16 Top Online Meeting Platforms for Teams in 2026

The right online meeting platform can transform how your team collaborates—while the wrong choice leads to dropped calls, frustrated participants, and wasted time. With remote and hybrid work now standard for many organizations, selecting the best video conferencing tool for your needs is more important than ever. This comprehensive guide compares 16 top online meeting platforms, analyzing features, pricing, strengths, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed choice. ## How to Choose an Online Meeting Platform Before diving into specific tools, consider these key factors: **1. Participant capacity:** How many people need to join meetings? Free tiers often limit participants to 3-100. **2. Meeting duration:** Some free plans cap meetings at 40-60 minutes. **3. Recording and storage:** Do you need to record meetings? Where will recordings be stored? **4. Integration requirements:** Does it connect with your calendar, CRM, or project management tools? **5. Security and compliance:** What encryption and security features are needed for your industry? **6. Ease of use:** Can participants join without accounts or downloads? **7. Budget:** What's your per-user or per-host budget? --- ## 16 Best Online Meeting Platforms ### 1. Zoom **Best for:** Large meetings, webinars, and organizations needing reliability at scale Zoom became synonymous with video conferencing during the remote work boom, and for good reason. It offers exceptional call quality, reliability, and a feature set that works for everything from one-on-ones to large webinars. **Key features:** - Up to 1,000 video participants (with Large Meetings add-on) - Breakout rooms for small group discussions - Virtual backgrounds and touch-up appearance - Built-in recording with cloud storage - Whiteboard and annotation tools - Waiting rooms and security controls - Extensive integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack) **Pricing:** - Free: 100 participants, 40-minute limit on group meetings - Pro: $15.99/month/host - Business: $21.99/month/host - Enterprise: Custom pricing **Pros:** - Industry-leading call quality and reliability - Intuitive interface for all skill levels - Extensive third-party integrations - Strong breakout room functionality **Cons:** - Free tier has time limits - "Zoom fatigue" is a real phenomenon - Security concerns (though largely addressed) --- ### 2. Microsoft Teams **Best for:** Organizations already using Microsoft 365 Microsoft Teams combines video conferencing with chat, file sharing, and collaboration in one platform. For Microsoft-heavy organizations, it's a natural choice that integrates seamlessly with the apps teams already use. **Key features:** - Up to 300 participants in meetings - Guest access without Teams accounts - Deep integration with Microsoft 365 - Persistent chat channels - File sharing and co-authoring - Meeting recording with transcription - Together mode for more engaging calls **Pricing:** - Free: 60-minute meetings, 100 participants - Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/user/month - Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/user/month - Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $22/user/month **Pros:** - Excellent Microsoft 365 integration - All-in-one collaboration platform - Strong enterprise security features - Included with many existing subscriptions **Cons:** - Interface can feel cluttered - Requires more resources than simpler tools - Best features require paid Microsoft 365 --- ### 3. Google Meet **Best for:** Google Workspace users and organizations needing simplicity Google Meet provides straightforward, reliable video conferencing that integrates tightly with Google Workspace. It's particularly strong for organizations already using Gmail, Calendar, and Drive. **Key features:** - Up to 500 participants (Enterprise) - Dial-in numbers for audio access - Live captioning and transcription - Screen sharing and presentation mode - Integration with Google Calendar - Noise cancellation - Hand raising and polls **Pricing:** - Free: 60-minute meetings, 100 participants - Business Starter: $6/user/month - Business Standard: $12/user/month - Business Plus: $18/user/month - Enterprise: Custom pricing **Pros:** - Simple, easy-to-use interface - No downloads required (browser-based) - Excellent Google Workspace integration - Strong privacy and security **Cons:** - Fewer features than Zoom or Teams - Limited breakout room functionality - Best features require paid plans --- ### 4. Slack