Finest video conferencing software program

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Video conferencing software has grown in popularity over the past year. As people working from home and remote working become the new normal, businesses rely on video conferencing services to communicate.

But not all video conferencing software is created equal.

The tools you use to video chat with your friends and family aren't necessarily the best options for business communication.

Which video conferencing software is best for you? I'll break down my top picks in more detail below.

The top 6 options for video conferencing software

  1. Blue jeans
  2. Cisco Webex
  3. Life size
  4. By what
  5. RingCentral
  6. GlobalMeet from PGI

How to choose the best video conference for you

When shopping and evaluating various options, there are certain criteria to consider. Keep these factors in mind to simplify the buying process and narrow down the best video conferencing software for your business.

Call size

The first thing to consider is the call restriction restrictions. How many people can take part in the video conference?

Entry plans can limit you to 25 or 50 callers, while the highest levels can be 10,000+.

If you run a small business or only need to meet occasionally with a small team, you probably won't encounter limitations issues. For those of you planning on giving presentations for your entire business, large call size is a top priority.

Simultaneous video streams

Even if you get a plan with a large call size, it doesn't mean that every caller can stream their webcam at the same time.

For example, suppose you have 500 people participating in a video conference. No 500 videos are displayed on the screen. You may be limited to just 10 or 20 streamers. The rest is only displayed.

Video quality

There is nothing worse than a video conference with a bad stream. It can really detract from the purpose of the conference. Everyone is concerned about disconnecting and then reconnecting in the hopes that this will fix the problem, which is wasting valuable time.

The individual internet connection of each participant naturally also affects the quality. However, some software is definitely better than others in this category.

The best way to determine the software's video quality is to experiment with free trials and read reviews from current customers.

Team collaboration features

If you use video conferencing software for work, an all-in-one collaboration solution is helpful.

I tend to look for features like file sharing, cloud storage, screen sharing, presentation mode, and built-in live chat. You should also look for features built into tools that you already use for CRM, site analytics, or other tasks on your team.

Now everyone can collaborate from a single platform instead of jumping back and forth between different software programs during a video conference.

Industry and specific use cases

What exactly do you need video conferencing software for?

There are many general purpose solutions. However, in some cases, certain software is geared towards such purposes as remote working or international calling. There are even industry-specific tools for healthcare or education.

So if you fall into any of these categories, make sure you choose software that suits your unique needs.

The different types of video conferencing software

As mentioned earlier, not all video conferencing software is created equal. I'll quickly name and explain the most popular options so you can better understand what to expect when shopping.

Cloud video conferencing software

Cloud software or browser-based video conferencing software is extremely flexible. Participants can join a call from anywhere by simply logging in using a web browser.

This software is supported by open WebRTC (Real-Time Communications) standards.

If you want to hold conference calls with participants outside of your company, you definitely need a cloud solution. Then you can invite people to sign up using a URL link and they don't have to download any software.

Say you have a sales team that uses video conferencing to communicate with prospects. Forcing these prospects to download software would make the sales process smooth and confusing.

Desktop applications

Desktop apps are often used for internal video conferencing. The best video conferencing software supports all common operating systems.

Call quality and features are usually improved with a desktop app. For example, you may not be able to share your screen on a cloud version of software, but you can access this feature by downloading the desktop app.

Mobile video conferencing

Mobile video conferencing is essential for people who need to take part in calls while on the move. Busy professionals can't always be tied to a desktop or laptop computer. However, this type of software allows users to participate from smartphones and tablets.

If you use cloud software, you can usually sign in using a web browser on your mobile device. However, the experience will definitely be enhanced by downloading the mobile application from your video conferencing provider.

Almost the best video conferencing software on the market today has some mobile conferencing features.

Meeting room systems

Some companies require a complete meeting room system for video conferencing. These solutions require additional hardware such as external cameras, microphones, speakers, and more.

A meeting room system is typically designed for physical conference rooms. If you're having a video conference in a boardroom with a dozen people in attendance, a laptop at the end of the table won't prevent it.

These are really not necessary for home offices or remote work. They are designed for large spaces and large groups in a single location.

# 1 – BlueJeans – Best for remote work

BlueJeans offers a wide range of video conferencing options for businesses of all sizes. Trusted by global brands like ADP, Facebook, Zillow, Intuit and National Geographic.

For small and large businesses, BlueJeans can help your company and employees communicate by giving them the right tools to work remotely.

There are four different BlueJeans video conferencing products to choose from, depending on your needs. Here is a brief explanation of each one:

  • BlueJeans Meetings – Video, audio and web conferencing from any device
  • BlueJeans room – Single touch audio and video conference rooms
  • BlueJeans Events – Host and stream interactive events for large audiences
  • BlueJeans Gateway – Access Microsoft Teams calls from any meeting room system

BlueJeans was recently acquired by Verizon so the quality of the video calls is exceptional. You also benefit from features like enterprise-grade security, meeting transcriptions, automated alerts, meeting management tools, analytics, and more.

Pricing starts at $ 9.99 per host per month.

The entry plan includes unlimited 1: 1 meetings, unlimited group meetings, unlimited meeting lengths, and five hours of recording. You can also have video conferencing with up to 50 participants on this plan.

Try it for free for 7 days.

# 2 – Cisco Webex Review – Best for Healthcare

Cisco has been the telecommunications industry leader for over 35 years. So it should come as no surprise that Cisco Webex ranks so high on this list.

