Web Conferencing Services
WebinarJam
WebinarJam is a webinar software that allows you to create unlimited webinars with unlimited attendees.
Demio
Offers great webinar features that are completely web-based, with easy registration and third-party integration.
WebinarNinja
WebinarNinja is a webinar platform that claims to provide its users with easy ways to host different kinds of webinars.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is a modern online meeting software with personal meeting room.
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting provides online meeting and webinar platform that allows you to meet and collaborate with others anytime and anywhere.
Livestorm
Livestorm is a video communications platform that also allows webinar hosting.
ZOOM
Zoom offers high quality web and video conferencing service, with software room system.
Meetin.gs
Meetin.gs is a service that provides online meeting scheduling for businesses, with teleconference integrations.
Google+ Hangouts
Google+ Hangouts allows you to bring live conversation to your device, with emoji, photos, and video calls.
WebEx
WebEx is a reliable online meeting software with Cisco security and secure workspace.
Skype for Business
Skype for Business allows you to conduct business conferences with various business features.
Jitsi
Jitsi is an open-source video conferencing tool that enables users to build and customize video conferencing tools according to their liking and requirements.
Hangouts Meet
The Google Meet platform, or the Hangouts Meet platform, is a professional meeting platform with all the security and features to qualify as an enterprise-directed video conferencing solution.
Gruveo
Gruveo is a video conferencing tool that can be accessed on every operating system, including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.
Whereby
Whereby is a video conferencing tool that enables users to have virtual meetings and collaborate on projects more effectively.
BlueJeans
BlueJeans helps you to create online video conferences easily, for up to 100 attendees.
Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect allows you to conduct digital meetings with personal digital office, multiple-device access, complete recording and editing tools, and top-level communication security.
Lifesize
Lifesize is a full-service video conferencing platform that provides users with high-quality video conferencing equipment in addition to a video conferencing app.
Fuze
Fuze provides a flexible online meeting and video conferencing solution. It features...
Join Me
Join.me offers feature-rich meeting tools with unlimited audio and instant screen sharing.
UberConference
UberConference is a free video-conferencing tool that helps businesses and professionals from around the world, organize and attend virtual meetings.
ooVoo
ooVoo is an instant messaging and video calling app that lets users collaborate over a video call.
Personify
Personify is an immersive video calling platform that allows you to share your online experience.
Pexip
Pexip is a collaborative video meeting application that helps organizations to manage and host meetings online.
Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting allows you to create web conferences easily, with unlimited online meetings and no installation.
RingCentral Meetings
RingCentral is an online meeting software that offers HD online meetings across multiple devices, anytime you want.
Mikogo
Mikogo is a browser-based online meeting software that is free for non-commercial use.
Sococo
Sococo is a virtual office software that you can use for your company.
AirParrot
AirParrot is a software that enables you to send content to multiple media receivers and that too simultaneously.
AnyMeeting
AnyMeeting is a video conferencing and webinar software for small businesses.
FreeConferenceCall
FreeConferenceCall allows you to host international phone conferences with up to 6 hours duration in each session.
Speek
Speek is an online meeting software without dial-ins, PINs, and downloads.
BigMarker
BigMarker allows you to host webinars and conferences for free, and share it with others.
Spreed
Spreed is a unified web meeting software with a free plan for up to 3 attendees.
ezTalks
EzTalks provides web conferencing and audio and/or video conferencing solutions to organizations to conduct meetings and webinars.
InterCall
InterCall provides conferencing and online meeting solutions for small business and enterprise users.
ReadyTalk
ReadyTalk provides online audio, web, and video conferencing service with daily live training sessions by conferencing experts.
iMeet
iMeet is an online meeting software that allows virtual collaboration with personalized online meeting experience.
Apache OpenMeetings
Apache OpenMeetings is an open-source web conferencing software. It creates "meeting rooms"...
StartMeeting
Connectivity is the essence of modern communication. Enterprise and education sector are...
FreeConference.com
Freeconference is free to use video conferencing software by iotum. It allows...
Crowdcast
Crowdcast is a video conferencing system that allows professionals to connect with a broad audience with its platform.
Vyew
Vyew is an online web conferencing software that allows you to do a real-time visual collaboration.
Yugma
Yugma provides a free web conferencing and online meeting service for small businesses, enterprises, and resellers.
MeetingBurner
MeetingBurner is a webinar and screen sharing software that allows you to host a webinar with up to 10 attendees for free.