Huddles **Best for:** Quick team discussions and async-first organizations While Slack is primarily known for messaging, Slack Huddles provides lightweight audio and video calls directly within channels or DMs. It's perfect for quick discussions without scheduling formal meetings. **Key features:** - Instant audio/video calls from any channel - Screen sharing during calls - Up to 50 participants - No scheduling required—just start talking - Persistent thread for call notes - Available on desktop and mobile **Pricing:** - Included with Slack paid plans - Pro: $7.25/user/month - Business+: $12.50/user/month - Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing **Pros:** - Seamless from existing Slack workflows - Perfect for quick, informal discussions - Lower barrier than formal meetings - Great for remote pair programming **Cons:** - Not suitable for large meetings - Limited compared to dedicated video tools - Requires Slack adoption --- ### 5. Cisco Webex **Best for:** Enterprise organizations with strict security requirements Webex has long been an enterprise staple, offering robust security features and compliance certifications that make it attractive for regulated industries. **Key features:** - Up to 1,000 participants - End-to-end encryption - AI-powered meeting assistant - Real-time translation (100+ languages) - Whiteboarding and annotation - Extensive admin controls - Hardware room system integration **Pricing:** - Free: 100 participants, 40-minute limit - Starter: $14.50/license/month - Business: $25/license/month - Enterprise: Custom pricing **Pros:** - Enterprise-grade security - Strong compliance certifications - Excellent for hybrid meeting rooms - Reliable at scale **Cons:** - Interface less modern than competitors - Can feel complex for simple needs - Higher pricing for full features --- ### 6. GoToMeeting **Best for:** Professional meetings with external clients GoToMeeting offers reliable, professional video conferencing with a focus on simplicity and quality. It's particularly popular for client-facing meetings. **Key features:** - Up to 250 participants - One-click meeting start - Mobile apps for iOS and Android - Drawing tools and screen sharing - Meeting transcription - Personal meeting rooms - Integration with CRM tools **Pricing:** - Professional: $14/organizer/month - Business: $19/organizer/month - Enterprise: Custom pricing **Pros:** - Reliable, professional experience - Easy for participants to join - Good mobile experience - Strong customer support **Cons:** - No free tier - Fewer features than Zoom - Interface feels dated --- ### 7. FaceTime **Best for:** Small team meetings within Apple ecosystem FaceTime is Apple's built-in video calling solution, now supporting up to 32 participants and available on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. **Key features:** - Up to 32 participants (Group FaceTime) - SharePlay for watching together - Portrait mode background blur - Screen sharing - Spatial audio - No account required for joining (via links) - Free for all Apple users **Pricing:** - Free: Included with Apple devices **Pros:** - Excellent video and audio quality - Deep Apple ecosystem integration - No separate app or account needed - End-to-end encrypted **Cons:** - Best experience limited to Apple devices - No breakout rooms or enterprise features - Limited to 32 participants - No recording capability --- ### 8. Amazon Chime **Best for:** AWS-centric organizations Amazon Chime combines video meetings, chat, and screen sharing with deep AWS integration. It's particularly attractive for organizations already invested in Amazon's cloud ecosystem. **Key features:** - Up to 250 participants - Alexa integration for meeting management - Screen sharing and chat - Meeting recording - Pay-per-use pricing option - VoIP and dial-in - SDK for custom applications **Pricing:** - Basic: Free - Pro: $3/user/day (pay only on meeting days) - Business: $15/user/month **Pros:** - Pay-per-use model can save money - Strong AWS integration - Alexa for meeting control - Good for developers (SDK) **Cons:** - Less polished than competitors - Smaller user base - Limited third-party integrations --- ### 9. RingCentral Meetings **Best for:** Organizations wanting unified communications RingCentral combines video meetings with phone, messaging, and fax in one platform. It's ideal for organizations wanting to consolidate communication tools. **Key features:** - HD video and audio - Screen sharing and annotation - Meeting recording - Team messaging - Cloud phone system integration - Virtual backgrounds - Whiteboarding **Pricing:** - Essentials: $19.99/user/month - Standard: $27.99/user/month - Premium: $34.99/user/month - Ultimate: $49.99/user/month **Pros:** - Unified communications platform - Strong phone integration - Good for customer-facing roles - Comprehensive admin tools **Cons:** - More expensive than video-only solutions - Complexity if you only need meetings - Learning curve for full platform --- ### 10. Zoho Meeting **Best for:** Zoho ecosystem users Zoho Meeting provides straightforward video conferencing that integrates with Zoho's broader suite of business applications. **Key features:** - Up to 250 participants - Screen sharing and whiteboard - Meeting recording - Virtual backgrounds - Browser-based joining - Integration with Zoho apps - Webinar capabilities **Pricing:** - Free: 3 participants, 60 minutes - Meeting: $2.50/host/month - Webinar: Starts at $8/organizer/month **Pros:** - Very affordable pricing - Good Zoho ecosystem integration - Simple, clean interface - No downloads required **Cons:** - Limited advanced features - Smaller market presence - Fewer integrations outside Zoho --- ### 11. Lifesize **Best for:** Organizations with dedicated meeting rooms Lifesize specializes in high-quality video conferencing, particularly for conference rooms with dedicated hardware systems. **Key features:** - 4K video support - Cloud recording with unlimited storage - Hardware systems for meeting rooms - Up to 500 participants - Noise suppression - Screen sharing and content sharing **Pricing:** - Lifesize Go: Free, limited features - Plus: $14.95/host/month - Enterprise: Custom pricing **Pros:** - Exceptional video quality (4K) - Strong room system integration - Unlimited cloud recording - Good for professional settings **Cons:** - Hardware focus adds complexity - Less suited for casual meetings - Higher total cost with equipment --- ### 12. BigBlueButton **Best for:** Educational institutions and online learning BigBlueButton is an open-source video conferencing platform designed specifically for online learning environments. **Key features:** - Built for education - Whiteboard with multi-user access - Breakout rooms - Polling and hand raising - Shared notes - Recording and playback - LMS integration (Canvas, Moodle) **Pricing:** - Free: Self-hosted - Managed hosting: Variable **Pros:** - Purpose-built for education - Open-source and customizable - Strong learning features - No per-user costs (self-hosted) **Cons:** - Requires technical setup if self-hosted - Less polished than commercial options - Limited for non-educational use --- ### 13. Join.me **Best for:** Quick screen sharing and presentations Join.me focuses on simplicity, making it easy to share screens and collaborate without complex setup. **Key features:** - Instant screen sharing - Custom backgrounds - Recording - Integration with calendars - Mobile apps - Whiteboard tools - URL shortcuts **Pricing:** - Lite: $10/host/month - Pro: $20/host/month - Business: $30/host/month **Pros:** - Very easy to use - Quick screen sharing - Good for sales demos - Clean interface **Cons:** - Fewer features than full platforms - Pricing for basic features - Limited participant capacity --- ### 14. FreeConferenceCall **Best for:** Budget-conscious organizations As the name suggests, FreeConferenceCall provides free audio and video conferencing for unlimited participants. **Key features:** - Free video and audio conferencing - Screen sharing - Recording - International dial-in numbers - 1,000 participant capacity - No time limits - Mobile apps **Pricing:** - Free: All basic features - Premium: $9.99/month for advanced features **Pros:** - Completely free for basic use - Large participant capacity - International dial-in included - No time limits **Cons:** - Ad-supported free tier - Less polished experience - Limited integrations - Basic feature set --- ### 15. Skype **Best for:** Personal and small team use Skype pioneered video calling and remains a simple, free option for small group communication. **Key features:** - Free video calls - Up to 100 participants - Screen sharing - Real-time subtitles - Call recording - Chat and file sharing - Skype-to-phone calling **Pricing:** - Free: Full video features - Phone credits: Variable **Pros:** - Completely free for video - Simple to use - Widely recognized - Good for international calls **Cons:** - No enterprise features - Occasional reliability issues - Being deprioritized vs. Teams - Limited business integrations --- ### 16. Whereby **Best for:** Teams wanting no-download