When it comes to an online meeting, you have a lot of options to choose from. If you’re a business owner, you need a platform where you can conduct meetings in a meaningful and productive way. And if that’s what you’re looking for in an online meeting platform, then this blog post is right up your alley. We shall cover the Best Best Free Online Meeting Platforms, best free online meeting platforms, and their importance.
Using technology in business allows us to communicate with one another, no matter the distance. It gives you the opportunity to share ideas and grow your network of contacts. Meeting people in person allows for easier relationships and better communication, however not everyone is in the same location or accessible at the same time. That’s where Online Meeting Platforms come into play. They are virtual meeting spaces that allow you to meet people online, wherever they are in the world. It’s important when using free Online Meeting Platforms that you’re aware of their strengths and weaknesses so they work for your needs instead of against them..
1. Zoom
Who should use it?
Zoom is ideal for anyone who works remotely or has remote team members. Zoom allows for simple, easy setup meetings or regular meetings in your personal meeting room. Quickly create and share a private meeting link with an individual or team and connect remote team members through video.
Top Free Features:
- Host up to 100 participants
- 1-1 and group meetings
- Unlimited meetings
- HD video and audio
- Screen sharing
- Scheduled meetings
- Private and group chat
- Host controls
2. Google Hangouts
Who should use it?
Google Hangouts is a simple way to connect with Google contacts (or those outside of your network) and can be used for personal or business reasons. Use this tool for individual conversations, team meetings, recorded demos, and more.
Top Free Features:
- Up to 25 video participants
- Video, audio, and messenger conversations
- Video meeting recordings
- Join calls using Google Calendar
- Screen sharing
3. Dialpad Meetings
Who should use it?
The free version of Dialpad Meetings is ideal for teams of 10 or less. The free version limits your video call duration to 45 minutes, so it’s ideal for shorter meetings. Since it allows unlimited video conferences, you can use this video conferencing tool for recurring meetings, like 1-1s or monthly team debriefs.
Top Free Features:
- Up to 10 participants
- Unlimited conferences
- Call recording
- HD Audio
- Screen and document sharing
- Mobile apps
4. TrueConf Online
Who should use it?
TrueConf offers a free plan with up to three participants in video calls. This solution is great for small teams or individuals who need a simple tool to host video calls or collaborate with small groups. The collaboration features like remote desktop control are helpful for those in support who may need to help a client solve a problem.
Top Free Features:
- Up to three participants on team calls
- HD video
- Collaboration tools (screen sharing, remote desktop control, recorded calls, file transfer, and shared virtual whiteboard)
5. Skype
Who should use it?
The free version of Skype works well for small teams with less than 10 total members. It is a good tool if you need a simple way to video chat from your computer, phone, or tablet and tend to have smaller group meetings or 1-1 conversation. Skype also offers a tool called Skype in the Classroom specifically designed for online education.
Top Free Features:
- Up to 10 people on video calls
- HD video calling
- Screen sharing
- Video call recording
- Interactive video chats
- Location sharing
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6. FreeConference
Who should use it?
FreeConference ideal for smaller teams or meetings with five or fewer participants. One major perk of this video conferencing tool is its ease of use — no downloads are required to start using it. Plus, moderator controls allow the individual who’s running the video conference to keep the meeting on track.
Top Free Features:
- Up to 5 online meeting participants
- Screen sharing
- Document sharing
- Moderator controls
- Text chat
Dialpad Meetings 
Dialpad Meetings (formerly UberConference) is a no-download video conferencing tool with built-in AI and a high level of customization.
Meetings can be scheduled directly in the Dialpad interface, or via Microsoft 365/Google Calendar. Instant team chat messaging, screen/app/browser tab sharing, whiteboarding, and real-time file collaboration are also available with Dialpad Meetings.
Dialpad Meetings offers a free plan and a paid plan for $15.00/user per month. Free plan users enjoy 45-minute minutes with up to 10 participants. Additional free features include:
- Call recording
- Audio-only conferencing
- Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, LinkedIn, Twitter, Evernote, Intercom, and Salesforce integrations
- Meeting room locks
- Online knowledge base access
- Web and chat support
- Phone support Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Best For:
Dialpad Meetings is best for small companies that host brief meetings often, but who primarily need to find a free video conferencing tool that integrates with third-party tools many other platforms require a paid account to integrate.
Pros:
- Includes high level of free integrations
- Phone support available on the free plan
- Call recording, screen sharing, and instant messaging included in free plan
Cons:
- Free plan has a maximum participant capacity of 10
- Free plan doesn’t include some top AI features (like automated post-meeting notes) Dialpad is especially known for
Cisco Webex Meetings
Cisco Webex Meetings is one of the top video conferencing solutions due to the expansiveness of its free plan. While it does share the 40-minute time limit of Zoom, you get 1 GB of cloud storage and the ability to add as many as 50 participants in a single meeting.
The active speaker view makes it easy to keep track of who’s talking in a given moment. Another handy feature is the real-time polling that you can use to make team decisions during meetings.
Calendar integrations also make it easy to schedule tasks whenever a new aspect of the project is discussed. All meetings and recordings are fully encrypted to ensure that no one eavesdrops. Did we mention that it also supports HD video and screen sharing?
Best for:
Companies looking for a feature-rich solution with an expansive free plan.
Pros:
- 1 GB storage
- Up to 50 participants
- Active speaker view
- Real-time polls
- Calendar integrations
- Full encryption on meetings and recordings
- HD video
- Screen sharing
Cons:
- 40-minute time limit on the free plan
Conclusion
Meeting online is one of the greatest innovations that changed the way we work or meet someone in person. Today, if you’re looking to set one up, there are countless choices available. It can be confusing and time-consuming to look for the best online meeting platforms.