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Our research shows that all things considered, the best conference call service is GoTo Meeting. However, Zoom is a great conference call service for beginners, whereas RingCentral Video will be your go-to option for longer meetings. All three platforms have impressive sound quality, feature-rich platforms, and interoperability across devices and operating systems. If price is your driving factor, however, there's even a low-cost option from Zoho for just $1/month.
Whether you're switching to a different solution or trying out web conferencing software for the first time, we compare the price points and features of the best options on the market.
| Price from The lowest starting price for a paid plan. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | Best for | Free plan | Breakout Rooms | Audio-Conferencing | Pros | Cons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURED DEAL  | TOP RATED  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Zoho Meeting | GoTo Meeting | Zoom | RingCentral | Webex | Google Meet | Microsoft Teams | Lifesize | BlueJeans |
| Value | Sound and video quality | Beginners | Security | Larger businesses | Google Workspace users | Microsoft 365 users | Users that need hardware | Users that need customer support |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Yes (paid plan) – VoIP, Phone & Toll-Free | Yes – VoIP, Phone & Toll-Free | Yes – Add-on audio plan allows you to add Call Out, global Toll-free & local dial-in for premium countries | Yes – Companies get a single audio conferencing bridge dial-in phone number for easy universal access. | Yes – Audio-only calls can be created when a host generates an Audio pin | Yes – Just call the number listed on the meeting invite, or join via the link and turn off your camera | Yes – but only in selected countries, and each user dialing into meetings will need an audio-conferencing license. | Yes – in a meeting contact card, users can tap the phone number under Details to call using their default phone or voice app | Yes – Easy access to audio conferencing is provided via a traditional PSTN number |
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As you can see from our table above, the conference calling industry is heavily saturated with great options to fit a wide range of business needs.
Historically, some companies have opted for web conferencing software that provides only audio and not video. Modern-day conferencing solutions, however, almost always offer video as well as the ability to ring in via your phone or an app, and this has become even more ubiquitous since the pandemic. In a hyper-competitive video conferencing market, affordable deals on top-quality video conferencing software that has audio-conferencing thrown in isn't difficult to find.
Check out our list of the best conference call providers for 2022 below, or try our free comparison tool if you're interested in comparing prices for integrated conference call services, including video chat, instant messaging, and more.
Top Conference Call Systems for Business
Different businesses will prioritize different features and capabilities from their conferencing software. The top three services offer great all-around packages, but venturing out to examine all ten of the top performers might be worth your while as well.
Remember, while cost should be a major factor when picking out any conference call service, the goal isn't to pick the cheapest option: It's to pick the price that will ultimately save your business the most money. Once you know the service offers the abilities your operation needs, you can match that against the price tag to see if it's worth buying.
Tech.co selected and ranked the best conference call systems using five main criteria: The quality of the audio and video, the usability of the interface, the range of features, the availability of support, and the kinds of price plans offered.
Here are the best conference call services to consider for your business:
- GoTo Meeting — Best overall
- Zoom — Best for beginners
- RingCentral Video — Best for longer meetings
- Webex — Best for larger businesses
- Google Meet — Best for Google users
- Microsoft Teams — Best for Microsoft users
- Zoho Meeting — Best for business on a budget
- Lifesize — Best for users that need hardware
- BlueJeans — Best for users that need customer support
GoTo Meeting – Best overall video conferencing software
Price: $14 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
If you're looking for a reliable conference call service with years of experience and plenty of conference calls under its belt, GoTo Meeting is the software you need to look into. Yes, we even recommend it above Zoom.
Since 1997, GoTo Meeting has become one of the most recognizable names in conference calling, with 18 million users hosting 80 million meetings every year.
With HD video, clear audio, and enough helpful features to keep everyone on track, GoTo Meeting is an industry standard for a reason. The simple interface, combined with an easy-to-use layout, makes it a no-brainer for everyone in the office. Most notably, this software provides unmatched compatibility with a wide range of devices, from mobile to PC to Mac.
The only downside is that GoTo Meeting is missing a few advanced features that could really add to the conference call experience. You can't share videos and you can't take polls, for example. But if you can forego those things, it's cheaper than Zoom's equivalent service, and offers a high-quality user experience.
