The Best 5 Conference Calling Services of 2024
Here are the top 5 conference calling services for 2024:
- RingCentral: Best overall
- Free ConferenceCall.com: Best free conference call solution
- GoToMeeting: Best for large business
- Vast Conference: Best for international conferencing
- Grasshopper: Best for small audio-only conference calls
Choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
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Forbes Advisor Small Business is dedicated to providing impartial rankings and information with complete editorial independence. Our team employs product data, strategic methodologies, and expert insights to guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
We conducted a thorough evaluation of several providers using a complex system to identify the top five conference calling services for small businesses. Our ratings factor in pricing relative to a provider’s subscription plan, key features such as video conferencing and dial-in conferencing, and our experts’ assessment of genuine users’ opinions on ease of use and value for money, among other concerns. All ratings are determined exclusively by our editorial team.
You can rely on Forbes Advisor Small Business to provide you with trustworthy and unbiased information to help you make informed decisions for your small business.
Best Overall
RingCentral
RingCentral is a feature-rich conference calling solution that offers messaging, video and audio conferencing, and phone services. It is an excellent choice for small, medium, and large businesses, making it Forbes’ choice for the best overall conference calling service.
Additional Features
RingCentral offers voice and video conferencing, which is available with all plans. High-definition (HD) video conferencing is included with all plans.
Why You Should Use It
RingCentral users can host an unlimited number of audio conferences with up to 1,000 participants per event. Audio conference setup is straightforward. Every account is assigned a single conference bridge number for use throughout the company. Each plan user gets their own host and participant access codes, making it easy for your entire team to set up audio conferences on their own.
Conference call hosts can invite participants via email or text by sharing their unique participant access code. Hosts have access to various helpful call management features, including participant mute, call recording, and a counter that reveals the total number of participants in the conference. You can host or join RingCentral audio conferences from over 55 countries.
RingCentral hosts an impressive collection of helpful e-books and guides in its online Resource Center. Customer support is available via the online Customer Community, online chat, and phone.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- User-friendly
- End-to-end meeting encryption and password protection
- Live transcription available
Cons
- Video meetings limited to 200 participants
- Limited integrations with lower-tier plans
Pricing
The RingCentral Core plan starts at $20 if billed annually. To access audio conferencing features, you’ll need to purchase an Advanced or Ultra plan, which are $25 or $35 when billed annually.
In summary, RingCentral is a user-friendly conference calling solution that offers messaging, video and audio conferencing, and phone services. With its impressive collection of helpful resources and excellent customer support, RingCentral is a top choice for businesses of all sizes.
Best Free Conference Call Solution
FreeConferenceCall.com
If you’re looking for a reliable and feature-rich free conference call service, FreeConferenceCall.com is the solution for you. With a starting price of free and premium plans for $4 per month, FreeConferenceCall.com offers voice and video conferencing capabilities.
Features
FreeConferenceCall.com allows you to host unlimited teleconferences or video conferences with up to 1,000 participants without paying a single dime. The platform is relatively easy to use, and you can start hosting conferences around-the-clock immediately after signing up for a free account.
Teleconferences feature breakout rooms, call recording, and call controls such as muting individual lines. You can teleconference from a landline using phone keypad commands, through a mobile device using the mobile app for Android or iOS, or via voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) using a desktop or mobile app.
With local in-country dial-in numbers in over 65 countries, FreeConferenceCall.com makes it easy to host or join free international teleconference calls within and between global locations.
FreeConferenceCall.com also offers free video conferencing with popular features such as screen sharing, recording and playback, chat, and meeting attendee lists. Drawing tools let you call attention to specific areas on documents or applications you’re sharing.
To get started with video conferencing, you’ll first need to download and launch the FreeConferenceCall.com app. Unlike Zoom, which limits its free meetings to 40 minutes, FreeConferenceCall.com places no meeting time limits and comes with 1 GB of cloud recording.
Pricing
While FreeConferenceCall.com is free, the platform accepts contributions on a “Pay What You Can” model. Several upgrades are also available, such as One Number for $3.95 per month, which eliminates the need for an access code for U.S. conference participants. Toll-free numbers are available for $0.02 per person per minute, and custom greetings cost $2 per month, as does custom hold music. Extra storage of up to 40 GB is available for conference recordings starting at $3 per month.
