The 4 Greatest Choices for Video Calls

Am I audible? 

We’ve all been there. Video conferencing ought to make collaboration easy, and generally, exploring totally different choices will help discover the right match.

Zoom is a go-to for a lot of, but it surely’s not one-size-fits-all. If you happen to want fewer cut-off dates, stronger safety, or higher integrations, another would possibly swimsuit you higher. Regardless of the motive, having decisions is all the time a very good factor.

With so many choices for video conferencing software program on the market, I needed to see which of them lived as much as the hype, so I put them to the check. I ran conferences, scheduled calls, and pushed totally different options to their limits to see which platforms really delivered.

After researching and testing the prime 4 Zoom alternate options based mostly on G2 scores and 1000’s of Video Calls through the years, I’m right here to interrupt down what works, what doesn’t, and which one would possibly simply be the suitable match for you.

Why these instruments are good Zoom alternate options 

Zoom is a number one video conferencing instrument, but it surely’s not good for everybody. These alternate options stand out by addressing particular challenges that some customers face with Zoom:

• Stronger safety & privateness: Some instruments supply end-to-end encryption and higher compliance options.
• Extra reasonably priced pricing: Many alternate options present free plans with fewer restrictions or extra budget-friendly choices.
• Less complicated person expertise: Some platforms are simpler to navigate, lowering the training curve for brand new customers.
• Specialised options: Sure instruments excel in areas like webinar internet hosting, AI-powered enhancements, or real-time collaboration.
• Higher efficiency & integrations: Some alternate options work extra easily with third-party instruments and supply enhanced customization choices.

If Zoom lacks in any of those areas, the instruments on this checklist may very well be a greater match in your particular wants. So, how did I slender down the most effective Zoom alternate options?

G2’s Video Conferencing class consists of merchandise that fulfill the next standards:

• Present on-line video and audio communication between two or extra events
• Enable video convention hosts to switch specs and invite friends to conferences
• Supply options like display screen sharing and chat inside particular person conferences
• Supply recording capabilities for future references or displays

Prime 4 Zoom alternate options: Ranked by G2 Rating

Not all video calls ought to really feel the identical. Learn on to see how these 4 Zoom alternate options stack up in my expertise. 

1. Google Meet: Greatest totally free customers

With over 2,400 critiques on G2 and a 100% satisfaction rating, I knew Google Meet was value testing. It holds a robust G2 Rating of 100, making it one of many highest-rated video conferencing instruments, particularly for companies already utilizing Google Workspace.

If I have been on the lookout for a easy, user-friendly answer that integrates effortlessly with my present instruments, Google Meet could be my first alternative. It’s constructed instantly into Gmail and Google Calendar, making it extremely simple to start out and be part of conferences with out additional setup.

From my expertise, Google Meet is constructed for accessibility—no downloads, no difficult setup, simply click on and join. After I examined it for staff conferences, I appreciated how seamless it was to start out a name instantly from my Gmail inbox. The actual-time captions labored nicely throughout a loud espresso store name, precisely transcribing conversations. Nevertheless, I did discover occasional video high quality drops when utilizing a low-bandwidth connection, one thing to be aware of in case you typically work in unstable community situations.

Considered one of Google Meet’s largest benefits is its seamless safety features. Google’s safety infrastructure ensures end-to-end encryption, defending conferences from unauthorized entry. Whereas not as superior as Webex when it comes to safety compliance, it nonetheless meets the wants of most organizations.

Google Meet retains issues easy, but it surely does include some trade-offs. It lacks a few of the superior options discovered in additional enterprise-focused instruments like Webex or Zoom. Moreover, Google Meet’s free model has a 60-minute time restrict, which is likely to be restrictive for longer conferences. If you happen to depend on prolonged conferences or want AI-powered insights, you would possibly end up needing an improve.

Google Meet gives a free model, however for companies that want longer conferences, premium plans begin at $6 per person/month as a part of Google Workspace. For small groups, it is a budget-friendly choice, however in case you want further options like prolonged recording storage or assembly transcripts, you’ll want a higher-tier plan.

What I like about Google Meet:

• Because it’s browser-based, I can simply entry it from any gadget with out further downloads.
• The reside captions and noise cancellation have made my conferences clearer and extra accessible. particularly in noisy environments.
• I discover it to be probably the most budget-friendly choices for my staff.

