8 Best Video Conferencing Platforms Ranked by Use Case

We’ve analyzed the top-performing apps on the market to bring you our selection of the best video conferencing software for your needs.

Choosing our winners out of the smorgasbord of video conferencing apps was difficult. However, Jabra has over 150 years of experience in engineering communication solutions, so we know a thing or two about effective video conferences.

Alongside our own industry insights, we put in the research — scouring the internet, checking user forums, and talking with experts to really understand which platforms are being used for specific use cases.

Every business has a different budget, so beyond the big three (Google Meet, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams), we wanted to share options from basic to premium. We then refined the market down to the best eight options according to:

• Features
• User-friendliness
• Performance
• Pricing
• Specific use cases

As a result, we now have a strong list of the best video conferencing platforms for your business.

Whether you’re searching for the simplest tool to use, the one that’s best suited to grow with your brand, or the one that offers the best value for money, there’s a tailor-made solution below.

Note: Each platform we’ve covered has a pretty robust free version, so you can test and see if it’s right for you before you commit.

No time to get into the complete breakdown? Here’s our list of the top platforms for specific use cases.

• Zoom - best for growing businesses
• ClickMeeting - best for hosting webinars
• Google Meet - best for Google integrations
• Zoho Meeting - most cost-effective
• Webex - best for cross-platform functionality
• Microsoft Teams - best for accessibility
• BigBlueButton - best for e-learning or virtual training
• Livestorm - best for security

Read on for more details about why we chose each one. But here’s the TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) version:

If you’re wondering, “Which platform can grow with my business?” Then Zoom’s affordable and extensive plans allow you to improve inclusion as your headcount increases.

Discounts on webinars and rooms, unlimited cloud storage, unlimited meetings, and advanced support allow you to meet with up to 1,000 people as many times as you like.

This solution is perfect for businesses in the health and safety, construction, and event management industries, where multiple meetings a week with varied audiences are necessary.

Additionally, new advancements like smart name tags can automatically identify people in your meeting.

Experienced keynote speaker and author Shira Miller highlights that calling people by their name can have several galvanizing effects on audiences, including helping to build deeper connections, increasing motivation, and promoting employee engagement.

Smart name tags display attendees' names on screen, even in Zoom Rooms, ensuring no one is forgotten. This helps build trust and prevents any awkward moments for the host.

However, while it is super popular, it is not without its challenges. For example, more security-sensitive businesses like law firms, banks, and medical facilities may want to look into Zoom’s chequered security past.

Noteworthy features

• Gallery view for up to 49 participants
• Simple to use
• Robust free plan
• AI-generated real-time transcription and meeting summaries

Pricing

Possible cons

• Free version only allows 40-minute sessions
• Potentially weaker security for sensitive discussions

Where the platform falls down slightly is the support elements and pricing.

Account management support is available, but only on the highest tariff. So, if you don't have the budget for the top plan, you may have to suffer in silence if you experience any hiccups.

At the highest end of the payment scale, you can get all that incredible webinar functionality and cast to 1,000 people. But it could wind up costing you upwards of $300 a month, further pressurizing follow-up strategies.

Noteworthy features

• Host of clever integrations to track webinar efficacy and reach
• Use email marketing integrations to follow up with attendees
• In-meeting functionality to create polls, Q&As, and surveys

Pricing

Possible cons

• Support is limited until you upgrade to the top package
• Presenter screen can feel busy on first use

Plus, noise cancellation is only available on the upper end of the payment tiers.

Tip! If you use Jabra PanaCast 50 Bar, it comes with professional audio, including noise suppression, whiteboard-sharing technology, and three cameras that provide a 180° view of the room so you can see everyone in the room.

Noteworthy features

• Google suite integrations
• Meet with up to 100 participants on 60-minute meetings for free
• Google Meet mobile app allows you to catch up easily on the move

Pricing

Possible cons

• Lacks whiteboard sharing tools
• No option for breakout rooms, surveys, or polls on the free version

Zoho does miss out on some of the integrations you see from those more expensive competitors like Google Meet, Teams, or ClickMeeting. And setting up the AI functionality can be complex.

