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For a straightforward meeting tool, start with Whereby or GoTo Meeting: Whereby also supports embedded video, while GoTo lists meetings for up to 250 participants. Jitsi Meet is worth a look if free browser meetings or self-hosting suit your team, but its JaaS pricing changes the picture as you scale. Webex combines meetings and calling, though paid pricing is opaque. We also included classroom tools, virtual offices and space-booking products because they appear in this comparison, but they are not direct substitutes for standard video meeting software.
Quick picksThe shortlist
WherebyWherebyBest for Flexible Video · $10.99/mo
Jitsi MeetJitsi MeetBest Free Browser Meetings · $99/mo
GoTo MeetingGoTo MeetingBest for Larger Meetings · $12/mo
WebexWebexBest Meetings and Calling · Free
FreeConferenceCall.comFreeConferenceCall.comBest Budget Group Calls · $6.58/mo
BigBlueButtonBigBlueButtonBest for Online Classes · Free
Pencil SpacesPencil SpacesBest for Online Tutors · $4/mo
RingCentral VideoRingCentral VideoBest in RingCentral Bundle · $20/mo
KumospaceKumospaceBest Virtual Office · $16/mo
GatherGatherBest for Spontaneous Chats · $12/mo
PexipPexipBest for Secure Meetings · $10/mo
RainbowRainbowBest Free Collaboration Tier · Free
SylapsSylapsBest for Small Meetings · $19.90/mo
InSpaceInSpaceBest for Booking Spaces · $3.33/mo- RoamRoamNot for Video Meetings · $19.50/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WherebyWhereby | 7.2 | $10.99/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Jitsi MeetJitsi Meet | 7.5 | $99/mo | Yes | — |
| GoTo MeetingGoTo Meeting | 7.0 | $12/mo | No | 14 days |
| WebexWebex | 6.5 | Free | Yes | — |
| FreeConferenceCall.comFreeConferenceCall.com | 6.8 | $6.58/mo | Yes | — |
| BigBlueButtonBigBlueButton | 6.7 | Free | Yes | — |
| Pencil SpacesPencil Spaces | 7.0 | $4/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| RingCentral VideoRingCentral Video | 6.0 | $20/mo | No | — |
| KumospaceKumospace | 6.5 | $16/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| GatherGather | 7.0 | $12/mo | No | 30 days |
| PexipPexip | 6.3 | $10/mo | No | — |
| RainbowRainbow | 6.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| SylapsSylaps | 5.3 | $19.90/mo | Yes | — |
| InSpaceInSpace | 7.0 | $3.33/mo | No | — |
| RoamRoam | 5.4 | $19.50/mo | No | 14 days |
02The picks, in detail
- Best for Flexible VideoWherebyWhereby
Whereby is our strongest all-around pick for teams that want both meetings and embedded video options. The listed starting price is $10.99, with a free plan. The trade-off is that plan caps and add-on fees need checking before you commit; the available details do not specify those limits or fees.
What works
- Free Meetings plan available
- Permanent room links included in Meetings
- Pro allows 100 attendees and unlimited meeting time
What doesn't
- Free Meetings caps calls at four attendees and 30 minutes
- Business requires at least three hosts
- Annual prices are not published
- Best Free Browser MeetingsJitsi MeetJitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is a good fit for free browser-based meetings, teams comfortable self-hosting, and apps using JaaS. The listing includes a free plan and a $99 starting price. That price needs context: self-hosting and JaaS change the cost picture as usage grows, and the available details do not specify the thresholds.
What works
- Free self-hosted and basic hosted meetings
- No account required, according to the homepage
- No announced meeting time limits
What doesn't
- Self-hosted capacity depends on your server infrastructure
- JaaS Basic costs $99/month for 300 MAU
- Extra MAUs cost $0.99 each
- Best for Larger MeetingsGoTo MeetingGoTo Meeting
GoTo Meeting lists meetings for up to 250 people and unlimited meetings, with cloud recordings on its Business plan. Its listed starting price is $12 per organizer per month when billed annually. That is a clear starting point, but the available details do not give Business-plan pricing or recording limits.
What works
- Unlimited meetings on Professional and Business
- Business supports up to 250 participants
- Business includes unlimited cloud recording
What doesn't
- No free plan
- Professional is capped at 150 participants
- Business costs $16 per organizer/month annually
- Best Meetings and CallingWebexWebex
Webex suits organizations that want meetings and calling together, or teams using collaboration devices. There is a free plan, and small teams may be fine with its 40-minute meetings. Paid pricing is opaque according to the listing, so buyers should confirm the cost and plan terms before switching.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited meetings
- Free meetings allow up to 100 attendees
- Suite includes messaging, calling and webinars
What doesn't
- Enterprise pricing is custom and unpublished
- Free meetings are capped at 40 minutes
- Additional host-license pricing is unpublished
- Best Budget Group CallsFreeConferenceCall.comFreeConferenceCall.com
FreeConferenceCall.com is aimed at budget-conscious groups needing large calls, recordings, screen sharing or international dial-in. The listing gives a free plan and a $6.58 starting price. Pricing gaps and reports about call routing are the cautions; check those details against your call setup before relying on it.
