Web Conferencing Software
Best Web Conferencing Software
- Top Rated Web Conferencing Software include: Zoom, BlueJeans, Lifesize Video Conferencing, WebEx Meetings, and GoToMeeting.
- Other Web Conferencing Software on the TrustMap include: Skype for Business, Join.me, Adobe Connect, Highfive, and Blackboard Collaborate.
- A complete list of Web Conferencing Software is available here.
TrustMaps are two-dimensional charts that compare products based on satisfaction ratings and research frequency by prospective buyers. Products must have 25 or more ratings to appear on this TrustMap, and those above the median line are considered Top Rated.
Web Conferencing Software Overview
What is Web Conferencing?
Web conferencing software allows participants to conduct or attend meetings via the internet. This is also known as online meeting software. It enables remote meetings based on VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, file and screen sharing.
Web conferencing has become fundamental to how many organizations conduct business. The tools enable remote employees, customers, and partners to connect easily and often. Specific uses for web conferencing software include:
Presentations or webinars
Conference calls
Video meetings with multiple participants
Running product demos and training
1 on 1 meetings with remote employees
Face to face customer support
The top three benefits of using web conferencing software are:
Enhanced communications
Reduced travel costs
Increased efficiency
Web Conferencing Features & Capabilities
Audio and video quality
Web conferencing software should facilitate audio calls and video conferencing. The quality of audio and video is a key factor to consider. Buyers should also consider the bandwidth usage of the software.
Screen sharing
Meeting presenters should be able to share their screens with participants.
Online meetings
Users can typically schedule meetings or initiate impromptu meetings. Participants should be able to easily join meetings - and mute themselves. The ability to record meetings (and save or download recordings) is offered by some but not all vendors. Buyers should investigate to make sure meeting recordings meet their needs.
Collaboration
Many web conferencing software products include collaboration features such as live chat, audience polling, Q&A, and file sharing.
Security
Enterprises and companies in highly regulated industries will need enhanced security. Security features include user authentication, permissions, and confidential attendee lists.
Mobility
Some web conferencing software products offer a mobile app. This allows easy access to video meetings from a mobile device or tablet. Others allow users to call in from mobile devices (audio-only), or join meetings from a mobile-friendly web link.
Other features include:
Slideshow presentations
Meeting scheduling and recording
Live chatting
Audience interaction features
File sharing
Web Conferencing vs. Video Conferencing
Web conferencing traditionally referred to “one-to-many” interactions. This included presentations, training, and webinars. Individuals could participate via chat or “hand-raising” but the presenter was the key communicator. In contrast, video conferencing traditionally referred to face-to-face interactions between equal participants, typically two people or a small group.
This line between web conferencing and video conferencing is blurring. Web conferencing no longer refers just to calls with a single presenter. The term now includes group discussions, 1:1 meetings, and video calls. Most online meeting vendors offer both traditional web conferencing features (e.g. screen sharing, presentations to large groups, meeting moderation) and traditional video conferencing features (e.g. two-way video and audio).
Pricing Information
Free Web Conferencing
There are many free web conferencing options available. Some are personal tools, like Skype and Google Hangouts. Others are focused on small businesses, including AnyMeeting, MeetingBurner, Join.me, and Zoom.
Free products (and free tiers of paid products) may have some limitations. This includes lower video/audio quality, fewer features, and restrictions on the size of meetings, for example.. Paid products typically have more features and better performance and security. But they can be cost-prohibitive for smaller companies, especially if online meetings are only needed now and then by a few individuals.
Paid Web Conferencing
For paid plans, web conferencing software is usually priced per seat by the number of meeting participants and included features. Prices start as low as $15/mo. per host for up to 100 participants, as with the Zoom Pro plan. For enterprise-wide web conferencing software, prices can run into thousands of dollars per month. This includes multiple hosts, virtual meeting rooms, integrations, security & administration, enhanced support, and more.
Web Conferencing Products
ConnectWise Control (formerly ScreenConnect)
ConnectWise Control, formerly ScreenConnect, is a remote support, access and meeting solution. With this solution, you can use remote support and access to repair computers, provide updates, and manage machines. Users can also conduct online seminars and presentations using remote meetings. The...
BlueJeans
BlueJeans is a web conferencing and unified communications software with multi-vendor, multi-device interoperability with both mobile and browser integration for businesses of any size.
TeamViewer
TeamViewer, from the German company of the same name, provides software for both remote support and administration and online meetings.
Lifesize Video Conferencing
For more than a decade, Lifesize has been a leader in video collaboration, delivering high-quality solutions designed to bring people together. The vendor’s value proposition is that they combine a best-in-class, cloud-based video conferencing experience, with award-winning, easy-to-use devices...
Skype for Business (formerly Lync)
Skype for Business is part of Microsoft’s 365 suite offering and provides an IP PBX for online messaging and web conferencing. It includes features such as live streaming meetings, dialing into conference calls, and the ability to make, receive and transfer calls via a computer or mobile device.
GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar is webinar and webcasting software, used by 53,000 customers to drive new business and to inform and educate employees, partners and customers. The vendor says GoToWebinar is designed to be easier use and to pick up than legacy enterprise webcasting products. Users can host webinars...
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is an online meeting, desktop sharing, and video conferencing software that enables the user to meet with other computer users, customers, clients or colleagues via the Internet in real time.
Fuze
Fuze Voice is a cloud-based unified communications platform that includes IP-PBX voice service, video conferencing, and collaboration tools such as content sharing and instant messaging capabilities. It also integrates with a wide range of popular CTI, CRM, and click-to-call solutions.
Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect is software used to create information and general presentations, online training materials, web conferencing, learning modules, and user desktop sharing. The product is entirely Adobe Flash based.
Join.me
Join.me from LogMeIn is an audio and web conferencing tool targeted at SMBs.
Skype
Skype (the personal edition) is a free web or video conferencing and VoIP software. The free version includes free audio and video Skype-to-Skype calls, ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to 25 people.
Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate is an online collaborative learning platform with both screen sharing and application sharing, web conferencing, and integration with Blackboard Learn, the primary learning management offering.
Highfive
Highfive is an integrated hardware and cloud-based software product for room-based video conferencing, wireless projection and web conferencing.
UberConference
UberConference is a conference call platform with document management capability that integrates with third-party applications such as Google Drive, LinkedIn, Evernote, and Dropbox. It includes features such as screen sharing, call controls, call recording, and a mobile application.
GlobalMeet
GlobalMeet is a web-based video conferencing platform offered by Premiere Global Services.
ReadyTalk
ReadyTalk provides web, audio, and video conferencing for businesses of all sizes.
Vidyo
Vidyo allows you to embed real-time video into digital communications. According to the vendor, millions of people around the world connect visually every day through Vidyo’s secure, scalable technology and cloud-based services. The platform integrates with virtually any application environment,...
iMeet
iMeet is a web conferencing tool. According to the vendor, their solution will help users experience a more engaging conferencing and collaboration solution for team meetings, group discussions, customer presentations and one-to-one communications. Users can connect and collaborate with up to 125...
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting brings the power of webinars to organizations of any size, from one-person firms to multinational enterprises. The vendor says their web-based solution is easy to use and covers the entire webinar process — from preparation to presentation, and from interaction to follow-up.Because the...
Jive Hosted VoIP
Jive Hosted VoIP is a cloud-based business phone system. It includes features such as call analytics, call recording, softphone, fax to email, voicemail to email, and desktop integration. Pricing starts at $19.25 per month and increases based on the amount of users and number of devices.
Amazon Chime
Amazon Chime is an online meeting and video conferencing tool from Amazon Web Services.