You can communicate with people you are interested in the way you like and at your convenience with a conference call service. The best conference calling services can do it effectively, whether you need to jump on a call with your manager, address a client, or host 100 people for a video webinar.
They’re more critical than ever during the period of the global pandemic and for those who are working remotely.
This list has something for everyone, regardless of their budget.
I’ll list the best conference calling services available today, along with my ranking methodology.
The Best Conference Calling Services In 2024
These 8 choices are clearly superior to the rest:
1. RingCentral — Best conference call service for phone and video.
2. GoToMeeting — The best way to upgrade (or create) conference rooms.
3. ClickMeeting — Best presentation and webinar tools.
4. BlueJeans — Best conference call service for audio quality.
5. Dialpad — Best software for call recording.
6. Zoom – Top conference call service for large groups.
7. Google Hangouts — Simple setup and inviting feature.
8. Webex — Best tool for team collaboration.
But which is best for your company? To make it easier for you to compare services, I’ve written a detailed summary of each one below.
1. RingCentral Review — Best Conference Call Service For Phone And Video
RingCentral conference calling uses cutting-edge solutions for today’s workplace.
In their paid phone conference calling services packages, video conferencing is included. It’s ideal for any business working remotely.
This is because RingCentral conference calling is more than just a conferencing service. It also functions as a VoIP phone service. As a result, you are able to do phone calls using just your connection to the Internet.
In comparison to the other plans on the list, the free plan is a good starting point. Though each meeting is limited to 40 minutes, you can still invite up to 100 people. That’s ideal for bootstrapped startups.
If you upgrade to one of their paid plans, which start at $19.99 per month, you can easily add broader meeting options.
Almost every call, mobile functionality, and collaboration features a business would like in a phone conference calling service is included in the system. Equipment installation is not required since it is hosted in the cloud, and they handle all updates and maintenance.
RingCentral also offers corporate solutions and bundling meetings with a VoIP business phone package will result in savings.
2. GoToMeeting Review — Best Way To Upgrade (Or Create) Conference Rooms
One of the best-paid conference calling providers I’ve used is GoToMeeting.
They provide simple, reliable conference call solutions for small businesses without a number of distracting functionalities.
GoToMeeting’s all-in-one software and hardware package is a unique feature. They’ll give you everything that is required to transform any physical space into a conference meeting space.
Whether you have a large 12-people boardroom or a small home office, you would be able to set up a phone and video conferencing system with all the audio conferencing equipment and screens you’ll need for your company.
GoToMeeting, unlike some other paid conference call alternatives available, does not offer a free basic package. You can, however, use a 14-day trial to check it out for free.
GoToMeeting conference call offers 3 different plans:
- Professional — starting at $14/month
- Business — starts at $19/month
- Enterprise — Customized pricing
Conference calls of up to 150 attendees are supported by the Professional plan, while the Business plan supports up to 250 attendees. The Enterprise plan will accommodate up to 3,000 attendees.
The following features are included in all plans:
- Screen sharing
- High-definition videoconferencing
- No meeting restrictions
- Dial-in conference call services
- No time constraints for meetings
- Business communication
- Individual meeting rooms
- App for mobile devices
- Customer service is available 24/7
- Integration with Salesforce
- Integration with Slack
Your conference calls can also be recorded indefinitely and automatically transcribed with GoToMeeting.
GoToMeeting is better than the competition in terms of performance. Audio quality is a problem for other paid and free conference call services. Customers who use GoToMeeting, on the other hand, rave about how clear the connection and sound are on their meeting calls.
Some of the more complex features that I’ve noticed in the other services aren’t available with GoToMeeting. However, the simplicity is quite appealing.
To hold efficient conference calls, you don’t need a lot of additional features. Furthermore, I believe that these packages offer great value for the price.
Overall, it’s a perfect option for those of you who run large teams working remotely or who need to upgrade their conference room so that the team can function effectively in a physical location.
I have gone over the GoToMeeting review in greater detail before.
3. ClickMeeting Review — Best Presentation And Webinar Tools
GetResponse, a provider of email marketing solutions, created ClickMeeting.
