Video conferencing has become an essential tool for businesses and individuals alike in recent years. The pandemic introduced a lot of us, myself included, to a whole new way of getting in touch with people. Does anyone remember ever using the term Zoom Face pre-2020? No, thought not.
Now, the dust may have settled on that very trying time for us all but the demand for remote working and video conferencing hasn’t gone away – if anything it’s actually increased. That means there’s a growing demand for reliable, easy-to-use (and free) video conferencing platforms (Btw, do you secretly miss doing online quizzes? No, just me? Oh, okay 😞).
What free video conferencing tools are available?
Fortunately, there are tons of free platforms out there:
- Facebook Live
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams
- Skype
- Slack
- Switchboard
- YouTube Live
- Zoom
They all offer a wide range of features, but which one is the best?
Today, I’ll be focussing on three of these: Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.
So, what say you we dial in and see if we can come out with a winner without freezing up?
Sorry, your mic’s not turned on. Say that again? points to ear repeatedly
Google Meet
Advantages
- Secure – Google Meet uses end-to-end encryption to protect your meetings
- Easy to use – Very easy to use, even for beginners and luddites like me
- Integrated with other Google products – It’s integrated with other Google products, such as Gmail, and Google Drive
- Long meeting times – 60 minute meetings at no cost
Disadvantages
- Limited features – Doesn’t offer as many features as Zoom
- Meeting size – Meetings are limited to 100 participants
- No breakout rooms – Google Meet does not offer breakout rooms
Microsoft Teams
Advantages
- Feature-rich – It offers a wide range of features, including screen sharing, recording, and breakout rooms
- Integrated with other Microsoft products – Microsoft Teams is integrated with other Microsoft products, such as Office 365 and SharePoint
- Secure – The platform uses end-to-end encryption to protect your meetings
- Collaboration tools – It also offers a variety of collaboration tools, such as file sharing, chat, and task management
- Meeting times – Schedule group audio or video calls for up to 60 minutes and unlimited one-on-one meetings lasting up to 30 hours.
Disadvantages
- Difficult to use – Microsoft Teams can be more difficult to use than Zoom or Google Meet, especially for beginners
Zoom
Advantages
- Ease of use – Zoom is really easy to use, even for beginners
- Loads of features – Zoom offers a wide range of features, including screen sharing, recording, and breakout rooms
- Scalable – Zoom can handle large meetings of up to 1,000 participants
- Popularity – It’s the most popular and widely-used platform, so people will be familiar with using it
Disadvantages
- Privacy concerns – Zoom has been criticised for its privacy practices
- Technical issues – It can be bandwidth-intensive, so it may not be ideal for users with slow internet connections or those on mobile devices using roaming data
- Lack of features – Zoom doesn’t offer all of the features that some users might want. For example, there’s no built-in whiteboard or the ability to record meetings with multiple participants
Conclusion
And the winner of best free video conferencing platform in 2023 is….
Drum roll, please.
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Whichever one you prefer using the most.
While I pick the splinters out of my arse from too much fence-sitting, here’s a quick summary.
All three platforms are good video conferencing platforms.
The best platform for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
If you’re looking for a platform with a wide range of features and the ability to handle large meetings, then Zoom is a good choice.
If you need a platform that’s easy to use and integrates with your other Google products, then Google Meet is a good choice.
Finally, if you want a platform that’s integrated with other Microsoft products and offers a wider variety of collaboration tools, then Microsoft Teams could be the one for you.
Book a call
I hope this wee blog helps you choose the right video conferencing platform for your needs, and if you fancy having a virtual 1:1 with me to discuss writing blogs, articles, or LinkedIn posts for you then hit the button at the end of this article.
Right, I’ve just got a message saying that the call will end in ten seconds, so I guess I’ll see you around.
Musn’t wave
Mustn’t wave
Mustn’t wave
”Bye, everybody!”
“Byyyyeeee”
Waves enthusiastically
Shit!