GoTo Meeting Pricing
GoTo Meeting has three plans, all of which come with the same basic features. The Professional and Business plans can host conference calls with up to 150 and 250 participants, respectively. The Enterprise plan is for up to 3,000 participants. There's regular deals on GoTo Meeting pricing plans, too, with a currently deal that could get you 34-35% off your subscription.
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | ||
| Free | Professional | Business | Enterprise | ||
| Free | $12/host/month | $19/host/month | N/A | ||
| 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | ||
| 3 | 150 | 250 | 3,000 | ||
| 40 minutes | None | None | None |
GoTo Meeting Features
- Screen sharing
- Dial-in conference lines
- No meeting limits
- Personal meeting rooms
- Great mobile app
- 24/7 customer support
- Integrations with Slack and Salesforce
Pros:
- 14-day free trial
- High quality audio and video
- Very reliable and secure
- Lower cost than competitors
Cons:
- Weak free plan
- Relies on a very strong internet connection
- Webinar features requires GoToWebinar integration
- Business plan is best value overall
- Packages start at $12 per month
Zoom – Best for beginners
Price: $12.49 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
While it saw unprecedented popularity during the pandemic, Zoom has been turning heads since its founding in 2011. This reliable and easy-to-use software makes conference calls as easy as sending a link to potential participants via email.
Zoom offers an easy-to-use interface, combined with the low price, fast install times, and plentiful features. Like the best players in the game, the web conferencing software is constantly upgrading its offering too.
In March 2023 the solution launched Zoom IQ – a collection of AI-backed features including smart meeting summaries, automatic prompt-generated Whiteboards, enhanced customer analytics, and smart meeting summaries (pictured below).
However, despite its HD audio status, after testing the product we found that Zoom's audio quality is far from perfect. This is why we put Zoom just below GoTo Meeting as a worthy conferencing service.
In addition, the service has weathered some security issues in the past that may give privacy-focused users pause. However, these have largely been addressed in the last two years, and other than that, Zoom boasts one of the more affordable, comprehensive conference call services on the market.
Zoom Pricing
Zoom One, which includes Zoom Meetings, consists of a limited, albeit impressive free plan along with four paid plans that offer a wide range of different features. Unlike GoTo Meeting, Zoom combines VoIP, webinar, and other communication tools into one platform, so you'll get all of it for the low price listed above. Take a look at its pricing table to understand even better.
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | Meetings | Team Chat | Cloud Storage | VoIP | Whiteboard tools | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | ||||||
| Zoom One Basic | Zoom One Pro | Zoom One Business | Zoom One Business Plus | Enterprise | ||||||
| Free | $12.49/host/month | $18.33/host/month | $22.49/host/month | Custom Pricing | ||||||
| 1 | 9 | 10-99 | 10-99 | Minimum 250 | ||||||
| 100 | 100 | 300 | 300 | 500 | ||||||
| 40 minutes | 30 hours | 30 hours | 30 hours | 30 hours | ||||||
| | | | | | ||||||
| | | | | | ||||||
| | | | | | ||||||
| | | | | | ||||||
| 3 editable boards | 3 editable boards | Unlimited editable boards; advanced controls | Unlimited editable boards; advanced controls | Unlimited editable boards; advanced controls |
Zoom Features
- Direct messaging
- Video webinar functionality
- Breakout rooms
- Screen sharing
- Gallery view
- Virtual backgrounds
- End-to-end encryption
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Broad functionality
- Free version available
Cons:
- Poor audio quality
- Lots of features are only available as add-ons
- 40-minute meeting limit on free plan
- Great free plan available
- Four main tiers available: Pro, Business, Business Plus and Enterprise
- 30-day free trial
RingCentral Video – Best for longer meetings
Price: $11.99 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
Formerly known as RingCentral Glip, RingCentral Video is a relatively new software that allows for 24-hour meetings on its free plan, which makes it one of the best options for longer meetings in a small budget.
