What is the best video conferencing software? 9 solutions compared

Successful meetings no longer require everyone to gather in the same location. Instead of traveling long distances, much can now be handled conveniently online. A wide range of video conferencing tools is available, and they differ not only in price but also in data protection standards, extra features, and the maximum number of participants supported.

Overview of video conferencing software options

There is no single winner in the video conferencing software market. Each provider focuses on different user groups and offers its own mix of features. The right choice ultimately depends on your specific needs. The following overview can help guide your decision.

Video conferencing software options compared

Each program has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Some are perfect for small teams, while others are only suitable for large enterprises. We present each video conferencing program in a brief overview.

Zoom

With Zoom, up to 1,000 participants can join a video conference, with 49 attendees displayed on a single screen at the same time. For webinars, where most participants simply watch and listen rather than interact, even larger audiences can be accommodated.

This level of scale, however, is only available with paid plans. In the free version, you can host up to 100 participants per meeting. A convenient benefit: invited participants don’t need their own Zoom account to join a meeting.

Another reason for Zoom’s popularity is the wide range of additional features it offers:

• Text chat: Participants in meetings and conferences can also communicate with each other via chat.
• File sharing: Files can be easily shared via Zoom.
• Screen sharing: It is possible to share your own screen via Zoom.
• Whiteboard: During a meeting, you can collaborate on a digital whiteboard.
• Flexible backgrounds: Instead of showing a glimpse into your office or home, you can set a custom background.

The software is available as a desktop version for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and can also be installed on iOS and Android devices or simply run through a browser. Numerous plugins, including for Microsoft Outlook, make handling in daily operations very easy.

Zoom has often faced criticism for shortcomings in data privacy. On the one hand, meeting administrators can access more information than participants may expect — for example, they can see if a user switches to another window during a session. On the other hand, third parties may also gain access to sensitive data: meeting rooms are not sufficiently secured by default and can be hijacked by cybercriminals. In addition, Zoom, a U.S.-based company, only stopped sharing data with Facebook after significant media attention.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft offers Teams as video conferencing software for businesses. However, individual users can also hold meetings with Teams.

As a part of Microsoft 365, Teams integrates seamlessly with many of Microsoft’s other services. For instance, it works closely with Outlook and the Office suite, allowing documents and spreadsheets to be shared and edited directly within the Teams workspace.

Teams provides multiple communication options: advanced chat functions, IP telephony, and the ability to host online meetings. According to Microsoft, a single virtual event can support up to 10,000 participants. Video conferences can also be scheduled through Outlook’s calendar and carried out directly in Teams.

The software is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. A simplified preview version exists for Linux, and like all Microsoft 365 products, Teams can also be accessed fully through the browser. In addition, the platform can be connected with video conferencing hardware, expanding its use in professional telephony environments.

alfaview

alfaview is a GDPR-compliant video conferencing software developed in Germany, enabling online meetings with up to 200 participants (video and audio). With the viewer function, up to 500 additional people can join larger meetings or events. Furthermore, alfaview is distinguished by the following features:

• Text chat: Participants can send personal direct and group messages.
• Screen sharing: alfaview allows unlimited screen sharing at the same time.
• Toolbox: Each meeting room can integrate tools for collaborative work such as whiteboards, polls, etc., or web links (e.g., to the company’s own intranet).
• Guest and group links: Participating in meetings requires no registration—organizers simply share specific participation links.
• Individual room structure: Companies, universities, events, etc., can be virtually represented using the video conferencing software.

One of the biggest strengths of this video conferencing software is its strict data protection standards. All data is transmitted in encrypted form (TLS and AES-256 bit). Storage takes place exclusively in ISO-27001-certified data centers in Germany, with audio and video streams never being stored or shared. The platform is also fully GDPR-compliant, as confirmed by the Berlin Data Protection Authority, among others.

alfaview is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as for iOS and Android devices.

Google Meet

Google also provides its own solution for digital meetings. As part of the Google Workspace suite, Google Meet is primarily designed for browser use. The software is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem, making it accessible directly from Gmail.

