Best Zoom alternatives for video calling

(Paradigm credit: Zoom)

The best Zoom alternatives handle your video calling and conferencing needs if you can't (or don't want to) use Zoom. Many video conversation users await for alternatives to Zoom because of security and privacy concerns, they want features that Zoom doesn't offering or they simply desire to try out something different.

Fifty-fifty with social distancing regulations mostly gone, anybody still needs these services if they are still working remotely from abode. And they're withal a corking way to go along in touch with family unit and friends who live far away.

Over the last few years, millions of people have used Zoom, i of the best video chat apps and video calling software solutions during the pandemic. Just other video calling services like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Skype take been adding new features and functionality to keep upward with Zoom. So, if you're looking for Zoom alternatives for your video conferencing needs, hither are the top choices.

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Google Meet (free and paid)

Best Zoom alternatives: Google Hangouts Meet — (Epitome credit: Google)

Google Encounter is the nearly well-known and widely used Zoom alternative. Encounter was previously only bachelor to paying 1000-suite customers, but the company added a costless tier through the end of 2021. You can hold video calls with up to 250 participants, hold presentations and record meetings and save them to Drive. You can also easily send a coming together link to participants outside of your company.

Google also recently added more Zoom-like features to Run into, like a grid view, custom backgrounds and fun filters. And now See is integrated with Gmail, so yous can start a video call right from the left column of your e-mail browser window. Google has plans for further upgrades down the road.

Get to Google Meet

Microsoft Teams (paid and free)

Best Zoom alternatives: Microsoft Teams — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Teams allows paid users to host video meetings for upward to 300 people. Different the Microsoft-endemic Skype, Teams does offering standard video conferencing tools, like screen sharing and the ability to tape meetings. Teams is included with ii unlike Function 365 plans, which also provide Office apps, one TB of OneDrive storage and more.

There's also a free version of Teams, though it comes with fewer features than the paid version. But yous're in luck, since Microsoft rolled out a six-month gratuitous trial of paid plants to encounter the loftier demand acquired by the pandemic.

Microsoft Teams is gratis for half-dozen months and paid plans start at $v per user per calendar month.

Skype (free)

Best Zoom alternatives: Skype — (Image credit: Skype)

The pop video conversation software Skype is well-known and widely used, and its new Skype Meet Now characteristic is hither to challenge Zoom. Meetings can hold upwards to 50 users, and users no longer need an account to sign in, just a link. Cheque out our Skype vs Zoom face-off for more details.

At that place is a text chat window, but otherwise, Skype doesn't have the meeting organization tools that the other Zoom alternatives have. Just it'due south free and tin exist used on the web, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Download Skype for free.

Facebook Messenger Rooms (gratuitous)

Facebook is never one to cede digital territory, and then it's lamentatory up its video chat options with Messenger Rooms. The new feature allows Facebook members to create public or individual video chatrooms that can concur up to 50 people for an unlimited amount of time. By comparison, gratuitous Zoom calls tin concur upwards to 100 participants for 40 minutes. In a very rare move, Facebook is assuasive people without accounts to bring together a Messenger Room via a link.

Participants can use Facebook'due south augmented reality filters, sort of like Snapchat filters. Other features can brighten dark rooms and touch up your appearance. Room calls are not end-to-terminate encrypted, but Facebook says it will not heed in on whatever calls. And room creators tin remove participants at any fourth dimension.

Go to Facebook Messenger

Discord (free)

Best Zoom alternatives: Discord — (Image credit: Discord)

If you lot want a free Zoom alternative, await into Discord. The communication app is popular with gamers, but can be used past anyone looking for encrypted chat, messaging and video calls. Users gear up a dedicated "server," which tin be organized into rooms (similar to Slack) that host video and text-based chats.

Discord recently raised the limit for Go Live video calls from 10 users to fifty. And the app is available on almost spider web browsers, likewise every bit Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.

Download Discord for gratis.

Zoho Meeting (paid)

Best Zoom alternatives: Zoho Meeting — (Image credit: Zoho)

The open-source video conferencing service allows yous to host end-to-finish encrypted video meetings and calls for upwards to 100 people. Participants don't demand to sign up for a login; they can access the meetings through a link or a dial-in via web browsers, desktop clients or mobile apps. Zoho has even provided a handy chart comparison its production to Zoom.

Zoho Meeting offers an array of meeting tools, like screen sharing, the ability to record calls and moderation (yous tin mute participants, for example). And you can easily pull in documents, spreadsheets and presentations since the service is integrated with Zoho's Function suite. But note that there'southward a different pricing programme for webinars, which may make it too costly.

Zoho Coming together pricing starts at $eight per calendar month.

GoTo Meeting (paid)

Best Zoom alternatives: GoToMeeting — (Prototype credit: GoToMeeting)

One of the beginning video conferencing services out there, GoToMeeting is a characteristic-packed Zoom alternative. The entry-level plan allows for 150 participants, while the enterprise plan can include up to three,000.

GoToMeeting offers all the standard tools, like the ability to record meetings and share your screen. You can too have multiple meeting facilitators. And the service is accessible on web browsers, Mac, PC, Linux, iOS and Android.

GoToMeeting pricing starts at $12 per month.

Kelly is a senior writer covering streaming media for Tom's Guide, so basically, she watches Telly for a living. Previously, she was a freelance amusement author for Yahoo, Vulture, Television Guide and other outlets. When she'due south not watching Idiot box and movies for work, she's watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.