The 4 Finest 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 can assist discover the right match.

Zoom is a go-to for a lot of, nevertheless it’s not one-size-fits-all. For those who want fewer cut-off dates, stronger safety, or higher integrations, another would possibly go well with you higher. Regardless of the purpose, having decisions is at all times an excellent 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 take a look at. I ran conferences, scheduled calls, and pushed totally different options to their limits to see which platforms really delivered.

After researching and testing the high 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 correct match for you.

Why these instruments are good Zoom alternate options 

Zoom is a number one video conferencing instrument, nevertheless it’s not excellent for everybody. These alternate 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 alternate options present free plans with fewer restrictions or extra budget-friendly choices.
• Less complicated person expertise: Some platforms are simpler to navigate, decreasing the educational 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 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 could possibly 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 change specs and invite company to conferences
• Provide options like display screen sharing and chat inside particular person conferences
• Provide recording capabilities for future references or displays

High 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. 

With over 2,400 opinions 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 had been in search of a easy, user-friendly resolution that integrates effortlessly with my current instruments, Google Meet could be my first selection. It’s constructed instantly into Gmail and Google Calendar, making it extremely straightforward to start out and be a part of conferences with out further 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 crew 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 the event you typically work in unstable community circumstances.

Certainly 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 by way of safety compliance, it nonetheless meets the wants of most organizations.

Google Meet retains issues easy, nevertheless it does include some trade-offs. It lacks a number 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 could be restrictive for longer conferences. For those who 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 choice, however in the event 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 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 budget-friendly choices for my crew.

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 possibly can be a part of a gathering by merely clicking or tapping on a hyperlink, and there’s no must obtain any software program. This makes it straightforward to collaborate with individuals on any gadget. It is usually very dependable. I’ve by no means had any points with the audio or video high quality and have at all times 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. For example, there’s no AI-powered real-time transcription or assembly insights. 
• I additionally observed 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 have now been utilizing Zoom earlier than. The one factor I felt Google Meet lacked was some display screen sharing limitations.” Learn full overview

For those who 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 the event 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 strong selection for companies that prioritize safety and superior collaboration options.

If I had been in search of a safe, dependable resolution, 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 intensive function 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 typically be unreliable, inflicting occasional scheduling points. In my exams, 3 out of 10 calendar invitations did not sync correctly.

Among the AI-powered enhancements have been game-changers for me. For example, Assembly highlights mechanically 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 gadget 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 personal with end-to-end encryption. I’ve used Webex for the whole lot from crew check-ins to confidential shopper conferences, and it has by no means let me down. Internet hosting shopper 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 obtained previous the educational curve, the instruments truly made my life simpler. The flexibility to change units 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 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 knowledge 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 occasions, particularly after 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 workers):

“The principle factor I do not like about WebEx is after 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 today, I can not share my display screen and do away with all toolbars and icons from the display screen.” Learn full overview

After utilizing Microsoft Groups, I can see why it’s a go-to selection for companies already within the Microsoft ecosystem. The mixing with Microsoft 365 is seamless—I may schedule conferences in Outlook, collaborate on information in OneDrive, and leap into video calls inside related built-in platforms. The flexibility to change 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 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 occasions, particularly when working 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, knowledge 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 units, 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 may 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, due to 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 crew collaboration simpler.
• It scaled nicely for various crew 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 respect the flexibility to create separate channels inside every crew for various tasks or subjects, preserving conversations organized and straightforward to comply with. The platform’s real-time enhancing in information and simultaneous collaboration instruments have boosted our productiveness considerably.” Learn full overview

What I dislike about Groups:

• I observed that efficiency may lag when working 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 further 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 Companies (Enterprise, >1000 workers):

“No doubt MS Groups is a brilliant cool app, however on previous units, it would lag. For newbies, the interface is kinda too overwhelming—takes a while to get a dangle of it. At occasions, notifications are usually not acquired, and options like breakout rooms would possibly glitch right here and there.” Learn full overview

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

I’ve at all times seen Slack as a go-to for crew 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 method.

If I had been in search of a chat-first instrument that permits for spontaneous video calls, Slack could be a wonderful selection. The flexibility to shortly change from messaging to video inside a channel makes crew 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 marketing and improvement groups, making certain real-time updates and seamless collaboration. Implementing Slack decreased our inside e 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 troublesome to retrieve older conversations. Nevertheless, upgrading to the usual plan resolved the difficulty and offered the required archive for our crew’s wants.

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

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

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

What I like about Slack:

• I cherished how straightforward it was to change between chat and video calls—it made crew collaboration really feel seamless.
• I discovered the app integrations extremely helpful since I may join it with instruments like Google Drive, Trello, and Asana to maintain the whole lot in a single place.
• The interface was intuitive and straightforward to navigate, whether or not I used to be a brand new person or already conversant in the platform.
• The cell app saved me linked 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 Assist skilled within the Laptop & Community Safety Business, shares:

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

What I dislike about Slack:

• The video name options felt fairly primary in comparison with devoted conferencing instruments—it lacked a number 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 essential conferences.

What G2 customers dislike about Slack:

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

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

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

And now, even Microsoft is acknowledging the top 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 recollections.

Are you able to hear me now?

Some platforms provide hermetic encryption for personal conversations, others mix effortlessly into your workflow, and some simply maintain it easy and get the job achieved. How do you discover your match? Take a look at just a few. See what clicks. Stick to what makes your conferences seamless. 

On the finish of the day, the correct 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 allows you to hop on a name with out a hitch. Discover, experiment, and discover the choice that retains you and your crew linked with out the pointless problem. 

In fact, my particular person overview alone about Video conferencing shouldn’t be the one one to contemplate.

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