The 4 Greatest Choices for Video Calls

Am I audible? 

We’ve all been there. Video conferencing ought to make collaboration easy, and typically, exploring totally different choices may also help discover the proper match.

Zoom is a go-to for a lot of, nevertheless it’s not one-size-fits-all. Should you want fewer cut-off dates, stronger safety, or higher integrations, an alternate would possibly swimsuit you higher. Regardless of the purpose, having selections is at all times 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 options primarily based on G2 scores and 1000’s of Video Calls over time, I’m right here to interrupt down what works, what doesn’t, and which one would possibly simply be the proper match for you.

Why these instruments are good Zoom options 

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

• Stronger safety & privateness: Some instruments provide end-to-end encryption and higher compliance options.
• Extra reasonably priced pricing: Many options present free plans with fewer restrictions or extra budget-friendly choices.
• Less complicated person expertise: Some platforms are simpler to navigate, decreasing the training curve for brand spanking new customers.
• Specialised options: Sure instruments excel in areas like webinar internet hosting, AI-powered enhancements, or real-time collaboration.
• Higher efficiency & integrations: Some 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 could possibly be a greater match to your particular wants. So, how did I slender down the very best Zoom 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
• Permit video convention hosts to change 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

High 4 Zoom options: Ranked by G2 Rating

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

With over 2,400 opinions on G2 and a 100% satisfaction rating, I knew Google Meet was price 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 had been on the lookout for a easy, user-friendly answer that integrates effortlessly with my current instruments, Google Meet can be my first alternative. It’s constructed immediately into Gmail and Google Calendar, making it extremely straightforward to begin and be part of conferences with out additional setup.

From my expertise, Google Meet is constructed for accessibility—no downloads, no sophisticated setup, simply click on and join. Once I examined it for workforce conferences, I appreciated how seamless it was to begin a name immediately from my Gmail inbox. The true-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 when you typically work in unstable community situations.

One in all 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, nevertheless it does include some trade-offs. It lacks among 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. Should you depend on prolonged conferences or want AI-powered insights, you would possibly end up needing an improve.

Google Meet presents 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 possibility, however when you want extra 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 machine with out extra downloads.
• The dwell captions and noise cancellation have made my conferences clearer and extra accessible. particularly in noisy environments.
• I discover it to be one of the crucial budget-friendly choices for my workforce.

What G2 customers like about Google Meet:

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

“Google Meet is extremely straightforward to make use of. You may be part of a gathering by merely clicking or tapping on a hyperlink, and there’s no have to obtain any software program. This makes it straightforward to collaborate with folks on any machine. It’s also very dependable. I’ve by no means had any points with the audio or video high quality and have at all times been ready to connect with conferences with none issues.” Learn full evaluation

What I dislike about Google Meet:

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

What G2 customers dislike about Google Meet:

Deity Puman, Director within the Retail trade, 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 evaluation

Should you 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 when 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 opinions 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 had been on the lookout for a safe, dependable answer, Webex would positively 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 intensive characteristic set justified its status or if it had trade-offs that may make me think about different choices.

From my expertise, Webex isn’t only for video calls however serves as a whole collaboration hub. From one platform, I can chat, name, host webinars, and even file video messages. That degree 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 typically be unreliable, inflicting occasional scheduling points. In my checks, 3 out of 10 calendar invitations didn’t sync correctly.

A number of the AI-powered enhancements have been game-changers for me. As an example, Assembly highlights robotically summarize key factors, making it simpler to comply with up on motion gadgets. Equally, Reside transcription was a lifesaver after I wanted to reference a dialog however forgot to take notes. One-click scheduling and seamless machine switching make collaboration simpler.

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

Safety is a serious power. Webex ensures delicate conferences keep non-public with end-to-end encryption. I’ve used Webex for all the things from workforce check-ins to confidential shopper conferences, and it has by no means let me down. Internet hosting shopper conferences on Webex reassured me, understanding 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 presents 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 had been protected with end-to-end encryption.

