The best video conferencing software and services for 2020

Video conferencing is a technology that enables real-time communication between two or more people, regardless of their location. Participants can communicate, hear and see each other, exchange audio and video files. To organize a session, you need a computer, laptop or tablet connected to the Internet, as well as special hardware and software. The editors of the site "bestx.htgetrid.com/en/" offer you an overview of the best programs and services for video conferencing for 2020.

Applications of video conferencing

• Medicine. Modern communication tools allow patients to receive medical advice from anywhere. This saves time, and in some cases it can even save human life, because patients in serious condition are not always allowed to be transported. The video conferencing system is an excellent way out for residents of small settlements who do not have the opportunity to receive qualified medical care in their hometown.
• Education. In self-isolation, the videoconferencing became the only opportunity for schoolchildren and students to continue their studies. But even in ordinary times, technology can significantly increase the effectiveness of the educational process. For example, highly qualified teachers may well find in their busy schedule a few hours to conduct a seminar on the Internet, but spending a few days on a flight and giving lectures in another city is quite problematic. Thanks to the videoconferencing, you can easily and quickly form a group of students located in any localities and countries, which allows you to conduct training more often.
• Arbitrage practice. In the modern world, the face-to-face presence of the participants in the process in the courtroom is completely unnecessary, which is relevant for citizens in places of imprisonment. This allows you to reduce budgetary costs, because there is no longer any need to spend money on transporting the convict to the place of the meeting.
• Industry. Video communication systems help to solve the main problems of industrial facilities: remoteness of factories and plants from the head office, difficulties in managing branches, dependence on suppliers.
• Trade. Large trading holdings have an extensive structure, which is quite difficult to manage without a personal presence. Videoconferencing solves this problem: the manager can control the branches without spending time on moving. In the wholesale trade, the systems provide fast interaction with partners, accounting, warehouses, and also provide an invaluable opportunity to present goods to customers.

The benefits of video conferencing

• Realistic contact. The technology allows not only hearing, but also observing the interlocutor, seeing his gestures and facial expressions, assessing his mood. This makes the dialogue more fruitful.Unlike a telephone conversation, subscribers are not distracted by extraneous matters and are completely focused on communication.
• Ease of use. Participation in the conference does not require special knowledge and skills, as the systems have a clear and simple interface.
• Scalability. Depending on the capabilities of the platform, the number of participants may vary: from two to several thousand.
• Saving time and money. The technology allows you to reduce expenses on business trips of employees, hotel reservations and rental of meeting rooms. In addition, video communication helps to save valuable time: participants no longer need to spend it on moving to another city or country.
• Increased labor efficiency. Company employees have the opportunity to communicate with each other regardless of the time of day and location. Even if colleagues are in the same building, they can get in touch without leaving their workplace. Thus, the coordination of projects and discussion of problem situations is faster and more fruitful. For remote workers, such technologies are a prerequisite for work.
• Improved communication. Video conferencing is an excellent collaboration tool with clients, partners and colleagues. Online, you can demonstrate new products and popular product models to a potential client, quickly inform the team about the orders of the head, hold a meeting of directors or an interview when hiring.

What are video conferencing

Video conferencing is subdivided into personal and group. The first type is a communication session in which two users participate. All other types of conferences are called group conferences. They are divided into several types, each of which has its own rules and characteristics:

• Multiconference. This kind of connection is also called symmetric. This is the simultaneous communication of several users, each of whom has equal rights. This method is suitable for situations requiring collegial discussion of a problem and joint decision-making, for example, for holding seminars and multilateral meetings.
• Voice activated. The session is organized as follows: the subscribers can see and hear only the one who is making the speech at the moment. His device displays either himself or the previous presenter. The broadcast is switched using a server that responds to the voice of the participants. This mode has significant drawbacks, for example, the system can erroneously trigger a knock, cough, phone call and other random sounds.
• Video broadcast. This is a mode in which the speaker does not see or hear his audience, but they can leave messages in the text chat.
• Selector (role). In this format, the following roles are provided: organizer, speakers and listeners. The organizer directs the session, selects a speaker and can interrupt his presentation at any time. This mode is convenient for webinars or conference calls.
• For distance education. This is a special format for online lessons. Students or schoolchildren see and hear only the teacher, who, in turn, can observe all of his pupils. This is very convenient: the attention of students is focused on the teacher, while he controls their presence and behavior.

How to choose video conferencing software

Many people make mistakes when choosing the first program they come across. To understand which product is better to buy and what to look for, you should study the main criteria for choosing software.

Price

The question of how much software costs is one of the most important. For individuals to communicate with friends and relatives, a free service will be quite enough. It is also suitable for small companies and newbie businessmen. For large businesses and multi-branch firms, as well as for employee training, you will need paid software.It should be borne in mind that many services offer only an annual subscription, the average price for which is quite high. According to buyers, it is advisable to use a test version before purchasing to evaluate the capabilities and convenience of the program.

Development company

The market offers a wide range of information products of domestic and foreign companies. Any software can be easily ordered online in the online store or on the developer's website. To figure out which product of which company is better to buy, it is worth studying the rating of manufacturers on the Internet, expert recommendations and advice from ordinary consumers. There you can also find a description of software products and compare rates.

Number of participants and time limits

For numerous corporate users of large companies, services will be required to organize large-scale events with a large audience. You should also pay attention to the time limit: in some programs the maximum session duration is set.

Availability of a web version and a mobile application

The popularity of mobile models (phones, tablets) is due to their convenience and the ability to use anywhere and anytime. Therefore, the client for smartphones, as well as the web version that allows you to work in the program directly through the browser, are an important and integral part of modern software.

