Quick Direct-Link List
- Zoom
- Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams
- Cisco Webex
- GoTo Meeting
- Jitsi Meet
- Whereby
- Skype
- Slack
- Discord
- Zoho Meeting
- RingCentral Video
- BlueJeans
- Amazon Chime
- Lark
- Adobe Connect
- BigBlueButton
- Demodesk
- Around
- TeamViewer Meeting
Live meeting platforms have become essential tools for business meetings, online classes, webinars, conferences, interviews, consultations, church gatherings, family meetings and virtual events. Modern platforms combine video conferencing with screen sharing, chat, recording, collaboration, presentations and increasingly AI-powered meeting assistance.
1. Zoom
Zoom is one of the world’s best-known video conferencing platforms. It became particularly prominent during the global shift toward remote work and online education.
Zoom supports everything from one-to-one conversations to large meetings and webinars.
Key features
- HD video meetings
- Audio conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Meeting chat
- Breakout rooms
- Meeting recording
- Virtual backgrounds
- Whiteboards
- Webinars
- Polls and reactions
- Mobile applications
- AI-powered meeting features on supported plans
Best for: Businesses, education, webinars, online events and general video meetings.
2. Google Meet
Google Meet is Google’s video-conferencing platform and is closely integrated with Google Workspace.
It is particularly convenient for users who already use Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive and other Google services.
Key features
- Video meetings
- Screen sharing
- Live captions
- Chat
- Google Calendar integration
- Recording on supported plans
- Breakout rooms
- Polls and Q&A on supported plans
- Noise cancellation
- Mobile applications
Best for: Schools, businesses, churches, organizations and Google Workspace users.
3. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams combines video meetings with messaging, file sharing, collaboration and team management.
It is deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 and is widely used by businesses, schools and organizations.
Key features
- Video meetings
- Group calls
- Team chat
- Channels
- Screen sharing
- File collaboration
- Microsoft 365 integration
- Live events and webinars
- Recording
- Breakout rooms
- AI-powered meeting assistance
Best for: Businesses, schools and organizations already using Microsoft 365.
4. Cisco Webex
Webex is a long-established enterprise video conferencing and collaboration platform from Cisco.
It is particularly well known in corporate and organizational environments.
Key features
- Video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Chat
- Webinars
- Breakout sessions
- Recording
- Virtual backgrounds
- Whiteboarding
- Polling
- AI-powered meeting capabilities
- Enterprise security features
Best for: Businesses, government organizations, institutions and large enterprises.
5. GoTo Meeting
GoTo Meeting is a professional online meeting platform designed primarily for businesses and organizations.
It focuses on reliable video meetings, screen sharing and remote collaboration.
Key features
- Video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Meeting recording
- Chat
- Drawing tools
- Calendar integration
- Mobile apps
- Business administration
Best for: Small and medium-sized businesses and professional meetings.
6. Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is an open-source video conferencing solution.
One of its most attractive features is that users can start a meeting without necessarily creating an account. The public Jitsi Meet service is available at meet.jit.si, while organizations can also deploy their own Jitsi infrastructure.
Key features
- Video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Chat
- Recording options
- Live streaming
- No mandatory account for basic meetings
- Open-source technology
- Self-hosting possibilities
Best for: Privacy-conscious users, developers, educational groups and organizations interested in open-source conferencing.
7. Whereby
Whereby focuses on making video meetings simple, particularly through browser-based meeting rooms.
Participants can generally join meetings through a web browser without installing traditional desktop software.
Key features
- Browser-based meetings
- Personalized meeting rooms
- Screen sharing
- Chat
- Recording on supported plans
- Breakout rooms
- Virtual backgrounds
- Collaboration features
Best for: Small teams, consultants, educators and organizations wanting simple browser-based meetings.
8. Skype
Skype was one of the pioneering internet communication platforms for voice and video calling.
It became widely recognized for enabling people to make internet-based calls across countries and continents.
Important: Microsoft has announced the retirement of Skype in May 2025, with users directed toward Microsoft Teams Free. Therefore, Skype is now primarily of historical importance rather than a recommended new meeting platform.
Best for: Historical reference and users transitioning from the former Skype ecosystem.
9. Slack
Slack is primarily a workplace messaging and collaboration platform rather than a traditional dedicated video-conferencing service.
However, it supports huddles and video/audio communication, making it useful for teams that already use Slack for daily collaboration.
Key features
- Channels
- Direct messages
- Huddles
- Audio/video communication
- Screen sharing
- File sharing
- App integrations
- Search
- AI-powered workplace features
Best for: Teams that want messaging and quick meetings in one workplace environment.
10. Discord
Discord is a community communication platform that supports voice, video and screen sharing.
Although it originated in gaming communities, it has expanded into education, technology, entertainment, hobby groups and other communities.
Key features
- Video calls
- Voice channels
- Screen sharing
- Community servers
- Text channels
- Streaming
- File sharing
- Moderation tools
Best for: Communities, gaming, informal groups and interest-based organizations.
11. Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting is an online meeting and webinar platform from Zoho.
