With the rise of teleworking and the fact that more and more teams are working remotely, the means of communication and collaboration tools have had to evolve in order to better meet these new needs. Today, instant messaging is the virtual version of discussions at the coffee machine and video conferences are the counterpart of face-to-face meetings.
Thus, to facilitate the work of dispersed teams and allow your employees to communicate orally, exchange information, participate in meetings or workshops and organize brainstorming remotely, you must provide them with the essential videoconferencing tool.
Whether you are looking for a simple and efficient video conferencing system or a collaborative platform with this integrated feature, here is a comparison of the 10 best video conferencing solutions to help you in your choice.
1. Wimi, a videoconferencing system integrated with an all-in-one tool
A french collaborative suite, highly secure and SecNumCloud certfied, Wimi offers a simple, powerful and installation-free videoconferencing system called Wimi AirTime. All you have to do is send a link to the guests and they will join you. No software installation is required and it is not necessary to have an AirTime account to participate in an audio or video chat. You can therefore invite people from outside your company such as your customers, your developers or your partners. Finally, the advantage of Wimi is that it is a collaborative suite that brings together all the essential tools to effectively manage your projects: task manager, shared calendars, instant messaging, storage space, etc.
Wimi’s clients include the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Groupama and Sephora.
Key features
- Screen sharing between collaborators.
- Instant messaging to facilitate communication.
- The ability to send files, links, photos, emojis and comments.
- Features to efficiently manage your projects (shared calendars, task manager, co-editing tool, etc.).
- A corporate social network to promote team cohesion.
- The hosting of your data by a French service provider located in France.
Bounds
Wimi is first and foremost an all-in-one project management software. It is therefore not the most suitable tool if you only need a videoconferencing system.
Rates
- Paid plans from 3 € per user per month. Decreasing price according to the number of users.
- Special rates for students and associations.
- 14-day free trial.
2. Zoom, the most popular video conferencing tool
Who doesn’t know Zoom? This video conferencing platform is renowned for the excellent visual and sound quality of its videos as well as for its ease of use and its many features. Its popularity exploded during the pandemic, and it is used by families and friends as well as by schools and businesses. You can choose your background, change your appearance, share your screen with your collaborators, make audio calls or chat via instant messaging.
Among its clients, Zoom counts Deezer, the NBA and the WWF.
Key features
- The creation of personalized invitations.
- The possibility of having up to 1000 participants.
- Zoom integration with the solutions you already use.
- The conversion of your meetings into a written version (transcripts).
- Phone and chat features.
Bounds
As a U.S. company, Zoom is subject to the Cloud Act.
Rates
- A free basic version.
- More complete packages from € 13.99 per month per user.
- Paying addition of added functions.
3. Livestorm, a French videoconferencing platform
Livestorm is a French video communication tool that allows you to easily organize all your virtual events (meetings, webinars, trainings, online courses, interviews, etc.). Send personalized invitations, create a dedicated registration page, announce your event on social networks, animate it with adapted tools and analyze its performance to constantly improve.
BlaBlaCar, Bouygues Telecom and Leboncoin fare among Livestorm’s customers.
Key features
- The organisation and management of your events from start to finish.
- The creation of custom event rooms.
- Itis possible to invite participants by email, via registration pages, forms or integration into the calendar.
- A multitude of features to animate your meetings (surveys, Q&A, chat, emoji reactions, virtual whiteboard s, etc.).
- An analysis tool to measure the performance of your virtual events.
Bounds
The price can be a bit high if you don’t do video conferences often.
Rates
- A free version up to 30 users.
- More complete formulas from 79 € per month.
- A free trial.
4. Google Meet, the video conferencing tool in Google Workspace
Google Workspace, the digital workplace of the American giant offers many collaboration tools including Google Meet (formerly Hangouts) for the organization of your virtual events. Create and participate in secure meetings with your employees or customers, no matter where they are in the world. Simple to use, it is not necessary to have a Google account to participate in a meeting. To attend a video call, participants simply need to click on the link sent to them. Google Meet works from any browser.
Key features
- Access to a video call directly from Google Chat or your Google calendar.
- The association of a phone number at each meeting to participate even without wifi.
- The interconnection between all Google Workspace tools.
- The ability to record the meeting that will be saved on Google Drive.
- Subtitle generation and screen sharing.
Bounds
- When you use Google Meet (and other Google tools), your data is subject to the Cloud Act.
- Google Meet is part of Google Workspace, you can’t use it alone.
Rates
- Google Meet is included in Google Workspace plans.
- Rates start from €4.68 per user per month.
- You can try it free of charge for 14 days.
5. Klaxoon, the solution to energize your meetings
To prevent your on-site or remote meetings from being boring, time-consuming and unproductive, use Klaxoon. This French platform workshop helps you design and energize all your events with a variety of tools such as ready-to-use activities or tailor-made templates according to the theme of the meeting. Your videoconferences become interactive workshops where your employees and customers enjoy participating.
Klaxoon’s clients include companies such as L’Oréal, Coca Cola and Danone.
Key features
- A library of ready-to-use templates.
- A digital whiteboard to communicate live.
- The ability to ask questions visually during the videoconference.
