Adobe Connect vs. Google Hangouts (Classic)

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Adobe Connect
Score 7.0 out of 10
N/A
Adobe Connect is a web conferencing platform that enables users to create presentations, online training materials, and learning modules. The product is entirely Adobe Flash-based and has several add-ons for customizing its software to suit each users’ unique needs.
$50
per host/per month
Google Hangouts (Classic)
Score 7.5 out of 10
N/A
The classic version of Google Hangouts is a communication platform that includes messaging, voice, VoIP, and video call capabilities. It was part of Google’s G Suite offering and integrated with applications such as Gmail and Google+. Users of the classic version of Hangouts will be migrated to the new Hangouts Chat collaboration tool, and Google continues to support conferencing via the new Hangouts Meet.N/A
Pricing
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Editions & Modules
Meetings
$50
per host/per month
Webinars & Learning
$130
per host/per month
Small Meetings
Free
Forever free for up to 3 participants
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Considered Both Products
Adobe Connect
Chose Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect was the tool we used because we could record sessions and share files within the meetings themselves. Both Adobe Connect and Google Hangouts allow you to share your screen, but you have to connect with the person on Google Hangouts first. With Adobe Connect, you …
Chose Adobe Connect
I prefer Adobe Connect's slide sharing and recording/playback features to either Zoom or GoToMeeting(GTM). GTM is good for meetings where the majority of the group is onsite and needs to conference in only a few remote participants, and Zoom is great for video chats. It's …
Chose Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect is among the more robust and feature rich tools available. I don’t think any of the other tools match that. If it fits your needs, you can’t beat it. If you just need more simple capabilities, there are probably easier and better options for basic use. It has a …
Chose Adobe Connect
All the listed software are better than Adobe Connect in their own specialized functions, but Adobe has more functions than the listed software (Adobe provides a one-stop shop).
Chose Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect offers best visual appearance and user accessibility other than the fact that is uses Adobe Flash which some web browsers have threatened to ban. I really miss the persistent meeting rooms of Adobe Connect Meeting and as a meeting host this is the very best system …
Chose Adobe Connect
RVIBE is platform agnostic so we know and use any and all virtual platforms depending on our clients requirements. Platforms like WebEx, GoToMeeting, Zoom, Blue Jeans, On24, Skype, Google Hangouts, Lync, Wiggio, ect all have similar options and their own niches in the virtual …
Chose Adobe Connect
BB Collaborate used to have a horrific UI, now that has improved but the functions aren't there yet.
In demoing the tool and Blackboard World 2015 it seemed very unstable.
Google Hangouts (Classic)
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
8.0
65 Ratings
1% above category average
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
High quality audio8.764 Ratings00 Ratings
High quality video7.264 Ratings00 Ratings
Low bandwidth requirements6.955 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile support9.142 Ratings00 Ratings
Screen Sharing
Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
7.7
64 Ratings
3% below category average
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Desktop sharing8.064 Ratings00 Ratings
Whiteboards7.454 Ratings00 Ratings
Online Meetings / Events
Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
7.9
65 Ratings
3% below category average
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Calendar integration9.241 Ratings00 Ratings
Meeting initiation8.656 Ratings00 Ratings
Integrates with social media7.328 Ratings00 Ratings
Record meetings / events7.360 Ratings00 Ratings
Slideshows7.251 Ratings00 Ratings
Online Events Collaboration
Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
8.6
64 Ratings
3% above category average
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
Live chat9.462 Ratings00 Ratings
Audience polling8.255 Ratings00 Ratings
Q&A8.352 Ratings00 Ratings
Online Events Security
Comparison of Online Events Security features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
8.9
60 Ratings
7% above category average
Google Hangouts (Classic)
-
Ratings
User authentication7.953 Ratings00 Ratings
Participant roles & permissions9.360 Ratings00 Ratings
Confidential attendee list9.448 Ratings00 Ratings
Cloud PBX
Comparison of Cloud PBX features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
-
Ratings
Google Hangouts (Classic)
6.4
57 Ratings
25% below category average
Hosted PBX00 Ratings6.915 Ratings
Multi-level Interactive Voice Response (IVR)00 Ratings7.725 Ratings