In the free version of Google Meet, up to 100 participants can join a meeting with a time limit of 60 minutes. With the paid “Enterprise Plus” edition of Workspace, this capacity expands to up to 1,000 participants. Like other video conferencing platforms, Google Meet offers screen sharing and chat functions. A major benefit is that you can invite participants who don’t have a Google account. You can also join via phone call, and in addition to the web version, mobile apps are available for hosting and attending meetings.

WebEx

Cisco has also developed its own video conferencing software, WebEx. The software is designed for large enterprises and, like Microsoft Teams, aims to cover all aspects of internal communication. With WebEx, users can chat, make phone calls, and hold video conferences. Paid plans support meetings with up to 200 participants, with higher capacities available on request. Security is supported by features such as end-to-end encryption, while a variety of additional functions make WebEx a strong solution for everyday business communication.

• Screen sharing: You can share your screen for others to view.
• Whiteboard: Meetings and presentations can be enhanced with a whiteboard visible to everyone.
• Document editing: Multiple people can work on documents together.

One of WebEx’s key strengths is its versatile connectivity, which expands the platform’s functionality. In addition to integrating with collaboration tools such as Teams or Slack, WebEx can also connect with various cloud storage services and integrate with Salesforce. Another useful feature is the ability to redirect WebEx conferences and webinars to Facebook, making them available as live video streams. Cisco also provides dedicated IoT devices that further simplify and enhance the video conferencing experience.

Amazon Chime

With its extensive AWS server network, Amazon offers its own business-focused video conferencing software. Amazon Chime is designed as a complete communication solution, including chat features and IP telephony. Online meetings can host up to 250 participants, and screen sharing makes it easy to present information or collaborate with colleagues.

Amazon Chime can be accessed directly in the browser via a web app or installed on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. While Amazon’s cloud services have often raised privacy concerns due to U.S.-based data centers, it is possible to select European regions as the server location. For added security, the platform also provides strong encryption.

Nextcloud Talk

If you want to make sure that no sensitive data is exposed, a self-hosted solution on your company’s own server may be the best choice. Nextcloud Talk is open source and can be customized precisely to your business needs. To keep information secure, all conversations are protected with end-to-end encryption, preventing unauthorized access or eavesdropping. One of Nextcloud’s biggest strengths lies in its extensive security mechanisms:

• Open source: Open software is often more secure, as more people can review the source code.
• Self-hosting: The implementing company keeps all data on its own server and has control over its security.
• End-to-end encryption: All calls are encrypted and therefore cannot be eavesdropped on.
• Video verification: Before allowing external individuals to join a meeting room, you can verify them with a video call.

However, beyond its security techniques, Nextcloud Talk offers several features that are useful in web conferences. In addition to the usual chat function, you can activate screen sharing and give presentations online. To invite external participants, you only need to send them a link. How many users can participate in a meeting at the same time depends entirely on your own infrastructure and is therefore scalable.

Talk is part of Nextcloud Hub, a comprehensive groupware solution. In addition to the video conferencing program, it also offers other collaboration applications as well as a complete office environment. You can use Nextcloud Talk directly through the browser or download an app for iOS or Android.

BigBlueButton

BigBlueButton is an open-source video conferencing solution built specifically for education. It includes features such as presentation sharing, a whiteboard, polls, shared notes, breakout rooms, and a learning analytics dashboard. The platform is especially popular with schools, universities, and continuing education providers, as it integrates seamlessly with learning management systems like Moodle and ILIAS. BigBlueButton runs entirely in the browser, so no additional software installation is required.

A key strength is its scalability: with sufficiently powerful servers, conferences with more than 100 participants are easily possible. The moderator role provides precise control over sessions — from muting participants and launching polls to sharing videos. BigBlueButton can also be self-hosted, enabling educational institutions to retain full control over data protection and server location.

Spike

Spike is a modern communication platform that combines email, chat, and video conferencing in one tool. Instead of relying on traditional inboxes, Spike turns email threads into chat-like conversations for easier collaboration. Alongside its unified messaging features, the platform also includes video and voice calls, group chats, file sharing, and collaborative notes.

Spike is especially popular with SMBs, freelancers, and distributed teams that want to simplify their communication by managing everything in a single app. Video meetings can host up to 50 participants (in paid plans), making it a good fit for smaller teams. One of its unique advantages is that video calls have no time limit, even in the free version. Spike is available as a web app and on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.