Video conferencing is a great way to meet virtually with clients and colleagues individually or in groups. There is a wide range of video conferencing facilities available which offer a variety of features and some of them provide free access but with more limited features. Below we have explored what the leading video conferencing providers can offer.
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK providers for video conferencing software.
Company | Free Plan | Cheapest Paid for Monthly Plan (per user/host) |
---|---|---|
Zoom | Yes | £11.99 |
GoToMeeting | No | £9.50 |
PowWowNow | Yes | £10 |
LoopUp | No | £15 |
Avaya | Not stated | Not stated |
8X8 | Yes | Free |
Google Hangouts | Included on all G Suite business plans | £4.14 |
Cisco Webex | Yes | £11.25 |
FreeConference.com | Yes | $9.99 |
RingCentral Meetings | Not stated | Not stated |
Zoho Meeting | No | £6.30 |
Microsoft Teams | No | £3.80 as part of Office 365 Business Essentials |
join.me | No | £9 |
BlueJeans Meetings | No | £9.04 |
ClickMeeting | No | £20 |
Intermedia AnyMeeting | Yes until 2021 | $7.99 |
UberConference | Yes | $15 |
TrueConf Online | Yes | $29.95 |
Slack Video Calls | No | £5.25 |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. Zoom
Some of the features and benefits of Zoom’s video conferencing software.
- Offers a free plan
- Provides three paid plans based on the size of business
- One-to-one meetings
- Group meetings
- Collaboration enabled conferencing
- Video webinars
- Meetings
- Chat with a cross-platform messaging
- File sharing
- Highly rated on a range of review sites
Zoom is an online video conferencing provider offering meetings, chat, rooms and workspace video tools, enterprise cloud phone systems, video webinars and app marketplace integrations. They offer simple and affordable pricing and provide one consistent enterprise experience with optimised reliability and easy to use format.
Zoom offers four plans including a free plan called Basic which includes one-to-one meetings, hosting for up to 100 participants for up to 40 minutes, and unlimited meetings. Paid plans are Pro for small teams, Business for small and medium businesses and Enterprise for large businesses. The plans vary based on the number of participants, level of support, customisation and control.
2. GoToMeeting
Some of the features and benefits of GoToMeeting’s video conferencing software.
- Offers three paid for plans
- Easy to set up
- Secure web conferencing
- Automated provisioning
- Simple admin centre
- Diagnostic reports
- HD video
- Screen sharing
- Unlimited meetings with no time limits
- Personal meeting rooms
GoToMeeting offers quick one-click meetings, turnkey room equipment and webinars for businesses. They offer three paid for plans which are Professional for 150 participants, Business for 250 participants and Enterprise for up 3,000 participants. They make getting set up and administrating the system easy with their admin centre and automated provisioning.
GoToMeeting’s plans include HD video, screen sharing, web audio, dial-in conference line, unlimited meetings with no time limits, business messaging and personal meeting room. In addition, Business and Enterprise also include co-organisers, unlimited cloud recording, transcription, slide to PDF, smart assistant, note-taking, drawing tools, keyboard and mouse sharing, meeting lock and enhanced security.
3. PowWowNow
Some of the features and benefits of PowWowNow’s video conferencing software.
- Offers two plans, one of which is free
- Hi-tech web meetings
- Crystal-clear audio
- Reliable provider
- Cost-effective
- HD video
- Webinars with smart tools
- Collaboration tools including screen sharing and instant messaging
- Dedicated account managers
- Suitable for small to medium businesses
PowWowNow offers hi-tech web meetings that give crystal-clear audio from a reliable provider. They offer two cost-effective plans, the first is a free plan for Conference Calling and the second a paid plan for Video & Web Conferencing which is designed for small to medium businesses.
They offer a Conference Calling plan which is a free service giving crystal clear audio, unlimited talk time and guest, and 16 international numbers. The Video & Web Conferencing offers HD video, screen sharing, recording, summary and 03 conference number. It doesn’t require you to download anything and is not on a contract. They also offer a 60-day trial of this plan.
4. LoopUp
Some of the features and benefits of LoopUp’s video conferencing software.
- Offers three paid plans
- Plans are tiered based on the number of inclusive minutes per user
- Offers a free no-commitment trial for a month
- All plans include the same capabilities
- Unlimited screen sharing
- Unlimited recording of audio and screen sharing
- Charges per minute occur when over the plan limit
- Mobile apps
- Up to 150 participants
- Host control the video sharing
LoopUp is a premium remote meeting provider that offers three paid for plans which are Professional, Power and Enterprise which provide the same capabilities but a different number of inclusive minutes. They also offer a free trial that lasts for a month with a limit on the number of minutes allowed, no credit card required and no commitment.
