Zoom

Strongest Asset: User Familiarity

Zoom has taken over as the most popular video conferencing platform. Most people will be at least vaguely familiar with the platform and if not, its user interface can be learned quite quickly.

Pros: Zoom is a familiar platform for most people. It can host a meeting of up to 100 participants for as long as 40 minutes. The “Share Screen” option comes with a slew of annotation tools.

Cons: If you want to host more than 100 people, you’ll need to upgrade to the Business plan. Zoom’s recording storage is light unless you buy the top tier Enterprise plan.

Google Meet

Strongest Asset: Google App Integration

Google Meet is a very accessible and widely known platform that can be used from your web browser or via their app on your iOS or Android device. This software is the revamped and rebranded version of Google Hangouts.

Pros:  Google Meet is a very easy-to-use, free video conferencing platform. No download required if you are using a desktop. The integration with all other Google apps makes it very easy to sync all of your business activities across their services.

Cons: There is no option to annotate while sharing your screen. Compared to some of the other video conferencing platform, you may notice that Meet is a bit light on the features and video conference customizability.

Microsoft Teams

Strongest Asset: All-Encompassing Centralized Workspace

Microsoft Teams is the video conferencing and workspace solution from tech giant Microsoft. If your business is already using Microsoft 365, Teams will be available to you at no extra cost.

Pros: Teams is much more than just a video conferencing platform. It allows you to organize people into teams and conduct chats and file sharing with them through channels. Team members can collaboratively work on Microsoft Office files and engage in group chats before, after, and during a meeting.

Cons: Teams’ integration of all business aspects can make it confusing to navigate, especially if all you need is a video conferencing platform. The size of Teams can create lag and loading issues.

RingCentral

Strongest Asset: Best Free Option

RingCentral is an American company that specializes in cloud-based business communications with offices all over the globe.

Pros: RingCentral boasts HD audio & video calling. Their basic option can host up to 100 participants for as long as 24 hours. No download is required and you can store meeting recordings in the cloud for up to 7 days.

Cons: The mobile app for RingCentral can experience connectivity issues and limited functionality. To gain full functionality, participants need to download the software.

Webex by Cisco

Strongest Asset: Security

Webex is the video conferencing platform provided by American tech giant Cisco. This platform is a favourite among large businesses.

Pros: All paid plans include the free plan options as well as closed captioning, recording transcriptions, cloud recording storage, streaming ability through Facebook Live, and their file transfer feature. The free plan includes chat, note taking, polling, interactive whiteboarding, and breakout sessions.

Cons: Video meetings consume a large amount of bandwidth. Using Webex from your phone can create connectivity issues. Webex caters to large organizations, which may or may not be a plus depending on your business’ size.

Pexip

Strongest Asset: Interoperability With Other Digital Tools

Pexip is the product of a merger between the video infrastructure company Pexip, and the cloud-based video service provider Videxio.

Pros: Pexip is very secure and highly customizable based on your business’ needs. The platform can be outfitted to match your business’ colors and logo schemes. Pexip is also very integrable with other digital tools and platforms. It is one of the best all round video conferencing platforms available.

Cons: The customer support of Pexip can be a little slow to respond. Expect this to improve with more people using the software.

StarLeaf

Strongest Asset: Reliability and Customer Service

StarLeaf was established and is headquartered in Watford, England. It’s known for “taking the friction out of business collaboration” and is a great option for messaging and meetings.

Pros: StarLeaf makes it very easy to share your screen, files, images, or documents with other participants. StarLeaf boasts a great uptime guarantee, more than any video conferencing platform in the industry. StarLeaf’s customer service is very accessible and helpful.

Cons: The cost of StarLeaf can be a little bit more than their competitors. People may be unfamiliar with StarLeaf and this can create some delays and confusion for the first time users.

Start a Free Trial (Or Two)

Whether you prefer the familiarity of Zoom, the security of Webex, or the customizability of Pexip, you are bound to find a video conferencing platform that suits your business’ needs. Many of these platforms offer free trials so consider taking a handful of products out for a test drive before you commit your business and all of its employees to one of these platforms.

