What is the best online meeting app in UK? There are a few free alternatives to Skype. The most popular free versions of web-based video conferencing is having a lot of features and functionalities that you can’t find in paid versions.
Here are some of the best online meeting apps in UK that help connect people together for conferences, webinars, video conferencing or virtual meeting online.
FreeConference
Looking for sites like Gruveo that offer more features? True to its name, FreeConference offers powerful video conference calls at no cost. You’ll find more business-oriented features on this service than the others, such as dial-in numbers for audio participants.
FreeConference lets you schedule meetings and send out reminders automatically, but you can also start meetings instantly if you don’t need advance notice. Calls feature screen sharing as well as moderator controls to easily mute noisy callers. You can keep track of your meetings with the mobile calling apps.
The free plan is limited to 1,000 audio callers (with free international dial-in) and five users in the online meeting. You’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan to raise those numbers and add features like call recording, but you shouldn’t need them for personal use.
Download: FreeConference.com for Android | iOS (Free)
Skype / Skype for Business Basic
No list of free conference call apps could be complete without Skype, if for no other reason than many people you know likely already use it. Using mobile apps for Android or iOS, desktop apps on Windows or Mac, or via Skype’s web app, the service lets you connect with your friends for easy video calls. Screen sharing is supported as well.
A maximum of 50 people can join a group chat. Note that Skype’s fair usage policy holds that a group video call can only last for four hours. You shouldn’t have any problem calling a handful of friends, as long as each has a strong internet connection.
If you need a more business-focused solution, Skype for Business Basic offers more. It includes the fundamentals of the Skype for Business platform, such as Free/Busy statuses and meeting support. For most people, though, regular Skype should be sufficient.
Download: Skype for Android | iOS (Free)
Download: Skype for Business for Android | iOS (Free)
FaceTime
FaceTime was a one-on-one calling app until the release of iOS 12. Now you can use it to make group video calls with up to 32 people. Combined with the fact that FaceTime is preinstalled on all Apple devices, this makes it the best conference call app for Apple users.
Of course, this is only a good choice if you’re looking to call a group of Apple fans. FaceTime is not available for Android or Windows, so anyone without an Apple device will be out of luck.
Download: FaceTime for iOS (Free)
Google Meet
Google has so many different apps and solutions — like Google Voice for a free phone number — that it can be really difficult to keep track of everything they offer. While Google Voice and Google Meet do have integrations for one another, Meet can do much more than just basic calling options Google Voice offers. Of course, just like most other Google apps, Meet is completely free. Users can send/receive instant messages, video chat, send/receive SMS messages, and host VoIP calls. Furthermore, Google Meet also supports captioning in German, Portuguese, French, English, and Spanish (Spain as well as Mexico) ensuring that your team members can communicate efficiently regardless of where they’re from.
What many often overlook, is the ability to screen share baked right into Google Meet on top of everything else the app offers. Google has actually stated that it plans for Google Meet to be the future of its telephony product, so of course, that’s where all the great features are. The free web conferencing that Google Meet provides is also extremely accessible since anyone with a Gmail account can be invited in just a couple of clicks. All meetings also automatically sync with your Google Calendar to ensure you never forget about a video conference even on your busiest day.
Microsoft Teams
Considering Office 365 has over 50 million users, choosing online meeting platforms that play nicely with other Microsoft tools is the obvious choice for many businesses. That’s exactly what Microsoft Teams provides since it integrates with over 700 apps including everything you’re already using if you’re a 365 subscriber. In terms of native functionality, its free screen sharing is just the tip of the iceberg. You can also create channels within your workspace to easily segment different departments within your company. The recent updates have also provided a more automated experience for users with automatic transcription and mic sensitivity so your host doesn’t have to tweak a dozen settings like they’re running a recording studio.
Did we mention that Microsoft Teams supports up to 10,000 people? Needless to say, scaling up shouldn’t be an issue if you choose Microsoft Teams. Some of the video conferencing features you’ll get to reap include background blurring, live captions, call recording, and plenty more to cater to your every need. Lastly, it’s worth noting that Microsoft teams also integrates with other video conferencing platforms like RingCentral, Zoom, and TeamViewer. This makes it possible to continue using the existing web conferencing platforms already in your stack while still reaping the benefits that Microsoft Teams has to offer.
Zoom
Zoom has seen an explosion of use since the coronavirus pandemic began to circulate. Although it has a premium tier, the free version allows up to 100 people to join a video meeting together.
The catch is that you’re limited to just 40 minutes for any meeting of three or more people.
Like other video conferencing software, Zoom provides 256-bit encryption on any transmission which means you can be confident your meeting – and any documents shared within it – stays safe.
