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Best free online meeting apps

Best free online meeting apps. Staying connected with coworkers, clients, and other stakeholders is critical in today’s world, and online meetings are an excellent method to do it. Online meetings, with the correct tools, can be a powerful way to communicate, share ideas, and remain in touch.

This article will look at the top ten free online meeting tools. We’ll go through their features and benefits, as well as how they can help you stay connected with your team. This article will offer you with the knowledge you need to make an informed selection whether you’re searching for a tool to organize video conferences, share screens, or collaborate on papers.

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What are Online Meeting Tools? 

Several firms use online meeting solutions to have meetings with multiple participants while keeping everyone on the same page. Asynchronous technologies such as status updates, webinars, video calls, and conferences can help to facilitate these gatherings.

If a group of people needs to communicate but cannot meet in person, they can utilize an online meeting service or a mix of the ones listed below.

When you commit to an online meeting tool for your company, be sure you understand the service’s intricacy. A difficult-to-use meeting tool can stifle productivity. Using an easy-to-use meeting tool is the simplest way to keep things running smoothly in the workplace.

How to Choose the Best Online Meeting Apps for Your Team

Need assistance selecting on an online meeting platform for your group? Decide which type of remote meeting setup will be most helpful to all participants first. Is it more vital for your company to have a fancy online conference with capabilities such as screen-sharing or something simple with just voice and video? Do you want to work with a company that offers a thorough onboarding procedure, or do you require a self-service remote-meeting solution?

Selecting the finest online meeting tool is determined by which of the following concerns is addressed the best.

1. How simple is it to use?

Online meeting tools are used to communicate with people who aren’t in the same room as you. If you select a remote-meeting tool that is overly complicated, your team will most likely have numerous questions about how to use it, and they may require assistance logging in and navigating the system when it is time for a meeting. Because you won’t be able to lead your coworkers through the process in person, a faulty tool could result in a lot of extra stress, confusion, and wasted time that you could have spent holding the meeting.

Remember that if you require assistance figuring out how to use this technology, your team will have the same issue. As a result, you should expect a drop in the overall quality of your meetings and production.

2. How is the onboarding process?

There will always be a learning curve, even with the most intuitive and user-friendly tools. If you have a successful onboarding approach, you will spend substantially less time figuring out how to make the product work for your team.

When selecting on an online meeting platform, consider the following questions about the onboarding process:

  • How long and complicated.
  • Is there hands-on training available for your staff so that everyone is familiar with the tool’s features?
  • What kind of real-time assistance is provided?
  • Using a new tool with your team is lot easier if you have a thorough onboarding plan.

3. Does it work with the technologies I already have?

One of the numerous techs to employ will be your company’s online meeting tool. Why not choose a program that complements what you already have?

Determine which applications will necessitate the use of your online meeting software. Do you want to use Dropbox in your virtual conference without having to download and upload individual files, for example? Zoom, as a feature, enables for this.

Check to see if these integrations are accessible for the tool you’re thinking about employing. You may locate online meeting tools that integrate well with the Slack platform by searching the Slack app directory.

4. Does the product include capabilities that are relevant to my business?

Determine what you require from meetings in order to select an online meeting solution that can satisfy your needs. Are presentations a regular element of your meetings? Then select a web conferencing service that supports screen sharing. Is face-to-face communication with your team a key priority for you? Then, utilize a web conferencing tool that supports HD video.

5 Is it dependable?

You must use dependable online meeting technology. This means that no matter where your team members are (at the office, in different time zones, or even in other countries), they must all be able to participate in the online conference. The audio and video quality must be consistent regardless of how many people from each team attend the meeting.

Before committing to any online meeting software, it is critical to read reviews and feedback from existing customers. Has the vast majority of consumers had a positive experience, or do you have frequent complaints about failed calls, bad sound quality, and other issues?

Whether you need to share your screen or make real-time changes to a document, the tool you use for your meeting must be capable of doing both without crashing or causing other technical issues. But, you will need a reliable instrument. The alternative is a frustrating future (and incredibly ineffective meetings).

6. What is the price?

Online meeting tools can range in price from free to several hundred dollars. A remote-meeting tool’s pricing is often higher if it has more capabilities and users require assistance learning how to use it.

Regrettably, when it comes to pricing, there is no silver bullet. The needs of your team, the size of your organization, and your budget will all play a factor in selecting which online meeting tool is best for you.

Make the most of your money by completing your research, comparing tools, and selecting one that suits your requirements.

10 Best Free Online Meeting Tools

Online meeting and conferencing solutions will be around for a long time, whether or not remote work is here to stay. Not only for business, but also for calm weekends or special events when you wish to catch up with family and friends. Prohibitions on travel are to blame.