The digital transition is accelerating and it should come as no surprise that one of the biggest names in tech has developed a video conferencing platform. One of the hallmarks of Google’s success is that their software has been free, easy to use, and accessible to everyone. Google Meet is no exception to this rule. It provides a user-friendly video conference experience, without sacrificing its functionality.

What is Google Meet?

Google Meet is the rebranded and improved video calling software, Google Hangouts. Google Meet can be accessed through a web browser or an app on iOS and Android devices. Additionally, Meet can be purchased (with added features) as part of the Google Workspace package that also includes Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Chat, Currents, Docs, and other Google cloud-based software.

Google Meet allows you to connect in real time with other participants on a video conference call much like its popular competitor, Zoom.

How Do I Use Google Meet?

One of the best things about this product, and Google products in general, is how easy it is to use. If you’ve been invited to a meeting and are using a desktop computer or laptop, just click the invite link or enter the meeting code on Google Meet’s homepage – no download required. If you are using a smart phone or tablet, download the Google Meet app from your app store and enter the meeting code.

What Features Does Google Meet Have?

Google Meet has some very handy features that come with their software, many of which are available with the basic plan.

Closed Captions

Google Meet gives you the option to turn on/off the closed captions that type your speech and interpret others’ in real time. This feature is very useful if you forgot your headphones in a noisy environment or are in a quiet environment where it’d be frowned upon to take a call. Just turn on the closed captions and Google will show you what’s being said.

Jamboard Sessions

One of the great things about using a Google product is its integration with other Google software. From your video call, you can start a “Whiteboard” from the “More Options” menu. This will open a Google Jamboard Session, which allows all call participants to collaborate on a digital whiteboard where they can draw, type, add pictures, and more.

Breakout Rooms

Google Meet gives you the availability to separate your video call participants into smaller groups either of your own choosing or randomly. You can organize breakout rooms in advance by editing the meeting in your calendar or you can create the breakout rooms during the call by using the “Activities” button. You can create up to 100 rooms, but it might depend on the plan you choose.

Polls

A great feature of Google Meet is the ability to create polls in your meeting to survey participants’ responses on a given topic. You can create polls within the meeting and only the poll moderator will be able to see how each participant responded. They’re a great way to gather feedback from employees or test students’ knowledge.

Pros and Cons

Google Meet is an accessible and easy-to-use platform to host your video conferences, but there are a handful of drawbacks as well.

Some of the drawbacks can include screen sharing restrictions, display issues, and some reports of browser freezing issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I use Gmail, but I can’t find Meet. Where is it?

A: If you don’t see Meet in the Gmail sidebar, make sure it is enabled in your Gmail settings. If you use Gmail for work or school, your admin also needs to enable Meet.

Q: Can external participants join a call?

A: Absolutely. In fact, you can share the same link with all meeting participants, making it easier to get everyone you need on the call.

Q: Do I need to install anything?

A: Meet works entirely in the browser. This limits the attack surface for Meet and the need to push out frequent security patches on end-user machines. On mobile, we recommend that you install the Meet or Gmail app from Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and frequently check for updates.

Q: Is a third-party service required for dial-in access?

A: No. With Google Workspace, you have the ability to include a phone number and PIN on each of your meetings with no other configuration required.

Learn More About Google Meet

Google Meet is a fantastic video conferencing platform that is especially kind to first-time users. Its ease of function is great if you are hosting meetings with people who aren’t regular users of video conferencing apps.

Conference calls have been given a facelift in recent years, thanks to video conferencing platforms. What was once a number you dialed on your camera-less work phone has turned into a link you click that allows everyone to see what you’re wearing and what’s happening behind you. Zoom is leading this digital transition. If you’ve never used Zoom before but have been invited to join a meeting, here’s everything you need to know to get you up to speed.

What is Zoom and What’s It Used For?

Zoom is a video conferencing platform that allows users to connect in real time. When in a Zoom meeting, you can see and hear everybody at the same time, similar to being in a boardroom. There’s an option to mute yourself so that nobody can hear your coughs, sneezes, or background noise, as well as an option to turn off your video so that nobody can see your less-than-casual business attire.