It integrates naturally with Zoho’s broader business software ecosystem and is particularly useful for businesses looking for an alternative to Google and Microsoft solutions.
Key features
- Online meetings
- Video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Webinars
- Recording
- Polls
- Q&A
- Meeting scheduling
- Business integrations
Best for: Businesses, schools, organizations and Zoho users.
12. RingCentral Video
RingCentral Video is part of RingCentral’s broader communications platform.
It combines video meetings with business messaging and other communication tools.
Key features
- Video meetings
- Team messaging
- Screen sharing
- Recording
- Webinars
- Calendar integration
- AI meeting features
- Business collaboration
Best for: Businesses and organizations looking for an integrated communications platform.
13. BlueJeans
BlueJeans was a well-known enterprise video conferencing service.
However, BlueJeans is no longer an independent meeting platform following Verizon’s decision to discontinue the BlueJeans suite. It is therefore best treated as a historical entry rather than a current recommendation.
14. Amazon Chime
Amazon Chime was Amazon Web Services’ communications and online meeting service.
AWS has transitioned away from Chime Meetings as a standalone product, so it should not be considered a primary current choice for new users.
For organizations interested in Amazon’s communications technologies, AWS offers other communication-related services.
Best for: Historical reference and understanding the evolution of AWS communication services.
15. Lark
Lark is a workplace collaboration suite that combines messaging, video meetings, documents, calendars and other productivity tools.
It is designed around the idea of bringing multiple workplace functions into one platform.
Key features
- Video meetings
- Messaging
- Calendar
- Collaborative documents
- Cloud storage
- Spreadsheets
- Team collaboration
- Project tools
Best for: Businesses and teams seeking an all-in-one collaboration platform.
16. Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect is a professional web conferencing and virtual-learning platform.
It is particularly strong for structured online training, webinars and educational environments.
Key features
- Virtual classrooms
- Webinars
- Screen sharing
- Breakout rooms
- Polls
- Quizzes
- Interactive content
- Recording
- Customizable meeting rooms
Best for: Online education, training, webinars and professional learning.
17. BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system designed especially for online learning.
It provides features commonly needed in virtual classrooms.
Key features
- Virtual classrooms
- Video and audio
- Presentation sharing
- Whiteboard
- Breakout rooms
- Polls
- Public/private chat
- Screen sharing
- Recording
- Learning-management-system integration
Best for: Schools, colleges, universities and online education.
18. Demodesk
Demodesk is a meeting platform focused particularly on sales and customer-facing teams.
It combines video meetings with sales workflows and tools designed to support customer interactions.
Key features
- Video meetings
- Screen sharing
- Sales presentations
- Meeting scheduling
- Coaching
- CRM integration
- Recording
- AI-assisted features
Best for: Sales teams, customer success and business development.
19. Around
Around was designed around lightweight, collaborative video meetings and remote teamwork.
It became known for its innovative interface and integration with distributed work environments.
Note: Around was acquired by Miro, and its standalone availability has changed. Therefore, it should not be considered a primary new-platform recommendation without checking its current status.
20. TeamViewer Meeting
TeamViewer is best known for remote desktop access and technical support, but its ecosystem has also included communication and meeting capabilities.
It is particularly useful for organizations already using TeamViewer for remote assistance and IT support.
Key features
- Online meetings
- Video communication
- Screen sharing
- Remote support
- Collaboration
- Cross-platform access
Best for: Remote support, IT teams and organizations using TeamViewer.
Live Meeting Platforms at a Glance
| Platform | Main Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom | Video meetings & webinars | General meetings |
| Google Meet | Google integration | Schools & businesses |
| Microsoft Teams | Collaboration | Organizations |
| Webex | Enterprise conferencing | Large organizations |
| GoTo Meeting | Business meetings | Small & medium businesses |
| Jitsi Meet | Open source | Privacy & self-hosting |
| Whereby | Browser simplicity | Small meetings |
| Skype | Internet calling legacy | Historical/legacy users |
| Slack | Team communication | Workplace teams |
| Discord | Communities | Gaming & interest groups |
| Zoho Meeting | Business meetings | Zoho users |
| RingCentral Video | Business communications | Enterprises |
| Lark | All-in-one collaboration | Modern workplaces |
| Adobe Connect | Virtual classrooms | Training & education |
| BigBlueButton | Online learning | Schools & universities |
| Demodesk | Sales meetings | Sales teams |
| TeamViewer | Remote support | IT & technical teams |
Which Live Meeting Platform Should You Choose?
🥇 Best overall for general meetings: Zoom
Zoom remains one of the most recognizable and versatile choices for meetings, webinars, education and online events.
🌐 Best for Google users: Google Meet
If you already use Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Meet offers an especially convenient workflow.
💼 Best for Microsoft users: Microsoft Teams
Organizations already using Microsoft 365 can benefit from Teams’ deep integration with Microsoft applications.
🏢 Best for enterprise conferencing: Cisco Webex
Webex is particularly suited to organizations that require enterprise-oriented communication and administration.