LoopUp allows its users to collaborate easily in real-time with confidence on their reliable system. Their service comes with mobile apps, up to 150 guests per call, guest video sharing at the host’s discretion, call start alerts, one-click screen sharing, audio and screen share recording, Outlook and LinkedIn profile integration.
5. Avaya
Some of the features and benefits of Avaya’s video conferencing software.
- Offers a range of communication tools including video conferencing
- Collaboration tools
- Virtual meetings
- Convenient and simple to use
- Can be used on any device
- Screen sharing
- Video and audio calls
- Messaging
- Productivity and organisational tools
- Cost-effective solution
Avaya is a communications provider that offers unified communication solutions including calls, collaboration tools, virtual meetings and video conferencing as well as contact centre support, phones and devices. Their conferencing and meeting solution is called Avaya Spaces.
Avaya Spaces is designed as an easy to use virtual space that makes communicating with others and managing tasks convenient and simple. It combines messaging with video conferencing to help businesses to collaborate more effectively on a platform that is designed to be more cost-effective than large providers. It can be used on any device and allows you to screen share, video and voice calls, chat with productivity and organisational tools.
6. 8×8
Some of the features and benefits of 8×8’s video conferencing software.
- Offers video meeting software
- Free plan available
- HD video
- Team collaboration
- Unlimited meetings
- No time limits
- Free to dial in
- No contract
- Easy to use and intuitive interface
- Can be used through a desktop or mobile apps
8×8 is a communications provider that offers a variety of products including video conferencing, cloud phone systems, cloud contact centres, phones and accessories. They offer a single plan that is free to use.
8×8’s video meeting allows you to use HD video conferencing and team collaboration with no limits or contract. They offer unlimited meetings and no time limits and free dial-in with toll-free numbers. It has fast and simple to use software that requires no download if using on the web but also offers free apps for desktops and mobiles. Their video conferencing provides quality audio, screen sharing, remote desktop control and cloud-based recordings.
7. Hangouts Meet
Some of the features and benefits of Hangouts Meet’s video conferencing software.
- Offers video meeting software
- Included in all G Suite business plans
- Low-cost basic level for Gmail
- Easy to set up meetings
- Simple to join meetings with an email link or calendar invite
- No account or plugin needed for guests
- Fast interface
- Up to 30 participants
- Smart participant management
- Can be used on laptops, mobiles and conference rooms
Hangouts Meet is one of the services that Google includes in its G Suite for business and education, so anyone using G Suite or Gmail for business will have free access. It can be used on laptops, mobiles and conference room facilities.
Hangouts Meet has a fast interface that is easy to use and set up meetings allowing you to send out invites via email or calendar invites. Participants can easily join the meeting through the link shared and they don’t need to have a G Suite account or a plugin. You can invite up to 30 participants and you can manage them through smart participant management.
8. Cisco Webex
Some of the features and benefits of Cisco Webex’s video conferencing software.
- Provides a variety of communication tools
- Offers a free plan
- Three paid plans
- Offers a range of participants
- Unlimited time length
- Unlimited meetings
- Sharing options from desktop, applications, file and whiteboard
- Cloud storage offered on paid plans
- Recording transcriptions
- Integrates with a variety of popular apps
Cisco Webex is a communication tool provider that includes video conferencing, webinars, cloud calling, contact centre and collaboration. They offer four plans of which ones is a free plan that includes up to 100 participants, unlimited time length, unlimited meetings and sharing options.
Cisco Webex’s paid plans additional include cloud storage, recording transcriptions, customisable personal room links, administration controls and customer support. Plans differ on the number of participants, storage, customisation, minimum number of licenses and level of customer support. They offer international calling as an optional add-on. It also integrates with apps such as Outlook, Google Drive, Gmail, GitHub, Office365 and Salesforce.
9. FreeConference.com
Some of the features and benefits of FreeConference.com’s video conferencing software.
- Offers conferencing solutions
- Provides a free plan
- Can join by phone or web
- Screen sharing
- HD audio
- Dedicated dial-in number
- Call recording
- International conference call numbers
- Mobile apps for Android and iPhone
- Call scheduling, automated email invites and reminders
FreeConference.com is a remote conferencing provider that offers conference calls, video conferencing and screen sharing. They offer four plans and one of these is a free plan which allows up to 1,000 call participants and five web participants, unlimited local conference calls, video conferencing, screen sharing, messaging, meeting chat, mobile and desktop apps.
