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Whether you're a huge corporation or a small start-up, effectively communicating with your employees is perhaps one of the most important aspects of running a business.
We think the best conference call services on the market today are GoToMeeting, Zoom and Lifesize. This is because of their impressive sound quality, feature-rich platforms, and interoperability across operating systems.
Cost should be a major factor when picking out any conference call service, but the goal isn't to pick the cheapest option: It's to pick the price that will ultimately save your business the most money. Once you know the service offers the abilities your operation needs, you can match that against the price tag to see if it's worth buying.
View our list of the best conference call providers for 2020 below, or try our comparison tool for business communication solutions if you're interested in comparing prices for integrated conference call services, including video chat, instant messaging, and more.
The Top 10 Conference Call Systems for Business
Different businesses will prioritize different features and capabilities from their conferencing software. The top three services offer great all-around packages, but venturing out to examine all ten of the top performers might be worth your while as well.
Here are the best conference call services to consider for your business:
- GoToMeeting — Best all around
- Zoom — Best for ease of use
- Lifesize — Best for interoperability
- Webex — Best for feature range
- UberConference — Best for Google Chrome lovers
- BlueJeans — Best for business integrations
- Join.me — Best for a customizable interface
- Skype — Best for chatbots
- Google Meet — Best for G Suite compatibility
- FreeConferenceCall — Best for recording capability
Tech.co selected and ranked these conference call systems using five main criteria: The quality of the audio and video, the quality of the interface, the range of features, the quality of support, and the range of price plans offered.
While we settled on the ranking listed below, that doesn't mean that you won't find a service low on our list best meets your specific needs. As you read through our reviews, you'll find we've highlighted the particular features that each service does best, and it might be just what you need.
1. GoToMeeting
Price: $12 – $16 per month per host
If you're looking for a reliable conference call service with years of experience and plenty of conference calls under its belt, GoToMeeting is the software you need to look into. Since 1997, GoToMeeting has become one of the most recognizable names in conference calling, with 18 million users hosting 80 million meetings every year.
With HD video, clear audio, and enough helpful features to keep everyone on track, GoToMeeting is an industry standard for a reason. The simple interface, combined with an easy-to-use layout, makes it a no-brainer for everyone in the office. Most notably, this software provides unmatched compatibility with a wide range of devices, from mobile to PC to Mac.
The only downside is that GoToMeeting is missing a few advanced features that really add to the conference call experience. You can't share video, you can't take polls, and video meetings get capped at six sessions.
GoToMeeting has three plans, all of which come with the same basic features: Screen sharing, dial-in conference lines, no meeting limits, personal meeting rooms, a mobile app, 24/7 customer support, and integrations with Slack and Salesforce. The Professional and Business plans can host conference calls with up to 150 and 250 participants, respectively. The Enterprise plan is for up to 3,000 participants.
GoToMeeting Professional:
- Starts at $12 per month
- Up to 150 participants
- No meeting limits
- Screen sharing
- Dial-in lines
GoToMeeting Business:
- Starts at $16 per month
- Up to 250 participants
- Co-organizers
- Unlimited cloud recording
- Transcription
GoToMeeting Enterprise:
- Custom pricing
- Up to 3,000 participants
- InRoom Link
- Customer success manager
- Onboarding and training
GoToMeeting is a very reliable and secure conference call service that will get the job done. It's a bit basic, but if you don't need all those bells and whistles, the high quality audio and video are more than enough to keep your team connected.
Pros:
- Try GoToMeeting free for 14 days with a no-obligation trial
- High quality audio and video
- Very reliable and secure
- Lower cost than competitors
Cons:
- No free plan
2. Zoom
Price: $15 – $20 per month per host
New to the conference call service game, Zoom has been turning heads since its founding in 2011. This reliable and easy-to-use software makes conference calls as easy as sending a link to potential participants via email.
Despite Zoom's rookie status in the world of conference call services, this company has shown that experience doesn't always translate into a quality product. The easy-to-use interface, combined with the low price, fast install times, and plentiful features, easily makes up for any audio quality problems you might have and puts Zoom just below GoToMeeting as a worthy conferencing service.