🔐 Best open-source option: Jitsi Meet
Jitsi is an attractive option for users and organizations interested in open-source conferencing and self-hosting.
🎓 Best for online education: BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is specifically designed around virtual classrooms and educational interaction.
📚 Best for webinars and training: Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect provides tools designed for structured virtual learning and webinars.
🇮🇳 Best alternative for Indian businesses: Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting is worth considering for Indian businesses and organizations already using the Zoho ecosystem.
Live Meeting Platforms for Different Purposes
| Purpose | Recommended Platforms |
|---|---|
| Personal video calls | Google Meet, Zoom |
| Business meetings | Teams, Zoom, Webex |
| Online classes | Google Meet, Teams, BigBlueButton |
| Webinars | Zoom, Webex, Adobe Connect |
| Large conferences | Zoom, Webex, Teams |
| Sales meetings | Zoom, Teams, Demodesk |
| Remote teamwork | Teams, Slack, Lark |
| Community meetings | Discord, Zoom |
| Privacy/open-source | Jitsi Meet |
| Self-hosted conferencing | Jitsi Meet, BigBlueButton |
| Zoho ecosystem | Zoho Meeting |
| Remote IT support | TeamViewer |
Important Features to Compare
Before choosing a live meeting platform, consider the following.
1. Number of participants
Free and paid plans often have different participant limits.
2. Meeting duration
Some free services restrict the length of group meetings.
3. Recording
If meetings need to be recorded for later viewing, check whether recording is included in your plan.
4. Screen sharing
Screen sharing is essential for presentations, demonstrations and online classes.
5. Breakout rooms
Breakout rooms are particularly useful for workshops, retreats, training sessions and educational activities.
6. Chat and collaboration
A meeting platform can be much more useful when participants can exchange messages, files and links during a meeting.
7. Security
Look for features such as:
- Meeting passwords
- Waiting rooms
- Host controls
- Participant permissions
- Encryption
- Authentication
- Recording controls
8. Mobile support
A good platform should work reliably on smartphones and tablets as well as computers.
9. Accessibility
Features such as captions, transcripts, keyboard accessibility and screen-reader support can make online meetings more inclusive.
10. Integration
For organizations, integration with calendars, email, cloud storage, learning-management systems and productivity software can save considerable time.
Live Meetings in Education
Video conferencing has transformed education.
Teachers and institutions can use meeting platforms for:
- Online classes
- Guest lectures
- Parent meetings
- Staff meetings
- Distance education
- Student presentations
- Virtual laboratories
- Training programs
- International collaboration
Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and BigBlueButton are particularly relevant to educational institutions, while Zoom and Webex can also support large classes, webinars and special events.
Live Meetings for Churches and Religious Organizations
Live meeting technology has also become useful for churches and religious communities.
Platforms can be used for:
- Parish meetings
- Bible-study groups
- Catechism classes
- Prayer groups
- Clergy meetings
- Pastoral counseling
- Youth meetings
- Formation programs
- Retreat preparation
- Meetings with people living abroad
For smaller groups, Google Meet, Zoom and Jitsi Meet can be practical options. Larger organizations may benefit from Microsoft Teams, Webex or specialized webinar capabilities.
Tips for a Successful Online Meeting
A good meeting depends on more than the platform.
Before the meeting
- Test your microphone and camera.
- Check your internet connection.
- Prepare your presentation.
- Send the meeting link in advance.
- Decide who will host and moderate.
- Set appropriate participant permissions.
During the meeting
- Mute microphones when not speaking.
- Use a suitable background.
- Keep presentations concise.
- Encourage participants to use chat when appropriate.
- Monitor questions.
- Protect the meeting from unauthorized participants.
After the meeting
- Share important documents.
- Send minutes or a summary.
- Distribute recordings only when appropriate.
- Follow up on decisions and assignments.
The Future of Online Meetings
Live meeting platforms are rapidly evolving beyond simple video calls.
Modern platforms increasingly incorporate:
- Artificial intelligence
- Automatic transcription
- Meeting summaries
- Real-time translation
- Noise cancellation
- Speaker identification
- Automated action items
- AI meeting assistants
- Virtual backgrounds
- Collaborative whiteboards
- Immersive meeting environments
The result is a shift from “video conferencing” to complete digital collaboration environments.
Conclusion
Live meeting platforms have become an essential part of modern communication. Whether you are conducting a business meeting, teaching a class, organizing a webinar, holding a parish meeting or simply talking with friends and family, there is a platform suited to your needs.
Zoom remains a versatile all-purpose choice.
Google Meet is excellent for Google users.
Microsoft Teams is powerful for organizations.
Cisco Webex is well suited to enterprise environments.
Jitsi Meet offers an open-source alternative.
BigBlueButton is especially valuable for education.
Adobe Connect is strong for training and webinars.
Zoho Meeting provides an attractive business-oriented alternative, particularly within the Zoho ecosystem.
The best platform is ultimately the one that provides the right balance of reliability, security, ease of use, participant capacity, collaboration features and cost.
A good online meeting platform does more than connect faces—it brings people, ideas and communities together.
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