FreeConference.com’s paid plans offer additional different levels of web participants, different levels of toll-free international dial-in numbers, audio and video recording, smart summaries, greater security and phone support. Their system allows you to schedule calls, send automated email invitations and reminders. They offer a free conference call app for Android and iPhone to keep you connected.
10. RingCentral Meetings
Some of the features and benefits of RingCentral Meetings’ video conferencing software.
- Offers video meetings and conferences
- Runs a free trial
- Screen sharing
- HD video
- Host up to 500 participants
- Compatible with cloud storage
- Can increase collaboration and engagement
- One-click calendar scheduling
- Compatible with all off the shelf teleconferencing equipment
- Suitable for laptops and mobiles
RingCentral is a communications provider that offers solutions for contact centres, messaging, collaboration and meetings which include video meetings, audio conferencing and webinars. They have designed their conferencing facilities to be easy to use and to allow increased collaboration and engagement.
RingCentral’s video conferencing allows you to share resources including screens, presentations, files and whiteboards. You can share files that are located in your files or cloud storage. They can host meetings up to 500 participants in HD video and is designed to work with standard off the shelf teleconferencing equipment, laptops and mobiles. You can create conferences from anywhere and build your own meeting rooms.
11. Zoho Meeting
Some of the features and benefits of Zoho Meeting’s video conferencing software.
- Offers five plans
- One meeting plan
- Four webinar plans
- Can host up to 250 attendees
- Meeting recording
- Scheduling and calendar integration
- Screen sharing
- Can add co-organisers and moderate the audience
- Secure software
- Suitable for meetings, training and presentations
Zoho Meeting is an online meeting and webinar provider that offers a single solution for meetings on a low-cost plan that allows up to 100 participants and storage for 10 recordings. They offer four webinar plans which offer different levels of participants and can store up to 25 recordings.
Zoho meetings allow you to collaborate from anywhere and it features real-time audio with video. They allow you to screen share and remotely control a shared screen with confidence that your meeting is secure. You can moderate your meetings, record, replay, share and download meetings. It will also integrate with a range of apps, calendars and CRM systems.
12. Microsoft Teams
Some of the features and benefits of Microsoft Teams’ video conferencing software.
- Offers a range of remote working tools
- Included as part of Office 365 packages
- Host audio, video and web conferences
- Can even run live events
- Enables chat, meet and calls
- Facilitates collaboration
- Ability to meet thousands of people
- Takes the stress out of conference calls
- Share and edit Microsoft documents
- Offers desktop and mobile apps
Microsoft Teams is part of Microsoft’s software packages and it is included in all business Office 365 packages. It offers a range of remote working tools that enables you to host audio, video and web events that even includes running live events with up to 10,000 participants.
Microsoft Teams gives you the ability to chat, meet and call with colleagues and clients which allows you to collaborate including share and edit documents including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. They have designed the software to be easy to use and to help take the stress out of conference calls with downloadable apps for desktops and mobiles operating on iPhone, Android and Microsoft.
13. join.me
Some of the features and benefits of join.me’s video conferencing software.
- Offers a range of conferencing options
- Provides audio options including VoIP and video conferencing
- Secure and reliable service
- Easily scalable
- Simply to use
- Recording
- Ability to swap presenters
- Monitor usage
- Unlimited international calling
- Provides 99.9% uptime
join.me is an online conferencing provider that is designed to meet the needs of individuals, teams and businesses with audio solutions including video conferencing and VoIP calls. They offer three packages – Lite gives the fundamental tools to hold meetings with up to five people. Pro offers greater flexibility and control to host more meetings and access more features. The Business package offers all the features for larger organisations.
join.me’s Pro and Business plans allow up to 250 participants, webcam streaming, recording, cloud storage, scheduling, annotation and toll-free numbers. Their software is designed to be easy to set up and use as well as scalable.
14. BlueJeans Meetings
Some of the features and benefits of BlueJeans Meetings’ video conferencing software.
- Offers three video conferencing solutions
- Provides video, audio and web meetings
- Can host up to 100 participants
- HD video and Dolby Voice audio
- Unlimited meetings
- No time limits
- Recording facilities
- Simple and quick to use
- Instantly join, host or manage meetings
- Compatible with a variety of operating systems
BlueJeans is a communication tool provider that offers online meetings, rooms and events that can be delivered through video, audio and web meetings with up to 100 participants. They offer three plans – Standard, Pro and Enterprise. Standard features include up to 50 participants, unlimited meetings with no time limits.
BlueJeans’ plans differ based on the number of participants, length of recording facilities, control and security. They provide HD video and Dolby Voice audio for quality conferencing. Their software is simple and quick to use with the ability to instantly join, host or manage meetings and is compatible with a variety of operating systems including Windows, iOS and Android.
