When it comes to communicating with people online, the platform must be reliable, secured, and easy to navigate. Even better if you can use the services for free! Especially now that everybody is web-dependent, a good video and audio platform is a must. One of the apps that became popular during the quarantine is Zoom. Zoom is a cloud-based video and audio platform that you can use to communicate with other people. You probably used Zoom to attend a webinar, meeting, or an online class. However, Zoom can be unreliable especially if your internet connection is not consistent. In this article, we compiled some Zoom alternatives that you can use for free!
Discord
Discord was originally made as a communicating platform between gamers. However, Discord is one of the best Zoom alternatives that are available for free! All you need to do is to sign up using your email and create your profile. Discord is available to use via the web or you can download the Discord app. You can use any device to access Discord. Compared to Zoom, Discord uses around 36MB of data per hour. For comparison, Zoom uses around 1 GB per hour. So if you are someone who doesn’t have a stable internet connection at home, Discord is the best pick. If you want something easier to navigate, check out these other Zoom alternatives.
Google Meet
If you want a more straightforward platform, Google Meet is the way to go. You can integrate scheduled Google Meet conferences to your Google Calendar. Inviting people using Google Meet is convenient and easy to do. Aside from Google Calendar, you can also synchronize your other G Suites. To use Google Meet, you need to create a Gmail account and have Google Chrome installed in your device. Security is the number one priority so every meeting is encrypted. Only those who are invited by the host will have access to the meeting and passcode.
For a more informal conference call, you can rely on WhatsApp. You can download the app using any device and sign up using your phone number. WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption. Around 4 to 8 people can join the call. To enjoy this feature, all users must update to the latest WhatsApp version. You can also use the WhatsApp Web which syncs to the WhatsApp downloaded on your phone or tablet.
TeamSpeak
TeamSpeak is another free software that you can use to communicate with your team. It is military-encrypted, has advanced permission controls, allows you to host your server, unlimited file transfer, and customizable. However, compared to Discord, TeamSpeak can be sometimes more complicated.
LINE
Similar to WhatsApp, LINE offers IP voice-over, chat, and calls. You can easily send multimedia files to other LINE users as long as they also have the app. You can organize a conference call with over 200 participants! For LINE calls composed of a lot of participants, LINE will automatically show you on the screen who is speaking. LINE also has a few features that you can enjoy with friends like filters. LINE also has the Voice Equality Enhancement feature. LINE automatically removes echos, background noise, and other unnecessary sounds during the call. Especially in a large conference call, this feature can be really helpful so dissemination of information is not affected.
Skype Meet
Of course, we are not going to leave behind Skype. Skype is one of the pioneers of cloud-based communication platforms. Skype to Skype calls are still free up to now so you can utilize that with your team. But a more updated version, Skype Meet, is now available via the web. No need to download the Skype app or any software to your device. You can share your presentation, blur your background, and have a 30 days call recording feature. Even those with no Skype account will still be able to join the call.
Talky
If you are meeting with a small group of people on occasion, Talky is the best for the job. No need to download an app, software, or install any plugins. You don’t even need to register to Talky. Just go to the Talky website, generate a unique link for the conference room, and send the link to the other participants. It will only take a few seconds to create a room. Talky can only host up to 6 participants per room. Talky is supported by SimpleWebRTC where you can enjoy the audio, video, and screen sharing features of the platform.
Messenger Rooms
If you have a Facebook account then you can enjoy its features, like Messenger Rooms. Messenger Rooms is a newly released video conferencing feature of Facebook. However, starting Messenger Rooms can also notify your other Facebook friends and will appear at the top of the newsfeed. Don’t worry though because you can limit the people who can join by sending invites to the participants. You can also schedule a conference call beforehand. You can invite up to 50 Facebook friends to join your room.
Zoho Meeting
Zoho meeting is another alternative platform that is on par with Zoom. It is guaranteed that your calls are secured and encrypted. The free plan of Zoho can host up to 3 people, including the presenter. You also get to enjoy the basic features of Zoho meeting, like Polls, screen sharing, webcam sharing, mute/unmute function, customized registration form, Q&A, and webinar analytics. For a free plan, the number of features available is still good compared to other video conferencing platforms. You can easily sign up to Zoho Meeting using your email address.
Get In Touch With Other People For Free
If you are looking for an alternative to Zoom, then this article has presented you with enough video conferencing platforms that you can use for free. Whether you are meeting with someone one-on-one, with a small group, or with hundreds of people, there is surely a platform for you. Now that everyone is relying on the web to interact with other people, we should be smart when it comes to choosing a platform. Consider picking something with adequate features, encrypted, and easy to navigate such as the ones listed here.
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