Best 10 Zoom Alternatives For Video Calling
Despite the effect of the lockdown on relationships, work, and businesses, Zoom has continued to be a viable means for people of different ages, colors, locations, and races to stay connected. However, if for any reason you are considering other reliable means to connect with people, we have the best 10 Zoom alternatives for video calling for your consideration.
Just like Zoom, these alternatives will help you achieve personal goals and business goals. And some of them provide less expensive subscription models to Zoom and extra features to help you attain goals. Since social distancing, and some of the rules and regulations created in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic have come to be with us for quite some time.
So, whether it’s your security or privacy concerns, or you need features that are absent on Zoom, or you just want to try something entirely different, we have the best 10 Zoom alternatives to try for Video calling.
1. Google Meet
Google Meet is one of your most reliable go-to app to connect to friends, families, and business partners around the globe. The video calling tool is owned by Google. Small and large businesses have alternatively used this app to continue to build their relationship with their customers and partners, through the robust and secure global infrastructure of Google.
Users on Google Meet can hold presentations and video calls with up to 250 participants while having the meetings on record that eventually be stored on Drive. The app is imbued with a wide range of default-on anti-abuse measures, built-in protection with encrypted video meetings to protected information of participants.
Users can share links with potential participants anywhere around the world and enjoy features that appear exactly like Zoom. There is also G Suite for Education, Google Workspace, and Google Workspace Essentials. For you to use this app, you must have a Gmail account. Google however working on adding new and helpful features to the app that could be way better than that of Zoom.
2. GoTo Meeting
GoTo Meeting is one the oldest video calling platforms as alternatives to Zoom. They have some level of trial features for their clients but are not absolutely free. Pricing on the app starts at $12 a month.
With their entry plan, you can have up to 150 participants. Another plan is their enterprise plan which can take up to 3000 participants. If you are going for the free version, you will be only permitted to have just 3 participants and 40 minutes on calls.
You’ll get almost all the features available on Zoom on this platform that offer user-satisfaction. You’ll have access to all the standard tools, including scree sharing, video recording, and being able to able to have several meeting facilitators. You use GoTo Meeting on Linux, iOS, Android, web browsers, and Mac.
3. Skype Meet Now
Skype has built a strong reputation over the years of existence as a video chat software. It works like many social platforms, and also has Skype Meet Now feature that gives room for users to video chat and hold meetings without necessarily creating an account.
Skype Meet Now allows you to invite up to 99 participants – which includes you – to join a meeting. And it can be used devices such as Windows, mac, iOS, web browsers, and Android.
4. Facebook Messenger Rooms
Facebook Messenger Rooms allows you to easily hop into you’re a room you like and join. This could be from Facebook events, Messenger, Groups, or Facebook News Feed to connect with more friends for more fun.
Messenger gives you controls that are similar to that of Zoom. You can simply create a room of join one through their WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Portal devices. And you can invite up to 50 participants to your room.
You’ll be able to use different mobile devices to access the platform, but desktop app gives you access to more features and view with personalized features to liven your chat. You can use themed events, mood lighting, 360° backgrounds, and camera filters.
One feature that Messenger rooms have over Zoom is its unlimited timely limit. You can hang out with you loved ones as long as you want for free!
5. Join.me
Join.me is one of the best Zoom alternatives for video calling, online meetings, screen sharing, and team collaboration. It allows you to hold meetings and conversations with team members at work, and once you get started with a call, it begins to share your screen.
You can also join Join.me without necessarily installing the app, well except you are the one initiating the convo. In addition, the app allows members of your team to control your mouse and keyboard while acting as TeamViewer. It may be categorized as a combination of TeamViewer and Skype.
You can use Join.me on devices such as Desktop, Android, and iOS. It is very effective with keeping close contact with team members while working from home. Plans vary on the platform. They include Lite plan, which costs $10, Pro plan which costs $20, and Business plan which costs $30 each month.
6. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is widely recognized for its impressive free features which include video calling features that can compete favorably with Zoom. You can use WhatsApp to communicate with people from anywhere around the globe.
WhatsApp is one of the Facebook-owned platforms that allows users to send SMS messages for free, do audio calls with multiple people, and also video-call with up to four people. You can also group chat with up to 256 participants. Security on WhatsApp is highly considered with end-to-end encryption to secure users’ information while using the platform.
7. WeChat
WeChat looks so much like Skype in its features, and it is one of the best Zoom alternatives to look out for. It has QR codes scan, message translation features, payments, and a host of other easy-to-use features.
Users can create free group video calls with up to 9 participants, and can group chat with about 500 participants. There are other features such as text messaging and stickers.
You can use WeChat on web browsers and devices such as MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS to achieve both professional and personal goals.
8. Zoho Meetings
Zoho Meeting can be used for webinars meetings, trainings, and other benefits offered by Zoom. You can screen-share, do calendar invites, record meetings, video calls, and phone audio with their paid plans for different goals.
Zoho Meetings has plans that begins as $10 per month for a host, and with 100 participants and 10 recordings. If you are having a webinar, you’ll need monthly plans that begin at $19 for 25 participants, and others that range from $29 for 50 participants to $79 for 250 participants per month. However, you can test things out with their 14-day trial period.
Web browsers such as Firefox and Chrome can also be used to join meetings without necessarily installing the app. The app works great on devices such as iOS, Android, and Desktop. There are also features such as meeting scheduling, admin controls, analytics, calendar syncing, reminders, private meetings, and so much more. It also has “allow to talk” and “raise hand” features to aid orderliness during meetings.
9. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams put users’ security under high consideration when using the app. You can sign up with personalized emails for the free version and have access to their wide range of features.
They have low tier version which can be used with up to 300 participants with guest access, screen sharing, and up to shared files of 10 GB per team, and one-on-one or group audio or video calls. Team is completely integrated with Office 365, which means that you do not have to download to participate. Simply click the on the provided link to join.
You can use Teams on web browsers and devices iOS, Linux, MacOS, Windows, and Android.
10. Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex created additional features that makes it quite competitive and a viable alternative to Zoom. Users can add up to 100 participants on their free package. And since the coronavirus pandemic became intense, Webex increased the time limit on their free packages from 40minutes to ‘unlimited’ with call-in for audio. The app was established since the 90s and in 2007 it was acquired by Cisco.
You can use the app on platforms such as iOS, Android, and Desktop, with multiple price plans that range from Starter to Business. Aside the free plan, you can have access to a wide range of features on their Starter plan at $13.50 per month, Plus plan at $17.95 per month, and Business plan at $26.95 per month.