You can either download the Zoom client to your computer (or install the iOS/Android app) or launch it directly in your browser once you’ve signed up for an account.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is designed for seamless efficiency and collaboration. It integrates with Office applications like Word and SharePoint, and its design and infrastructure make it exceptionally interactive. The company has also made it possible to integrate Skype for Business into Microsoft Teams.
This program was designed as a response to the growing number of collaboration tools, like Slack, that have dominated the market in the last few years. Microsoft Teams is a catch-all chat tool for the workplace, but its video conferencing option is just as compelling and powerful. Users can launch video conferences directly from their chats.
All Microsoft Teams plans include:
- Web version of Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- File storage and sharing
- Up to 300 users
- 24/7 phone and web support
One of the newest features included in Microsoft Teams allows users to invite guests that are not part of their enterprise’s Azure Active Directory. In addition, the mobile version of Microsoft Teams supports voicemail on Android and iOS.
Google Hangouts
Google’s entry into the video conferencing space sometimes gets forgotten about but considering so many people have Google accounts already it’s worth considering.
Like Skype, it operates through a web client and supports up to 250 participants. There’s a very clean interface and, as you’d expect, it fits in well with other Google products like Calendar and Google Docs. There’s also the option to record and save meetings to Google Drive.
ezTalks Meetings
Perhaps the biggest selling points of ezTalks Meetings are its continuous technological advancements and its developers’ unwavering commitment to introducing cutting-edge features and state-of-the-art video meeting protocols.
This solution is compatible with Android and iOS devices and has a relatively straightforward user interface, even for first-time users. ezTalks Meetings is a solid web application for video conferencing in healthcare, community and education. However, with less distribution and adoption as Zoom, you may find less partners familiar with the tool.
All ezTalks Meetings plans include:
- Unlimited number of meetings
- Instant or scheduled meetings
- Join by telephone call-in
- HD video and audio
- Private and group chat
- Interactive whiteboards
- Screen sharing with co-annotation
In the free version, it’s possible to accommodate as many as 100 people in a single meeting for up to 40 minutes, and host an unlimited number of HD video conferencing recordings on this platform.
StarLeaf
StarLeaf is outfitted with its own API, which makes it possible to customize its conferencing. The company provides an extensive range of upgrades and integrations including Slack and Skype for Business, and it comes with a complimentary app for Android, iOS and Windows users.
StarLeaf’s unique architecture allows you to deliver business-wide connectivity, avoiding the limitations associated with virtual meeting room solutions. The platform is an incredible alternative for those who don’t want to spend on costly on premise video infrastructure.
All StarLeaf plans include:
- Global audio dial-in telephone numbers
- Full interoperability with Skype for Business
- Unlimited guest invitations
- Calendar integrations with Outlook and Google
StarLeaf is UK-based, but has a rapidly growing international client base in Europe, New Zealand, America and Australia. The company has plans to invest in APAC and expand worldwide.
Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex is an excellent video collaboration software for online training, webinars and remote support. In particular, it’s excellent for businesses that have legitimate security concerns. This teleconference software features Transport Layer Security (TLS), third-party accreditations, encryption, firewall compatibility, single sign-on and secure scheduling options.
Cisco Webex includes seamless integration with Outlook and the ability to use it across different platforms including Mac, Windows and iPads. What’s more, Cisco Webex is part of an ecosystem of interoperable solutions for working remotely. It allows you to add specialized functionalities for training, remote technical support or webinars.
All Cisco Webex plans include:
- Screen sharing
- HD video
- Unlimited meetings
- Cloud recording and storage (limits vary by plan)
- Business-hours phone support for lower level plans and 24/7 support for pricier plans
Participants
The free video conferencing version of Cisco Webex is limited, only allowing two participants in meetings. For paid plans, Webex allows between 50 and 1,000 participants.
GoToMeeting
Even though GoToMeeting no longer dominates the video conferencing space, it remains a highly polished remote meeting software with a long list of features that would satisfy the needs of most business environments.
This user-friendly software has a few important advantages over its competitors, including its polling and “raise a hand” features. Furthermore, GoToMeeting allows unlimited video meetings and secures these meetings with end-to-end encryption.
All GoToMeeting plans include:
- 24/7 customer care
- HD video
- Unlimited meetings
- Screen sharing from desktops, tablets or mobile devices
- Messaging
- Web audio – no phone required
- Security
With a 14-day free trial, you can see the ease and convenience of the features first-hand.
Participants
GoToMeeting allows 10 to 250 participants, depending on the type of plan you get. However, the free version allows a maximum of three participants vs. up to 100 on other platforms.
Conclusion
Meeting tools have a huge impact on the productivity of a team. Skype, Google Hangouts, and other apps for meeting can be great alternatives to traditional conference calls. They allow for video conferencing and file sharing through chat messages.