Here are the top ten free internet conference hosting services. While they both strive to eliminate physical isolation between people by connecting them digitally, tiny differences in their features and intended users may have a big impact on your final decision.

1. Zoho Meeting

Zoom is the industry standard for online meetings, but Zoho Meeting is a formidable contender. For individual entrepreneurs, the free package provides more than enough capabilities. But, if you run a complex business, their toolkit will complement your process beautifully. Some of the capabilities shared by Zoho Meeting and Zoho CRM include file sharing, group messaging, application sharing, and a multitude of third-party connections.

PROS

  • Coupled with a wide range of important technologies that every web-based business can employ
  • Just $12 a month for unlimited users, including unlimited plus ones for your employees if you own a business.
  • Voting, Question and Answer, and Raising Hand functions are all included.
  • It can be used as a webinar or as a standard online meeting tool, with one of its key roles being webinar registration.

CONS

  • The free plan can only be used by three persons.
  • If you intend to utilize it for a webinar, there may be complications with form customisation.
  • Participants can download recordings at their leisure.

2. Airmeet 

Airmeet is used by many people to host internet gatherings. The setup is straightforward, and if you have any issues, the customer care is excellent. Airmeet is intended more for events with a specific purpose than for those who want to communicate online. The free plan may accommodate up to 100 people, and all tiers include a communal waiting room where participants can mingle before the event begins. Furthermore, its Zapier link allows you to automate particular procedures, perform surveys, and have Q&A sessions.

PROS

  • Applicable for live events such as concerts and other paid-ticketed shows.
  • When compared to other ways, the social lounge component greatly increases audience participation.
  • There is no software to download; it is entirely browser-based.

CONS

  • Businesses, start-ups, and groups are ineligible.
  • There appears to be a few hours lag between when an event is collected and when it is made available to pro plan users.

3. Google Meet 

Google Meet is a popular online conversation tool. To get started, simply load it into your browser. It is necessary to install software. Another way to attend a meeting is to dial in. It includes everything you need to conduct an online forum or class, including the ability to record the event and upload it to Google Drive.

Google Meet is a meeting service that does not necessitate the usage of a Google account. Nevertheless, in order to schedule your appointment, you must have a Gmail account. Yet, it is inexpensive and enough for most mobile applications. Interestingly, it also has a Voice to Text capability, which converts voice commands into written subtitles. It’s nice, despite some problems.

PROS

  • Lightweight is compatible with the majority of OS systems and browsers.
  • Straightforward user interface – what you see is what you get
  • Meetings can be recorded with a Pro account ($6/month).
  • Sharing a screen
  • Chatbox
  • There is no time limit.
  • Text to speech

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CONS

  • There are no more parameters to mess around with, such as brightness, filters, custom backdrops, etc.
  • Zoom’s illumination could be improved.

4. Microsoft Teams 

“Microsoft Teams” is an application package built for distributed work groups. It provides a suite of resources for project management and collaboration. With the free plan, you may hold a conference call with up to 100 participants while still having enough space to edit documents, set up projects, track activity, and organize meetings all in one place.

PROS

  • The free plan is available to up to one hundred persons.
  • Meetings in Microsoft Teams can run up to 60 minutes, however Zoom meetings are limited to 40 minutes.
  • With HD-quality calls, you’ll never miss a word.
  • Systematized assistance for dispersed groups

CONS

  • While having everything in one place might be beneficial for teams, it can also lead to confusion.
  • The emphasis is on continual collaboration rather than one-time events.

5. Skype

Skype’s great popularity cannot be denied. It is a straightforward method of meaningful communication for both personal and professional purposes. Many service organizations rely on it to reply to client inquiries. The web conferencing capability of Skype, which allows up to 100 individuals, is outstanding.

PROS

  • The free plan may seat up to 100 people.
  • An Established, Trusted Brand (subjectively) Backs It Up, Including a Recording Feature
  • You can conceal your background while on a video call.

CONS

  • When compared to other options, using the video consumes significantly more data.
  • The program can be difficult to use at times, and some users have reported latency when using it on older devices; for example, my Android phone with only 4GB of RAM runs Skype slowly.

6. Facebook Messenger Rooms

Facebook Messenger Rooms, a feature built for virtual gatherings, may not be what you expected, but it’s here today and has arrived quietly. Amazingly, you may plan it, decide who can participate, and so forth for up to fifty people.

PROS

  • Most of all, it is absolutely free of poor quality.
  • There is no time constraint.
  • It’s as simple as sending a message to invite your friends or coworkers because it’s built into Facebook.

CONS

  • A maximum of fifty persons may attend.
  • Because this is Facebook, security and privacy are always a concern.
  • There are no frills, yet the fact that it is so simple is a positive.

