Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that allows people to meet and communicate online. It’s similar to other tools like Skype and Zoom, but it’s designed specifically for use with Google’s suite of productivity tools. To use Google Meet, you’ll need a Google account. Once you have an account, you can join or create a meeting by clicking on the “Meet” tab in Google Hangouts.
If you’re joining a meet, you’ll need the meet link or code that the host has shared with you. Once you have the link, just click on it, and you’ll be able to join the meet. If you’re creating a meet, you’ll need to choose whether you want it to be open to anyone with the link or if you want to require a passcode.
During the meeting, you’ll be able to see and hear other participants, and they’ll be able to see and hear you. You can use the chat feature to communicate with everyone in the meeting. There are also some features that allow you to do things like sharing your screen, mute yourself or leave the meet. Google Meet is a great tool for online communication. It’s easy to use, and it’s free,
Most of us are well versed with Google Meet, the business-oriented version of Google Hangout. But, if you are looking for a Google Meet Alternative, this is just the right article for you. It is imperative to understand that Google Meet is not the only option within the Web and Video Conferencing category. Whether you are looking for a more affordable alternative or seeking more functionality, there are a plethora of options to choose from.
1) Cisco Webex
If you are in the hunt for one of the most powerful yet simple web conferencing tools, Cisco Webex is the one to go for. One would be surprised to know that Webex Meeting has the highest ranking video conferencing platform on G2 Top Software 2020 list. Almost 95% of all the Fortune 500 companies prefer to use Cisco Webex Meetings. Webex has a wide array of supporting devices starting from their all-new desktop app, to a completely different mobile experience.
When it comes to a video meeting, it comes with all the modern functionalities along with easy scheduling. Some of the most profound features of Cisco Webex include background noise detection, AR functionalities, and even video call back. Tools like screen sharing and in-app whitebeard can help your team to collaborate efficiently. This is one of the most prominent reasons why IT firms prefer Webex.
Pros:
- Option for one button push joining
- Cross-platform functionality
- Seamless video and audio
Cons:
- The navigation option for back-end management is hard to get
- A bit on the costlier side
2) Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting should be your one-stop solution for all your webinar and online meeting needs. Host secure and robust web meetings on the go. Zoho Meetings provides cross-platform functionality so that you can use any operating system and browser. It tightly integrates with Zoho CRM. So, get the most out of your meetings, schedule, and invite new prospects. Using Zoho CRM, get detailed reports of your meetings as well.
You can easily set up marketing meetings, cost-effective sales, and after-sales support with just a few clicks. Land potential clients and monetize your product and services.
Pros:
- Very easy to set-up
- Comes with affordable pricing options
- Can cater to all of your business needs
Cons:
- Lacks the most common third-party integrations
3) Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is one of the cloud-based group collaboration solutions. Just as the name suggests, it helps teams with an easier workflow. Some of the key features of Microsoft Teams consist of messaging, file sharing, and certainly file sharing.
One of the biggest advantages that Microsoft Teams have over Google Meet is the ability to store files online. Users can communicate via instant messaging, web conferencing, and online meetings. Since it is a Microsoft product, there is a seamless transition between Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint.
You can also find additional features such as assistant bots, search through contacts, and certainly multi-factor authentication. Teams use Skype to facilitate all the video and voice callings. Some of the third-party integration include GitHub, Power BI Tools, Trello, and many more. In other words, if your team is more inclined toward working with Microsoft Products, Teams is just the right tool for you.
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy-to-understand interface
- An effective way to collaborate for every team size
- Easy to connect video calls
Cons:
- For some, the navigation can get tedious at times
- Sometimes there are connectivity issues
4) GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar is one of the most versatile webinars and webcasting platforms. It is particularly designed to cater to the purpose of all businesses, no matter their sizes. Its approach to online conferencing makes it a great Google Meet alternative. You can get robust security settings, a free call recording option, and automatic bandwidth adjustments. In other words, properly curate your video conferencing just the way you want. Apart from just collaborating with your team, one can also generate leads simultaneously.
You can host large-scale events as GoToWebinar offers great versatility with scheduling, publishing, and engaging functionalities. You can also create a custom registration page, share videos, create webinar templates, manage your audience, and more. Since GoToWebinar is a white-level platform, you can completely personalize everything for your company.
Their insight tool can really come in handy for a better understanding of the webinar, along with a detailed analytics report. Regarding the pricing, you can easily opt for an annual or monthly subscription.
Pros:
- Voice calls work seamlessly
- Easy to Navigate UI
- You won’t be having any connectivity issue
Cons:
- Pricing is comparatively higher than its competitors
- Sometimes their Help Center is hard to reach
5) BigMarker
BigMarker is yet another cloud-based platform known for hosting webinars. One of the biggest USPs of BigMarker is its in-built marketing tool, which can help organizations to grow. Some of its key features include automated webinars, including customized landing pages, polls, chats, meeting rooms, and analytics and reports.
BigMarker provides a plethora of templates to choose from when it comes to making customized landing pages. At the same time, marketers can make use of email and social media campaigns in order to land potential clients. Neither less, to say, data visualization with real-time metrics enables the host to get a better insight into the webinar.
The pricing varies based on individual preferences to even large enterprises. It has better integration with third-party software such as HubSpot, Twitter, MailChimp, and even YouTube.
Pros:
- easy to use for both the host and the attendees
- Packed with all the essential features
- affordable pricing options
Cons:
- The audio and video can go out of sync during recording
- The webinar descriptor doesn’t contain the basic word processing functionalities like Bold or Italic.
6) Moodle
Moodle initially started out as a cloud-based platform for learning management solutions. But, soon, it gained a ton of momentum among teams to seamlessly collaborate and add value. If you are planning to provide customized staining courses for your employees, Moodle is just the right choice for you. The centralized dashboard and predictive analytics enable users to track courseware and track students’ real-time progress.
Some key features include data backup, calendar, activity tracking, and contact management. Moodle also offers mobile app support for both Android and iOS devices. Above all, one can even save their courses for offline view.
Moodle seamlessly integrates with some of the most renounced third-party applications such as Microsoft Office 365 and Google Apps. You can either opt for their annual subscription or get it free.
Pros:
- Very easy to use UI
- Very affordable pricing option
Cons:
- Lacks some of the marketing functionalities
7) RingCentral Meetings
RingCentral Meetings is one of the best partners for taking your business online. Regardless of the size of your business, you can communicate and share content within the team. And did we forget to tell you? It comes with cross-platform functionality. Focusing on the managerial aspects, you can easily create tasks and assign the same to your team members.
Cloud storage facilitates modification, storage, and content removal for future use. Some key features include HD video calling, custom registration, whitebeard sharing, Q and A session, and more. You can easily manage online courseware related to video presentations or sharing documents on your desktop.
While syncing with Microsoft Outlook, you can easily schedule your meetings using RingCentral. It also supports integration with cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box. You can get customer support via phone and email.
Pros:
- Extremely reliable for the professional work environment
- Best for screen-sharing presentations
- Very streamlined and easy to use
Cons:
- You will be charged right before adding new members
- There is no room for an annual subscription
Final Takeaway
All the Web and Video Conferencing software mentioned in the list are some of the industry standards. Based on your preference, get the one you resonate with the most, and you are good to go. Just bear in mind, the collaboration and understanding among the team matters and helps a business grow, not the software.