Zoom is a web conferencing platform developed by Zoom Video Communications. It provides a video and audio call service in HD format. The program allows you to connect up to 100 devices simultaneously for free, with a 40-minute limit. If the user wants to increase the level of use, they can buy additional functions. The maximum number of connections will increase to 500 people at a time, and there will be no time limits.
Against the background of lockdowns around the world, video conferences have become a venue for working meetings, corporate parties, gaming events, online lessons, exams, lessons, a wide variety of meetings, and much more. Zoom has many advantages, but still, a user security vulnerability has been discovered.
Zoom is currently considered one of the most popular online meeting platforms. In any case, it is necessary to consider alternative options as a safety net. Below is a list of the best Zoom alternatives for video calls and remote meetings. We will discuss each site and indicate the pros and cons of each.
5 Best Zoom Phone Alternatives
MightyCall
When used in an office where more than a dozen people work, custom extensions allow each employee to have a personal three-digit extension. Your clients can merely dial the company number and then the extension number to contact a specific employee directly. Also, if you need to transfer a call to someone, just enter the three digits of their extension number. You can set up both toll-free and local numbers via the website or intuitive mobile app.
Out of all the alternatives to Zoom on this list, MightyCall is perhaps the best option for work, as it is convenient for organizing remote meetings of office employees. It even boasts some CRM functionality and call recording. The basic features include call forwarding, voicemail, answering machine, call history, custom greetings, music on hold. All these will cost you $9-15 per user per month.
- Minutes – unlimited
- Voice-to-text
- Browser phone
- Live support
- Six-month demo version
- Some users note mostly meager functionality
- An interface may be difficult to understand in the beginning
RingCentral MVP
RingCentral MVP is a business communication platform that supports up to 200 users simultaneously. It makes it possible to conduct video conferences, chat messages, and telephone communication. Users can switch between channels with a single click.
Standard features include app and screen sharing, as well as real-time file sharing and editing. Besides this, you can also record meetings and store the data for a year, access real-time and historical meeting analytics.
The price per month varies depending on the number of connected users and chosen plan. For example, a package with essential features costs $19.99 per user per month, while the ultimate one reaches $49.99.
- 24-hour communication
- Unlimited calls and SMS in the USA/Canada
- Record meetings with cloud storage for 1 year
- Historical analytics and real-time meeting analytics
- 99.999% uptime for SLA messages
- Waiting rooms
- Public/Private shared chat app
- No free version
- Fewer meeting participants compared to other tools
- Design mismatch between mobile and desktop applications
- Requires a month to set up
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a platform for team collaboration that allows small and medium-sized businesses to remotely perform business tasks. With Microsoft Teams, you can chat, hold video conferences, work together with other employees, as well as with customers, suppliers, and partners. It offers standard video meeting features, such as attendee lists, shared meeting recordings, and unlimited group chat/file sharing.
Microsoft Teams also offers four plans, including one free version. Paid versions are priced from $4.00 per user per month to $12.50 per user per month. The free version allows you to meet no more than 100 participants for a maximum of 60 minutes.
- Access to any team meeting without creating an account
- Instant switching from chat to video in real-time
- The ability to make/receive group and individual audio calls in a single interface
- Syncroniches with numerous tools for remote work
- Warning and notification functions require some improvement
- Security protocols require a paid supplement
- Some users experience problems when joining a meeting
Blue Jeans
BlueJeans is a cross-platform video-conferencing application that has many decent features. It can be used to hold meetings, which can be divided into 20 breakout sessions. It also allows you to hold pretty large-scale conferences since you can invite up to 200 participants. The service is available for use from iOS and Android devices, as well as from several platforms, such as Google Hangouts, Cisco Jabber, Avaya Scopia, and Microsoft Lync.
Blue Jeans stands out with its screen-sharing and remote-access features. The latter means that you can access your employee’s laptop, which is useful for remote collaboration. It is also possible to broadcast live video to Facebook subscribers.
You can test the waters for 14 days for free. After that, you have to choose a plan. The monthly pay per user ranges from $10 to $16.
- Screen sharing and remote access to another user’s desktop
- The ability to record meetings
- Division of meetings into chapters
- Easy to set up of
- Free trial
- Constant video delays
- Incompatible with Windows touch screen devices
- Unlimited recording options are available only for users with the most expensive plan
Lifesize
Lifesize is a cloud-based video conferencing and team chat application, which you can access online. It is designed for 10,000 guests, including 500 participants. It allows you to hold an unlimited number of meetings. To create an account, you can use a desktop client on a computer, a browser, as well as its mobile application.
To save Internet traffic, a “listening only” mode is provided with the ability to stop the user’s video broadcast. At the same time, the user can continue communicating with the participants via a microphone. Besides this, you can enjoy the following features: unlimited meeting recording and meeting analytics in real-time. If your background isn’t worth it, you can set up a background display and attend a meeting from any location.
Lifesize offers three plans to choose from: Quick Start, Advanced, and Premium. To learn about the prices, you will need to request a quote by providing your contact details.
- High definition screen sharing built-in microphone and speaker for testing
- Unlimited number of participants
- Supports various operating systems
- Key features are available for an additional fee
- Round-the-clock support is available only for limited plans
Conclusion
Although Zoom’s leadership in video/audio calls will not change in the near future, the alternatives listed above can help you find the right app that will allow your team to communicate freely and easily.
When choosing the right one for you, assess your needs. You may need an app for enhanced remote teamwork or a platform to hold large-scale webinars. It’s advised to go for an app with a demo or free trial for you to be sure it’s the fit before you buy a package.
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