Customer Support
Customer support is an area where FreeConferenceCall.com shines. The solution offers free phone, online chat, and email support, plus a resource-rich online Support Center.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Up to 1,000 participants for both audio and video conference calls
- No time limits on meetings
- Unlimited number of meetings
- No charge for user reports
Cons:
- Software download required
- Occasional dropped calls
- Initial login somewhat difficult for new users
- Upgrade required for more than 1 GB cloud storage
Who Should Use It?
Whether you’re looking for free audio conference calling services or a free video conference solution, FreeConferenceCall.com is the best option for you. It is a reliable and feature-rich solution that offers excellent customer support.
Best for Large Businesses
GoToMeeting
If you’re looking for a reliable video conferencing service with advanced account management features and team collaboration tools, GoToMeeting is an excellent choice for larger organizations. The platform offers voice and video conferencing, dial-in lines, and a range of features that make conducting business more efficient.
Additional Features
GoToMeeting provides unlimited meetings, unlimited meeting length, HD video and web audio for all three plans. Breakout rooms, hand raising, screen sharing, and private meeting rooms are also available on all plans. The Business and Enterprise plans come with unlimited cloud recording, transcription, drawing tools, meeting lock, reporting analytics, and the ability to assign co-organizers for meetings.
Why We Picked It
GoToMeeting is well-regarded for its 99.996% service uptime and enterprise-grade security. The Professional plan allows up to 150 participants, the Business plan up to 250, and the Enterprise plan can accommodate up to 3,000 participants.
Pros & Cons
Pros of GoToMeeting include its user-friendly interface, easy email integration, and strong meeting collaboration features. The platform also offers a recurring meeting setup feature. However, GoToMeeting is bandwidth heavy, requiring a strong and stable internet connection. The chat feature is limited, and customer support can be inconsistent.
Who should use it?
Forbes recommends GoToMeeting for larger organizations that require a conference calling solution with team collaboration tools and advanced account management features, plus desire the security and scalability that GoToMeeting delivers.
To get started with GoToMeeting, you can download the app or join directly from your browser. GoToMeeting hosts an online Resource Center that features free new user training, video tutorials, a customer community, and dozens of helpful articles. Customer support is available through online chat, a ticket support system, and telephone between 2 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Overall, GoToMeeting is a reliable and feature-rich video conferencing service that can help larger businesses conduct meetings more effectively.
Best for International Conferencing
Vast Conference
If you are looking for a conferencing service that can handle international calls, then Vast Conference is a great choice. Vast Conference offers teleconferencing services with up to 1,000 participants on a dedicated conference call number. With Vast Conference, you can easily host or attend meetings from your phone, mobile app, or any desktop web browser using a dedicated meeting link.
One of the standout features of Vast Conference is its global network, which provides audio and video conference calling services in over 70 countries. This means that you can host international calls with ease, and most international callers have a low-cost option for attending your teleconferences. Local in-country numbers are available in many of these locales, and you can also provide a toll-free number for your international guests.
Vast Conference offers four plans that you can pay either month-to-month or annually. The Essentials plan is $13.19 per user, per month (if billed annually) but limits conferences to only ten participants per event. Advanced plans, which start at $17.59 per user, per month (if billed annually) and allow 100 to 250-plus participants, come with advanced features, including a branded welcome message, personalized meeting URLs, and custom hold music.
Vast Conference integrates with popular calendars such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft 365, and Google Calendar. You can provide callers toll-free access to teleconferences with the 1-800 Dial-in Access feature.
Customer support is offered via email, chat, and phone. Live support is provided Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. The Vast Conference online Support Center features dozens of videos, an extensive FAQs base, and many informative articles.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy setup
- Supports conferencing in 70-plus countries
- Monthly and annual billing available
- No software installations required
Cons
- Limited meeting collaboration features
- Lowest-tier plan only offers 1 GB of cloud storage for recordings
- International toll-free access rates can be pricey
- Limited software integrations
Best for Small Audio-Only Conference Calls
Grasshopper
If you are already using Grasshopper for your personal or business phone services, you can also host small audio conferences through the platform. Grasshopper is best suited for those who only need to host teleconferences with ten or fewer participants.