The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Zoom is a great tool for conducting meetings, classes, or social gatherings when getting together in person is not an option. This might be the case if you want to meet with people who are in different cities, countries, or continents than you, but was certainly useful when restrictions on in-person interactions due to pandemic lockdowns prevented people from gathering as a group.

Businesses, schools, governments, and family and friends use Zoom to conduct their interactions.

How To Sign-up and Use Zoom

To sign up for Zoom, visit their website. You can create an account using your email address. Once you verify your email address and create a password, you’ll be prompted to download the software, either the desktop or mobile app. Congratulations, you’ve joined the digital world of video conferencing!

To join a meeting that you’ve been invited to, you can log in to the software and click “Join”. Enter the meeting ID that’s been provided in your invite, and password if required. Depending on the host’s settings, you will either be admitted to the meeting immediately or the host will be prompted to approve your entry. Once this happens you’ll be able to see everyone else in the “room” and hear (and join in on) the conversation.

How to Create a Meeting

If you want to host a meeting, click the “Schedule” button on the home screen. You’ll be asked to choose a name for your meeting as well as a date and time and a few other details. When you’ve finished this and your meeting has been created, click on the “Meetings” button at the top of the screen. Here you can edit the meeting details, as well as copy the invitation and send out invites.

Basic Features

When you enter a meeting, you’ll find most of the available options along the bottom of the screen. On the left side you have the option to mute your audio or hide your video. For most meetings your video will be hidden when you first log on. Just click the “Start Video” button in the bottom left of the screen and you, as well as all members of the meeting, should see your face on screen. You can switch this, and the audio, off anytime by pressing the respective button again.

Be aware though that if you start browsing the internet while your Zoom call continues in the background, people will still be able to hear and see you. While doing this, your Zoom window will either be minimized or you’ll see a smaller overlay of the Zoom meeting screen on top of your current screen. To get back to the main Zoom window, click the button with the green arrow pointed towards the top right.

The “Chat” button opens a side panel allowing you to type messages to all or select participants.

You also have options to “Record” your meeting and as add emojis during the meeting under the “Reactions” button. This button will also allow you to “raise your hand” while someone else is speaking. Just don’t forget to “lower your hand” when your question or comment has been answered or acknowledged.

Screen Sharing

The “Share Screen” button allows you to show your screen to meeting participants. You will be given the option to share a specific window, specific section of your screen, specific files, a plain whiteboard, or other options. The simplest option is to just share your screen. If you want to share the audio of your device as well, be sure to click the checkbox in the bottom left of the pop-up window.

Once your screen is shared, you can click on the “Annotate” button at the top of your screen to draw or type notes. The eraser button will remove your annotations.

To exit your screen share, click the red “Stop Share” button near the top of the screen.

Plans and Pricing

Basic: This is the simplest option of all the plans. This tier of Zoom is without fees, and you can host up to 100 people in your meetings for up to 40 minutes at a time.

Pro: This tier of Zoom (much like the Business and Enterprise tiers) comes with a monthly fee, but allows you to host meetings for up to 30 hours at a time. It also includes 1GB of cloud recording and social media streaming.

Business: With Zoom Business you can host up to 300 participants and it includes recording transcripts, managed domains, and company branding.

Enterprise: With Zoom Enterprise, you get all the benefits of Zoom Business plus the ability to host up to 500 participants and unlimited cloud storage.

Pros and Cons

One of the best things about Zoom is its ease of access and use, and quick learning curve. Additional pros of the platform include:

• The no-fee option is sufficient for personal use
• Ability to host large meetings
• Social media streaming for paid users
• Sync meetings to your calendar
• Connect with people globally in an instant
• Very user friendly
• Breakout rooms allow for smaller team collaboration

Zoom is a fantastic tool, but it’s not without its shortcomings. Here is what we’d like to see improved about the application:

• You must download the software; it won’t work in a browser
• While pricing is reasonable, many of the add-ons can get expensive
• Slightest delays in audio/video can disrupt flow of meeting
• Zoom has been playing catch-up with its security features

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Started Today

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing platforms and for good reason. With its ease of use and wide availability, anyone can quickly become comfortable using Zoom. Whether you’re catching up with old friends or conducting a 500-person company meeting, you can trust Zoom to run your meeting smoothly.