User templates00 Ratings5.422 Ratings
Call reports00 Ratings9.034 Ratings
Directory of employee names00 Ratings3.245 Ratings
Call Management
Comparison of Call Management features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
-
Ratings
Google Hangouts (Classic)
7.9
66 Ratings
7% below category average
Answering rules00 Ratings8.033 Ratings
Call recording00 Ratings7.537 Ratings
Call park00 Ratings7.018 Ratings
Call screening00 Ratings9.036 Ratings
Message alerts00 Ratings8.158 Ratings
VoIP system collaboration
Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
-
Ratings
Google Hangouts (Classic)
8.9
84 Ratings
7% above category average
Video conferencing00 Ratings9.379 Ratings
Audio conferencing00 Ratings9.379 Ratings
Video screen sharing00 Ratings7.948 Ratings
Instant messaging00 Ratings9.352 Ratings
Mobile apps
Comparison of Mobile apps features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Connect
-
Ratings
Google Hangouts (Classic)
8.4
85 Ratings
1% above category average
Mobile app for iOS00 Ratings8.673 Ratings
Mobile app for Android00 Ratings8.171 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Small Businesses
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting
Score 9.5 out of 10
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting
Score 9.5 out of 10
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Google Meet
Google Meet
Score 8.3 out of 10
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Score 9.0 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Likelihood to Recommend
7.7
(92 ratings)
7.9
(91 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(27 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
7.7
(36 ratings)
8.0
(7 ratings)
Availability
5.5
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
7.6
(31 ratings)
8.0
(36 ratings)
Online Training
7.5
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.9
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
5.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Adobe ConnectGoogle Hangouts (Classic)
Likelihood to Recommend
Adobe
It is a great resource for evaluating, refining, and combining abilities and essential experiences in the growth of the sales team training; It is productive and lucrative in terms of distance knowledge transfer, and it reduces employee training financing and expenditures. I really like the ability to collaborate as a group on a huge research project even when we are not in the same country.
Read full review
Google
Had I completed this review a couple years ago, I would have given a rating of 9 or 10 as Hangouts (Classic) is an excellent product. However, now that Google Chat has succeeded Hangouts, I would not recommend that any new users begin using it where other more modern options are available. Android users who want an internet based instant messaging that also supports calling and video calling could benefit from using Hangouts (Classic) as Google Chat requires the user to also have Google Meet installed to make video calls and there is no voice only calling option.
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Pros
Adobe
  • Adobe Connect has presentation features like transitions and animations, which are important in communications.
  • Furthermore, Adobe Connect supports virtual events in the classroom, where training is done and knowledge acquired.
  • Lastly, Adobe Connect makes virtual meetings through conferencing effective and manageable at a minimal cost.
Read full review
Google
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) is embedded within Gmail's scheduler, so setting up the link is as quick as a click of the button. It's a one-step process.
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) is user-friendly and [has] features to share screens easily.
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) is much easier to use than its competitors.
  • Google Hangouts (Classic) have [a] good connection time and there are few glitches.
Read full review
Cons
Adobe
  • The overall connection and lag sometimes are disruptive. This may not be due to the platform as a whole, connectivity, and strength of the signal is probably a factor but it can get glitchy sometimes.
  • More features for remote desktop options, whiteboarding, or screen sharing to actively resolve issues would be great while collaborating.
  • Online support or forums to help assist with issues aren't as prevalent as you think they'd be. More individual resources to assist with issues would be helpful.
Read full review
Google
  • I would like to see improved video support, so that saved videos can be sent back and forth via Hangouts more easily, without having to start a separate meet chat
  • More pronounced notifications of messages would be helpful; pop up notifications are good, but once there is one, additional messages do not pop up
  • Custom muting times would be great, so that if I am in a 90 minute Zoom meeting, I can set it for that time; right now, it is 1 hour or 2 hours. Easy to forget.