ClickMeeting is a product for webinars that can also be used to hold conference calls.
You’ll have a complete online meeting solution, including conference rooms and webinars. As a result, you’ll not only have a way to meet and communicate with your team, but you also get a lead generation platform using webinars.
Their collaboration platform is ideal for teams and organizations with many locations. As a result, it should catch the attention of anyone working remotely.
In terms of conference calls, ClickMeeting’s comprehensive collection of agendas and presenting resources enables you to hold highly interactive and productive meetings with your staff, clients, and others.
It’s a great way to give your team actionable insights while still making training new hires and onboarding a breeze.
It has many functionalities that is catering to sharing insights since it is primarily webinar software (you may also be interested in checking out the Webinar Titles Generator).
As a result, you may want to look at other options if you’re searching for a pure conference call service.
However, if you’re looking for multifunctional and versatile conference call software, this is still a great option.
The customization they provide makes it much easier for viewers to engage with the content a presenter is addressing. Overall, I think it’s fantastic for educational professionals, teachers, and other agencies.
Their webinar product has Paypal integration, enabling users to conveniently purchase and get secure access to the webinars.
This is the service for you if you need a webinar that is highly customizable and a collaboration platform that is more than just conference calling.
The price is $25/month, and it is billed on an annual basis. It does, however, come with a free trial for 30 days.
4. BlueJeans Review — Best Conference Call Service For Audio Quality
BlueJeans is a company that specializes in video conferencing. They also have excellent audio quality. This product makes it simple to communicate with your team from any type of device.
BlueJeans meeting is used by companies such as Facebook, Linkedin, and Zillow. Therefore, it’s a service you can rely on.
The fact that BlueJeans conference calls use Dolby Voice is one of the reasons for its superior audio quality. They’re the same people who support surround sound in theatres, cinemas, and music venues all around the world.
The solution is designed to block out background noises while providing each participating voice its own distinct position, giving the impression that everyone is in the same place.
Soft-spoken participants, loud talkers, and talking at the same time can all be heard clearly. This gives BlueJeans a distinct advantage over its competition.
BlueJeans has a package for individuals and small businesses that starts at $12.49/month and allows hosting meetings for up to 50 people.
They also have an upgraded package for $16.65/month that includes conferencing for up to 75 people. This plan, which includes cloud storage and recording capabilities, is the one I would suggest.
If you need additional assistance, you can get in touch with BlueJeans for a tailored plan and strategy. The maximum number of participants is 150. This is significantly less than other enterprise-level products I’ve seen with other services. The pricing, however, is more compelling.
5. Dialpad Review — Best Software For Call Recording
Dialpad is a good choice if you want a convenient and simple-to-use conference call service.
Their superior call recording features and tools really set them apart. They not only allow free recording of conference calls and download them as MP3 files, but they also have a Voice Intelligence function that lets you transcribe the call automatically as it happens.
Voice Intelligence uses machine learning to improve the accuracy of your team’s calls over time. That means that the more you keep recording, the smarter the system becomes, and your transcripts improve.
Dialpad also includes a voice recognition feature that learns to differentiate between the voices of the participants in the conference call. That way, they’ll be able to get even better transcriptions.
For smaller parties (up to 10 people), their free package involves high-quality calls. With this package, you are able to make an infinite amount of calls a year. It comes with a number of useful resources, advantages, and features, including:
- Recording of calls
- Use of the mobile app
- High-quality audio
- Screen sharing
- High-definition video
A free call has a maximum time limit of 45 minutes.
If you are a larger company (or just want more flexibility for your calls), the upgraded package, which costs $15/month, is for you (annual billing). On this package, calls will last up to 5 hours.
Additional features of the paid package include:
- Call statistics
- Call-in numbers that can be customized
- Access to more than 50 countries worldwide
- Hold music
- Guest dial-outs
- Portal for team management
- Voice recognition
For an extra $30/month, you can add a toll-free number to your package (annual billing).
Dialpad’s mobile app is one of its most popular features. It comes along with the free plan, which is a big plus.
