Zoom is a video conference software that has seen its fair share of success, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. However, it can have some drawbacks.
Its security is questionable and its large-scale outages are sometimes a cause for concern. Also, it’s susceptible to ‘zoombombing’ – where unwanted individuals crash a meeting for fun.
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Discord
Discord is a lag-free communication platform that supports voice/video chatting, screen sharing, and live streaming. It is designed for gaming communities but can also be used by individuals and businesses. It can be used for collaboration with teams, and it offers features like whiteboards, breakout rooms, and polling.
One of the biggest draws of Discord is that it has a large user base and a dedicated team to monitor for security issues. However, this doesn’t mean that it is invulnerable to cyber attacks.
One of the biggest downsides to Zoom is that it limits the number of participants in video meetings to 100 in their free plan, while Discord has unlimited participants on any of their plans. Zoom also has a limited call length limit, which makes it difficult to host effective meetings for businesses and other larger groups. While Discord allows users to customize their DMs and servers, it is not as customizable as Zoom.
Skype
Skype is one of the older video conferencing solutions but still has some strong advantages. It’s available for many different devices and offers features like text chat, voice calls, and video meetings. It has a free plan that lets you talk to other Skype users and low rates for calling non-Skype users.
However, it’s important to note that the security of Skype has been called into question. While the company has improved its security, there are a number of other options that offer more privacy. For example, Jitsi Meet is a free option that has many of the same features as Zoom and includes end-to-end encryption. Other options include Google Meet, which is included with G Suite and can be accessed from mobile devices. Additionally, there are services that offer video conferencing for small teams, such as BlueJeans and Eyeson. These programs are easy to use and have multiple devices supported.
Google Meet
While Zoom has made strides as a remote work platform, it’s not the only solution that has HD video chat capabilities. In fact, some Zoom alternatives have improved functions and security features unavailable with the software.
For example, Discord is a robust communications program with multiple functions including video calls. Although it’s primarily focused on gamers, it could serve as a suitable Zoom alternative for businesses that have remote employees.
Another option is Cisco Webex, which has no meetings cap and provides superior video quality compared to Zoom. It is also available as a desktop and mobile app and has several other useful features. However, it does not include a business phone system or contact center management tools and is pricier than other solutions with comparable features.
Another good choice is Dialpad Meetings, which is part of the Dialpad all-in-one communication tool. The app has outstanding call quality and a unique feature called “commute mode,” which adjusts video resolution to save bandwidth. It can even work on low-bandwidth devices.
CloudTalk
With a focus on collaboration, CloudTalk is a Zoom alternative that lets teams work together and follow up with customers through shared numbers. It also provides team calendars, meeting scheduling tools and more to streamline business processes. It offers multiple plans and a seven-day free trial to get started.
The platform offers unlimited inbound and internal calls, click-to-call functionality, and customizable call routing. Its enterprise features include speech-to-text, integration with Salesforce and other systems, and advanced queue management. Additionally, it supports local and global phone numbers, offshore hotlines, and toll-free numbers to make it easier for customers to reach you.
While it has many useful features, CloudTalk isn’t without its shortcomings. Its high subscription costs may deter some businesses, and it doesn’t offer a free plan or volume discounts like Freshdesk and RingCentral. Additionally, it only allows annual subscriptions, which may be a drawback for some companies. Fortunately, there are plenty of other alternatives that provide similar call center and productivity tools for less.