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.
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 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.
Meeting presenters should be able to share their screens with participants.
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.
Many web conferencing software products include collaboration features such as live chat, audience polling, Q&A, and file sharing.
Enterprises and companies in highly regulated industries will need enhanced security. Security features include user authentication, permissions, and confidential attendee lists.
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.
Slideshow presentations
Meeting scheduling and recording
Live chatting
Audience interaction features
File sharing
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).
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.
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.
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 t...
Mitel MiCollab is a collaboration and conferencing tool for enterprises, from Canadian company Mitel.
MaestroConference is a web conferencing platform with the capability to run small break-out sessions within the main group. It incorporates voting and social capabilities.
Videxio aims to enable easy group video meetings and 1:1 video calls from any device, with a single video collaboration platform for users, huddle rooms, and dedicated meeting rooms. Combine videoconferencing room systems (SIP/H.323 devices), online meetings, mobile, desktop, and Skype for Busine...
RingCentral Meetings is a web conferencing and webinar application supporting 100 active participants, screen sharing with integration with file sharing applications (e.g. Box, Dropbox, etc.), and integration with RingCentral Glip messaging.
Webinato is a webinar tool from omNovia Technologies, a provider of web conferencing software.
FreeConference is a telephony and VoIP software solution from FreeConference.
Present+ is a fully featured webinar tool that is designed to allow users to quickly create webinars. It includes registration, email communications, live and on demand events, and advanced branding capability. All on-demand recordings of live webinars can be recorded automatically and are fully ...
Oracle Beehive Enterprise Collaboration Server provides hosted collaboration and voice / web conferencing tools at the enterprise level.
Norwegian company appear.in offers their flagship video conferencing platform to small teams, both in a free edition hosting up to 4 guests simultaneously in a session or a paid edition that supports up to 12 simultaneous meeting guests, among other features.
ShowMyPC is a web conferencing and remote administration and help / support tool from the small company of the same name in San Francisco, California.
ClickWebinar, from GetReponse, allows users to run video conferences and webinars for up to 1000 participants. Features include audio & video, statistics for analyzing the success of webinars, and desktop screen sharing. They also offer mobile apps to schedule meetings, send invitations, and ...
From webcasts to virtual extensions of events, INXPO digital interactive broadcasting solutions help companies communicate with their customers, employees, partners, and prospects.
Watchitoo combines video conferencing, collaboration and online video into a single platform. The platform includes interactivity features like polling, video chat, text chat, and chat collaboration with social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The platform is browser-based and does not...
InterCall is a web conferencing tool offered by West Corporation.
Mikogo is a free screen sharing solution with built-in VoIP for online meetings, web presentations, web conferencing and sales demos.
FoxDen is a video collaboration platform that delivers a simple combination of hardware and software so users can start sharing their ideas and start video meetings instantly, in any room and from any device. The vendor’s value proposition is that FoxDen delivers simple, easy-to-use video collabo...
Zeen is a video conferencing solution that promises to empower teams to hold more effective meetings. The vendor says inviting colleagues is easy with tools like screen sharing, real-time agendas, dedicated rooms, and analytics that prioritize your team’s needs. Joining a meeting requires no do...
Onstream Meetings allows users to set up and manage meetings in the cloud. The platform does not require any pre installation, training or configuration. It includes advanced security options, and unlimited monthly meetings. Pricing starts at $19/month for up to 25 participants. Onsteam Meeting...
LoopUp is a remote meeting/web conferencing platform.
Proficonf is a professional video conferencing platform that allows its users to make or join video meetings with up to 250 participants without any downloads or installations. Proficonf aims to help users save time connecting with teammates, business partners, tutors, students, etc. The vendor s...
LotusLive Engage is IBM's video conferencing and survey building platform with a dynamic dashboard and project management capabilities.
BeamYourScreen is a desktop sharing and online meeting platform with features like chat function and multi-monitor support.
Biba is a communications platform that implements features such as online meetings, video conferencing, and business chat.