GoMeetNow
GoMeetNow is a web conferencing service with a 100% attendance guarantee.
MeetCheap
MeetCheap is an affordable webinar service solution that allows you to work and connect with anyone quickly and easily.
GlobalMeet
GlobalMeet is an easy-to-use online meeting software that you can use to conduct online meetings with large groups.
OmNovia
OmNovia allows you to host great online events with interactive multimedia software.
ISLOnline Meetings
ISL Online is a web conferencing software that allows you to host online meetings and webinars.
WebinarsOnAir
WebinarsOnAir is an all-in-one webinar software with Google Hangouts integration. It features...
MyOwnConference
MyOwnConference is a webinar platform that offers various plans for small to large size attendees.
Web Conferencing Buying Guide
Web conferencing is certainly a popular medium for conducting meetings with remote participants such as freelancers or multi-office business staff. Gone are the days when video or Web conferencing was believed to be slow and complicated.
With the increasing reliability and ease of use of Internet communications through new methods such as VoIP and cloud, web conferencing has evolved from a difficult task to a real-time medium of meeting. In fact, these days even the home users can take advantage of this cheaper and easy communication technology.
Several households, apart from business executives, use Web conferencing for sharing photos or chatting with distant relatives. Interestingly, most services, whether for businesses or households, are available without breaking the bank.
Therefore, it is not uncommon to look for a suitable Web conferencing solution although it can be a bit tough task if it is unknown which features to look for. Here are the top essential features to check out for choosing the right Web conferencing software.
Hosted or Deployed Solution
A hosted solution is the easiest to use, making itself suitable for both home and business users. Herein, a monthly fee gets you a virtual conference room with desired number of 'seats' as well as features such as sharing screen, swapping files, control of other participants’ computers, and chatting, as per what you pay. Such a solution run on a browser but may require you to download an application.
On the other hand, a deployed solution involves buying a set of software and hardware to be deployed on your own system, which suits large enterprises. This one has a high upfront cost but without any extra monthly fees. The deployed solutions are accessible through a browser but you are the one to host the service.
Compatibility
You will come across several services that work with Windows systems, Linux, Mac, and mobile operating systems. However, do look for in-depth reviews because most of them are not fully compatible with Mac and Linux although they claim cross-platform compatibility. For example, Mac users can view conferences but might not share screen or use remote control facilities.
Technology
A browser-based service might seem to implement different technologies although they will not make a big difference. Usually, these technologies will be Flash or Java based. In case of the latter, the browser will download an app in the background for running the service, while Flash will ensure running the service directly in the browser.
Audio/Video Support
Apart from the ease of use and seamless performance, the Web conferencing tool should come with good audio/video components. User should be able to submit his question to presenter or any other member during the presentation to make entire conference more interactive.
Another
vital feature to look for in any Web conferencing solution is full
duplex support. This feature allows having data as well as communication
at the same time. Although it might appear like an obvious ability, it
is essential to ensure a quality virtual meeting. Moreover, most
comprehensive services offer Webcam compatibility, advanced preparation
mode, and streaming tools.
Screen Sharing and Presentation
Often
presenter of the conference of one or more members of the conference
may need to share their screen to show something from their computer.
This is a must have feature to look when selecting right conferencing solution. With screen sharing, it can be a lot easier to explain your points rather than describing them in words.
Similarly, certain online conferencing solutions also offer option to upload presentations or PDF directly so other members can quickly view it when presenter in explaining about it.
Record Meeting
Often for future reference purpose, certain online meeting require
to be recorded. This is yet another essential feature any good solution
provider must offer. There are many uses of recording meeting. For example if meeting
is for training purpose, then it can be recorded so that in future it
can be shared with other members without holding a separate meeting.
Many web conferencing services even host recorded session on their server so that they can be played whenever required.
Cross Platform
Not all the members of meeting may have same operating system or same device so ideal solution should support multiple devices or OSes. Often travelling membes may want to attend meeting from their phone or tablet. Any good solution provide should be offering this as a feature.
Security
This is perhaps the most vital feature to have for Web conferencing, especially if you need to share private or confidential material quite often. Usually, all conferencing programs come with at least 128-bit SSL encryption for ensuring safe chats or communication at the time of meeting. However, a few solutions do not offer even this basic feature.
While
the above security feature is enough for most purposes, the ideal
services come with stronger encryption as well as more security
features. Moreover, check whether you can use password protect feature
for your meeting rooms or not.