15. ClickMeeting
Some of the features and benefits of ClickMeeting’s video conferencing software.
- Has three meeting plans
- Offers a seven-day free trial
- HD quality video
- Recording storage
- Screen sharing
- Screen control
- Scalable solutions
- Ability to have multiple presenters and multi-users
- Offers mobile apps
- Includes a variety of features
ClickMeeting is a webinar and online meeting provider offering three plans and a seven-day trial. They offer HD quality video, recording storage, file storage, screen sharing and screen control. They provide a host of extra features like polls/surveys, private chat, chat translation and event landing pages.
ClickMeeting’s Live plan offers video conferencing and live webinars with 25 audio feeds and four video feeds with no webinars and meetings limits. The Automated plan offers live, automated and on-demand webinars with the same number of feeds with no limits on the number of webinars and meetings. The Enterprise plan offers a scalable solution with more presenters and multi-users.
16. Intermedia AnyMeeting
Some of the features and benefits of Intermedia AnyMeeting’s video conferencing software.
- Offers video conferencing and webinar software
- Providers free access on their Starter plan for 2020
- Easy to use
- Can share content
- Screen annotation
- Available on desktop and mobile devices
- Delivers reliable and stress-free meetings
- HD audio and video
- Interactive tool to increase collaboration
- Integrates with a variety of applications
Intermedia is a cloud communications provider that offers AnyMeeting video conferencing and webinar software. They are currently offering free access for the whole of 2020 on their starter plan. They offer three plans that are priced per user and are grouped according to the number of users per package.
Intermedia AnyMeeting offers video and web conferencing software that allows up to 200 web and phone participants. They have designed their software to be easy to use and it allows you to share content and annotate the screen to increase collaboration. The software is reliable and stress-free to use and can integrate with applications like Outlook, G Suite and Slack.
17. UberConference
Some of the features and benefits of UberConference’s video conferencing software.
- Provides two video conferencing plans
- Offers a free plan
- Can host up to 100 participants
- Unlimited conferences
- HD audio and video
- International access on the paid plan
- Conference duration of 45 mins or 5 hours
- Screen sharing
- Call recording
- A whole host of extra features on the paid plan
UberConference is a video conferencing provider offering two plans – a free plan and a paid plan that provides additional functionality and features. The free plan offers unlimited conferences for up to 10 participants for a maximum of 45 minutes and also includes HD audio and video, screen sharing, call recording and mobile apps.
UberConference’s paid plan offers the same features as the free plan but in addition, it provides up to 100 participants and up to 5 hours maximum conference duration. It also includes a variety of features including analytics, team management portal, voice intelligence, international access to over 50 countries and a toll-free number for an additional charge.
18. TrueConf Online
Some of the features and benefits of TrueConf Online’s video conferencing software.
- Delivers cloud and internet video conferencing
- Offers five conferencing plans
- Provides a free plan
- Easy to use interface
- Multipoint conferencing for up to 36 participants
- Video lecturing for up to 36 participants
- Virtual meetings up to 800 participants
- Collaboration tools
- Secure communication tool
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
TrueConference is a cloud and internet video conferencing provider that offers five conferencing plans which includes a free plan. The free plan offers secure communications using HD video calling for up to 3 participants with access to collaboration tools.
TrueConference’s four paid plans include a Pro plan and Corporate plan that offers multipoint conferencing for 20, video lecture for 36 and virtual meeting for 120. The Event plan is designed for one-off events for up to 120 participants. The TrueConf Server offers unlimited group size, multipoint conferencing and video lectures for 36 and virtual meetings up to 800.
19. Slack Video Calls
Some of the features and benefits of Slack’s video conferencing software.
- Provides three video conferencing plans
- Offers monthly and yearly plans
- Caters for small to very large businesses
- Delivers a variety of collaboration plans
- Messaging
- File sharing
- Screen sharing and annotations
- Video conferencing suitable for one-to-one or teams
- Easy to start or join video calls
- Works on the move
Slack offers online-based collaboration tools that help people to work remotely from each other with tools including messaging, file sharing, screen sharing and video conferencing. Their video conferencing allows you to do one-to-one meetings and team calls and is designed to bring people together whilst in remote locations.
Slack offers three levels of plans that cater for businesses of different sizes – Standard caters for small and medium-sized businesses, Plus is for larger businesses and Enterprise Gold is for very large businesses. Plus gives businesses advanced administration tools and Enterprise Gold offers greater control and security so is suited to highly regulated industries.