What are the best conf-call services?
Here is my choice of the best conf-call services.
Let's go.
1. RingCentral.
The best conf-call service ($19.99 per month).
RingCentral is a cloud-based communication and collaboration platform that helps you organize online meetings and conference calls.
As a leading provider, it also offers voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing services.
You can join an online meeting by clicking the link from any browser without downloading the app.
The free edition allows you to invite up to 100 participants and conduct a conf-call lasting up to 40 minutes.
Additionally, you can also use it as a messaging app or make HD video calls.
Additionally, integration with numerous third-party applications like Office 365 and Google Workspace allows you to access different features from a single dashboard.
Here's a list of the most important RingCentral features:
- Make live calls between multiple devices.
- Transfer existing numbers to your RingCentral account.
- It ensures the automatic transcription of voice messages.
- There are over 200 area codes to choose from.
- Choose from 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or toll-free vanity numbers.
- Easily save meeting highlights to the cloud for up to seven days.
- Synchronize it with Microsoft 365 to schedule meeting rooms.
The conf-call software also allows you to update your presence status - Available, Invisible, or Do Not Disturb.
You can also perform actions such as taking calls from certain callers, blocking numbers, and sending certain numbers directly to voicemail.
Other key features include call monitoring, real-time performance updates, automatic call recording, directory listings, and more.
You can also conduct an audit trail to track the history of phone system changes and resolve issues.
In addition, the conf-call platform offers hourly reporting to measure parameters such as the number of missed calls with voicemail, average response speed, etc.
RingCentral is also suitable for international calls.
You can increase your reach with incoming international numbers in over 70 countries, toll-free numbers, and local caller ID.
Pricing
RingCentral offers four pricing plans:
- Essentials - $19.99 per month
- Standard - $24.99 per month
- Premium - $34.99 per month
- Ultimate - $49.99 per month
All plans include unlimited business text messages, team messaging, document sharing, etc. You also get a free 15-day trial.
Start with RingCentral ->
2. Grasshopper.
Great for small businesses or personal use ($26 per month/annual billing).
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system that includes VoIP services, Wi-Fi calling, call forwarding, business text messages, and more.
It also offers special numbers, toll-free numbers, local numbers, and the option to transfer your current number for free.
The ability to keep your phone numbers separate allows you to keep your number private and keep things more professional. It also eliminates the need for a secondary business phone or office landline.
Grasshopper VoIP services also allow you to forward, monitor, and manage all business calls directly from your smartphone.
Features like the personalized greeting, call handling, and extensions that welcome callers help you look more professional.
The main features of Grasshopper are as follows:
- Voice mail transcript.
- Desktop and mobile applications.
- Analyses and reports.
- Ruby receptionist.
- Virtual fax.
- Incoming call control.
- Call forwarding and forwarding.
- Direct calls directly to voicemail
- 24/7 customer support system via phone, email, Twitter, Facebook, and live chat.
- Take multiple calls simultaneously by routing them to another phone or member.
You can also set up Grasshopper in four steps.
Simply select a number, download the app, and link your current mobile number to start calling right away.
The only downside is that Grasshopper doesn't allow video conferencing and lots of integration options. Plus, it's only available in the United States and Canada.
Pricing
Grasshopper has three paid plans:
- Solo - $26 per month/billed annually.
- Partner - $44 per month/billed annually.
- Small businesses - $80 per month/annual billing.
The Solo plan allows for one phone number and three extensions, while the Partner plan offers three phone numbers and six extensions.
As for the Small Business plan, it includes five phone numbers and an unlimited number of extensions. Grasshopper also offers a 7-day free trial.
Start with Grasshopper ->
3. Google Hangouts.
Ideal for startups and for conducting one-on-one meetings (free - $8 per month).
Google Hangouts is a cross-platform messaging and conf-call application that allows you to make video and voice calls.
You can access the software and start calling from a desktop computer or smartphone.
It has an application for multiple devices and operating systems, including Android, iPhone, Chrome extension, and more.
Google Hangouts automatically syncs with your Gmail account and phone number, providing direct access to all of your contacts.
Besides conference calls, it also allows screen sharing and allows you to host up to 25 participants for video conferences.
Among its most important characteristics are:
- HD voice calls and video calls.