What G2 customers like about Google Meet:

Tejas Thakor, IT Engineer within the Schooling Administration business, shares:

“Google Meet is extremely simple to make use of. You may be part of a gathering by merely clicking or tapping on a hyperlink, and there’s no must obtain any software program. This makes it simple to collaborate with individuals on any gadget. Additionally it is very dependable. I’ve by no means had any points with the audio or video high quality and have all the time been in a position to connect with conferences with none issues.” Learn full overview

What I dislike about Google Meet:

• I discovered the superior options to be fairly restricted. As an illustration, there’s no AI-powered real-time transcription or assembly insights. 
• I additionally observed that video high quality generally dropped when my web connection wasn’t nice. 

What G2 customers dislike about Google Meet:

Deity Puman, Director within the Retail business, mentions:

“We now have been utilizing Zoom earlier than. The one factor I felt Google Meet lacked was some display screen sharing limitations.” Learn full overview

If you happen to want an easy-to-use, no-frills video conferencing instrument that integrates with Google Workspace, Google meet is your instrument. Nevertheless, you would possibly discover it limiting in case you want superior options like AI-powered transcription, assembly analytics, or prolonged recording choices.

Webex has earned excessive reward on G2, backed by over 16,000 person critiques and a flawless 100% satisfaction score. Its spectacular G2 Rating of 92 highlights its reliability, making it a stable alternative for companies that prioritize safety and superior collaboration options.

If I have been on the lookout for a safe, dependable answer, Webex would undoubtedly be on my radar, particularly for enterprises that want an all-in-one collaboration platform. However I additionally needed to see whether or not its in depth characteristic set justified its status or if it had trade-offs which may make me take into account different choices.

From my expertise, Webex isn’t only for video calls however serves as an entire collaboration hub. From one platform, I can chat, name, host webinars, and even report video messages. That stage of integration has made my workflow a lot smoother.

I examined Webex’s noise cancellation by becoming a member of a name in a busy café, and it utterly filtered out the background chatter, making my voice crystal clear. That mentioned, syncing with Microsoft Outlook can generally be unreliable, inflicting occasional scheduling points. In my assessments, 3 out of 10 calendar invitations did not sync correctly.

Among the AI-powered enhancements have been game-changers for me. As an illustration, Assembly highlights robotically summarize key factors, making it simpler to observe up on motion gadgets. Equally, Stay transcription was a lifesaver after I wanted to reference a dialog however forgot to take notes. One-click scheduling and seamless gadget switching make collaboration simpler.

Nevertheless, I’ll admit that frequent updates can generally disrupt workflows.

Safety is a serious power. Webex ensures delicate conferences keep personal with end-to-end encryption. I’ve used Webex for all the pieces from staff check-ins to confidential consumer conferences, and it has by no means let me down. Internet hosting consumer conferences on Webex reassured me, realizing that end-to-end encryption safeguarded our delicate discussions.

Webex can really feel overwhelming at first due to its feature-rich interface. At first, it felt like an overcomplicated Swiss military knife, however as soon as I bought previous the training curve, the instruments really made my life simpler. The flexibility to modify gadgets mid-call with out dropping audio was a shock hit for me—tremendous helpful when leaping from my laptop computer to cellphone.

Webex gives a free plan, which is nice for smaller groups. However to unlock its actual potential, premium plans begin at $15/month per person. 

What I like about Webex:

• I felt assured utilizing Webex for delicate conferences since I knew my conversations have been protected with end-to-end encryption.

• The noise cancellation and reside translation options actually impressed me, making my calls clearer and extra accessible.

• I had no bother integrating it with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Slack—it match seamlessly into my workflow.

• Even when my web connection wasn’t nice, I observed that Webex maintained high-quality audio and video with minimal lag.

What G2 customers like about Webex:

Jorge Mendoza, Logistics Coordinator within the Mid-Market (51-1000 workers):

“For me, Webex Suite stands out for its simplicity. I benefit from the display screen sharing performance, the safety features that bolster privateness and information administration, the easy-to-navigate interface, and the audio and video high quality that make conferences and video conferences very nice.” Learn full overview

What I dislike about Webex:

• I discovered the frequent software program updates a bit disruptive at instances, particularly once they rolled out unexpectedly.

• Syncing with Microsoft Outlook wasn’t all the time dependable. I did run into occasional points with scheduling and calendar invitations.