The app is nice because it allows you to use all the functionalities from your mobile device, making it simple to join or start a conference call remotely. To collaborate, you do not need to be confined to an office or desk.
It’s very easy to get started with Dialpad. After registering you’ll be able to make calls right away. If you need help, the knowledge portal and customer service would be of great assistance.
With this service, you can experience poor audio conferencing quality sometimes. But, in general, I don’t think it’s a big concern. The sound quality is still superior to that of other free conference call services available.
6. Zoom Review — Top Conference Call Service For Large Groups
Zoom has recently gained a lot of traction, and it is well deserved. Besides the global pandemic pushing businesses to find a new video conferencing solution, Zoom has grown in popularity due to its user-friendliness, reliability, and low cost.
This cloud-based solution includes a variety of free and paid features to fit individuals and companies of all sizes.
Zoom is ideal for enterprises or large teams. You can get up to 300 people on a single call for $19.99/month. This is far more than any of the other services (besides enterprise-level packages).
Additionally, you’ll get world-class video and audio conferencing quality. There might not be a better conference call alternative that provides such clear picture quality with less latency and dropped calls.
It goes without saying that they have turned out to be such an important part of work-life during the global pandemic.
For the most part, the first paid option should suffice. As your company grows, you can later upgrade to Zoom Business.
In terms of cloud conferencing spaces and video conferencing, Zoom stands out from its competitors. If you are interested in making professional video presentations through conference calls, you should definitely consider this service.
Although Zoom Enterprise isn’t for everybody, it’s a great option for those who are part of that group. Uber, Ticketmaster, Zendesk, Pandora, and GoDaddy are only a few of the well-known brands that use Zoom for conference calls.
With some of the plans, Zoom offers a comprehensive knowledge base, as well as live training and 24/7 phone assistance. However, the audio conferencing quality can experience issues at certain times.
7. Google Hangouts Review — Simple Setup And Inviting Feature
Google Hangouts is the kind of dependable, high-quality service that you can expect Google to provide.
It’s a perfect choice for those with a Gmail account (literally everybody) and it’s free to use.
When you go to Google Hangouts, it links to your Gmail account and connects with contacts automatically. It also integrates with Google Calendar, making it easy to arrange meetings with other contacts.
Simply use your Chrome extension/browser or smartphone app to schedule a conference call.
Although it lacks some of the additional features found in the other options on this list, it stands out in its simplicity. All that is needed is a Google account to make a call.
After you have it set up, you can send out the Google Hangout link to anybody who wants to participate in the call.
Other Features
This product is mostly used for one-on-one interactions, but it can also be used for small group calls of up to 25 participants. Google Hangouts allows screen sharing and makes hosting video conferences simple.
A GSuite account, starting at $6/month, is needed to get the best of Google Hangouts. You may already have GSuite, but if you don’t, you should consider looking into it.
Although Google Hangouts is convenient, straightforward, and simple to use, it does have a few disadvantages.
For instance, if you use it for free, there isn’t any customer service. As a result, if you have a question or a concern, you will have to look through the forums. There is also no recording option, which appears to be common in many other conference call services.
Google Hangouts is something I use a few times a month. The majority of such calls are just with a few people. Audio quality problems are also prevalent. Overall, using this service to hold conference calls is fast, easy, and free.
8. Webex Review — Best Tool For Team Collaboration
Since Webex comes from Cisco, you can be sure that the technology that facilitates it is cutting-edge and of great quality. For both video and audio calls, this is one of the best business conference call services in the market.
The cloud communication capabilities are arguably the best aspect of this video conferencing solution. To keep coordinated and make the meeting more interactive, teams can easily share screens and exchange files with other conference participants.
You’ll be able to have Webex breakout rooms and transfer files and messages to individuals or teams in just a few steps, in addition to the great communication capabilities you receive from conference call providers like whiteboard software, screen sharing, and conference recordings.
They also have integrations that enable you to work with stakeholders and customers through a variety of third-party software and services.