- Auto focus on the screen.
- Live subtitling.
- Ability to organize webinars on a small scale.
- Integration with Google calendars to schedule meetings
- Share photos, videos, emojis, or GIFs, even while on the call.
- Synchronize your Google Hangouts account with other Google apps.
- Use the mobile app to manage notifications on the go.
- Switch tabs or stay engaged in the conversation even while browsing other tabs.
Premium plans offer advanced features like handraising options, polls and questions and answers, meeting rooms, attendance reports, noise cancellation, and more.
Google Hangouts also has some limitations. For example, you don't get customer support with their free plan. Instead, you should go through the support forums to resolve your issues.
Pricing
Google Hangouts offers three plans:
- Free - Always free
- Google Workspace Essentials - $8 per active user/month
- Google Workspace Enterprise - Contact sales for pricing
All plans include a maximum of 24 hours of 1:1 meetings.
The Free and Essential plans allow up to 100 and 150 participants, respectively.
On the other hand, Google Workspace Enterprise allows you to host up to 250 call participants.
4. GoToMeeting.
Great for small and large businesses ($12 per month).
GoToMeeting is an online meeting software that supports video conferences, conference calls, webinars, desktop sharing, and more.
Additionally, you can conduct meetings on any device like PC, MacBooks, smartphones, etc.
Additionally, integration with Slack and Microsoft 365 provides more flexibility to schedule or manage meetings.
It also allows you to host an unlimited number of web conferences, as well as automatic recording and transcription capabilities.
Key features of GoToMeeting include:
- Toll-free numbers for over 50 countries.
- Conf-call meetings all at once.
- HD video calling and business messaging.
- Screen sharing options for online conferences.
- Join the meeting using voice commands.
- Access virtual whiteboards.
- Reports on the ideas of the conference and its participants.
- Record essential aspects of the meeting with its cloud recording feature.
- Transfer keyboard control to another presenter or attendee using the Admin feature.
Other advanced features include personalized email invitations, built-in scheduling features, free call recording, reservation-free connections, etc. You also have access to built-in VoIP and paid audio conferencing options to save long distance costs.
GoToMeeting also offers mobile conferencing options with its cell phone conferencing apps. The mobile application allows you to schedule and launch meetings from your phone with a simple link.
Pricing
GoToMeeting is offered in three packages:
- Professional - $12 per month
- Business - $16 per month
- Business - On quotation
Professional and Business plans accommodate up to 150 and 250 participants, respectively.
On the other hand, the Enterprise plan allows conference calls with up to 3,000 participants to be organized.
A free 14-day trial is also available, with all the company's features.
5. ClickMeeting.
Ideal for customer onboarding and online training ($25 per month).
ClickMeeting is a browser-based webinar platform, offered by GetResponse, that allows you to organize conference calls and online meetings.
It is also suitable for major online events, product demonstrations, and training sessions.
ClickMeeting offers advanced analytic functions.
For example, you can access all of your past events and calls to see key statistics.
It also helps you identify trends and predictions and generate reports.
You can also integrate your CRM tool into the ClickMeeting dashboard to synchronize all contacts and other essential data. It will also help you convert your contacts into leads.
Here are some of its main characteristics:
- Automatic recording.
- Toll free numbers.
- Custom tagging options.
- Send personalized invitations with your brand logo.
- Whiteboard and drawing tools
- Screen sharing and presentation options.
- Moderated questions and answers and private chat option.
- Integrated address book to manage contacts.
- Log in to ClickMeetings with multi-user accounts.
- Show handouts and slides to support your words.
- Display a waiting room with an agenda before starting the conference.
You can also expand your account with additional features.
ClickMeeting offers additional options such as larger recording space, side events, additional video streams, recording archives, larger cloud file storage, and more.
There is also a mobile application that allows you to schedule and participate in conferences anytime and anywhere.
Additionally, you can also share your conference or webinar invites on your social media accounts.
Pricing
ClickMeeting offers three pricing plans:
- Live - $25 per month/billed annually.
- Automated - $40 per month/billed annually
- Business - Plan on quotation
ClickMeeting also offers a 30-day free trial with up to 25 participants.
Paid plans allow you to accommodate up to 1000 participants, while the customizable plan allows up to 10,000 participants.
