Google Hangouts
It’s a simple and convenient way to chat via video, but doesn’t include features like screen sharing or recording.
- Meeting time limit: Unlimited
- Meeting participant limit: 10
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Free video conferencing software
Connect with your team face-to-face without spending a cent.
Virtual meetings are an essential component of the modern workplace. The good news? Free video conferencing software can meet the needs of many small- and medium-sized teams.
But with most free tools, it’s likely you’ll face limits when it comes to meeting length and the number of users allowed in each meeting.
How to compare video conferencing software
When comparing video conferencing software, be sure to consider which features are included in the free tier, such as:
- Meeting time limits
- Number of participants allowed in each meeting
- Tools for screen sharing and recording
- Integration with external apps
5 free video conferencing software solutions
The video conferencing providers on this list offer a free membership complete with HD video and audio. We excluded software that only allows for a free trial — you can use any of these on our list indefinitely.
Zoom
This popular platform has solutions for education, government, financial services and healthcare. It can also integrate with hundreds of external apps.
- Meeting time limit: 40 minutes for group meetings, unlimited for one-on-one meetings
- Meeting participant limit: 100
Cisco WebEx
Good to know: Cisco Webex updated its free version in response to the coronavirus pandemic to offer meetings for up to 100 participants a meeting, with unlimited time.
This industry heavyweight provides users with a permanent link for their own personal meeting room and includes IM, in-meeting polling and a “raise hand” feature.
- Meeting time limit: 40 minutes
- Meeting participant limit: 50
U Meeting
Its interface is clean and easy-to-use, and the free version includes 2GB of cloud storage.
- Meeting time limit: 30 minutes
- Meeting participant limit: 25
UberConference
Freelancers and businesses with fewer than 10 people can take advantage of the sleek user experience and breezy learning curve.
- Meeting time limit: 45 minutes
- Meeting participant limit: 10
When do I need to upgrade?
When your team’s needs overwhelm the capacity of the free video conferencing software, it’s time to upgrade. For example, Zoom’s free version is popular with small and medium companies because it can accommodate up to 100 participants. But as your projects grow more complex, you’ll probably want to upgrade to avoid meetings cutting off short.
If you’re a startup that expects to grow, take a look at the paid tiers to see if they have what you need when you scale up. Pay attention to features like transcription, in-meeting drawing tools, mouse and keyboard sharing and customer service reputation.
Compare collaboration software
Bottom line
Free video conferencing software can be a great way to kick start your business’s virtual meeting needs. But if you need a more robust solution, compare other business software tools.
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