RingCentral Video has a lot of great features when it comes to its paid plan as well. You'll get tons of cloud storage for meeting recordings, advanced analytics to see how your team communicates, and integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workplace to make scheduling easy.
After we tested RingCentral ourselves, we were really impressed by its intuitive software and slick usability. The platform has a straightforward setup process too, making it a great web conferencing service for beginners.
RingCentrals' video service has just got even better for sales teams, too. In March 2023 RingCentral launched RingSence – a new AI-powered sales platform that unlocks a number of smart features like AI summary scoring, automated sales follow-ups, and enhanced keyword tracking (see below).
Choosing an established VoIP provider like RingCentral means you'll have easy access to other conference calling and Unified Communications features, too, outside of just RingCentral Video's video calling. If you're looking for in-office conferencing perks for example, RingCentral recently announced a partnership with Logitech which should make for a smooth experience, should you upgrade to RingCentral's Rooms product.
RingCentral Video Pricing
RingCentral Video keeps things a bit more basic than other providers like Zoom, offering only two pricing plans, including its robust free plan. Below, you'll find out about how these two plans match up against each other.
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | ||||
| Pro | Pro+ | ||||
| Free | $10/user/month | ||||
| 1 | Unlimited | ||||
| 100 | 200 | ||||
| 24 hours | 24 hours |
RingCentral Video Features
- Unlimited meetings
- Cloud storage
- Dial-in features
- Virtual background
- Browser functionality (no app needed)
- Integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
Pros
- Great free version
- No app required, works on browser too
- Integrates with Microsoft 365 and Google Workplace
Cons
- No analytics or single sign-on with free plan
- Less suitable for larger companies
- Lacks advanced project management tools
- Paid plans from $11.99 per month
- Generous free plan available
Webex – Best for larger businesses
Price: $12 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
Webex is a safe bet if you're looking for a seriously robust conference call service. You won't find more features in any software on this list, and its resources provide all the assistance you need to make it work for your company.
Any conference call service run by a company as large and as reputable as Cisco has got to have the technology figured out and do they ever! This robust software is filled with all the added features you could possibly imagine, and then some.
All that functionality comes with some downsides, though. Compared to Zoom, for example, Webex is much more complicated to use, requiring meeting numbers and passcodes to get started. Still, larger businesses will definitely enjoy the advanced features that come with it, like end-to-end encryption and the ability to share multiple apps at once.
Webex Pricing
Webex offers three different plans, as well as a free forever plan. Here's how they compare:
| Price | Participants | Time Limit | Team Chat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | | |||
| Free | $14.50/licence/month | Custom pricing | |||
| 100 | 200 | 1000 | |||
| 40 minutes | 24 hours | 24 hours | |||
| | | |
Webex Features
- Screen sharing
- Multiple gallery layouts
- Cloud recording in MP4
- Breakout sessions
- Virtual backgrounds
- End-to-end encryption
Pros:
- Feature-rich software
- High quality audio and video
- Easy setup
Cons:
- Occasional bandwidth issues
- A little pricier than similar software
- Analytics not included in basic plans
- Free plan available
- Meet: $12/month
- Suite: $22.50/month
Google Meet – Best for Google Workspace users
Price: $6 per user per month (Google Meet + Google Workspace Applications)
Free plan available: Yes
You can't deny that Google Meet is a great, convenient option when you need to talk to your team. But if you really need to communicate on a regular basis, you'd be a lot better off with a service that focuses on audio quality and solid connectivity.
As perhaps the standard for businesses unwilling to shell out resources for a paid conference call service, Google Meet certainly performs admirably for a free alternative. Anyone with an existing Google account can create a video meeting, invite 100 people and chat for 60 minutes without paying anything – and it integrates with your Gmail and Google Calendar too which makes it a really simple easy-to-use option.
After testing Google Meets ourselves, we were really impressed with the platform's seamless integration with Google Calendar. It made it easier to avoid double-booking meetings and to get a clearer overview of daily itineraries than any of the other solutions we've tried out.
For businesses looking to move on from their current solution, Google Meet's workspace integration and low barrier make it one of the best services to switch to as well.
