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 completely different choices may help discover the proper match.

Zoom is a go-to for a lot of, but it surely’s not one-size-fits-all. For those who want fewer cut-off dates, stronger safety, or higher integrations, another would possibly swimsuit you higher. Regardless of the cause, having selections is all the time a great factor.

With so many choices for video conferencing software program on the market, I wished 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 completely 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 appropriate match for you.

Why these instruments are good Zoom alternate options 

Zoom is a number one video conferencing instrument, but it surely’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 supply end-to-end encryption and higher compliance options.
• Extra inexpensive pricing: Many alternate options present free plans with fewer restrictions or extra budget-friendly choices.
• Less complicated consumer 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 listing may very well be a greater match in your particular wants. So, how did I slender down one of the best 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
• Supply options like display sharing and chat inside particular person conferences
• Supply 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. 

1. Google Meet: Finest without cost customers

With over 2,400 evaluations 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 have been searching for a easy, user-friendly answer that integrates effortlessly with my present instruments, Google Meet could be my first alternative. It’s constructed immediately into Gmail and Google Calendar, making it extremely simple 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 workforce conferences, I appreciated how seamless it was to start out a name immediately from my Gmail inbox. The true-time captions labored properly 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 usually work in unstable community situations.

One in all Google Meet’s largest benefits is its seamless security measures. 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, but it surely 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 may 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 provides a free model, however for companies that want longer conferences, premium plans begin at $6 per consumer/month as a part of Google Workspace. For small groups, this can be 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 gadget with out extra downloads.
• The stay 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 workforce.

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 possibly can be a 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 simple to collaborate with folks 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 ready to connect with conferences with none issues.” Learn full evaluate

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 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 business, mentions:

“We’ve been utilizing Zoom earlier than. The one factor I felt Google Meet lacked was some display sharing limitations.” Learn full evaluate

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 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 consumer evaluations and a flawless 100% satisfaction ranking. Its spectacular G2 Rating of 92 highlights its reliability, making it a strong alternative for companies that prioritize safety and superior collaboration options.

If I have been searching 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 wished to see whether or not its in depth characteristic set justified its fame or if it had trade-offs that may make me contemplate 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 document 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 fully 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.

Among the AI-powered enhancements have been game-changers for me. For example, Assembly highlights robotically summarize key factors, making it simpler to observe up on motion objects. 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 energy. Webex ensures delicate conferences keep personal 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 received previous the educational curve, the instruments truly made my life simpler. The flexibility to modify units mid-call with out dropping audio was a shock hit for me—tremendous helpful when leaping from my laptop computer to telephone.

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

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 stay 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 sharing performance, the security measures 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 evaluate

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 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 staff):

“The primary 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 and eliminate all toolbars and icons from the display.” Learn full evaluate

3. Microsoft Groups: Finest 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 may schedule conferences in Outlook, collaborate on information in OneDrive, and soar 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 evaluations on G2, a 100% satisfaction ranking, and a robust G2 Rating of 96, it’s clear that loads of others really feel the identical manner.

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 initiatives. Nevertheless, Groups can really feel sluggish at occasions, particularly when operating a number of apps concurrently.

One of many strongest elements 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 units, and navigating between completely different Groups and channels can typically really feel clunky. Moreover, customers have reported that figuring out themselves repeatedly when logging in could be irritating.

Microsoft Groups provides a free model, however to unlock superior options like webinar internet hosting and bigger assembly capacities, premium plans begin at $4 per consumer/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 workforce collaboration simpler.
• It scaled properly 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 sharing is clean and dependable. I additionally admire the power to create separate channels inside every workforce for various initiatives or matters, preserving conversations organized and straightforward to observe. The platform’s real-time modifying in information and simultaneous collaboration instruments have boosted our productiveness considerably.” Learn full evaluate

What I dislike about Groups:

• I seen that efficiency may lag when operating a number of functions, making it really feel sluggish at occasions.
• Navigating between groups and channels wasn’t all the time 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 identification extra usually than anticipated.

What G2 customers dislike about Groups:

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

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

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

4. Slack: Finest for collaboration & chat

I’ve all the time 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 simple, and with over 2,000 evaluations on G2 and a robust G2 Rating of 90, it’s clear that many groups really feel the identical manner.

If I have been searching for a chat-first instrument that enables for spontaneous video calls, Slack could be a wonderful alternative. The flexibility to rapidly 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 marketing and improvement groups, guaranteeing real-time updates and seamless collaboration. Implementing Slack diminished our inner 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 troublesome to retrieve older conversations. Nevertheless, upgrading to the usual plan resolved the difficulty and offered the required archive for our workforce’s wants.

Slack’s integrations have been a game-changer for me. I get venture updates immediately 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, preserving distant collaboration clean and pure.

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

What I like about Slack:

• I beloved how simple 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 may join it with instruments like Google Drive, Trello, and Asana to maintain all the things in a single place.
• The interface was intuitive and straightforward to navigate, whether or not I used to be a brand new consumer or already accustomed to the platform.
• The cellular app saved me related on the go, so I by no means missed necessary 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 workforce members at any time when wanted. We’ve a number of choices to set our standing as Lively, Inactive, or Out of Workplace, so you’ll be able to select the way you wish to replace it. This characteristic additionally permits us to ship notifications to colleagues who’re presently offline. Communication with co-workers is straightforward, whether or not by way of calls or video calls, which embrace screen-sharing capabilities. This makes it simpler for us to grasp our work.” Learn full evaluate

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 necessary conferences.

What G2 customers dislike about Slack:

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

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

So, in case your workforce depends closely on chat communication and fast video calls. Nevertheless, when 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 method to keep related. Whether or not it was late-night catch-ups with buddies internationally 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 obtainable, and the primary time I used video chat and thought, Wow, this looks 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 way in which for all the things we depend on in the present day, proving that video calls may very well be as simple as choosing up the telephone.

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 maintain it easy and get the job executed. How do you discover your match? Check just a few. See what clicks. Follow what makes your conferences seamless. 

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

In fact, my particular person evaluate alone about Video conferencing just isn’t the one one to contemplate.

Other than 1000’s of evaluations by verified customers on G2 for video conferencing, you’ll be able to learn this take a look at of one of the best video conferencing software program earlier than you make the acquisition.