On top of standard video conferencing and IM messaging capabilities, Zoom comes with a number of helpful features that bring your team together. You can conduct marketing events and town hall meetings with their video webinar function, collaborate with coworkers with their patented Zoom Rooms feature, and add dozens of apps to the software for additional functionality.
Zoom has a limited free plan along with three paid plans.
Zoom Basic:
- Free
- Up to 100 participants
- 40 minute duration limit
- HD video conferences
- Web conferences
- Group collaboration features
Zoom Pro:
- Starting at $14.99 per month
- Up to 100 participants
- 24 hour duration limit
- Cloud recording
- Admin control features
- Reporting tools
Zoom Business:
- Starting at $19.99 per month per host (minimum of 10 hosts)
- Up to 300 participants
- Dedicated phone support
- Cloud recording transcription
- Company branding
- Custom emails
Zoom Enterprise:
- Starting at $19.99 per month per host (minimum of 100 hosts)
- Up to 1,000 participants
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Dedicated customer support manager
- Executive business reviews
While Zoom's Business and Enterprise plans appear to cost the same amount, they have a different minimum number of hosts: 10 and 100, respectively. Since each host costs $19.99 per month under both plans, this means that the plans come with a minimum cost of $199.99 per month and $1,999.00 per month. The Professional plan tier has no minimum, however, making it the cost-effective choice for a small team.
Some reviewers have complained that the audio quality is not perfect, despite the HD audio status. In addition, the service has weathered some security issues that may give privacy-focused users pause. Other than that though, Zoom boasts one of the more affordable, comprehensive conference call services on the market.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Broad functionality
- Free version available
Cons:
- Poor audio quality
3. Lifesize
Price: $13 – $17 per user per month
When a conference call service is trusted by the likes of Netflix, Yelp, LinkedIn, eBay, and Major League Baseball, you can rest assured that they know what they're doing. Lifesize makes conference calling convenient with secure lines, helpful features, and an award-winning app.
Not only will you be able to utilize video and audio technology to connect with team members, you'll also be able to save and share meetings with other coworkers, configure your calendar into the platform, and keep track of how employees are using the software with in-depth reporting. Plus, with 24/7 customer support, any issues that arise can be solved immediately.
While it's hardly the reason you're enlisting a conference call service for your business, chat functions in Lifesize do leave a lot to be desired. But again, that should be far from a deal-breaker. Crystal clear audio, stunning video resolution, and unmatched integration capabilities make Lifesize a go-to conference call service for any sized business.
If you're not already using a program like Slack and are looking for an added chat function with lots of features, you may want to move on. Otherwise, Lifesize is the video conference call service you need to succeed. The service offers a free plan and three paid ones.
Lifesize Free:
- Free
- Only lasts six months
- Up to 25 participants
- No meeting limits
- Personal meeting room
- Mobile apps
Lifesize Standard:
- Starting at $16.95 per month
- Up to 100 participants
- Meeting limit: 24 hours
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- Centralized management console
- Online and chat support
Lifesize Plus:
- Starting at $14.95 per month per host (minimum of 15 hosts)
- Up to 300 participants
- Microsoft integrations
- Real-time meeting insights
- Phone and email support
- One hour of cloud recording storage per host
Lifesize Enterprise:
- Starting at $12.95 per month per host (minimum of 50 hosts)
- Livestream 1,000-viewer events
- Unlimited US audio calling
- Branding and customization
- Premium support
- Unlimited meeting recording
While the per-host-per-month costs drop as the plans gain more features, you'll only save money if you meet the minimum host requirement for each plan: The Plus tier's host minimum is 15, while the Enterprise's host minimum is 50, meaning they'll cost a minimum of $224.25 per month and $647.50, respectively.