7. GoToMeeting.

GoToMeeting was popular long before its competitors Zoom and Google Meet became extensively utilized online. It is the younger sibling of GoToWebinar, the industry-standard web conferencing program for organizations and people. GoToMeeting is inexpensive at $12 per month and can accommodate up to 150 attendees, however the webinar option is more expensive.

PROS

  • Even the most basic package may accommodate a large number of people.
  • Excellent safety precautions from a reputable company.
  • It includes a free, toll-free phone number that anyone in the world can call to join the conference.

CONS

  • There is no free plan.
  • An application must be installed.

8. FaceTime

FaceTime is a handy videoconferencing app for iOS and Mac devices. You can have a private talk with someone by calling them on audio or video. There’s no need to configure it because it’s built into every Mac and iOS device. You only need their phone number or iCloud email address to get started.

PROS

  • It is completely free.
  • It can accommodate up to 32 people.
  • Works with Macs and iOS devices right out of the box
  • Excellent video quality (supposing you have a good internet connection)

CONS

  • Only available for Mac and iOS devices.
  • In-built session recording is currently unavailable.
  • There isn’t a chat room.
  • There are no additional bells and whistles. It is only for video chats.

9. Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex is an extraordinary service delivered by an exceptional enterprise. Now for its best feature: while it’s simple like the rest of the items on this list and comparable to Zoom’s main features (such as file sharing, chat, phone, audio, and video conferencing), it’s also integrated with an AI that can assist in meetings; an AI that acts like a virtual assistant that takes notes, sets reminders, and much more like a regular assistant…using voice commands while you’re in the meeting.

PROS

  • As a personal assistant, it is powered by artificial intelligence.
  • Meetings of the highest quality, as a top provider, provide this service in the networking and communication industries.
  • Cisco, which specializes in corporate cybersecurity, also provides great security.
  • Opportunities for better conference management
  • Each shared file can have a maximum size of 2 terabytes.

CONS

  • Noise cancellation could be improved further.
  • With only 6 participants, HD conferencing could benefit from an upgrade.

10. Zoom

Zoom has become the most popular online conference application as a result of the current outbreak, which forced most individuals to work from home. All news outlets covered it, both positively and negatively. Similarly, it is used everywhere to initiate a conference call instantly, from classrooms to boardrooms to friend and family gatherings.

In conclusion, Zoom is a good choice if you require a quick, free conference solution. The free edition has several useful capabilities, such as changing your background (a cool feature), sharing your screen, adding a filter to improve your appearance, and much more.

PROS

  • Personal meeting spaces are available.
  • Most users will be satisfied with the free plan’s 40-minute session restriction.
  • Changing the lighting in dark rooms
  • Sharing a screen
  • Sharing of files
  • Chatbox
  • Integration of a calendar as well as various other integrations
  • Meetings can be recorded.

CONS

  • The free option has a time limit of 40 minutes. You’ll need to schedule a new meeting once that time is up.
  • Is there no longer a need to be concerned about security, or is it a persistent issue? There is no such thing as a perfectly safe online meeting platform; in fact, even Zoom experienced security and privacy difficulties last year, which have now been resolved (as far as we know).

Conclusion

Finally, based on your requirements, you can select from a variety of free online meeting solutions. Some of the most popular and extensively used tools are Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet. Other technologies, such as Join.me, AnyMeeting, and Cisco Webex, provide additional features and capabilities.

Finally, the ideal online meeting tool for you will be determined by your individual needs and the meeting you are hosting. With so many possibilities, you’re bound to find the ideal solution to make your online meetings more productive and effective.

FAQs on Best free online meeting apps

What are the best free meeting apps no time limit?

The best free app for online meetings is probably one you've never heard of before: Jitsi Meet. It is the only conferencing app on this list that is truly 100% free—with no time limits. If you're looking for a more popular online meeting app that has a free version, it's a close call between Zoom and Webex

How long can I set up a free Zoom meeting?

Zoom is changing the meeting duration limit for 1:1 meetings hosted by Basic (free) users on paid accounts to 40 minutes. This change creates a uniform 40-minute meeting duration limit for all meetings hosted by Basic (free) users on all account types.

How long can you run a free Zoom meeting?

Meeting ends after 40 minutes

All group meetings scheduled and hosted by Basic (free) users, on Free and Paid accounts, are limited to 40 minutes, regardless of number of participants in attendance. This includes: 1 host, 1 or more participants.

How effective are online meetings?

The overall efficiency of online meetings compared to in-person meetings gradually declines with team size, regardless of the quality of the internet connection that the teams have access to. Smaller teams consistently prefer online meetings, while large teams favour in-person meetings.

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