All plans offer unlimited online meetings, screen sharing, screen control, presentation mode, whiteboard, private chat option, and more.
6. FreeConferenceCall.com.
Best free conf-call software.
FreeConferenceCall is a free collaboration tool as well as a conf-call platform that provides call numbers for 82 countries.
It also offers a mobile application compatible with Android and iOS to make calls on the go.
You can invite up to 1,000 participants by providing the call number and access code, as well as the time of day.
You'll also have a host PIN to manage the team and perform actions like recording, muting, and more.
Some of FreeConferenceCall's main conferencing features include:
- Self-registration.
- Automatic transcriptions.
- Receive detailed call reports
- VoIP conf-call option.
- See details of past conferences.
- Record or archive conference calls for later reading.
- Personalize your meetings by adding brand elements.
- Meeting rooms for sessions and small group discussions
- Share files, documents, or even past recordings with participants.
- Use keywords to find the essential parts of your conf-call.
- 24/7 live customer support.
- Share the screen and drawing tools.
It also allows you to sync your dashboard with Outlook and Google Calendar to schedule, manage, and track your conference calls.
Other popular integrations include Slack, Evernote, and Dropbox.
Additionally, FreeConferenceCall offers “call controls” to help you define various modes, including “Conference,” “Q&A,” or “Mute.” You can also change meeting settings, including turning on or off entry and exit tones.
Pricing
FreeConferenceCall.com allows you to receive an unlimited number of incoming calls for free.
However, business plans for outgoing and international calls start at $9 per month.
Paid plans include unlimited incoming and outgoing calls, unlimited international calls, the ability to choose your own number, and more.
They also offer advanced features such as API access, activity summaries, an active directory/SOO, global number sets, a dedicated account manager, and more.
7. Cisco Webex.
Great for small and medium businesses ($25 per host, per month).
Webex is a Cisco product that helps you organize video and audio meetings, online meetings, screen shares and webinars.
It allows you to invite up to 50 participants for free with a 50-minute limit for the conf-call.
Noise suppression and speech enhancement are some of its important features.
They help you silence distracting sounds like children, dogs, typing, and more.
You also have interactive features such as on-screen animations and emojis to clap, raise or lower your thumb, smile, laugh, and more.
Other key features include:
- Pre-designed meeting invitation templates.
- Drag-and-drop video layout options.
- AI-based transcripts and recordings.
- Screen sharing option for giving presentations
- Display important messages at the top of the page so you can quickly review them later.
- Live translation of your conf-call into 10 languages.
- Keep track of projects with file and screen sharing options.
- Make your shared content the background of your meeting.
You can also schedule and manage your meetings by integrating Webex with Microsoft 365 or Google Calendar. Other integrations include Salesforce, Zendesk, Dropbox, Slack, WordPress, Jira, and more.
In addition, it allows you to set a smart status and share your screen to relay your meetings in and out of meetings. You can also set your status to the “do not disturb” option. Webex also allows you to personalize your space with a specific color theme.
Pricing
Webex offers four pricing plans:
- Webex Suite - Basic-0
- Webex Suite - Business - $25 per host, per month
- Webex Suite - Business Plan - Plan on Quote
The free plan allows one host and up to 100 participants; the Starter plan allows up to 50 hosts and 150 participants; the Business plan allows up to 100 hosts and 200 participants.
In contrast, the Enterprise plan allows unlimited hosts and up to 100,000 participants.
All plans offer features like screen sharing, chat, notes, show of hands, small group sessions, automatic recording, virtual backgrounds, and more.
8. Dialpad.
The best for transcribing and storing your meetings ($15 per month).
Dialpad is a cloud-based video and audio conferencing solution developed in San Francisco, California.
It helps you schedule conference meetings without any PINS or installation requirements (only with the paid plan).
It comes with a mobile application that helps you organize remote meetings anytime and anywhere.
The conf-call service also allows call recording and screen sharing for real-time collaboration.
AI-based vocal intelligence is probably one of its main characteristics. It transcribes meetings, records data, and automates tasks based on your conversation.
Additionally, it produces a post-conference summary that provides an overview of the entire meeting.
This tool also allows you to avoid missing or forgetting an upcoming conf-call.
UberConference rings you before each meeting and helps you call participants in the middle of the call to encourage them to join you.