Grasshopper offers three plans: Solo, Partner, and Small Business. All plans include voice conferencing, but video conferencing is not available. The Solo plan costs $28 per month when billed annually and comes with one phone number and three extensions. The Partner plan costs $46 per month when billed annually and includes three phone numbers and six extensions. The Small Business plan costs $80 per month when billed annually and offers five phone numbers and unlimited extensions.
One of the advantages of Grasshopper is that there is no extra charge for teleconferencing for current Grasshopper customers. Additionally, the audio quality is good, and the platform is reliable. However, the conference call setup process is complicated, and there are no meeting management features available.
Participants cannot dial into a conference themselves; you’ll need to start the audio conference and then reach out to add participants one at a time. Also, if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, beware that Grasshopper considers these offshore locales, and international calling rates will apply.
Overall, if you only need to host small audio-only conference calls and are already using Grasshopper for phone services, it may be a good option for you. However, if you need to host larger events or require video conferencing or meeting management features, you may want to consider other conference calling services that are more user-friendly.
Methodology
Pricing
When evaluating the best conference calling services for 2024, Forbes Advisors considered pricing as a crucial factor. To determine the pricing score, we analyzed the total value delivered in terms of features offered, plan costs, and add-on fees. We assessed the subscription plan cost and the range of prices between plans, including the value users received when choosing upgraded plans. Providers that offered free trials or free versions also received a higher score in this category. The pricing category accounted for 30% of our weighted scoring.
Features
Forbes Advisors recognizes that not all conferencing services offer the same suite of services and features. Therefore, we reviewed each provider in light of the full features offered and the usefulness of those features in real-world business situations. We considered features such as video conferencing, dial-in conferencing, software integrations, recurring meetings, screen sharing, and accessibility features. We weighted features at 40% of the total score.
Expert Analysis
Our experts formed opinions on the best conference calling services by looking at customer experiences with these services. We considered categories such as ease of use, popularity, value for the money, and stand-out features to form the basis for our expert analysis. This analysis made up 30% of the final score. By combining our experts’ knowledge with customer experiences, we were able to determine the best conference calling services for 2024.
How To Make Conference Calls Easy
To make conference calls easy, it is important to select the right conferencing solution that meets your specific needs. Before making a final purchase, create a list of features that you require from your conference calling service. Determine whether the platform can accommodate those needs, especially if you plan to host events with large or small crowds or a mix of both.
Consider the length of your meetings and whether your solutions provider can accommodate longer events. Decide whether you want to host audio or video conferences, or both. Many solutions offer free trials, which is the best way to test whether a specific service will satisfy your organization’s needs.
Here are some additional tips to make conference calls easy:
- Test your equipment and internet connection beforehand to avoid any technical difficulties during the call.
- Provide clear instructions to participants on how to join the call and use the conferencing solution.
- Assign a moderator to manage the call and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to speak.
- Record the call for future reference or for those who were unable to attend.
By following these tips and selecting the right conferencing solution, you can make conference calls easy and efficient for everyone involved.
Valuable Conference Call Features
To ensure that your conference calls are well-organized and effective, it’s important to have access to a range of desirable features in your audio and video conferencing solutions. These features can help you set up calls more easily, facilitate discussions and collaboration, and track and report on essential event parameters.
When selecting a conference call solution, you may want to look for the following features:
- Cloud recordings for easy access to past calls
- Transcriptions to keep a written record of discussions
- Screen sharing to present information to participants
- Participant muting to reduce background noise and distractions
- Breakout rooms to facilitate smaller group discussions
- The ability to add participants on the fly for flexibility
- Closed captioning for accessibility
- Whiteboards for visual collaboration
- File sharing to easily share documents and presentations
- Attendance reports to keep track of who attended the call
- The ability to eject a participant from a conference if necessary
- Waiting rooms to ensure participants join at the appropriate time
- Public and private chat for real-time communication
- Excellent call and video quality for clear communication
- End-to-end encryption for security
- Event analytics to track important metrics
- Low bandwidth requirement to participate for accessibility
- Business software integrations for seamless workflow
By selecting a conference call solution with these valuable features, you can ensure that your calls are productive and efficient.
