Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many companies have switched to remote working. As a result, communication apps are becoming more and more popular, and a huge number of paid and free applications are emerging. Companies use different video call applications depending on their needs, and in this process they prioritize functionality. In this blog post, we will talk about Zoom and the Zoom alternatives that make teamwork easier in the digital world.
What is Zoom?
Zoom is a video conferencing platform that uses end-to-end encryption. It was founded in 2011 in partnership with Cisco Systems and WebEx, and it became fully operational two years later. Use of the Zoom application increased dramatically during the pandemic. Although there are Zoom alternatives, it remains a popular application used by individuals, schools, and companies alike. Anyone who wants to hold meetings online can register for Zoom for free. You can download the application to all your devices and use it across them.
The free account has some restrictions: it allows 40-minute video calls with up to 100 participants. Users can upgrade by subscribing to one of the paid plans, the largest of which allows up to 1,000 simultaneous participants with no time limit.
Webinars, meetings, training sessions, and video calls can all be held on this platform. You can organize live virtual events on Zoom, stream to YouTube, and record your meetings. There is also a chat panel on the side, and you can run live Q&A sessions. You can even organize fun icebreaker games by dividing participants into breakout rooms. To use Zoom on mobile, download the application from app marketplaces such as the App Store or Google Play Store.
After signing in with your email account, you can start a meeting right away or schedule it for later. You can send the meeting ID and password to attendees by email or message. Zoom works on mobile phones, tablets, and computers. You can do all of this with Zoom and with Zoom alternatives.
How to Use Zoom for Business Meetings?
Zoom Meetings is the core feature of the app. It is a very good choice for internal meetings, job interviews, and customer communication. Zoom Business is best suited for businesses that hold regular meetings and work with multiple teams. It offers features such as custom URLs for a business’s Zoom meetings, meeting recording, and dedicated customer support. It also includes unlimited one-on-one meetings and unlimited group meetings.
With these features, you can easily organize meetings in your company and increase motivation within the team. You can also keep track of the work you do with your team and colleagues interactively. Later in this article, we will cover the features of Zoom alternatives for businesses, as they can also be used for business meetings.
What are the Advantages of Zoom Video Calling?
With Zoom, we can easily handle our work and meetings with one click and connect from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection and a device. Handling meetings in a practical way helps with time management and efficiency, and saves you time. It can be paid or free depending on your usage and needs. In addition, you can hold international video calls with participants from all over the world. It allows teams that cannot be together physically to gather and meet, which increases motivation within the team. Zoom alternatives also have many advantages, as you will see in the rest of the article.
The 9 Best Zoom Alternatives For Video Calling
There are many Zoom alternatives available. Here are the ones we have selected, so that you can choose the one that suits your needs.
Google Hangouts
One of the best Zoom alternatives is Google Hangouts. Developed by Google, it is a messaging and video call application. It is one of the tools used by offices in different locations to work together. It has a simple, easy-to-use interface and offers services such as video chat, internet phone calls, Google Voice, video conferencing, and messaging. You can use it simply with your Google account, and it works across mobile devices, desktops, and laptops. To use Hangouts, all you need is an internet connection and a Google account.
Skype
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Luxembourg, Skype is part of Microsoft. With this application, used in both daily and business life, you can hold conversations from your mobile device, computer, Xbox, or Alexa. It is designed for both one-on-one and group conversations. It has messaging and video calling features, and you can also transfer files. You can talk to people from all over the world as long as you have an internet connection. At a low cost, you can enjoy more features and reach more people: you can use it as a phone line and send messages to phone numbers.