Pros:
- 1080p video and HD audio
- Interoperability across operating systems, mobile and desktop
- Integrates with Cisco, Skype for Business, Avaya, Polycom, Radvision, and Microsoft Lync
Cons:
- Unsophisticated chat function
4. Webex
Price: $13 – $26
Webex is a safe bet if you're looking for a seriously robust conference call service. You won't find more features in any software on this list, and its resources provide all the assistance you need to make it work for your company.
Any conference call service run by a company as large and as reputable as Cisco has got to have the technology figured out, and do they ever! This robust software is filled with all the added features you could possibly imagine, and then some.
Webex offers four different plans, one free and three paid.
Webex Free:
- Free
- Up to 50 participants
- 40 minute limit on conference calls
- 1 GB of cloud storage
Webex Starter:
- Starting at $13.50 per month
- Up to 50 participants
- No meeting limits
- 5 GB of cloud storage
Webex Plus:
- Starting at $17.95 per month
- Up to 100 participants
- No meeting limits
- 5 GB of cloud storage
- Assign alternate hosts
- 24/7 customer support
Webex Business:
- Starting at $26.95 per month
- Up to 200 participants
- 10 GB of cloud storage
- Custom branding features
You can poll conference participants, receive and answer questions in the platform, share files in an instant, annotate shared documents in presentation mode, and even facilitate break-out and follow-up meetings directly after a larger conference call. All this, combined with stellar audio and video quality, makes Webex a great choice for conference calling at your business.
Pros:
- Feature-rich software
- High quality audio and video
- Easy setup
Cons:
- Occasional bandwidth issues
5. UberConference
Price: $15 per month per user
Not to be confused with the popular ride-sharing app, UberConference is a basic, easy-to-use conferencing platform designed with everyone in mind. There are no PIN codes, no downloads, no added fuss to get into a meeting – simply create a link, send it around, and bam, you're set up with a meeting.
The free version of UberConference is quite comprehensive, but the paid version comes with a few added benefits, including custom call-in numbers, detailed analytics, international access, and a team management portal. Plus, you'll be able to customize your hold music, with Rick Astley's “Never Gonna Give You Up” as one of the options.
Here are the features and limitations to expect from the two plans. Note that the paid plan limits participants to 100, meaning that any fast-growing companies may need to look elsewhere.
UberConference Free:
- Free
- Meeting limit: 45 minutes
- Up to 10 participants
- PINs required
- Mobile app
UberConference Business:
- Starts at $15 per month (billed annually)
- Meeting limit: 5 hours
- Up to 100 participants
- Custom call-in numbers
- Call analytics
- International access for 50+ countries
- Add guest dial outs
- Custom hold music
- Voice intelligence
- Team management portal
UberConference struggles with working in a wide range of browsers. Reviews have indicated that attempting to work outside of Google Chrome – in Internet Explorer, for example – will cause issues. Considering most people use Google Chrome anyway, UberConference really is a great option for anyone looking to keep it simple in conference calls.
UberConference doesn't come with a lot of features, but the ease of use will make your more technologically daft employees very happy.
Pros:
- Simple interface
- Customizable hold music
- Free version for up to 10 users
Cons:
- Use outside of Google Chrome is a bit dodgy
6. BlueJeans
Price: $12 – $16 per host per month
The whole point of setting up a conference call service at your company is to be able to actually communicate, and you can't do that without quality audio. This is where BlueJeans truly shines, as its audio technology is powered by Dolby Voice. This software is equipped with features like background noise-cancelling and consistent volume levels on any device.
Additionally, BlueJeans comes with features like one-click scheduling and easy screen sharing, so you won't waste any time when it comes to setting up meetings. You'll also be able to integrate apps like Facebook Workplace, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, and Slack for a more complete conferencing package.
Some reviews, however, have insisted that BlueJeans suffers from the occasional connectivity problem. To combat this, make sure you always have the most up-to-date version, as reviewers have cited this as the primary issue.
For small businesses and individuals, BlueJeans has a plan starting at $9.99 per month, which can host meetings with up to 50 participants. An upgraded plan offers additional features and supports up to 75 participants, and an enterprise plan is available for large operations.