meetings Whereby (formerly Appear.in) offers browser-based video meetings with no downloads required—participants simply click a link. **Key features:** - No downloads required - Custom meeting room URLs - Screen sharing - Recording - Integration with YouTube - Breakout groups - Customizable branding **Pricing:** - Free: 1 room, 100 participants - Pro: $6.99/user/month - Business: $9.99/user/month **Pros:** - Nothing to install—just click link - Customizable room URLs - Simple, modern interface - Good for external meetings **Cons:** - Browser-only can have quality issues - Limited advanced features - Smaller ecosystem --- ## Comparison Table | Platform | Free Tier | Max Participants | Recording | Best For | |----------|-----------|------------------|-----------|----------| | Zoom | ✅ 40 min limit | 1,000 | ✅ | Large meetings | | Teams | ✅ 60 min limit | 300 | ✅ | Microsoft users | | Google Meet | ✅ 60 min limit | 500 | ✅ | Google users | | Slack Huddles | ❌ | 50 | ❌ | Quick chats | | Webex | ✅ 40 min limit | 1,000 | ✅ | Enterprise | | GoToMeeting | ❌ | 250 | ✅ | Client meetings | | FaceTime | ✅ | 32 | ❌ | Apple users | | Amazon Chime | ✅ | 250 | ✅ | AWS users | | RingCentral | ❌ | 500 | ✅ | Unified comms | | Zoho Meeting | ✅ | 250 | ✅ | Zoho users | | Lifesize | ✅ | 500 | ✅ | Room systems | | BigBlueButton | ✅ | 300+ | ✅ | Education | | Join.me | ❌ | 250 | ✅ | Screen sharing | | FreeConference | ✅ | 1,000 | ✅ | Budget | | Skype | ✅ | 100 | ✅ | Personal use | | Whereby | ✅ | 100 | ✅ | No downloads | --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What's the best free online meeting platform? For most use cases, Zoom's free tier offers the best balance of features and reliability. Google Meet is excellent if you're already in Google Workspace. If you need longer meetings without time limits, FreeConferenceCall or Whereby are good alternatives. For Apple-only teams, FaceTime provides excellent quality at no cost. ### Which platform has the best video quality? Lifesize leads with 4K support for premium video quality. Among mainstream platforms, Zoom and Google Meet consistently deliver high-quality video. Microsoft Teams has improved significantly but can be more resource-intensive. For smaller groups, FaceTime offers excellent quality within the Apple ecosystem. ### What's the most secure video conferencing platform? Webex leads for enterprise security with end-to-end encryption and extensive compliance certifications. Zoom has significantly improved security since 2020 and now offers end-to-end encryption. Microsoft Teams provides strong security within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. For privacy-focused users, open-source options like BigBlueButton allow full control. ### How do I reduce video meeting fatigue? Limit meeting length (45-50 minutes instead of 60), encourage cameras-optional policies, schedule breaks between meetings, use audio calls when video isn't necessary, and consider async alternatives like recorded videos. Tools like [SchedulingKit](https://schedulingkit.com) can help by automating scheduling and reducing unnecessary meetings. ### Which platform is best for hybrid meetings? For hybrid meetings (in-room plus remote participants), Zoom and Microsoft Teams offer the best experiences with dedicated room systems. Webex also excels here with strong hardware integration. Google Meet works well with Chromebox setups. Consider platforms with features like automatic speaker focusing and shared whiteboarding. --- ## Key Takeaways - **Zoom** remains the most versatile and widely-used platform for most organizations - **Microsoft Teams** is the natural choice for Microsoft 365 environments - **Google Meet** provides simplicity for Google Workspace users - **Enterprise needs** are best served by Webex, Zoom, or Teams - **Budget-conscious teams** can succeed with free tiers or FreeConferenceCall - **Education** benefits from purpose-built tools like BigBlueButton The best platform depends on your specific needs—consider participant counts, integrations, budget, and how meetings fit into your broader collaboration workflows. --- ## Related Articles - [6 Most Effective Types of Meetings for Teams](/blog/6-most-effective-types-of-meeting) - [Tips to Manage Remote Teams Effectively](/blog/tips-to-manage-remote-teams) - [Tips for Effective 1:1 Meetings](/blog/tips-for-effective-11-meetings) - [11 Tips to Run a Team Meeting](/blog/11-tips-to-run-a-team-meeting) - [Meeting Invitation Email Examples and Templates](/blog/meeting-invitation-email-examples-and-templates)