Functionality

Modern services offer a ton of useful tools for hosting online events. For example, cloud technologies allow the user to store large volumes of files in special storage. It is advisable to purchase systems with a video conference recording function, this is convenient for late participants and subscribers who, for whatever reason, could not attend.

Reliability

The best vendors spend an enormous amount of time and money on information security. Encryption and use of specialized codecs minimize the risk of data leakage.

The best video conferencing software and services for 2020

Free

Skype

This is one of the oldest messengers from Microsoft, which appeared back in 2003. Initially, it was created for calls, but now its functionality is quite wide: users can communicate via audio and video communication, correspond, create polls, attach photos. You can include up to 50 participants in a video conference. Files that subscribers exchange during a session remain available for a month, since the service has its own cloud. Skype is a screen-sharing program that is very handy for discussing plans, projects, and important things.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Zoom

It is a common platform for video meetings, conferences, online parties, and even dating. It was widely used in distance learning schools during the pandemic. To participate in the session, an account is not required, you can work in a browser, having received a password for access by the link. The organizer can invite up to 100 people to the conference, the duration of the session is up to 40 minutes. There are also paid versions of the program with advanced features, the cost starts at $ 14.99 per month.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

TrueConf

A popular domestic platform for organizing remote video communication. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the service worked free of charge for all educational institutions. During this period, more than 50 thousand companies have used this tool for effective communication when working in quarantine. The product has earned the best customer reviews. The maximum number of participants in the free plan is 10 people. This is a great option for comfortable communication with relatives, friends and colleagues. Paid offers are varied: there are both budget and expensive ones, the minimum price is 900 rubles per month.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Google hangouts

This is a free virtual chat service from Google. Its functionality is wide enough, video calls, conferences, text chat are available to users. The number of subscribers to a group chat is up to 150 people, up to 10 can participate in a video conference. There are applications for Android, iPhone and a web version that does not require installation.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Webinar

Convenient platform for online meetings, webinars, distance lessons. The service interface is simple and straightforward; no additional software installation is required for operation. Up to 5 subscribers can participate in a free video conference. Presentations, documents and photos can be stored on a cloud server (available 0.5 GB). Of course, there are also paid versions of the product with more advanced features.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Paid

ClickMeeting

A universal online communication service suitable for work in various fields: education, trade, marketing. It is possible to communicate with subscribers after the end of the session and collect feedback on the past event. A reception is connected to the webinar, where participants can study information about the speaker and other useful material before the broadcast begins. There is a free trial version for 30 days, two paid plans Live and Automated at the price of $ 25 and $ 40 per month, as well as special conditions for companies. The number of webinars and online conferences for all tariffs is not limited.

Features of ClickMeeting plans

	trial version	Live	Automated	For companies
Additional speakers	1	1	1	6
Number of participants	25	25	25	scalable characteristic
Storing records	30 min.	6 o'clock	10 hours	10 hours
Storage size	500 MV	1 GB	2 GB	2 GB
The cost	is free	25 $ per month	40 $ per month	to be specified in the sales department

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Microsoft Teams

The software is designed for a wide audience (up to 10,000 people) and allows you to solve a variety of corporate tasks.The messenger is suitable for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. The system supports audio and video calls, conferences, chats, file sharing and collaboration on them. During the coronavirus epidemic, users have a great advantage: the opportunity to use the free version for 6 months.

Features for Microsoft Teams pricing plans

	Free version	Microsoft 365 Business Basic	Microsoft 365 business standard	Office 365 Е3
Cost per month	is free	312.5 rubles	781.3 rubles	1250 rubles
Collaborate in chat	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of users in chat	500 thous.	300	300	500 thous.
Conducting video conferencing for 250 people	not	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hosting events on the Internet for 10,000 people	not	not	not	Yes
Safety	low	average	average	high

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

VideoMost

It is a functional video conferencing service that has a high rating among quality information products. It is suitable for distance learning, webinars, and conference calls. The app works on both PC and mobile devices. You can choose from a free test version that is valid for 10 days, and two paid plans: "Business" and "Enterprise".

Characteristics of VideoMost tariff plans

	Free	Business	Company
Price	0 RUB	3900 RUB for 3 months	individually
A discount	not	5% - 6 months, 10% for 12 months	individually
Number of participants	100	100	100
Duration of the conference	45 minutes	no limits	no limits
The ability to host webinars and broadcasts	not	not	Yes
Data store	not	not	Yes

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Mind

Mind, which has been working in the information technology market for 19 years, is one of the three leaders in video communication systems developers. The Mind program is used by PJSC Sberbank, JSC Alfa-Bank, the Federal Treasury, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation and other Russian companies and authorities. The product is compatible with all browsers and OS thanks to the WebRTS technology.

Features of tariff plans Mind

	Online conference	Online office	Online lesson
Number of participants	100, 300 or 1000	25, 50 or 100	40
Number of organizers	1, 10 or 100	1	20 or 40
Disk space	25, 50 or 100 GB	5, 15 or 25 GB	-
Price per year	36,000, 204,000 or 1,560,000 rubles.	24,000, 30,000 or 36,000 rubles.	240,000 or 480,000 rubles.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

GoToMeeting

This is an English-language service that is gradually gaining popularity in our country due to the quality of communication. There is a trial version for 2 weeks, it allows for a video conference with the participation of three subscribers and joint work on one document. For full use in it, of course, it will not work. But paid packages have extensive functionality, but, unfortunately, do not allow video recording.

Features of GoToMeeting tariff plans

	Professional	Business	Company
Number of participants	150	250	up to 3000
Price	12$	16$	Individual calculation

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Many people don't know where to buy software. This is a rather serious question, especially for large companies. In any case, expensive licensed software should be purchased from authorized dealers and certified partners of the developer. If you have experience of using programs and services presented in the review, or other software for video communication, tell us about it in the comments.