Free services have their limits, though, and Google Meet is no different. Connectivity problems run amok, particularly with video chats hosting multiple users, and there's no way to record meetings. Audio quality also suffers compared to paid services, and any noise-canceling technology is nowhere to be found.
If you opt for a paid plan, though, you get way more than just a video conferencing tool. You'll be paying for Google Workspace, a full-on business suite with Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and many other services built in. This provides a lot more functionality than tools like Zoom and RingCentral, but if you don't need all that, simply stick to the basics.
Check out our Google Meet pricing guide for more information
Google Meet Pricing
Google Meet offers a great free plan that individuals can sign up to by virtue of having a google account.
Google's cheapest paid plan, Business Starter, is $6 per user, per month, has a limit of 100 participants, and 30 GB of storage per user. Google's Business Standard plan costs $12 per user, per month and has slightly larger limits of 150 participants and 2 TB of storage per user.
Google Meet's Business Plus plan is also available for $18 per user, per month. With a 500-participant limit and a storage capacity of 5 TB per user, it's a great option for larger businesses. Finally, Google Meets offers an Enterprise option as well, with the same participant limit as Business Plus, but with an unlimited storage cap.
Take a look at how the business plans differ side by side below:
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Storage | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | ||
| Free | Starter | Standard | Plus | Enterprise | ||
| Free | On request | |||||
| 1 | up to 300 | up to 300 | up to 300 | Unlimited | ||
| 100 | 100 | 150 | 500 | 500 | ||
| None | 30 GB | 2 TB | 5 TB | Unlimited | ||
| 60 minutes | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours |
Google Meet Features
- Up to 100 participants
- Screen sharing
- Mobile app
- No recording
- Dial-in phone numbers for US and international
- G Suite integrations
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Gmail and Google Calendar compatibility
- Additional services included in paid plan
Cons:
- Spotty connectivity
- Poor audio quality
- Starts at $6/host/month
- Includes other Google services
- 14-day free trial
Microsoft Teams – Best for Microsoft 365 users
Price: $4 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
If you haven't heard about Microsoft Teams during the pandemic, you must be living under a rock. This team collaboration tool has been on a meteoric rise in the last year, offering a wide range of tools for remote teams and updating the platform on such a consistent basis that it already rivals the likes of Google Meet, Zoom, and many others.
Microsoft Teams is no stranger to a product update, either. Riding the artificial intelligence wave, the web conferencing giant released a series of new AI features this June too – including enhanced call delegation, improved meeting invitation options, and face enrollment for Teams Desktop.
Check out our Microsoft Teams vs Google Meet comparison guide
It is worth nothing, however, that Microsoft Teams is way more than just video conferencing. It is a full-on team collaboration platform that allows for project management, as well as a wide range of other team-based features that are perfect for remote teams.
Microsoft Teams Pricing
Microsoft Teams is completely free, which again makes it a very attractive offer if you're looking for a business software package that can handle more than video conferencing. However, if you want even more for your team, the Microsoft 365 Basic software offers a wide range of other Microsoft business tools, including Microsoft Teams for only $5 per user per month, with the Microsoft 365 Standard plan only costing $12 per user per month, so they're also a pretty good ideal if you need that extra power for your business.
However, there's also a ‘Teams Essentials‘ package that Microsoft has recently launched that's designed specifically to cater to the needs of small businesses, and is available from just $4 per user per month, making it the cheapest paid plan Microsoft now offer. It includes features like extended meeting times, large meeting capacity, and twice the amount of cloud storage (10 GB) you're afforded in Microsoft's free version of Teams.
Like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams doesn't just come by itself. For starters, it's a collaboration platform that allows for other features like task management and team messaging. Additionally, if you want to pay more, you'll be signed up for the full-on Microsoft 365 service, which also acts as a business suite for added functionality with Outlook, Calendar, and Bing.