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Likelihood to Renew
Adobe
The longer you use Adobe Connect, the longer you are likely to use it. Because you can build more and more resources over time, creating rooms that you re-use, recorded content you can repurpose, and tools that form the basis of ever increasing productivity, the more you use Connect, the more productive you become. Unlike competing products where, with every meeting you essentially start over -- setting up your resources for each meeting -- in my Connect rooms, I have highly tuned tools to accomplish my knowledge transfer goals. When I want to conduct another session - I send a link out to the appropriate room and instantly we are all focusing on getting a job done together. This ability of Adobe Connect to make you productive at an ever quickening rate is a competitive advantage
Read full review
Google
No answers on this topic
Usability
Adobe
As sophisticated a product as Adobe Connect, the ease of use is outstanding. In my experience, even a user with very little knowledge of Adobe Connect can begin using and even leading sessions with very little training to get started with the basic features. Additional training is needed to become comfortable with the number of available features, but learning curve even for those is no steeper than would normally be expected from similar software.
Read full review
Google
The tool is almost self-implemented. It is likely to be available in every pc or mobile device a user or potential user might have, and all you need to do is adding the company's account and you are done. Once you are setted up, you have almost all actual communication methods available in one tool
Read full review
Support Rating
Adobe
The customer support of Adobe connect is professional and well-skilled for resolving our minor and major issues. Moreover, it has almost all the features that will provide you a secure connection, with people across the world. Education institutes can also implement this software. On the basis of its quality and technology, I will surely advise you to try it once.
Read full review
Google
Google Hangouts works great and does not require a lot of work to troubleshoot. Everything is simple and easy to use. Google provides all of the tools that one requires to utilize Google Hangouts and any information can be found in the built-in help tools. There is also a forum for users to report issues and typically, Google responds well and will try to work out any issues.
Read full review
Online Training
Adobe
The ability to have most of the functionality of a full LMS at a fraction of the cost is huge. I can create manage and deploy both synchronous and asynchronous training based on the situation and all of my training is tracked through a series of easily created reports
Read full review
Google
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Adobe
Prices do not seem to vary much among resellers of the Adobe Connect hosted license; the only price variation you're likely to find are among the audio providers. When implementing, you may also wish to look into expanding the amount of storage you are allowed on the server to avoid any problems later on as your library of files starts to build up
Read full review
Google
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Adobe
Actually, it was the other way around....we were using Adobe Connect, company-wide, then switched over to Zoom, mostly, I think, as a cost-cutting measure. But some Learning & Development folks campaigned to be allowed to retain some Adobe Connect licenses (for example, one L&D area had literally over 250 room layouts that their course facilitators could just jump into and use to deliver a course on short notice), which also allows some of us to continue to publish Presenter and Captivate modules to the Adobe server. (But, even those of us who still have Adobe Connect licenses use Zoom for most regular business meetings.)
Read full review
Google
Google is the white cotton socks of the conferencing world. It’s a great ad-hoc tool, but not too much more. If you are not looking to spend money or operate completely on WiFi (without data charges), it’s a great free option as well. The benefit of being free and open is also the liability. It doesn’t have a great integration story with other corporate tools, but [it doesn’t have to] if you aren’t looking for that. All in all, it’s as helpful and ubiquitous as a public payphone…without the pay…and with a video capability.
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Return on Investment
Adobe
  • Save on time - our instructors and people that use the platform can teach more classes and more often than in-person training and time traveling.
  • We cut down on spending. When we offer training using Connect - we do not have to spend on meals, hard copy materials, and reserving a venue to deliver training.
  • We increase our training sales significantly but offering Connect as an alternative - any unforeseen cancellations to a public class can result in transferring to a remote online Connected class.
Read full review
Google
  • I believe it was part of the google suite that was purchased. It was worth the cost as it was cheaper. I believe it is now free, but also becoming deprecated. It is much better to use Teams, Discord, Telegram, etc. Google does not provide enough support or features to make using hangouts worth it these days.
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ScreenShots