Choosing the Best Conference Call Software
When it comes to choosing the best conference call software for your organization, it’s important to identify your specific objectives and the types of features you need to meet those objectives. Once you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for, you can begin exploring the top conference calling services on the market today.
Forbes Advisor recommends RingCentral, FreeConferenceCalls.com, and GoToMeeting as the best conference calling services available. To ensure you find the right fit for your organization, take advantage of the free trials offered by these services before committing to a particular plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many participants can join conference calls?
The number of participants allowed in conference calls varies across different conference calling services. While some platforms limit the number of participants to a small group, others allow thousands to join. To ensure that you have the right conference calling service for your needs, check the maximum number of participants allowed before signing up.
How secure are conference call services?
When hosting conference calls that involve sensitive information, security is crucial. It is important to choose a conference call provider that offers end-to-end encryption to ensure that your calls are secure. Not all conference call providers offer the same level of protection, so it is important to be selective when choosing a teleconference or video conferencing provider.
How much does it cost to use conference call services?
The cost of conference calling services can vary widely, ranging from free to hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. The cost of premium conference call plans typically ranges from around $12 to $60 per month, per user. The cost will vary depending on the number of business users you are adding to your conference plan.
How does video conferencing work?
Video conferencing software captures participants’ audio and video instantly, compresses the data, and sends it across the internet connection. The recipient then decompresses the data to present the audio and video. This allows participants to communicate in real-time, even if they are in different locations. Video conferencing makes it possible to hold virtual meetings and collaborate with colleagues or clients from anywhere in the world.
What are the top-rated conference call services for small businesses?
When it comes to conference call services for small businesses, there are several options to choose from. Some of the top-rated conference call services for small businesses include Zoom, GoToMeeting, Webex, and Microsoft Teams. These services offer reliable audio quality, screen sharing, and video conferencing capabilities.
How does one set up a conference call with a reliable and clear audio system?
To set up a conference call with a reliable and clear audio system, you should first choose a conference call service that offers high-quality audio. Once you have selected a service, you can schedule a call and invite participants by sending them a link or dial-in number. Make sure that all participants have a strong and stable internet connection to avoid any audio disruptions.
Are there any conference call services that offer free dial-in options?
Yes, there are several conference call services that offer free dial-in options. Some of these services include FreeConferenceCall.com, UberConference, and Google Meet. These services allow participants to dial in using a phone number, without requiring them to have an internet connection.
What are the key features to look for in an audio-only conference call service?
When selecting an audio-only conference call service, it is important to look for features such as high-quality audio, the ability to mute and unmute participants, and the ability to record the call. Additionally, some services may offer features such as call scheduling, call analytics, and integration with other software tools.
How does Zoom compare to other popular conference call applications?
Zoom is a popular conference call application that offers high-quality audio and video conferencing capabilities, as well as screen sharing and recording features. Compared to other popular conference call applications such as GoToMeeting, Webex, and Microsoft Teams, Zoom is known for its ease of use and reliability.
Can you recommend a robust conference call app suitable for large team collaboration?
For large team collaboration, a robust conference call app such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom is recommended. These services offer features such as screen sharing, video conferencing, and integration with other software tools such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. Additionally, these services allow for large groups of participants to join a call and collaborate effectively.
Next Up In Business
As the business world continues to evolve, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments. Here are some areas to watch in the coming months:
- Digital Transformation: With the rise of remote work and online shopping, companies are increasingly investing in digital transformation to stay competitive. This includes adopting new technologies like artificial intelligence and cloud computing, as well as improving their online presence and customer experience.
- Sustainability: Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, and businesses are taking notice. Expect to see more companies implementing sustainable practices and reducing their carbon footprint.
- E-commerce: Online shopping has been on the rise for years, but the pandemic has accelerated this trend. E-commerce sales are expected to continue growing, and companies that don’t have an online presence may struggle to keep up.
- Cybersecurity: With more business being conducted online, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Companies will need to invest in robust security measures to protect their data and prevent cyber attacks.
Overall, businesses that are able to adapt to these changes and stay ahead of the curve will be well-positioned for success in the years to come.