BlueJeans Standard:
- Starts at $9.99 per month (billed annually)
- Up to 50 participants
- No meeting limits
- Record up to 5 hours per host
- Video, web, and mobile conferencing
BlueJeans Pro:
- Starts at $13.99 per month (billed annually)
- Up to 75 Participants
- Record up to 25 hours per host
- Slack integrations
- Microsoft Teams integrations
- Zoho integrations
BlueJeans Enterprise:
- Custom pricing
- Up to 100 participants
- Unlimited recordings
- Branding and customization
- Dedicated onboarding manager
BlueJeans is a great conference call service if you're looking to save time in your day-to-day schedule. Most of its features are designed to speed up the process, which makes sense for growing businesses. Just watch out for those connectivity issues, which will certainly slow you down.
Pros:
- Amazing sound quality
- Time-saving features
- Integration with Facebook Workplace, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, and Slack
Cons:
- Connectivity issues when not up to date
7. Join.me
Price: $10-$30 per host per month
A customizable conference call system isn't necessarily a priority, but it's what Join.me offers you that others don't. You can get a specifically tailored URL to each meeting, and even customize the meeting background for a certain feel.
In addition to those unique features, you'll get the standard features that make a conference call system work, like easy screen sharing, presentation capabilities, and high quality audio powered by OpenVoice Integrated.
Join.me does come with a mobile app for Android and iOS devices, which functions quite well. However, reviews have shown that the desktop functionality is far from perfect, so make sure you have mobile options ready for your team. The service has three plans.
Join.me Lite:
- Starts at $10 per month (billed annually)
- Up to 5 participants
- No webcam streams
- No meeting limits
- Unlimited toll & internet calls
- Custom backgrounds
Join.me Pro:
- Starts at $20 per month (billed annually)
- Up to 250 participants
- 10 webcam streams
- Recording ability
- 50 GB cloud storage
- Toll-free numbers
Join.me Business:
- Starts at $30 per month (billed annually)
- Up to 250 participants
- 1 TB cloud storage
- Bulk user import
- Single sign-on (SSO)
Join.me isn't the most well-known or most comprehensive conference call service, but it certainly has its perks, namely customizability and quality audio. If these two factors are important to you, Join.me is absolutely worth taking a look at.
Pros:
- Exceedingly customizable platform
- Quality audio powered by OpenVoice Integrated
- Robust free version
Cons:
- Expensive for full features
8. Skype
Price: Free
If you've ever video chatted with someone, then you've likely heard of Skype. This company is synonymous with conference calling, and provides a surprisingly comprehensive platform given its non-existent price tag.
However, while it does offer some unique features like AI-powered chatbots and compatibility with Alexa devices, the free package simply doesn't support enough users to be practical for growing business. For example, you can only conference with ten people at once.
Skype features:
- Audio and HD video calling
- Up to 10 participants
- Call recording
- Live subtitles
- Screen sharing
- Cross-platform functionality: Works across desktop, mobile, tablet, Alexa, and Xbox
For a free option, Skype obviously does a great job of providing a robust conference call service. However, it's not a great option for businesses, as it doesn't allow many users or conference participants.
Pros:
- AI-powered chatbots
Cons:
- Too few total users
- Too few conference participants
9. Google Meet
Price: Free
You can't deny that Google Meet is a great, convenient option when you need to talk to your team. But if you really need to communicate on a regular basis, you'd be a lot better off with a service that focuses on audio quality and solid connectivity.
As perhaps the standard for businesses unwilling to shell out resources for a paid conference call service, Google Meet certainly performs admirably for a free alternative. Its compatibility with Gmail and Google Calendars gives it an automatic leg up on any competition.
Google Meet features:
- Up to 100 participants
- Screen sharing
- Mobile app
- No recording
- Dial-in phone numbers for US and international
- G Suite integrations
Free services have their limits, though, and Google Meet is no different. Connectivity problems run amok, particularly with video chats hosting multiple users, and there's no way to record meetings. Audio quality also suffers compared to the paid services, and any noise-cancelling technology is nowhere to be found.