Check out our Microsoft Teams pricing guide for more information
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | ||
| Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams Essentials | Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Microsoft 365 Business Standard | ||
| Free | $4/user/month | $6/user/month | $12.50/user/month | ||
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | ||
| 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | ||
| 60 minutes | 30 Hours | 30 hours | 30 hours |
Microsoft Teams Features
- Screen sharing
- Customized backgrounds
- File attachments in chat
- Real-time Microsoft Office collaboration
- Dial-in conferencing
- File storage
Pros:
- Completely free
- 300 participants
- Integrates with Microsoft 365
Cons:
- No gallery view for guests
- Steep learning curve
- Free plan available
- Essentials: $4 per month
- Advanced plans for $6 and $12.50 per month
Zoho Meeting – Best for businesses on a budget
Price: $1 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
If the better known web conferencing options out there don't suit your particular needs, don't worry. Zoho — the company offering an impressive wide range of business resources like CRM and accounting software — has a video conferencing tool as well, dubbed Zoho Meeting.
While it may be a bit late to the game, this platform is actually quite robust, most notably allowing for no time limit on its free plan, a serious rarity in the web conferencing game. Additionally, it's decidedly more affordable than Zoom, RingCentral, GoTo Meeting and pretty much any other option on this list when it comes to paid plans, which could be perfect for smaller businesses on a budget.
Still, it's pricing is a bit limited from a participant standpoint, which definitely doesn't set Zoho Meeting apart from the competition. If you use other Zoho apps though, it could make connecting with team members that much easier with its many integrations.
Check out our Zoho Meeting guide for more information
Zoho Meeting Pricing
Zoho Meeting offers a free plan and four paid plans. Here's how they compare to each other when it comes to features:
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |||
| Free | Standard | Professional | |||
| Free | $1/month | $3/month | |||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 3 | 10 | 10 | |||
| 60 minutes | 24 hours | 24 hours |
Zoho Meeting Features
- Unlimited meetings
- High quality audio and video
- No time limit on free meetings
- Zoho app integrations
- Sharing during meetings
- Meeting notes
Pros
- Low-cost, flexible pricing plans
- Browser functionality
- SSL/128-bit AES encryption
Cons
- Recording costs extra
- Only 10 participants
- Extra participants cost more
- Free plan available
- Standard: $1/month
- Professional: $3/month
Lifesize – Best for businesses that also need hardware
Price: $14.95 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
When a conference call service is trusted by the likes of Netflix, Yelp, LinkedIn, eBay, and Major League Baseball, you can rest assured that they know what they're doing. Lifesize makes conference calling convenient with secure lines, helpful features, and an award-winning app.
Not only will you be able to utilize video and audio technology to connect with team members, you'll also have access to a bevy of hardware solutions that will let you set up your office for better lines of communication. Other than Webex, which offers Cisco products to go with its video conferencing software, Lifesize is the only option with dedicated hardware that integrates with its service.
While it's hardly the reason you're enlisting a conference call service for your business, chat functions in Lifesize do leave a lot to be desired. But again, that should be far from a deal-breaker. Crystal clear audio, stunning video resolution, and unmatched integration capabilities make Lifesize a go-to conference call service for any sized business.
If you're not already using a program like Slack and are looking for an added chat function with lots of features, you may want to move on. Otherwise, Lifesize is the video conference call service you need to succeed.
Lifesize Pricing
Lifesize offers a free plan and three paid ones. Take a look at how they match up against each other below:
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | | |||
| Go | Plus | Enterprise | |||
| Free | $14.95/user/month | $14.95/user/month | |||
| 1 | Minimum 10 | Minimum 50 | |||
| 25 | 300 | 500 | |||
| 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours |
Lifesize Features
- Unlimited meetings
- High quality audio and video
- Single sign-on features
- Microsoft 365 integrations
- Cloud recording
- Real-time meeting insights
Pros:
- 1080p video and HD audio
- Interoperability across operating systems, mobile and desktop
- Integrates with Cisco, Skype for Business, Avaya, Polycom, Radvision, and Microsoft Lync
Cons:
- Unsophisticated chat function
- Less suitable for smaller companies
- Average customer reviews
- Free version available
- Two paid packages: Plus & Enterprise
- Starts at $14.95/host/month
BlueJeans – Best for businesses that need customer support
Price: $13.99 per user per month
Free plan available: Yes
The whole point of setting up a conference call service at your company is to be able to actually communicate, and you can't do that without quality audio. This is where BlueJeans truly shines, as its audio technology is powered by Dolby Voice. This software is equipped with features like background noise-cancelling and consistent volume levels on any device.
