The restrictions COVID-19 has brought about for Australian businesses have been extremely tough for most. With many businesses having closed up shop to wait out the virus at home. Although there are still a few businesses that can function online, for these fortunate businesses, they are able to continue running by altering the way they deliver their classes to an online platform. To assist you with choosing a video conferencing product, we have put together some pros and cons for five video conferencing apps. Just to clarify we don’t recommend any particular provider but have chosen some well known and not so well known providers to give you some different options.

Our review of providers is loosely based on how well the providers satisfied the following questions:

• What do customers get for free? Will I need to pay for the functionality I need?
• How easy is this software to use?
• Can I schedule meetings for later times?
• Are there limits on the delegation of control
• Are there limits on the time or numbers of participants?
• Are there security procedures during video calls?

Zoom Meetings & Chat

Pros
The free version offers meetings with up to 100 users, unlimited 1 to 1 sessions. Meetings are simple to set up in a calendar and links are easy to copy. The paid version will enable a 24 hour limit on meetings with more than two people and, there are fewer restrictions on co-hosts.

Cons
A drawback with the free option is that there is a 40-minute time limit on meetings of more than two people. If you would like longer sessions, then you need to pay for the Pro package. As a host, you can nominate co-hosts, but they do not have all the powers of a host and cannot start live streaming or end the meeting for everyone.

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Jitsi Meet

Pros
Completely free and can be added to your website. Jitsi integrates with Google Calendar and Office 365. Jitsi is fully encrypted. Offers a phone-in option which can help with desktop audio issues that customers may encounter. A meeting can house up to 75 participants, but up to 35 makes for a better experience. No time limits for meetings.

Cons
There are not a lot of help instructions available on the website. Once you have download the chrome plugin and allow it to view your Google or Outlook Calendar, then the process of regular scheduling meetings becomes possible.

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Skype Meet Now

Pros
Completely free application. Skype is a long time provider of one to one video conferencing. Now with the ‘Meet Now’ feature means you can use it for multiple participants for videoconferencing. It is simple to use and creating a meeting is a breeze. Skype is fully encrypted.

Cons
There is no integration with calendars and, you cannot schedule a meeting for a later time.

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GoToMeeting

Pros
Easy to navigate administration and user panel. Allows multiple windows to be open during a conversation. Its main plus is screen sharing. Easy to use webcam support. Buttons can be easily minimised when presenting. All their plans include encryption and room locking.

Cons
Mobile version has limited functionality compared to the desktop version. Connectivity can be an issue sometimes, and users have reported lag time. There is no free option, just an opportunity to try it for free for two weeks. If you are interested in purchasing a single plan for a chief organiser, then it is essential to note that the Business package allows for delegation of controls to co-hosts and allows full control of meetings.

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Cisco Webex

Pros
The free version offers up to 100 participants, unlimited meeting time, unlimited meetings, supports iPhone, iPad and Android, built-in encryption, can lock and unlock a room, online support, HD video, Calendar integrations and a lot more. Calendar integration available.

Cons
Need to purchase a PLUS subscription (around 25 Australian dollars) to gain the ability to delegate to an alternate host (up to 20 alternate hosts allowed per account). The screen viewer has limited functionality when using the free version (i.e. the presenter’s view of themself cannot be maximised).

There are a lot of video conferencing providers to choose from. Hopefully, the list we have compiled will assist you with your search for the right product at the right price. After testing all these products and reading reviews about them, businesses need to try before they commit their time and effort to one—best of luck with finding a good fit for your team.

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References:

The Verge
How to choose a free videoconference app

Forbes
Zoom Alternatives: 5 Options For People Who Care About Security And Privacy by Kate O’Flaherty