What works
- Free plan lists up to 1,000 participants
- Unlimited conferencing with no time limits
- HD video, VoIP, screen sharing, and breakout rooms
What doesn't
- Free plan includes 1 GB cloud storage
- Pro pricing is listed annually, not monthly
- Toll-free numbers cost $0.02 per minute per caller
- Best for Online ClassesBigBlueButtonBigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a classroom-focused option for Moodle users and schools running their own servers. Its self-hosted license is listed as free, and the tool supports breakout rooms and shared whiteboards. The trade-off is straightforward: you are responsible for hosting, so it is not a hosted meeting service with a published entry price.
What works
- Purpose-built classroom tools include breakout rooms, polling, shared notes, and whiteboard.
- $0 self-hosted software license under GNU LGPL.
- No software-enforced seat or room limits when self-hosted.
What doesn't
- Self-hosting capacity depends on server hardware and bandwidth.
- Commercial hosting prices and usage limits are not published.
- Free Moodle sessions cap at 25 concurrent users and 60 minutes.
- Best for Online TutorsPencil SpacesPencil Spaces
Pencil Spaces is designed for tutors and teaching teams that want an interactive whiteboard and attendance tracking. The listing includes a free plan and a $4 minimum, with usage-based costs to watch. That makes the minimum an incomplete guide to the bill; check how usage is charged before choosing a plan.
What works
- Free Starter plan is listed
- Video, chat, and screen sharing
- Collaborative whiteboard and teaching tools
What doesn't
- Paid plans require a 10-hour monthly minimum
- Additional usage is billed at month-end
- Extra-participant hourly rate is not published
- Best in RingCentral BundleRingCentral VideoRingCentral Video
RingCentral Video makes most sense for teams already considering RingCentral communications. The listing says meetings support up to 300 participants and points to webinars in the broader bundle; the starting price is $20. Video-only pricing and user feedback are unclear, so we would compare the full bundle rather than assume a standalone value.
What works
- Core includes HD meetings for up to 300 participants
- Core also bundles domestic calling and chat
- AI Meetings lineup includes Town Halls and Rooms
What doesn't
- Core starts at $30/user/month with monthly billing
- Listed plans bundle video with calls and chat
- RingCentral Events starts at $99/organizer/month
- Best Virtual OfficeKumospaceKumospace
Kumospace is for teams that want virtual hallway conversations or event spaces, rather than only scheduled calls. The listing shows a free tier and a $16 starting price. It is feature-rich according to the published description, but not every remote team wants another virtual place to work.
What works
- Free plan includes up to 5 registered members
- Free plan allows 50 guests
- Unlimited rooms on the Free plan
What doesn't
- Business requires at least 5 paid members
- Monthly Business billing is $20 per user
- Annual billing is paid upfront
- Best for Spontaneous ChatsGatherGather
Gather focuses on informal conversations in a virtual office and lists integrations for organizations using supported tools. Its starting price is $12, and the listing says there is no free plan. That limits low-risk evaluation, and its virtual-office format is a different fit from a conventional meeting-first product.
What works
- Availability status shows who is free, focused or in meetings
- Walk-up conversations do not require scheduling or meeting links
- Focus controls let users manage what they see and hear
What doesn't
- No free plan is listed
- Monthly billing rate is not published
- Essential recording allowance starts at 20 hours
- Best for Secure MeetingsPexipPexip
Pexip is positioned for organizations with secure meeting requirements, room interoperability and government or defense use cases. Its listed starting price is $10. Pricing and setup need scrutiny, and the available details do not specify security certifications or deployment requirements. Buyers should confirm those specifics rather than infer them from the positioning.
What works
- Connects meeting rooms with Teams, Zoom and Google Meet
- Google and Teams Rooms plans start at $10 per room monthly
- Supports custom integrations for secure environments
What doesn't
- No free plan is available
- Most secure-meeting and platform prices require a sales quote
- Zoom Rooms requires at least 10 licenses
- Best Free Collaboration TierRainbowRainbow
Rainbow offers a free collaboration tier and is aimed at businesses connecting cloud tools to PBX, as well as developers embedding communications features. No paid starting price is published in the listing. Check paid pricing and support terms before switching; the available details do not establish what the free tier includes.