Webex Assistant, an AI-based feature is a very useful communication tool that takes notes, sends reminders, and offers transcriptions, translations, and even closed captions. This is ideal for team members who speak different languages, are hearing impaired, or need an accurate recording of the minutes.
Webex doesn’t quite have an enterprise-level solution, with the highest level plan having a limit of 200 people. But, for the most part, that shouldn’t be a big concern. Plans for up to 50 or 100 people should be sufficient for most teams.
Here’s a quick rundown of Webex’s plans:
Free
- No cost
- Cloud storage of 1 GB
- Calls are limited to 40 minutes
- Maximum of 50 people
Starter
- Start at $13.50/month
- Cloud storage of 5 GB
- No time constraints
- Maximum of 50 people
Plus
- Start at $17.95/month
- Cloud storage of 5 GB
- No time constraints
- Maximum of 100 people
- Customer service is available 24/7
- Assigning alternate host
Business
- Start at $26.95/ month
- Maximum of 200 people
- Cloud storage of 10 GB
- Customized branding options
The free plan is adequate, but it is quite limited. All paid plans provide advanced capabilities such as transcription recording, file sharing, call-in audio, and administrative functions. You will need to switch to the Webex Plus package to receive the best customer service.
How To Choose The Best Conference Calling Service
You would need to know what factors to look at when reviewing a potential service in order to shortlist your options.
This is the approach I took when looking into the services in this list. All the conference call services were compared to these factors.
You can now use them to help you make your own decisions.
Total Number Of Attendees
The maximum number of attendees is an important consideration. Perhaps, when it comes to deciding which plan to select, these limits are the most crucial elements.
Some free packages restrict you to 10 attendees and a calling limit of 40 minutes, while paid plans allow you to have up to 1,000 attendees with no time constraints.
Choose a provider based on your requirements. It doesn’t make sense to pay for a conference call service with the capacity to host 250 attendees if you have a small company with just a few remote workers.
Your best choice is to go with a provider that offers unlimited calling duration. If you are forced to shorten the meetings due to these constraints, it won’t be productive or effective.
If you’re a bootstrapped business owner looking to conduct smaller meeting calls for your customers, Zoom and RingCentral are great choices. They both offer a free package that lasts 40 minutes and accommodates up to 100 people.
Their paid packages allow for more attendees (e.g., Zoom’s Business plan allows for up to 300 attendees) and longer calling times.
Meanwhile, a free service such as Google Hangouts allows you to talk with up to 25 users, but call duration is not restricted.
Video Conferencing
More and more businesses are switching to video conferencing. It’s been an invaluable tool for colleges, companies, friends, families, and more in the aftermath of the pandemic.
That is why a video-supported conferencing service should be prioritized. Not only that, but they should also provide features to improve your experience.
Collaboration tools like audio sharing and screen sharing, texting, and whiteboard features such as the capability of writing on the screen are all examples of this experience. Zoom, Dialpad, and BlueJeans have such communication tools.
Video calls are a specialty of some conference call providers. If you are thinking of using video for most of the meetings, look for a provider that specializes in this area.
Most of the services on this list include video conferencing in some form or other. On the other hand, a service such as Grasshopper is based solely on audio conferencing calls and meetings. You will have to look somewhere else if you’d like to have video capabilities.
Audio And Video Quality
The value of call quality and adequate bandwidth cannot be stressed enough. It’s critical to check out what elements a video conferencing platform has to improve the call quality.
Look out for the following features:
- Both the attendee and the host have mute options – Allowing people to have more control over their voices and avoid background noise.
- Voice cancellation capability – Certain video conferencing providers such as Zoom cancel sounds if they get mixed up, while others let you hear everyone at the same time.
- Elimination of echo – It can be challenging to pay attention to audio in a large or empty space. Some providers are able to reduce the echo via their channels.
Testing the call is the only way to find out if the quality is good. Make use of any free trials that is available from a provider and use them as much as you can to see if you like the quality.
If you’re looking for a great cloud communication platform, I find that RingCentral provides the best overall results. They have reliable, HD-quality video and audio conferencing facilities for calls. They’re certainly top on the list if you’re looking for a single platform to manage both your business’s video and phone meetings.