What G2 customers dislike about Webex:

Robert Yparraguirre., Community Administrator within the Mid-Market (51-1000 workers):

“The primary factor I do not like about WebEx is once they push out main updates to the GUI and do not offer you a heads-up! I have been utilizing their software program for over 10 years now, and nonetheless, to this present day, I can not share my display screen and do away with all toolbars and icons from the display screen.” Learn full overview

3. Microsoft Groups: Greatest for seamless integration

After utilizing Microsoft Groups, I can see why it’s a go-to alternative for companies already within the Microsoft ecosystem. The mixing with Microsoft 365 is seamless—I might schedule conferences in Outlook, collaborate on information in OneDrive, and soar into video calls inside comparable built-in platforms. The flexibility to modify between chat, video conferencing, and file sharing with out juggling a number of apps was a particular plus.

With over 10,500 critiques on G2, a 100% satisfaction score, and a robust G2 Rating of 96, it’s clear that loads of others really feel the identical method.

Supply

From my expertise, Microsoft Groups is greater than only a video conferencing instrument; it’s a full-fledged collaboration hub. The persistent chat, file storage, and deep Microsoft 365 integration make it extremely environment friendly for team-based tasks. Nevertheless, Groups can really feel sluggish at instances, particularly when operating a number of apps concurrently.

One of many strongest features of Microsoft Groups is its safety and enterprise-level compliance. With end-to-end encryption, information loss prevention, and superior admin controls, it’s well-suited for companies that require strict safety measures.

That being mentioned, Groups does have its downsides. It may be resource-intensive, inflicting lags on lower-end gadgets, and navigating between totally different Groups and channels can generally really feel clunky. Moreover, customers have reported that figuring out themselves repeatedly when logging in might be irritating.

Microsoft Groups gives a free model, however to unlock superior options like webinar internet hosting and bigger assembly capacities, premium plans begin at $4 per person/month as a part of Microsoft 365.

What I like about Groups:

• I discovered it deeply built-in with Microsoft 365 and labored effortlessly with Outlook, OneDrive, and SharePoint, making collaboration seamless.
• I felt safe utilizing it, because of its enterprise-grade safety, end-to-end encryption, and sturdy compliance instruments.
• The persistent chat and file-sharing options saved my conversations and paperwork organized in a single place, making staff collaboration simpler.
• It scaled nicely for various staff sizes. In my utilization, I discovered it simply as efficient for small companies as for bigger enterprises.

What G2 customers like about Groups:

Murillo Lucena Bau, System Engineer within the Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.), shares:

“The standard of video and audio calls is persistently good, even with giant teams, and display screen sharing is clean and dependable. I additionally recognize the flexibility to create separate channels inside every staff for various tasks or matters, holding conversations organized and simple to observe. The platform’s real-time modifying in information and simultaneous collaboration instruments have boosted our productiveness considerably.” Learn full overview

What I dislike about Groups:

• I observed that efficiency might lag when operating a number of purposes, making it really feel sluggish at instances.
• Navigating between groups and channels wasn’t all the time intuitive—it generally felt clunky and took additional clicks to get the place I needed.
• I discovered the repeated login verifications a bit irritating, as I needed to confirm my identification extra typically than anticipated.

What G2 customers dislike about Groups:

Mohit Yadav, Senior Software program Engineer in Info Know-how and Companies (Enterprise, >1000 workers):

“No doubt MS Groups is an excellent cool app, however on outdated gadgets, it would lag. For newbies, the interface is kinda too overwhelming—takes a while to get a grasp of it. At instances, notifications should not acquired, and options like breakout rooms would possibly glitch right here and there.” Learn full overview

Finally, Groups is nice for Microsoft 365 customers, but when simplicity is your precedence, you would possibly discover a extra streamlined choice on this checklist.

4. Slack: Greatest for collaboration & chat

I’ve all the time seen Slack as a go-to for staff messaging, however its fast video calling has been a helpful addition. Whereas it’s not as feature-packed as devoted video conferencing instruments, it’s nice for light-weight conferences and check-ins. The seamless integrations make collaboration simple, and with over 2,000 critiques on G2 and a robust G2 Rating of 90, it’s clear that many groups really feel the identical method.

If I have been on the lookout for a chat-first instrument that permits for spontaneous video calls, Slack could be a superb alternative. The flexibility to shortly swap from messaging to video inside a channel makes staff collaboration seamless. Nevertheless, its video name high quality doesn’t match devoted conferencing instruments like Zoom or Webex.

Supply

I examined Slack’s channel system throughout a product launch to coordinate between advertising and improvement groups, guaranteeing real-time updates and seamless collaboration. Implementing Slack decreased our inner electronic mail site visitors by 40%, making communication extra environment friendly.

