May 28, 2020 The best video conferencing services offer phone, email, and chat support in addition to extensive online documentation. Active user communities are also a.
Conference call developed by technology has supported extensive conference calling sessions, and through these calls, you can connect to thousands of participants. As technology is increasing day by day, conference call gives offer so that businesses can use this technology and do hassle-free conference calling and collaboration.
This, in turn, helps the companies to save money on different expenses like travel so that productivity can be increased. Facetime is the most popular Video Conferencing App but Facetime for PC is not available. You have to use other alternatives for Windows.
We can use Mac to do conference calls as well as video calling, and this offers different types of value-added features that will help you to outsource conferencing services, and this is a cost-effective solution for any business.
Video Conferencing Apps for Windows
Here are some of the best free video conferencing apps providers with video and screen share and are supported by MAC.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is an application that is highly popular these days for web conferencing services, and the name itself suggests that. When you are using the free plan on this application, then it provides one of the best as well as most natural methods so that you can do conference calls.
GoToMeeting also has the sharing capabilities of the screen. This application feature of a one-click meeting solution helps beginners so that they can quickly figure out the software, and this application is friendly with iOS software.
Link – https://www.gotomeeting.com
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a compulsory secured application and is in tie-up with Cisco. TeamViewer provides an app that basically claims to have approximately 1.3 billion protected devices, and they can be operated by using remote support, and this will also help you to participate in different online meetings.
This platform has a great emphasis on different support as well as solutions.
TeamViewer’s has different features, and these features include the ability to run different remote sessions, and at the same time, Mac operating systems can support this website on the browser.
Link – https://www.teamviewer.com
Cisco Webex
This application is hosted, owned, as well as developed by networking giant Cisco, Webex and this application top many of the lists that give you the ranking for the best web conference software and this is one of the first conference solutions that was developed but later it was, created a product that was pretty much effective.
It is just like most other web conferencing systems; this is a free version of Webex. Webex’s free version gives you a specific limit of adding participants to a conference call, and that is up to three.
Link -https://www.webex.co.in
Skype
This is the most common application that is used by most of us.
Skype has an option of free, web conferencing solution and also very user friendly. Skype also gives you a choice of free video calling as well as you can share your screen, but this feature is not widely known.
The screen sharing option is free of cost, and that makes this application much better. Skype is not as flexible as other applications are. Skype does not force participants to download any additional software. Anyone who is willing to join Skype needs to sign up.
Link – https://www.skype.com
Join.me
This also one of the software that is used for conference calls, and this was developed by the same team that created the LogMin suite, and that provides different tools for collaboration.
Join.me is one software that is easy to use, and even beginners can use this software easily, and this application only needs one-click so that it seems to have some motivation, and that is basically behind the tools.
Join.meexpands the one-click functionality, and that is basically beyond some of the interoffice communications.
Link – https://www.join.me
Google Hangouts
Google has several solutions and also several applications, for example, Google Voice.
It has so many other apps, and also these applications help us to keep up everything that we need to have regularly. Google Voice and Hangouts are more or less the same and also provide us with the same functions.
Whereas other Google apps, like hangout, are free to use. This provides us with a platform that allows users to receive as well as send instant messages, receive and send SMS messages, and also do video chats.
Link – https://hangouts.google.com
How can we do video calling on Mac?
- For this, you need to open the application with which you want to do a video call, and then you need to select the contact, or you can also search for an individual in the organization, and that search can be done by using the search bar.
- Then click on Ctrl+click, and then you can choose, and you can start a Video Call, and then you can initiate a video call.
How to Add Another Person to a Video Call?
When you want to add another person to a video call, then you need to drag and then drop their name as well as contact information so that you can activate a video call.
When everyone has to stay at home and work remotely for an indefinite period of time, it could feel pretty isolating: no chit-chat, no in-person brainstorming or spontaneous ideas, no Friday night get-togethers, etc.
Luckily, high-speed internet is nearly ubiquitous today, and the rise of video conferencing software means we’re always just a click away from any meaningful conversation.
The problem for most teams and companies right now, however, is to find the best free conference call services (or paid) for their particular needs as well as supplying everyone with the right video conferencing equipment. How do you go about it? Let’s explore.
What Are The Best Video Conference Tools?
There are so many online meeting apps available today that it’s easy to get lost in the variety. So you need a structured approach to compare the options available and choose the one that suits your needs the best.
And once you find the right call tools for you, you can keep using them far beyond the current stay-at-home environment. After all, consider how much more effective it would be to simply hop on a call than travel to visit your clients in person. You could also think about extending the work-from-home policy indefinitely, giving your employees more freedom in managing their days. Anyway, here are some qualifying categories to help you choose the best conference call service.
Video and audio quality. Delivering a perfect picture and crisp sound to dozens of participants in real time is no easy feat, and some web call tools do better than others. It’s important to try a few options under different conditions (e.g. home WiFi, mobile LTE network) to pick one with the best video quality available.
Screen sharing. One of the most useful features that you’d be likely to use every day at work is sharing your screen with others — for example, running a presentation or walking someone through a certain issue.
Screen recording. Not everyone can attend every meeting, and it’s generally considered to be a waste of time to repeat yourself. So the ability to record your presentation once could yield benefits for a long time. Plus, it’s a great way to make communication in your company more transparent overall.