However, when it came to just video conferences, I discovered that Zoom provided the best overall results. The image was usually the sharpest, and there was rarely any latency or dropped calls (based on the internet connection). The sound was also crystal clear.
They do, however, have a function that mutes audio when participants are talking at the same time. This can be beneficial or detrimental, as it can help to reduce the commotion in large meetings but also result in a lost conversation.
Call Recording
Another significant benefit is the capability of recording calls. This isn’t available with any free service.
Different degrees of call recording capabilities are available. Some providers can record your call and then require you to save it locally on your device. Others, depending on the package, provide cloud storage.
Before you register for a contract, ensure that you are aware of any storage restrictions. Otherwise, when you don’t have any more space left, you will be in a position to upgrade.
It’s also worth mentioning that certain call recording packages provide transcription. This makes it simple to go back and locate specific parts of a call without having to listen through the audio.
If you are planning to use video conferencing capabilities, check to see if the provider has video recording or if it just records audio.
It’s also important to be able to share the call recordings later. Pay attention to the file format in which the call recordings get downloaded and ensure that they can be shared easily.
Call recording is available from Zoom, Dialpad, BlueJeans, and GoToMeeting. Webex does not have audio or video recording, but it does provide transcription of calls.
Call Setup And Scheduling
Nothing is more annoying than a back-and-forth exchange in figuring out how you are going to meet with the participants. That’s why any decent conference call service should have the ability to easily set up and schedule calls.
With a few steps, solid platforms integrate with your preferred calendar application and add the call to your schedule. These integrations are important for streamlining your scheduling systems.
Google Hangouts, for example, does this through its simple integration with Google Calendar. It also syncs with your Gmail account, making it easy to arrange calls with your current contacts.
Zoom also has Google Calendar, iCal, and Office 365 integrations. You will be able to set the date, location, and time (i.e. a Zoom link) for the call, and then send an email invitation to attendees.
To add more people, it should be as easy as sending a link to the conference call. You may have to look somewhere else if it is more complex than that.
It’s worth noting that registering for certain conference calling services only takes a few seconds. If you use GSuite, for example, all you have to do is go to Google Hangouts to start using it.
FAQ – Best Conference Calling Services
1. What is considered a conference call?
A conference call refers to a method of telecommunication that allows multiple participants to join a phone call simultaneously, regardless of their physical location.
2. What are the disadvantages of conference calls?
Disadvantages of conference calls may include technical issues like poor audio quality, connectivity problems, and challenges in managing larger groups. Participants talking over each other, difficulties in interpreting non-verbal cues, and potential distractions can also pose challenges.
3. Which is better free conference call or Zoom?
Comparing free conference call services to Zoom requires considering specific requirements. Free conference call services may suffice for basic audio conferencing, while Zoom offers a wider range of features, including video conferencing, screen sharing, and collaboration tools. The choice depends on specific needs and desired functionality.
4. What is the difference between 3 way calling and conference call?
The primary distinction between a 3-way calling and a conference call lies in the number of participants. In 3-way calling, three individuals, including the initiator, can participate, while a conference call enables multiple participants to join, typically facilitated through a conference call service or platform.
Final Thoughts – Which Is Best To Use For A Conference Call?
A decent conference call software is no longer considered a luxury. It’s practically needed for work in the modern world.
Based on the list of factors that I have mentioned above, select the right one for your company.
This list includes both free and paid choices. In general, there’s something for everybody.
Here are my top 8 recommendations for the best conference calling services:
1. RingCentral — Best conference call service for phone and video.
2. GoToMeeting — The best way to upgrade (or create) conference rooms.
3. ClickMeeting — Best presentation and webinar tools.
4. BlueJeans — Best conference call service for audio quality.
5. Dialpad— Best software for call recording.
6. Zoom – Top conference call service for large groups.
7. Google Hangouts — Simple setup and inviting feature.
8. Webex — Best tool for team collaboration.
Regardless of being an individual, a small business, or a large corporation, any of the solutions listed in this guide will provide you with high-quality conference calling software.