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

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

• Even when my web connection wasn’t nice, I seen 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 staff):

“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 evaluation

What I dislike about Webex:

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

• Syncing with Microsoft Outlook wasn’t at all times 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 staff):

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

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 recordsdata in OneDrive, and leap into video calls inside related 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 opinions on G2, a 100% satisfaction score, and a robust G2 Rating of 96, it’s clear that loads of others really feel the identical means.

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 occasions, particularly when operating a number of apps concurrently.

One of many strongest points 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 typically really feel clunky. Moreover, customers have reported that figuring out themselves repeatedly when logging in will be irritating.

Microsoft Groups presents 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 robust compliance instruments.
• The persistent chat and file-sharing options stored my conversations and paperwork organized in a single place, making workforce collaboration simpler.
• It scaled nicely for various workforce 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 admire the power to create separate channels inside every workforce for various tasks or matters, retaining conversations organized and simple to comply with. The platform’s real-time enhancing in recordsdata and simultaneous collaboration instruments have boosted our productiveness considerably.” Learn full evaluation

What I dislike about Groups:

• I seen that efficiency might lag when operating a number of purposes, making it really feel sluggish at occasions.
• Navigating between groups and channels wasn’t at all times intuitive—it typically 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 id extra typically than anticipated.

What G2 customers dislike about Groups:

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

“No doubt MS Groups is a brilliant cool app, however on outdated gadgets, it would lag. For newbies, the interface is kinda too overwhelming—takes a while to get a hold of it. At occasions, notifications will not be obtained, and options like breakout rooms would possibly glitch right here and there.” Learn full evaluation

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

I’ve at all times seen Slack as a go-to for workforce 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 straightforward, and with over 2,000 opinions on G2 and a robust G2 Rating of 90, it’s clear that many groups really feel the identical means.

If I had been on the lookout for a chat-first instrument that enables for spontaneous video calls, Slack can be a wonderful alternative. The flexibility to shortly change from messaging to video inside a channel makes workforce 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 growth groups, making certain real-time updates and seamless collaboration. Implementing Slack diminished our inside electronic mail visitors by 40%, making communication extra environment friendly.

One limitation I seen 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 workforce’s wants.

Slack’s integrations have been a game-changer for me. I get undertaking updates immediately in Slack channels by 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 similar to fast workplace discussions, retaining distant collaboration clean and pure.

I examined Slack’s cell app whereas touring and located it dependable for staying related, making certain I by no means missed vital updates.

What I like about Slack:

• I liked how straightforward it was to modify between chat and video calls—it made workforce 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 things 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 acquainted with the platform.
• The cell app stored me related on the go, so I by no means missed essential updates, even after I was away from my desktop.

What G2 customers like about Slack:

Preetam Singh, Buyer Help skilled within the Pc & Community Safety Trade, shares:

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

What I dislike about Slack:

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

What G2 customers dislike about Slack:

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

“Slack will be overwhelming with fixed notifications, making it onerous to concentrate on different duties. Moreover, the associated fee will be excessive for smaller groups or startups. It might additionally profit from higher video name high quality because it would not at all times match the reliability of different devoted platforms.” Learn full evaluation

So, in case your workforce depends closely on chat communication and fast video calls. Nevertheless, when you want full-featured video conferencing, Slack won’t be sufficient.

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 an in depth.

It’s going away. However that doesn’t erase what Skype did first—and for that, it’ll at all times 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 provide hermetic encryption for personal conversations, others mix effortlessly into your workflow, and some simply preserve it easy and get the job finished. How do you discover your match? Take a look at just a few. See what clicks. Keep on with what makes your conferences seamless. 

On the finish of the day, the proper 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 no hitch. Discover, experiment, and discover the choice that retains you and your workforce related with out the pointless trouble. 

After all, my particular person evaluation alone about Video conferencing just isn’t the one one to think about.

Other than 1000’s of opinions by verified customers on G2 for video conferencing, you possibly can learn this check of the very best video conferencing software program earlier than you make the acquisition.