What works
- Free Essential plan
- Messaging, meetings and telephony in one platform
- Essential allows 50 Bubbles
What doesn't
- Business pricing is not published
- Essential has no SLA
- Both listed plans include 1 GB file storage
- Best for Small MeetingsSylapsSylaps
Sylaps is worth considering for link-based meetings of up to eight people, and for developers building with Sylaps. The listing shows a free plan and a $19.90 starting price. It also warns that higher-usage limits are unpublished, so verify those limits before paying rather than assuming the listed price covers your needs.
What works
- Free plan supports up to 8 participants
- Meetings can be started or joined by link
- Homepage lists end-to-end encryption
What doesn't
- Free-plan meeting duration limit is not published
- Seat limits are not published
- Developer plan is aimed at builders
- Best for Booking SpacesInSpaceInSpace
InSpace is a space-booking product for companies managing desks and rooms, not a direct substitute for general video conferencing. Its listed entry price is $3.33, and it covers multiple space types. The published details do not publish enterprise costs or establish user feedback, so larger buyers should confirm both before evaluating it.
What works
- Starter starts at $3.33 per user/month annually
- Monthly Starter pricing is listed at $3.99 per user
- Plans list unlimited desks and spaces
What doesn't
- Enterprise pricing is not published
- Free-trial availability is not published
- No free plan is listed
- Not for Video Meetings
RoamRoam
Roam does not fit a video conferencing shortlist: its listed use is coordinating trips across cities, finding dates and sharing plans without GPS tracking. The starting price is $19.50. It may suit travel planning, but the published details identify no video meeting features, so we would not treat it as a conferencing alternative.
What works
- Shows when friends' plans overlap in a city
- Helps groups find dates that work for everyone
- Plans can be tentative, private, or hidden
What doesn't
- Not a video conferencing product
- Consumer pricing is not published on the vendor's site
- $19.50 monthly listing is for a virtual office bundle
03How we chose
We compare the products on published pricing, plan limits, documented meeting and collaboration features, and user sentiment on Reddit. We give more weight to details that affect a buying decision: participant or meeting caps, included features, and what a paid plan adds. We treat Reddit comments as anecdotal, not proof that a product will perform the same way for every team. If pricing or a limit is not clearly published in the material available to us, we leave it unconfirmed rather than fill the gap with an estimate. We do not claim hands-on testing.
04Choose by meeting pattern, not headline price
Start with how your team actually meets. A small group with occasional calls has different needs from a company hosting large sessions or recurring customer meetings. Compare Webex, RingCentral Video, Whereby, FreeConferenceCall.com, GoTo Meeting, and the other options against the same checklist: published price, participant and meeting limits, recording availability, and which collaboration tools are included. Check whether the relevant features are part of the plan you would buy, not just mentioned on the product page.
A low entry price is useful only if its limits fit your use. Before switching, estimate how many people join typical and peak meetings, whether guests need accounts, and whether you need recordings. If a vendor does not clearly publish a limit or price, treat that as an open question and confirm it before committing.
05Check the meeting experience your team needs
Video and audio are the baseline. The harder choice is which supporting features matter enough to shape the purchase: screen sharing, collaboration during a call, guest access, administration, and the ability to support your usual meeting format. Use the product documentation to verify each requirement. Do not assume that two products in this category handle a workflow the same way just because both host online meetings.
Shortlist two or three options, then map your current setup against their documented capabilities and plan limits. Include migration costs that are easy to miss, such as retraining, changing meeting links, and replacing workflows that depend on a particular tool. Reddit discussions can help flag recurring user concerns, but treat them as leads to investigate, not guarantees. For products such as Jitsi Meet, BigBlueButton, Gather, Roam, Sylaps, InSpace, Pencil Spaces, Kumospace, Rainbow, and Pexip, verify fit from current documentation rather than assuming the name or category tells you enough.
Questions people ask
How much does video conferencing software cost?
Prices depend on the product and plan, and the available information here does not establish current amounts. Compare each vendor’s pricing page for the plan you would actually use, then check whether its published participant, meeting, or feature limits fit your needs.
What should we compare before switching video conferencing software?
Compare published pricing and plan limits first, then verify the features your team relies on in the product documentation. Check guest access, meeting size, recording, and collaboration needs where relevant. Also account for retraining and any workflows or meeting links that would need to change.
Is free video conferencing software enough for a business?
It can be, if the available plan supports your meeting size, frequency, and required features. Confirm the current limits and included tools on the vendor’s pricing page. Do not assume a free option will cover a business workflow just because it supports online meetings.
How can we assess user reviews of video meeting tools?
Look for repeated, specific concerns rather than treating one comment as a verdict. Reddit posts can point you toward questions about reliability, usability, or support, but they are anecdotal. Check the product documentation and published plan details before using a comment to make a buying decision.