But, if you want a robust, simple-to-use, and cost-effective solution for screen sharing and collaborating in large groups for longer, this is the perfect platform for you.

Vinko Tosevski said after switching his healthcare firm to the platform:

"The process of switching and getting used to Zoho Meeting was smooth and without any issues. The user interface was and still is very intuitive."

Noteworthy features

• Affordable pricing structure for all types of video conferences
• Simple to use interface
• Unlimited meetings allowing up to 100 participants for 60 minutes on free plan

Pricing

Possible cons

• Lacks some third-party integration
• AI setup can be complicated

In addition, the software delivers HD audiovisual clarity. So, if you don’t have the budget to upgrade your headset or video conferencing cameras right now - this could offer a decent stop-gap solution.

Plus, it comes with intelligent functionality, including drawing, text, sticky notes, and a "magic pen" that tidies up your messy rectangles and circles. Making it a great cross-platform tool for collaborative teams.

However, if you want to be sure of the very best connectivity and audiovisual clarity, combining PanaCast with Cisco is the best way to guarantee crystal-clear connectivity.

Noteworthy features

• High-quality audiovisual offering
• Excellent collaborative tools across all platforms
• Free version available with up to 100 participants and a 40-minute duration

Pricing

Possible cons

• Suffers from loss of connectivity on occasion
• Expensive packages for smaller businesses

Noteworthy features

• Microsoft 365 integrations
• 24/7 phone and web support on all plans
• File and screen sharing for excellent collaboration capabilities

Pricing

Possible cons

• Free version has limited advanced features when compared with other platforms
• Can be complex for new users to navigate

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) moved away from conventional web-conferencing systems to BigBlueButton to make their online training more effective.

Using the platform to integrate seamlessly with their eLearning software, AVID was able to increase student engagement via the use of polls, chats, multi-user whiteboards, breakout rooms, and shared notes.

They said of the platform:

“BigBlueButton provided a robust, stable solution and had a big enough feature set that could support our standard of high engagement learning online.”

Noteworthy features

• Strong real-time collaboration tools for online learning
• Opportunity to leverage breakout rooms
• Simple-to-use user interface

Pricing

BigBlueButton offers two hosting payment plans (Economy and Premium), which doesn’t sound too complex. But, those are then broken down into 18 different options - which can be seen as either a plan customization heaven or a pricing complexity headache.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the costs for each plan.

Possible cons

• There is a free version, but you need to download and run it on your server
• Software must be installed & maintained on Ubuntu Linux server - which can be complex
• Complex payment plans can get expensive

Noteworthy features

• Robust cyber security features
• Excellent collaborative tools for help breaking down complex topics
• Simple to use with straightforward UX

Pricing

Possible cons

• Lack of an app could make connecting on the go difficult
• Slightly restrictive free package when compared to competitors

Choosing the right video conferencing platform is specific to your business’s needs. Before committing to a platform, there are a number of considerations:

• How many participants do you need?
• How often do you meet with this number of participants?
• Is security or integration more important for your team?
• How sensitive is the information you’re sharing generally?
• Do you need conferencing software to inspire collaboration or educate?

It’s important to evaluate what matters most to your business. If you’re in need of added security, then Livestorm might be best. Whereas, if many of your sessions are e-learning-based, then maybe you’d be better off with a less corporate platform like BigBlueButton.

Additionally, think about your current software and integrations. If you’re an MS or Google-centric office, then it may be less disruptive to continue with Teams or Meet solutions.

Budget can also be a factor. If reliability or cost-efficiency is a priority, then either Zoom or Zoho Meeting will work great.

No matter which platform you choose, make sure to test thoroughly before committing to a payment plan. Take full advantage of free trials and make sure you’re getting peak performance by pairing your chosen platform with Jabra’s professional-grade Headsets and video conferencing cameras.