Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Zoom video conferencing app became so popular that it has over 200 million active users on a daily basis. People all over the world make use of this video conferencing app to stay in close contact with their families, business associates including their team workers.
However, the over popularity of this Zoom video conferencing app has made the app pick the interest of many people. A lot of complaints rose up about the Zoom’s security and privacy concerns, how it works and even the data it collected.
Many people are now looking for best Zoom alternatives for video conferencing due to the ongoing criticisms regarding Zoom.
Based on all these complaints received, other Zoom alternatives for video conferencing were reviewed by our team. In the review process, most of the Zoom encountered questions were addressed and we came up with these lists as best Zoom alternative apps for your perusal.
It is worth noting that while most of the Zoom alternatives mentioned here have free versions, some still offer temporary access to other additional features but that is if you need them. The apps listed here allows you to participate in the video chat without actually registering for the app except you are the host.
Best Zoom alternatives for video conferencing
1. Skype Meet Now
Skype, owned by Microsoft has been the platform for one-on-one conversations since the beta was released in 2003.
It has a feature called “Meet Now” which allows video conferencing. According to the website, the number of participants for the video conferencing varies depending on the platform you are using and your device of choice. This Meet Now feature can be accessed by choosing the “Meet Now” button on the left hand side of the app. It has an easy-to-use interface, and supports up to 50 people on the same audio call.
The skype is available for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac, and offer both video and audio calling, as well as a messaging feature. It also allows you to record, save and share your video calls, and has live captions and subtitles, all for free.
You can even create a free video conference room without actually having to create a Skype account and no app download required. But to get more feature from this app, you can still register for a free account.
Features of Skype
- Record the call for up to 30 days.
- Can blur the background (if you have the app).
- Share presentations.
- Screen sharing.
- Unrivaled chat option.
2. Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex is a free video conferencing app that has been around for a long time and it grants users access to all its Webex meetings in all countries where it is available. It is a well-known business application and it is still serving several companies. For the current situation, it has widened the features of the freemium version from 50 to 100 participants, gotten rid of the 40-minute limit on meetings, and added call-in abilities.
Despite being available as a free app, you will still get all enterprise features including unlimited usage with no time restrictions, supports up to 100 participants, and a toll dial-in plus Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) capabilities. To get started with Cisco Webex, you need to sign up on the Cisco Webex portal. The overall experience that's been offered by Cisco is by far better and not limited when compared to Zoom.
Features of Cisco Webex
- Supports up to 100 participants.
- Unlimited usage with no time restrictions.
- Call-in for audio.
3. JITSI MEET
Jitsi Meet is a video conferencing app
that allows users to easily meet online without even creating an account. It is
a multi-platform, open-source video conferencing tool, which allows users to use
its multi-user conference client or build their own. All the tools of Jitsi Meet
are completely free and open source. You can easily invite users with a custom
URL, share your desktop and even trade messages while you chat.
Jitsi Meet can be used for web, Android, iOS, React-native and also Electron apps.
To get started with Jitsi Meet, simply navigate to the site and clicking on “Go.” If you are very technically inclined, you can build your own by visiting Jitsu Videobridge. But most people are very comfortable with the quick web version, which still offers as many features as are found in other well-known apps, such as chat, session recording, and even the ability to “kick out” unwanted participants.
Features of Jitsi Meet
- Supports up to 75 participants.
- Creates Public or private chat.
- It can blur the background (presently in beta).
- It integrates with Slack, Google Calendar, and Office 365.
Other additional features of Jitsi Meet include:
- The ability to stream your meeting through YouTube Live.
- The option to lock your room with a password.
- The ability to embed your Jitsi Meet call on a website.
4. Google Meet
Google Meet, formerly known as
Hangouts Meet is a video conferencing too which was previously available only to
educators and users who are subscribing to Google’s paid service, G Suite.
Google has now until recently announced that it is going to make Meet available
to all the users of its free Gmail service as well, starting from early May. This
is to counter the growing number of rivals companies such as Facebook.
This app allows users to participate in meetings through a web link with their laptops or mobile app, or even a phone line. If your business uses G Suite, you can create a direct link through a Google Calendar invite. It is a good free option for easy business chats for people who are already using G Suite. It creates a simple way to video chat with colleagues, friends and family.
To get started with google meet, simply go to Meet and click on “Join or start a meeting,”. Give the meeting a name (that is if you want), and send out your invites. You can also schedule a meeting using Google Calendar, and Google includes quite a number of security features such as the ability to admit or deny entry of participants.
Features of Google Meet
- Supports unlimited meeting time until September 30th; afterwards, 60-minute limit.
- Supports up to 100 participants.
With additional premium features such as:
- Screen-sharing.
- Zoom-like grid layout that Google recently rolled out.
- Real-time translation.
In summary
We have listed and discussed best zoom alternatives for video conferencing. You can now choose any of them that gave you the best offer for your both business and personal meetings. We hope that we are able to satisfy you.
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