Additionally, BlueJeans comes with features like one-click scheduling and easy screen sharing, so you won't waste any time when it comes to setting up meetings. You'll also be able to integrate apps like Facebook Workplace, Skype for Business, and Slack for a more complete conferencing package. You can even integrate with Microsoft Teams, but it's probably easier to just opt for the built-in video conferencing, which we found to be a bit more functional, albeit a bit harder to use.
Our research did find that BlueJeans suffers from the occasional connectivity problem, which can affect call speed for its users. This doesn't make BlueJeans an ideal web conferencing to switch to, especially if you're used to the razor-sharp qualities of GoTo Meeting and RingCentral. To combat this, make sure you always have the most up-to-date version.
BlueJeans Pricing
For small businesses and individuals, BlueJeans has a plan starting at $13.99 per month, which can host meetings with up to 150 participants. An upgraded plan for $16.66 per month offers additional features and supports up to 300 participants, and an enterprise plan is available for large operations. BlueJeans often offers deals on these plans, as well, with a current offer lowering the prices to $9.99 per month and $13.99 per month, respectively.
| Price | Licenses | Participants | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | | |||
| Basic | Pro | Enterprise | |||
| Free | $13.99/user/month | $16.66/user/month | |||
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |||
| 25 | 150 | 300 | |||
| None | None | None |
BlueJeans Features
- Cloud recording
- Integrates with Slack, Zoho, Microsoft Teams, and more
- Screen sharing
- Branding and customization features
- One-click scheduling
- Background noise cancelling
Pros:
- Amazing sound quality
- Time-saving features
- Integration with Facebook Workplace, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, and Slack
Cons:
- Connectivity issues when not up to date
- Starts at $13.99 per month
- Free plan now available
- Save 20% with annual subscriptios
Finding the Best Conference Call Service
There are a lot of aspects of conference call services that you need to take into account before you buy. Make sure to consider each of these factors before making a decision.
Core Decision-Making Factors
Locating the best providers
Here at Tech.co, we've basically done this bit for you in this article. We've reviewed and tested a huge number of web conferencing providers and only recommend ones that will genuinely make life – as well as meetings – easier and more effective for your business, based on our personal experience.
Researching plans and features
As with any software that costs money, it's vital that you perform adequate research before jumping into a decision, or else you'll be left with a program or application that no one in your business gets any use out of.
The first thing to do is make sure you're clear on what each provider is offering you, and in each package – and ensuring you're comparing comparable packages (business/team plans should generally be compared to other business/team plans, rather than enterprise plans, for instance). Web conferencing software is a broad term, and providers usually differ greatly in what they offer, so paying attention to the minor distinctions is crucial.
Making a choice based on your needs
Ultimately, every business is different, and every business has a multitude of needs, some of which can be satisfied with software. Ensuring the web conferencing software you're choosing does everything you need it to is one important aspect of the decision-making process, but equally, it's also important to make sure you're not overreaching and paying for packages or services that cost more because they house features you just don't need.
This becomes even more of an important principle if you're on a tight budget and just don't have the financial capital to spend on the most expensive, all-encompassing services. In this case, it's time to prioritize – so it's a good idea to work out exactly what you need from a web conferencing software solution, but also to work out which of your needs are most important. An example would be screen sharing – not all providers offer this – so work out whether that's a central priority.
Aspects of Software to Consider
Free vs. paid
Free conference call services are good when you need a simple solution, fast. However, they often suffer from terrible audio and video quality, and offer few – if any – added features like polling and annotating. Paid services are designed for companies that really need to communicate effectively on a regular basis.
Audio and video quality
Having a good camera and microphone is one thing. But some software boasts better audio and video quality than others. Make sure your conference call service can display at least 1080p video and HD audio to get the full experience.
Number of hosts/users
Ensuring you pick a provider – and a subsequent package – that has the capacity to cater to the number of people in your business who will be hosting conference calls is crucial. The last thing you want to do is to decide on a package that looks ideal, only to find out that it doesn't have enough licenses to cater to your company, team, or organization.