- Polls, votes, challenges and word clouds to encourage participation.
- The use of quizzes to collect feedback from your employees.
Bounds
Your data is hosted in Europe or the United States (thus potentially subject to the Cloud Act).
Rates
- A free version.
- Offers from €14 per month per user.
6. Microsoft Teams, the communication platform of Microsoft 365
Microsoft Teams is ideal for fostering communication between teams that are geographically dispersed. It’s much more than video conferencing software. It’s a collaboration solution that allows you to connect with colleagues via instant messaging, host virtual events, make calls, share files, and work on Office documents simultaneously. It is suitable for companies of all sizes as well as individuals.
ENGIE, Urssaf and LVMH are some of the companies that have opted for Microsoft Teams.
Key features
- Digital signage that automatically adjusts according to the activity of the participants.
- The creation of a virtual meeting room where all participants are gathered.
- The ability to collaborate live on content shared on the screen.
- The creation of personalized registration pages and live surveys.
- Automatic transcription of audio or video meetings and subtitling of speeches in different languages.
Bounds
Regarding the protection of your data, be aware that Microsoft, like all American companies, is subject to the Cloud Act.
Rates
- A free version.
- A paid formula from € 3.40 HT per month per user.
7. GoToMeeting, an engaging and user-friendly video conferencing tool
GoToMeeting offers you a simple virtual meeting platform designed to promote flexibility. Access to your video conferences is easy and secure, and priority is given to sound quality thanks to the suppression of ambient noise. During your video meetings, you can share your screen, but also your mouse and keyboard, annotate your presentations or collaborate on a document in real time. You have custom email templates for your invitations and you can organize virtual events with up to 250 participants.
Key features
- The ability to connect to a meeting by phone.
- A “raise your hand” function to allow participants to speak in turn without cutting themselves off.
- Automatic transcription of recorded meetings.
- Screen sharing and the drawing tool to annotate your presentations.
- GoTo Meeting integration with your favorite apps.
Bounds
GoTo is an American company, so your data is subject to the Cloud Act.
Rates
- Paid formulas from € 10.75 per organizer per month.
- A 14-day free trial.
8. BlueJeans, a simple, intuitive and secure platform
When it comes to videoconferencing, the needs may vary depending on the size of your business, your activities, and the type of meeting you want to host. BlueJeans makes it easier for your employees to communicate and collaborate, especially when they work remotely, and thus helps boost their productivity. With BlueJeans, you can organize, join and host your virtual events wherever you are and whatever device or room system you use. All with high definition video and crystal clear sound so you don’t miss a few words.
Companies that trust BlueJeans include Facebook, Electrolux and National Geographic.
Key features
- Joining a virtual meeting from any device.
- The ability to blur your background or redecorate it with a background of your choice.
- Interactive tools such as screen sharing, annotation and digital whiteboard.
- Automatic subtitling, keyboard controls and a screen reader for users with disabilities.
- The ability to view up to 25 participants on the screen.
Bounds
- BlueJeans is an American company subject to the Cloud Act.
- No free version.
Rates
- Several paidoffers from € 12.02 per host per month.
- A free trial for 14 days.
9. Starleaf, a European videoconferencing solution
Here is a professional video conferencing app from the UK. Starleaf allows you to organize quality online meetings with people located in the four corners of the world. Simple and intuitive, your employees will not need to undergo training to use this tool. They will be able to easily host virtual meetings, make audio calls or send messages reliably and securely, and from any device. Another advantage of Starleaf, you can choose the country in which you want to host your data.
The National Health Service (NHS), Distell and Professionals Nord are among Starleaf’s clients.
Key features
- The ability to stream your meetings.
- Screen sharing and meeting chat to send files easily .
- The ability to invite people who don’t have a Starleaf account.
- Integration with all your professional tools.
- The choice of the country where your data is hosted.
Bounds
The free version is not as well secured as the paid versions.
Rates
- A free basic version.
- Plans with additional features starting at €99 per license per month.
10. Zoho Meeting, Zoho C RM’s online meeting platform
Zoho Meeting offers a highly secure online meeting and webinar solution to facilitate remote collaborationand work. Simple and scalable, the software allows you to easily organize your meetings and video conferences, customize your invitation emails and registration forms, share your screen, interact with attendees, and record meetings for later use. With Zoho Meeting, you can also get reports on the performance of your webinars to improve them.
Zoho Meeting’s clients includes Crown Bees, Arctic Spas and En Route Technologies.
Key features
- Instant meeting initiation by simply sharing a link.
- Features surveys, questions and answers and hand-raising.
- Getting comprehensive reports on registration, participation and involvement in your webinars.
- Integration with all Zoho tools and other services.
Bounds
Zoho has data centers around the world, including two in Europe. Make sure that your data is hosted on European territory to prevent it from being subject to the Cloud Act.
Rates
- A limited free version.
- Paid packages from € 3 per host per month.
- A free trial for 14 days.
Today, online meeting applications have become essential, especially to facilitate the collaboration of teams that are geographically dispersed. There are many video conferencing tools with similar features. Feel free to take advantage of the free trial period to find the tool that suits your needs.
