15 Best Video Conferencing Apps 2022

Over the past few years, instant messaging, audio and video calls have become popular, not only between friends and family but also within the workplace and educational systems. Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, the demand for video conferencing apps has drastically risen. Technology has forced us to change the way we conduct business.

Video Conferencing Software Statistics

• • • Global video conferencing market size is predicted to reach $6.4 billion by 2020.
    • By 2023, the video conferencing market share is expected to reach $13.82 billion.
    • The average video conferencing meeting length is 31 to 60 minutes.
    • 94% of businesses who use video conferencing benefits from greater productivity.
    • By 2021, over 80% of global internet traffic will be video.

Video conferencing software lets you conduct live conferences with anyone, anywhere by transmitting your voice and video via the internet. Most software that you see today has gone far beyond the simple conference concept to other features such as screen sharing, playback, and mobile access.

10 Video Conferencing Software Features You’ll Want

1. 1. 1. Video, voice, and text chat
      2. Screen sharing
      3. Conference Recording
      4. Reduced Travel Time and Costs
      5. Improved Communication
      6. Structured Meetings
      7. Optimised Attendance
      8. Sustained competitive advantage
      9. Increased productivity
      10. Employee Retention

Here’s a list of 15 best Video Conferencing Apps for both Productive & Personal Online Meetings

1. Zoom

Zoom is a free video-conferencing tool that allows users to host and record virtual meetings, conferences, office hours, family & friends chat, etc.

Key Features:

• • • Aimed at Enterprise-level users
    • No time limit and group calls with up to 100 people for the first 40 minutes
    • Join anywhere, on any device (web, mobile devices, browser extensions)
    • HD video & audio
    • Screen-sharing
    • Built-in collaboration tools
    • Enable polling and Q&A
    • Allow virtual hand-raising
    • Share content, videos or music

Disadvantages:

• • • Fast internet connection is required.
    • Mobile app for iOS has poor audio quality.
    • Security issues.

2. Workplace

Workplace chat from Facebook is a communication portal that lets users have better team conversations with HD video calling directly via mobile or desktop.

Key Features:

• • • Live video broadcasting
    • Knowledge library
    • News Feed
    • Quick chat conversations
    • Multi-company groups

Disadvantages:

• • • Even if the paid version offers wide range of features, the price is bit on the high side.
    • Lack of integrations.
    • Not a simple set-up.

3. Google Meet

Google Meet which was previously named as Google Hangouts Meet is free to use video conferencing software, provided as part of G Suite.

Key Features:

• • • Unlimited free video conferencing up to first 60 minutes.
    • Designed for every sort of business.
    • Join meetings on the go.
    • Collaborate in real-time.
    • Easily work on documents, spreadsheets, and slides.
    • Store and share files in the cloud.
    • ‘Endpoint management’ feature to keep data safe.

Disadvantages:

• • • Call drop-offs during larger group chats.
    • You can only access via the Google Chrome web browser.
    • No option for services like whiteboard tools and poll-and-survey options.

4. UberConference

UberConference is a web-based application that allows anyone with an internet connection to participate in free conference calls.

Key features:

• • • Unlimited conference calls-free of charge
    • Screen sharing
    • Call recording
    • International access
    • Document sharing
    • Integrated social media
    • Group chats

Disadvantages:

• • • • Lack of features and functionality
      • Calls and has technical challenges

5. Cisco Webex Meetings

WebEx is a multi-functional desktop-based video conference call application that allows users to host or participate in video conferencing, online meetings, and screen sharing, etc.

Key Features:

• • • • • Join from anywhere, any time
        • Flexible conferencing solution for businesses of any sizes
        • Multimedia Content Sharing
        • Chat and Brainstorming Tools
        • Customisable video address
        • Secure call control and connectivity

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Premium is bit on the expensive side
        • Backend management is difficult
        • Does not offer phone conferencing

6. Lifesize

Using the Lifesize app, you can quickly start a free video call with up to 25 participants requiring no downloads or installs.

Key Features:

• • • • • Unlimited meeting duration
        • Built-in screen sharing
        • HD-quality video
        • Enterprise-grade reliability and security
        • Works on any operating system (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android)

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Difficulty in subscription cancellation
        • Admin portal is not easy
        • Equipments are very costly compared to other brands

7. FaceTime

An app that is massively used by Apple users to stay connected with family, friends, and colleagues. Of course, being Apple-only is a disadvantage not shared by any of the other apps here but it is available across both iOS and macOS.

Key Features:

• • • • • Audio and video calls
        • Effects to Liven Up a Conversation
        • Users can create emoji to match their mood or personality
        • Capture moments using ‘Live Photos’ feature

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Chat rooms create risky behaviour
        • Uses a large amount of data
        • Only available on Apple devices
        • It can’t be used to call landline phones
        • It does not offer group calling features

8. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a video conferencing app built for collaboration and lets you meet your team and even broadcast a webinar to thousands of users.