Connectivity
Unless you want to endure dropped meetings and frozen screens, you need to make sure your conference call service has a reputation for reliability.
Feature catalog
Depending on what you need a conference call service for, you might need to know exactly what kind of features are being offered. Many services provided added options like polling and annotating, often at an additional price.
Customer support and setup
Make sure to take note of the customer support options for each service, particularly if you're new to these platforms. Some offer 24/7 assistance, while others are a bit more hands-off.
Software integrations
Many conference call services can integrate with calendars, note-taking apps, and other software, helping them connect with your virtual ecosystem.
Device compatibility
Conference call services are often paired with mobile apps, but not all of them work on both popular operating systems. If you use iOS or Android exclusively, make sure your conference call service is compatible.
Benefits of Using a Conference Call Service
Conferencing call systems are some of the most essential services for many businesses, particularly for large and growing operations. While the best services aren't cheap, they'll more than pay for themselves in a variety of ways, not all of which are obvious. Here's a quick look at the main reasons why your conference call system is worth the price tag:
Keeping Up With the New Normal
Meeting in person can come at a cost – and right after a pandemic, that's a cost in terms of both health and finances. If you're still paying for office space in a large city or business hub, you could save thousands of dollars by transitioning to remote working. If you don't have an office, and you're remote working already, web conferencing software is really the only way to nurture your team, improve cohesion and communicate face-to-face.
If your business hosts events, web conferencing software can make them vastly cheaper and hugely cost-effective. For any major in-person event, costs for travel, food, and a venue will be exponential – hosting virtually is therefore always a good option to have. For run-of-the-mill meetings that happen on a daily basis, a conferencing system can streamline even more, letting participants join from behind their desks at the touch of a button rather than disrupt their work to locate a physical conference room.
When a workforce is given the option to work from home, conferencing systems are a great way to ensure that everyone shows up to the meetings they need to stay in the loop for. The best conferencing services can help participants join from any type of device, meeting them where they are.
A business doesn't need to have a fully distributed workforce to benefit from the added flexibility of remote work, which can keep employees happier and more efficient.
Why a Professional Conference Call Service is Always Better than a Free App
We're sorry to disappoint, but the answer is pretty simple and not very exciting: professional conference call services have specific features geared towards businesses that are developed to meet the precise needs of certain types of businesses.
Free apps like FaceTime or Zoom's free version, which are designed to cater to a broad range of basic needs (like simply trying to contact someone else, face-to-face), are unlikely to satisfy all of your business's needs.
Think about it like this – if we gave you an unlimited budget and asked you to buy a car to win the next Formula 1 Grand Prix, what type of car would you choose? Would you choose an average roadworthy car, designed to provide the basics that everyone needs to drive (e.g. seatbelts, an average speed, enough seats for the family, trunk space) or a racing car, built to go around specific types of tracks, and excel in certain areas (e.g. speed, aerodynamics, traction)? Clearly, the latter car would be the better choice.
That's really the bottom line – you're never going to find everything you need to succeed in the most basic, free plans that aren't really geared to businesses in the first instance.
About Our Research
If you're looking for a software or service to improve productivity at your business, the last thing you need is spurious advice from a website that doesn't put any effort into research. Luckily, Tech.co is committed to providing readers with actionable information that can inform your decision in a meaningful way.
When it comes to video conferencing software like the tools listed above, we had a specific set of criteria by which we ranked and rated them. The metrics we measured included features, pricing, third-party integrations, audio/video quality, and customer support.
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Verdict: What is the best conference call service?
If you're interested in setting up conference calling at your business, as part of a complete unified communications solution, the most important thing you can do right now is to get a quote. You'll be able to get a better understanding of the costs of these kinds of services, and be on your way to a more comprehensive system. Compare prices in less than a minute, and find the best deal based on your specific business requirements, with no obligation to buy.
You'll be able to get set up with secure, modern business calling equipped with conference and mobile integration, and a whole lot more: A VoIP service can help your team make and receive simultaneous phone and video calls to anyone around the globe.
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