In addition to basic video conferencing, Cisco offers tools for contact centers, online meetings, cloud calling, online training, team collaboration, and more. What really stands out, however, are Webex's industry-specific solutions, including video conferencing for healthcare.

As more medical practices switch to telemedicine, Cisco Webex is growing in popularity. It's a top solution for practices that need to meet patients online, make administrative calls, collaborate with nursing teams and healthcare IT teams.

From virtual consultations to training and security, Webex has everything healthcare organizations need for video conferencing.

Here are some of the highlights of using Cisco Webex:

  • End-to-end security with strong encryption
  • High quality video and audio calls
  • Virtual training functions with recording and on-demand display
  • Share your entire screen or just a single app or document
  • AI-enabled web assistant
  • Integrations with tools like Slack, G Suite, Salesforce, and more
  • Compatible with web, desktop, mobile and video systems

For anyone who values ​​quality and security, Cisco Webex is the first choice to consider.

Plans start at $ 13.50 per host per month. Sign up for free to try it out. No credit card required.

# 3 – Lifesize Review – The Best Zoom Alternative

Zoom has quickly become a household name over the past year. But it's not for everyone, and many companies are looking elsewhere for a video conferencing solution.

If you're looking for a similar setup and feature list, Lifesize is your best option.

Lifesize is a cloud video conferencing solution and team collaboration platform that works with any device. With the software, you can meet with colleagues, customers, employees and others from anywhere.

Let's take a closer look at some of the benefits and highlights of Lifesize:

  • Ultra high definition and 4k screen sharing
  • Unlimited guest invitations to meetings
  • Large meetings with up to 500 participants
  • Broadcast live events with up to 10,000 viewers
  • Manage users and room settings from a web-based administrator console
  • High encryption standards for robust security
  • Interoperability with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and more

For those of you who need a complete meeting room system, Lifesize also offers hardware all-in-one conferencing solutions.

Lifesize is free for up to 10 participants with unlimited meetings. The entry plan starts at $ 12.50 per host per month. This plan provides SSO support and enables meetings with up to 100 participants to be held.

# 4 – Taking Review – The Best Easy Video Conferencing Software

This is arguably the simplest video conferencing solution on the market today. No app installation is required. Just choose a personalized meeting url and attendees can access the same link every time.

The software was actually developed in Norway and is a popular choice for Europeans. So it's GDPR compliant and follows some of the strictest privacy and privacy laws in the world.

Here is a quick rundown of the features and benefits you can get by using Whereby for video conferencing:

  • Live chat and respond to video calls without breaking the speaker
  • The rooms are locked by default so administrators can choose who to let in
  • Place up to 50 participants in one room at the same time
  • The host has control to mute members and end the meeting for everyone
  • Participants can open other tabs and browse websites during a meeting
  • Add company brands and logos to your meeting rooms
  • Integrations with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar
  • Record meetings that you can download and share
  • YouTube integration for watching videos during a meeting
  • Screen sharing, Google Docs integration and mobile support

Even with all of these great features, doing is as easy as it gets. It's easy to use and find out for anyone regardless of their technical ability.

There is a free plan for personal use that can hold small meetings with up to four participants. Paid plans start at just $ 9.99 per month.

# 5 – RingCentral Review – Best all-in-one communication suite

If your business needs more than just video conferencing, RingCentral is the place for you. Unlike other software options for personal use, RingCentral is designed specifically for businesses.

They offer an all-in-one communication suite for integrated video conferencing, phone calls, team messaging, file sharing and task management.

Over 400,000 companies around the world trust the software. This makes it one of the most popular video conferencing solutions on the market today.

Let's take a closer look at some of the features, benefits, and highlights of RingCentral:

  • Enterprise-level security and an SLA with 99.999% availability
  • Easy to set up, deploy, add new users, and manage teams
  • Works from any device
  • Solutions for small businesses, businesses, and everything in between
  • Remote work and customer service tools
  • Cloud telephone systems and contact centers
  • Solutions for managed service providers

RingCentral even offers industry-specific solutions in categories like education, healthcare, retail, financial services, high tech, contact tracking, and more.

Plans start at $ 19.99 per user per month. You can try RingCentral for free with a 15-day trial version.

# 6 – GlobalMeet by PGI Review – Best for international video conferencing

GlobalMeet is another popular business communication platform. As the name suggests, the software is designed for international calls.

They are represented over 160 times in over 60 different countries. This enables exceptional call quality, even when participants stream video calls from different continents.

Here are some other top reasons why I like and recommend GlobalMeet:

  • They offer hardware solutions for the complete integration of video rooms
  • Participate in calls on the go with the mobile app
  • Record your meetings and play them back anytime with cloud recording functionality
  • One click to join video calls through an intuitive user interface
  • High definition video with simultaneous screen sharing
  • 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone and email in 12 languages

For companies with an international presence, be it internal or with customers, PGI's GlobalMeet is the clear winner.

There's a free plan for basic usage, and paid plans start at $ 12 per user per month.

Summary

What is the best video conferencing software?

With so many options to consider, it's not very practical to name just one as my first choice. It all depends on what you are looking for.

Whatever your company size, industry, or video conferencing needs, my methods and recommendations listed in this guide can help you find what you're looking for.

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