Key Features:

• • • • • Quick One-Click Meetings
        • Convert conference rooms into collaboration centres with ‘GoToRoom’ option
        • Create webinars for business
        • Secure web conferencing
        • Automated provisioning
        • Quality-base performance metrics for every user
        • Seamless admin manage centres
        • Host or attend meetings on the go
        • Options for voice commands and cloud recording

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Works only with a stable internet connection
        • Quality of the device matters
        • Takes up a lot of bandwidth
        • Chat option is somewhat limited

9. Skype

With the Skype video chat app, users can meet and collaborate with up to 50 people on the go for free on a mobile, tablet, or computer.

Key Features:

• • • • • Group-screen sharing
        • Long-distance learning
        • Background blur options
        • Full-screen video
        • File-sharing capabilities
        • Caller ID, voicemail
        • 60+ languages supported on text translator
        • Split view mode to keep conversations separate
        • Call recording & live subtitles
        • Smart messaging
        • Connect from anywhere

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Uses high-speed network connection
        • Susceptible to being hacked
        • Sound qualities are based on bandwidth

10. Slack

Slack is a video conferencing app that lets you share information more fastly and efficiently.

Key Features:

• • • • • Collaborate from anywhere
        • Screen-sharing options
        • Easy switch on from texting to a one-on-one or group call
        • 4 subscription plans are available- Free, Standard, Plus and Enterprise Grid
        • Works with iOS, Android, Windows Phone, desktop versions for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Finding things within the app is tough
        • The app is kind of messy and distracting
        • Minimum file storage

11. Join.me

This platform works directly from the web, which reduces the need to download the application or extra plugins.

Key Features:

• • • • • Multiple channel access (VoIP, phone line, etc.)
        • Live text chat tool
        • Share screens and screen control
        • Record & schedule meetings
        • Lock meetings feature
        • Add multiple participants
        • Up to 250 participants
        • ‘White-boarding’, a feature allows users to see the virtual paper in real-time, enabling effective collaborations

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Meeting quality often lags, drop-offs

12. Microsoft Teams

It is primarily a team management tool for collaboration without compromising on privacy and security.

Key Features:

• • • • • Chat and meet from anywhere
        • A hub for teamwork in Microsoft 365
        • Host audio, video, and web conferences
        • Allows up to 100 participants in a video conference
        • Enables company-wide communication
        • Has options for file transfer, screen sharing, recording and calendar integration
        • Can invite external guests to join

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Difficulty in transition from Outlook
        • Structure of files might confuse users
        • Permission setting is complex

13. Houseparty

Houseparty is a face-to-face social network which has been popular for its easy group video chat options.

Key Features:

• • • • • Combines video messaging with interactive gaming
        • Friends of friends can join conversations like at a house party
        • Works on Android, iOS, and macOS
        • Allows to chat simultaneously with up to 8 other people
        • App is free and does not contain any in-app purchases
        • ‘Facemail’ option lets a user create a short video message for offline friends
        • Can send notes to a friend or a group

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Only allows for up to eight people per ‘room’
        • Found to have certain security issues
        • Video-quality is an issue

14. Jitsi Meet

This is a free, open-source, and fully encrypted video conferencing solution that can be used for hosting & joining meetings even without an account.

Key Features:

• • • • • Lock-protected rooms that allow hosts to control access to conferences using a password.
        • Secure & more flexible.
        • ‘Invite by pretty URLs’ features helps create customised meeting links.
        • High-quality audio and video.
        • Live chat and screen sharing features.
        • Jitsi Chrome extension can be used in browsers to log into meetings.
        • Provides Google Calendar and Office 365 integrations to synchronise meetings, invites, schedules, etc. across devices.

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Limited space
        • Cannot transfer files between devices within its interface

15. BigBlueButton

BigBlueButton is an HTML5-based web application or an open-source web conferencing system for online learning. BigBlueButton front-end uses React and the backend uses MongoDB and Node.js.

Key Features:

• • • • • Real-time screen sharing of audio, video, slides, chats etc.
        • Enable features like emoji icons, polling, and breakout rooms, etc.
        • Easy collaboration of tools with whiteboard, shared notes, etc.
        • Can record your sessions for later playback

Disadvantages:

• • • • • Minimum 4 GB RAM, less than 4 GB memory can make the session slow
        • Require at least a Quad-Core System for installation
        • Customisation is not much easy

Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to create a Video Conferencing App like Zoom?

Conclusion

Be it for an entrepreneur or a student, every user is looking for quality, functionality, stability, and efficiency in a remote video conferencing platform. Now that you’ve got the list of best video conferencing apps and its main features, consider what is most important to your needs, and choose accordingly.

Every institution or company has different requirements so building a custom conferencing app is the best option. Besides, if you still have any doubts, drop your enquiries to NeoITO, and our business analysts or software development team would provide you with a personalised quote for your custom video conferencing app development project.