FaceTime
Apple bought the FaceTime name from FaceTime Communications. You can use FaceTime on iOS or iPadOS devices over Wi-Fi or a cellular connection, and it exchanges data over the internet. You must sign in with your Apple ID, and you need the phone number or registered email address of the person you are calling. FaceTime is developed for Apple users. Group FaceTime calls can include up to 32 people at the same time, which is why it can be considered a Zoom alternative.
ooVoo
ooVoo is another Zoom alternative. It is a multi-chat and video call application that you download from the internet. Anyone who clicks the meeting link can join the video conference. It works on different types of devices. Up to 12 people can start or join a group video chat, and files such as photos can also be shared. Since 2014, the app has supported cross-platform messaging, keeping you connected with the people who matter most. You can video chat with anyone worldwide or send messages via video, photo, or text.
BlueJeans
You can join BlueJeans video meetings with up to 150 attendees, and this number can increase on a paid plan. You can check information such as meeting duration, number of participants, and feedback. The BlueJeans Rooms service is designed for office video conferencing, and the BlueJeans Events service is offered for webinars. You can easily create an account with your email address. Both Android and iOS are fully supported. BlueJeans delivers a premium video conferencing experience optimized for the mobile workforce, making it a really good Zoom alternative.
Join.me
Join.me, another Zoom alternative, uses the slogan “Business calls anytime, anywhere.” It is used when a meeting needs to be set up at short notice: others can join the video call through a link. It is specially designed for organizers of team meetings and client presentations, and it is compatible with Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac. You can create a free account, and its simple interface makes it easy to use. Its features include video conferencing, audio conferencing, full mobile compatibility, single-link scheduling, a personal link, a whiteboard, screen sharing, and webinars.
Webex Meetings
Webex Meetings is a communication platform built for conferencing over the internet. It distinguishes itself with flexible, inclusive, and secure features. It offers intuitive video as well as easy scheduling and joining. More than 25 billion video calls are held on this application every month. Cisco Webex Meetings has many features, such as sharing and chat, along with customizable features such as presentations, calendar scheduling, recording, and screen sharing. You can join from your desktop, browser, video device, or mobile device. It is one of the very best Zoom alternatives.
Microsoft Teams
With Microsoft Teams, you can make video calls, collaborate as a team, and share files, and it places great importance on privacy and security. You can join conversations without the Teams app, but you need a Microsoft account to start a conversation and use other features. It works seamlessly across phones and computers. Although we list it as a Zoom alternative, it is a strong competitor in its own right.
In addition to these features, it includes accessibility features for people with disabilities, such as the visually impaired. Files are shared within groups and synchronized with a copy stored in Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage and a local SharePoint environment, so people in the group can edit the files. All your data in chats, notes, and files is encrypted. Other features include customization by adding notes, websites, and apps; seeing likes, @mentions, and replies with a single tap; and using chat instead of email.
Hipcall
Hipcall is an all-in-one communication solution for companies. It offers phone system, call center, video meeting, social, and instant chat features, and it strives to provide the best means of communication. Hipcall puts the values of courage, reason and science, human capital, and conscience at the forefront. It has specific products for different industries and work teams, and it is the right choice for e-commerce, call center, education, healthcare, IT, and SaaS companies. It is also a good application for customer service and sales teams to manage their work effectively.
Teams working from different regions can also use Hipcall. You can start trying these products, which we can count among the Zoom alternatives, by requesting a demo. Products are available for all kinds of needs. Hipcall is a very good solution for companies that meets all their communication needs.
Conclusion
Today, we need video and voice calls more than ever to see our distant loved ones or to work with our colleagues. Zoom and Zoom alternatives serve this purpose. New technology products emerge every day, and to choose the most useful one, you need to know their features. In this article, we covered Zoom and Zoom alternatives.
Video call applications meet many of our needs. In the new world order, we have come to value communication more, and with these applications we can communicate instantly and effectively. If you want to learn more about virtual meetings, take a look at our blog post The Best Virtual Meeting Guide: What is Virtual Meeting? & Why Do Companies Prefer It?
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Written by
Onur Ozgur OZKAN
Co-founder & CEO
The Hipcall team builds an all-in-one communication platform for sales and support teams, combining business phone, call centre, CRM, and helpdesk into a single workspace.
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