One limitation I observed was the free plan’s message historical past cap, which made it tough to retrieve older conversations. Nevertheless, upgrading to the usual plan resolved the problem and offered the mandatory archive for our staff’s wants.

Slack’s integrations have been a game-changer for me. I get mission updates instantly in Slack channels by way of Trello and Asana, which eliminates pointless back-and-forth between platforms. 

The Huddle characteristic has been particularly helpful for spontaneous voice chats that really feel identical to fast workplace discussions, holding distant collaboration clean and pure.

I examined Slack’s cell app whereas touring and located it dependable for staying linked, guaranteeing I by no means missed essential updates.

What I like about Slack:

• I liked how simple it was to modify between chat and video calls—it made staff collaboration really feel seamless.
• I discovered the app integrations extremely helpful since I might join it with instruments like Google Drive, Trello, and Asana to maintain all the pieces in a single place.
• The interface was intuitive and simple to navigate, whether or not I used to be a brand new person or already aware of the platform.
• The cell app saved me linked on the go, so I by no means missed vital updates, even after I was away from my desktop.

What G2 customers like about Slack:

Preetam Singh, Buyer Assist skilled within the Laptop & Community Safety Trade, shares:

“It is simple to attach with our staff members every time wanted. We now have a number of choices to set our standing as Energetic, Inactive, or Out of Workplace, so you may select the way you wish to replace it. This characteristic additionally permits us to ship notifications to colleagues who’re at present offline. Communication with co-workers is straightforward, whether or not by way of calls or video calls, which embody screen-sharing capabilities. This makes it simpler for us to grasp our work.” Learn full overview

What I dislike about Slack:

• The video name options felt fairly fundamental in comparison with devoted conferencing instruments—it lacked a few of the extra superior assembly choices I wanted.
• I skilled occasional points with video calls randomly disconnecting with out any warning, which was irritating throughout vital conferences.

What G2 customers dislike about Slack:

Vahagn Sargsyan, Founder and CEO in the Software program Trade, shares:

“Slack might be overwhelming with fixed notifications, making it onerous to give attention to different duties. Moreover, the associated fee might be excessive for smaller groups or startups. It might additionally profit from higher video name high quality because it does not all the time match the reliability of different devoted platforms.” Learn full overview

So, in case your staff depends closely on chat communication and fast video calls. Nevertheless, in case you want full-featured video conferencing, Slack may not be sufficient.

Saying Goodbye to Skype, the OG

Again within the day, “Skyping” wasn’t only a verb—it was the strategy to keep linked. Whether or not it was late-night catch-ups with mates the world over or fast enterprise calls that saved me from costly worldwide costs, Skype was all the time there.

I nonetheless keep in mind the signature ringtone, the little “on-line” dot that allow me know somebody was accessible, and the primary time I used video chat and thought, Wow, this appears like the long run. It made long-distance really feel nearer, distant work attainable, and informal conversations easy.

And whereas my go-to video conferencing instruments have modified, I can’t ignore the affect Skype had. It paved the best way for all the pieces we depend on in the present day, proving that video calls may very well be as simple as choosing up the cellphone.

And now, even Microsoft is acknowledging the tip of an period. In a latest announcement, they confirmed that Skype’s legacy is formally being folded into Microsoft Groups. Whereas Skype isn’t disappearing in a single day, it’s clear that its time as a number one video conferencing instrument has come to a detailed.

It’s going away. However that doesn’t erase what Skype did first—and for that, it’ll all the time have a spot in video conferencing historical past.

So, right here’s to Skype, the OG. Thanks for the reminiscences.

 

Are you able to hear me now?

Some platforms supply hermetic encryption for personal conversations, others mix effortlessly into your workflow, and some simply hold it easy and get the job completed. How do you discover your match? Check a number of. See what clicks. Keep on with what makes your conferences seamless. 

On the finish of the day, the suitable video conferencing instrument is the one that matches your wants finest—whether or not that’s stronger safety, smoother integrations, or simply one thing that permits you to hop on a name with out a hitch. Discover, experiment, and discover the choice that retains you and your staff linked with out the pointless problem. 

In fact, my particular person overview alone about Video conferencing will not be the one one to think about.

Aside from 1000’s of critiques by verified customers on G2 for video conferencing, you may learn this check of the most effective video conferencing software program earlier than you make the acquisition.