You can also fully customize the webinar page with your branding, link the platform to your Dropbox, or integrate with Zapier for email marketing platforms or CRM software.
9. Skype: We’d be remiss if we wrote an article about video conferencing tools and didn’t include Skype. A platform that may generally be regarded as a more “social” video tool, Skype’s new Skype Meet Now feature can accommodate up to 50 attendees at once. It also no longer requires an account to sign-in–just a link–making it another great option for hosting guests who are unfamiliar with video conferencing tools. While its features are very limited in comparison to its competitors, Skype wins back a ton of points by being available for free to use.
Whether you’re a solo pro, a small or satellite team, or a remote employee, video conferencing is going to continue becoming a vital part of your professional toolbox.
So, if you’re looking to find alternatives major players, you might find value in one of these other options.
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