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 completely different choices will help discover the right match.

Zoom is a go-to for a lot of, nevertheless it’s not one-size-fits-all. Should you want fewer deadlines, stronger safety, or higher integrations, an alternate may swimsuit you higher. Regardless of the purpose, having decisions is all the time 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 check. I ran conferences, scheduled calls, and pushed completely different options to their limits to see which platforms actually delivered.

After researching and testing the high 4 Zoom alternate 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 may simply be the precise match for you.

Why these instruments are good Zoom alternate options 

Zoom is a number one video conferencing instrument, nevertheless it’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 consumer 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 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 on your particular wants. So, how did I slim 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
• Permit video convention hosts to change specs and invite company to conferences
• Provide options like display sharing and chat inside particular person conferences
• Provide recording capabilities for future references or shows

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. 

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 had been on the lookout for a easy, user-friendly answer that integrates effortlessly with my current instruments, Google Meet could be my first selection. It’s constructed straight 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 straight from my Gmail inbox. The actual-time captions labored nicely throughout a loud espresso store name, precisely transcribing conversations. Nonetheless, I did discover occasional video high quality drops when utilizing a low-bandwidth connection, one thing to be conscious of in case you typically work in unstable community circumstances.

One in every of Google Meet’s greatest 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, nevertheless it 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 perhaps restrictive for longer conferences. Should you depend on prolonged conferences or want AI-powered insights, you may end up needing an improve.

Google Meet affords 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 choice, however in case 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 dwell captions and noise cancellation have made my conferences clearer and extra accessible. particularly in noisy environments.
• I discover it to be some of the budget-friendly choices for my workforce.

What G2 customers like about Google Meet:

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

“Google Meet is extremely straightforward to make use of. You’ll be able to 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 straightforward to collaborate with folks 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 all the time been ready to connect with conferences with none issues.” Learn full assessment

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 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 trade, mentions:

“Now we have been utilizing Zoom earlier than. The one factor I felt Google Meet lacked was some display sharing limitations.” Learn full assessment

Should you want an easy-to-use, no-frills video conferencing instrument that integrates with Google Workspace, Google meet is your instrument. Nonetheless, you may 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 consumer evaluations and a flawless 100% satisfaction ranking. Its spectacular G2 Rating of 92 highlights its reliability, making it a stable selection 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 wished to see whether or not its intensive function set justified its repute 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 file 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 stated, syncing with Microsoft Outlook can generally be unreliable, inflicting occasional scheduling points. In my checks, 3 out of 10 calendar invitations did not sync correctly.

A few of the AI-powered enhancements have been game-changers for me. As an example, Assembly highlights robotically summarize key factors, making it simpler to observe up on motion objects. 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.

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

Safety is a significant energy. Webex ensures delicate conferences keep personal with end-to-end encryption. I’ve used Webex for every part from workforce check-ins to confidential consumer conferences, and it has by no means let me down. Internet hosting consumer conferences on Webex reassured me, figuring out 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 acquired previous the training curve, the instruments really made my life simpler. The power to change gadgets mid-call with out dropping audio was a shock hit for me—tremendous helpful when leaping from my laptop computer to telephone.

Webex affords 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 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 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 staff):

“For me, Webex Suite stands out for its simplicity. I benefit from the display sharing performance, the security measures 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 assessment

What I dislike about Webex:

• I discovered the frequent software program updates a bit disruptive at instances, particularly after 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 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 at the present time, I am unable to share my display and do away with all toolbars and icons from the display.” Learn full assessment

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 might schedule conferences in Outlook, collaborate on information in OneDrive, and leap into video calls inside comparable built-in platforms. The power to change 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 approach.

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. Nonetheless, 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, knowledge loss prevention, and superior admin controls, it’s well-suited for companies that require strict safety measures.

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

Microsoft Groups affords 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, due to 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 sharing is clean and dependable. I additionally respect the flexibility to create separate channels inside every workforce for various tasks or subjects, retaining 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 assessment

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 staff):

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

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

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 straightforward, 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 approach.

If I had been on the lookout for a chat-first instrument that enables for spontaneous video calls, Slack could be a superb selection. The power to rapidly swap from messaging to video inside a channel makes workforce collaboration seamless. Nonetheless, 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, guaranteeing real-time updates and seamless collaboration. Implementing Slack lowered our inner 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. Nonetheless, upgrading to the usual plan resolved the difficulty and supplied the required archive for our workforce’s wants.

Slack’s integrations have been a game-changer for me. I get challenge updates straight in Slack channels by way of 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 identical to fast workplace discussions, retaining 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 important updates.

What I like about Slack:

• I beloved how straightforward it was to change 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 every part 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 acquainted with the platform.
• The cellular 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 at any time when wanted. Now we have a number of choices to set our standing as Energetic, 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 presently offline. Communication with co-workers is easy, 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 assessment

What I dislike about Slack:

• The video name options felt fairly primary 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 essential conferences.

What G2 customers dislike about Slack:

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

“Slack could be overwhelming with fixed notifications, making it exhausting to deal with different duties. Moreover, the fee could 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 assessment

So, in case your workforce depends closely on chat communication and fast video calls. Nonetheless, in case 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 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? Take a look at a couple of. See what clicks. Persist with what makes your conferences seamless. 

On the finish of the day, the precise 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 and not using a hitch. Discover, experiment, and discover the choice that retains you and your workforce related with out the pointless trouble. 

In fact, my particular person assessment alone about Video conferencing isn’t the one one to think about.

Other than 1000’s of evaluations by verified customers on G2 for video conferencing, you may learn this check of one of the best video conferencing software program earlier than you make the acquisition.