Pros:
- Gmail and Google Calendar compatibility
Cons:
- Spotty connectivity
- Poor audio quality
10. Free Conference Call.com
Price: Free
FreeConferenceCall.com, as their name might suggest, is another free conference call service. It offers all the typical audio and video conferencing functions, including screen sharing, recording, and even drawing tools.
However, while the FreeConferenceCall.com website insists that “the best things in life don't cost a thing”, that's not necessarily the case when it comes to conference call services. It doesn't offer advanced features like polling and annotating capabilities, and the number of users is limited in the way most free services are. There are some paid features, too, which you can buy on an a la carte basis.
FreeConferenceCall.com features:
- Audio and video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Recordings
- Global access
Paid features:
- One number (no access codes) — $3.95 per month
- Toll-free number — $0.039 per minute, per person
- Custom greeting — $2 per month
- Custom hold music — $2 per month
- Extra storage — Starts at $3 per month (up to 40 GB)
As far as free conference call services go, ConferenceCall.com is pretty solid, with a lot more features than you'd expect out of an unpaid service. But there are some key features missing, so make sure you can do without them before you decide.
Click below to see images of the Free Conference Call.com service in action:
Pros:
- Recording capabilities
Cons:
- Limited advanced options
- Only a few hours of recording
Finding the Best Conference Call Service
Make sure to consider each of these factors before making a decision:
- Free vs Paid – Free conference call services are good when you need a simple solution, fast. However, they often suffer from terrible audio and video quality, and offer few – if any – added features like polling and annotating. Paid services are designed for companies that really need to communicate effectively on a regular basis.
- Audio and video quality – Having a good camera and microphone is one thing. But some softwares boast better audio and video quality than others. Make sure your conference call service can display at least 1080p video and HD audio to get the full experience.
- Connectivity – Unless you want to endure dropped meetings and frozen screens, you need to make sure your conference call service has a reputation for reliability.
- Feature catalogue – Depending on what you need a conference call service for, you might need to know exactly what kind of features are being offered. Many services provided added options like polling and annotating, often at an additional price.
- Customer support and setup – Make sure to take note of the customer support options for each service, particularly if you're new to these platforms. Some offer 24/7 assistance, while others are a bit more hands-off.
- Software integrations – Many conference call services can integrate with calendars, note-taking apps, and other softwares, helping them connect with your virtual ecosystem.
- Device compatibility – Conference call services are often paired with mobile apps, but not all of them work on both popular operating systems. If you use iOS or Android exclusively, make sure your conference call service is compatible.
Types of Conference Call Services
Any conference call service is designed with one main goal: To facilitate an audio-based meeting between multiple people. Conferencing services might offer a variety of different features, from basic options like call recording and the ability to set a specific PIN as a password for participants, to advanced features like a screen sharing functionality for web-based users.
Features aside, there are two basic types of conference call service: Reservationless, an automated system that works for conference calls with several hundred attendees; and operator-assisted, which is designed for massive conference calls and comes with a dedicated live operator.
Reservationless
Reservationless conferencing systems are designed to be used by up to around 500 participants. They're automated systems, ready to handle a quick, unscheduled conference call at a moment's notice.
Attendees can call a toll-free number or a direct dial-in number. Many reservationless conferencing systems also include a VoIP softphone option, which lets users join from their desktop or mobile device alongside attendees joining through traditional phone numbers.
Operator-assisted
Operator-assisted conferencing services are aimed at large organizations with attendees in the thousands.
Like many enterprise-level services, the operated-assisted model sets itself apart by including a live operator, a dedicated professional who manages the conferencing event. The system is also more powerful on a technical level, as it is designed to handle a larger volume of calls at a set time, rather than a lower number of calls on a sporadic and reservationless basis.
The enterprise must reserve their operator-assisted conferences ahead of time, with the operator on hand to ensure everything goes smoothly – with thousands of attendees listening, no corporation wants to suffer a hiccup on the technical side or from human error.