Number of participants. Depending on how you want to make video calls, the amount of people you’re able to invite is an important constraint. Do you want to keep it small and go with free video conferencing or do you occasionally hold company-wide meetings with dozens or hundreds of participants? The answer will largely determine the free conference call app you need.
Price. Since video conferencing software is so difficult to create, it’s no wonder that most of it is not free. If your team is small, you might be able to squeeze into some free online calling plan, but otherwise most apps charge a set price per certain number of seats per month.
Interface. The usability of some free web conferencing tools leaves much to be desired. Thus, it’s important to pick a tool that doesn’t require a lot of training and is naturally easy to use.
Platform availability. As the work today is done from anywhere, an ideal video conference app would be accessible natively from desktop, but also from mobile devices and the web.
Now let’s look at some of the best conference call services on the market right now through the prism of these requirements.
Incumbent: GoToMeeting
As one of the original players in the video conferencing space, GoToMeeting (founded in 2004) is still considered to be a frontrunner by many. This video conferencing software features a straightforward UI that anyone can pick up right away and lets you share your screen and even record meetings (on a Business plan). While not a call free online tool, GoToMeeting costs a reasonable $12 a month on a Professional plan and $16 on a Business one. Full-featured mobile apps are also a great plus.
Challenger: Zoom
Since the start of the pandemic, Zoom probably has been discussed more often than any other app for its suitability to the work-from-home environment.
On the positive side, Zoom has been praised for its call quality, both video and audio, user-friendly interface, the ability to run meetings for free with up to 100 participants (for up to 40 minutes), the screen-sharing as well as screen-recording (for paid users only) functionality.
As for the negatives, Zoom has recently been criticized for its attitude towards privacy and user security. In addition, the paid plans are per host per month and could get pretty expensive if you want to have multiple hosts or run a meeting with more than 100 people.
Office 365 users: Microsoft Teams
Those who use Microsoft Office 365 on a daily basis don’t have to look far for a viable option for free calling online. They can already use the Microsoft Teams collaboration software that comes together with the Office suite.
Microsoft Teams is natively integrated with other Microsoft apps, which makes it easy to send invites to your colleagues via Outlook, for example. This secure video conferencing software supports up to 10,000 participants and has some interesting features, such as blurring the background and putting the speaker in focus — perfect for those work-at-home moments when all kinds of stuff can be distracting in the background.
Small teams: Skype
So far the apps reviewed above have mostly targeted medium and large-sized companies. But what if your team is just a few people working remotely and you don’t need any extra bells and whistles?
Skype is a free video conferencing software you might’ve only used in your personal life before, but it actually works great for small teams too. The app is stable and truly multi-platform. The quality is good, and screen sharing is available.
The only limits are video calls that can handle up to 10 people and the price you have to pay for Skype phone if you want people dialling in from a landline (plans are quite affordable). As a bonus, since acquiring Skype, Microsoft has done a good job at integrating it into its own software ecosystem.
Free: FreeConference
When it comes to any type of software, free is the most powerful feature. Similarly, once you know you need a free conference call app, you should definitely give FreeConference a try.
FreeConference allows you to call free online (international dial-in plans are available) and hold online meetings over video with up to five participants. The app works seamlessly just over the browser and doesn’t require any installations. And it’s free!
How to get your Mac ready for video calls
When you feel like you’ve found the best free conference call service, your next step should be ensuring that your Mac is up to the task as well. After all, it could’ve been a while since the last time you gave your Mac a marathon video conferencing workout.
First, check that your Mac camera is working properly. If it’s not, refer to this handy step-by-step guide to fix it. Second, inspect your WiFi connection. Streaming video requires a lot of bandwidth, so it’s good to make sure that your desk is right at the optimal WiFi spot in your home. How would you know that?
WiFi Explorer is a robust wireless connection analyzer that can not only show you the strength of your reception in any corner of your home but also help you troubleshoot and suggest optimal changes to get the best results possible. Use this app to rearrange your modem or even move your workplace in a way that gets you maximum internet speed.
The real secret for productive meetings
After you choose the best conference call service and configure your camera and WiFi, you’ll soon find yourself drowning in meetings, which will be coming at you from all sides. How do you make sense and keep track of all the notes and to-dos?
iMeetingX is an all-in-one, get-things-done solution for managing meetings of any kind. This straightforward but powerful app blends together the ability to plan ahead, assign tasks, track progress, manage people, and more. iMeetingX is the first step to truly effective team collaboration you need to make.
How to share video recordings
Recording meetings and saving them to your shared cloud drive is a great way to promote transparency and make sure everyone in the company is on the same page. Lots of video call tools would let you record the meeting at the click of a button, but doing even the most simple edits to those videos is a complete mystery to most.
Capto is a simple screen recording and (most importantly for us) video editing app that you can use to improve your meeting videos. Easily cut out waiting time, long pauses, add annotations, create transitions, and more. Plus, sharing or uploading your video to your storage (even using FTP/SFTP) after you’re done is possible with just a single click.
Best Free Mac Software
As you can see, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to online meeting software, from traditional players like GoToMeeting to lightweight and free online calling tools like FreeConference. Just don’t forget to make sure your internet connection is as fast as it can be with WiFi Explorer, take extensive notes with iMeetingX, and lightly edit your videos later with Capto.
Best Video Conferencing Software For Mac Free
Best of all, WiFi Explorer, iMeetingX, and Capto are available to you absolutely free for seven days via Setapp, a platform with more than 180 top-grade Mac apps for your team. Explore the curated selection today and see what your process has been missing all along!