The boutique operator-assisted service costs more than the fully automated reservationless service – typically three or five times more – and is intended to be used less frequently. Most businesses won't need to worry about the operator-assisted model, and can instead stick with a reservationless system for their needs.
Benefits of Using a Conference Call Service
Conferencing call systems are some of the most essential services for many businesses, particularly for large and growing operations. While the best services aren't cheap, they'll more than pay for themselves in a variety of ways, not all of which are obvious. Here's a quick look at the main reasons why your conference call system is worth the price tag:
Lowered costs
Meeting in person can come at a cost. For any major event, those costs will include travel, food, and a venue. For run-of-the-mill meetings, a conferencing system can streamline even more, letting participants join from behind their desks at the touch of a button rather than disrupt their work to locate a physical conference room.
Better flexibility
When a workforce is given the option to work from home, conferencing systems are a great way to ensure that everyone shows up to the meetings they need to stay in the loop for. The best conferencing services can help participants join from any type of device, meeting them where they are.
A business doesn't need to have a fully distributed workforce to benefit from the added flexibility of remote work, which can keep employees happier and more efficient.
Increased productivity
If you've ever scheduled a meeting across departments or branches within a company, you'll know that it's a huge pain to match everyone's schedules, and all the time spent emailing back and forth about it can easily be a productivity drain. Granted, that issue won't be fully solved by shifting to online meetings – but it'll be a lot easier, since all attendees will only need to find a time that works, no matter where they are.
More communication
Making meetings faster and easier through business phone systems opens up another avenue of internal communication for businesses. Once staff adapt to the new, frictionless system, the increased speed may mean an increase in total communication as well.
Better notes
Assuming your conferencing service allows for recording, you'll be able to take fast and accurate minutes with the touch of a button. Some services offer transcription as well, giving you a written copy of who said what and when.
A greener approach
Conference calls are better on the environment, too. By skipping travel for huge conference events and streamlining its daily processes, your business's conferencing service will decrease its overall carbon footprint.
Conference Call Service FAQ
Is there a free conference call service?
Free conference call service options are always available. What's the best free conference call service? That's tougher to say. Free services aren't built for large scale use. They are feature-limited, small-scale solutions with unreliable video and audio quality. They are bare-bones software with few features and fewer users allowed at once.
Can Google Meet do conference calls?
Yes, it can! The free version of Google Meet can host audio conference calls for up to 150 people, and video calls for up to 10. However, as mentioned above, their audio and video quality can be a bit spotty in comparison to paid services, so don't rely on it for your business' communication needs.
How can I improve my conference call?
Other than having a rock solid service with high quality audio and video, reducing ambient background noise and speaking directly into the microphone are two handy tricks that can make your conference call go a lot smoother. If you're experiencing echo feedback, either you or another caller has their volume too high; muting participants or turning down the volume will fix the issue.
How can I get a conference call number?
Most services produce a conference call number once you've set up a meeting. Simply choose the date and time, invite your participants, and start the conference call. You'll be provided a conference call number or PIN to share your meeting with other participants.
How many calls can be connected in a conference call?
It all depends on which service you you decide to take advantage of – with the right service, you can conference in thousands of attendees. If you're a large company that needs to reliably communicate with a lot of employees at once, it would definitely be worth taking a look at some more robust conference call options.
Is there a software service that can handle a larger volume of calls than a conference call service?
If you want more than just a way to set up conference calls easily, check out the best VoIP phone providers.
You'll be able to get set up with secure, modern business calling equipped with conference and mobile integration, and a whole lot more: A VoIP service can help your team make and receive simultaneous phone and video calls to anyone around the globe.
Next Steps: Getting a Conference Call Service
If you're interested in setting up conference calling at your business, as part of a complete unified communications solution, the most important thing you can do right now is get a quote. You'll be able to get a better understanding of the costs of these kinds of services, and be on your way to a more comprehensive system. Compare prices in less than a minute, and find the best deal based on your specific business requirements, with no obligation to buy.
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