Other key features include:
- Free conference calls.
- HD video conferencing services.
- Personalize your “on hold” music.
- Integration with Google calendar, HubSpot, and Slack
- Get reports and information about your communications.
- Free international calls from over 50 countries
- Select your calling number from any area code in the United States or Canada.
Other features include call control, group chat, conference call summaries, private call options, group call invitations, and more.
However, not all of these features are available with the free plan.
Pricing
Dialpad offers three pricing plans:
- Standard - $15 per month
- Pro - $25 per month
- Business - Contact them for pricing.
The free edition allows you to host up to 10 participants and hold meetings of up to 45 minutes in length.
On the other hand, the paid formula allows up to 100 participants to be accommodated for a maximum of 5 hours.
Both plans come with standard features like screen sharing, call recording, HD video quality, a mobile app, and more.
What is a conf-call service?
A conf-call consists of a telephone call during which the host speaks to several people simultaneously. Conference calls can help you collaborate seamlessly with your remote team located in multiple locations.
Conf-call services make it easy to schedule, manage, and organize conf-calls.
They also allow you to organize webinars, video conferences, audio meetings, knowledge transfer sessions, interviews, and more.
People no longer need to be in the same location to participate in these sessions.
Don't wait for offices to open, get your team together and work from anywhere at any time.
The conference services sector is experiencing considerable growth, especially in the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The majority of businesses around the world rely on it to run their work-from-home model.
In March 2020 alone, video conferencing apps experienced a record 62 million downloads. Another study indicates that the American video conferencing market is expected to reach $10.92 billion by 2027.
Some of the most popular conferencing services include Zoom, Webex, RingCentral, Skype, and more.
What features do you need in a conf-call service?
Here are some essential characteristics of a high-quality conf-call platform, regardless of the sector of activity:
1. Third-party integrations.
A conf-call service with numerous integration options with third parties allows you to solve multiple problems from a single dashboard.
UberConference is a great example that provides integrations with tools like G Suite, Office 365, Salesforce, and Slack.
2. Virtual whiteboard.
A virtual whiteboard allows you to share your screen and explain your point of view to your audience using annotation and drawing tools.
You may also need to entrust your orders to a teammate for better collaboration.
3. Reporting and analysis.
Businesses need to track, monitor, and understand engagement levels during a virtual conference.
Choose a conf-call service that displays overall engagement metrics about registrations, attendance, and feedback.
4. Conference recordings.
It is often essential to record conference calls in order to retrieve them later to analyze your virtual meeting.
Choose a service that allows you to save and store recordings in an appropriate format so that you can access them when the call is over.
5. Noise suppression
Noise cancellation is essential for eliminating distracting background noises like dog barking, keyboard typing, and more.
It also helps you to make a good impression on customers and create a friendly atmosphere.
Other essential features are screen sharing, ease of use, vocal intelligence, improved speech, good audio quality, and personalized waiting music.
How do I use conf-call services?
Let's see how to start using a conf-call service, using Google Hangouts as an example:
Step 1: Choose an appropriate pricing plan.
Most platforms have an upper limit for the number of participants.
The free Google Hangouts plan allows up to 10 participants to join in a single conference.
On the other hand, paid packages allow up to 25 participants to be accommodated.
Choose one of the plans based on your needs.
Step 2: Set up your microphone and speakers
For video conferencing, be sure to install a camera on your laptop or desktop computer.
Step 3: Sign in to your Gmail account to start using Hangouts.
If you're using an older browser like Internet Explorer, you may need to install a plugin to take care of the software.
Step 4: Now select a person or a group of people to make your call.
When you click on the name or group, the video call and audio call icons appear in the upper left corner.
Click on either of the options.
Then, a video call link will automatically be added to the chat box.
Step 5: Share the link with your team members
They will be redirected to the conf-call page and join the meeting by clicking on the “Join Now” option.
You can share the meeting link directly via Google Hangouts or other platforms.
You can even make a call directly through Google Hangouts.
Step 6: Google Hangouts also allows you to add other participants between calls.
Click on the screen and then click on the “Add People” option at the top.
You can also change your settings to make the call window full screen or half screen.
All calls are free and have no time limit.
Summary.
That's it, it's my choice of the best conf-call services.
Every business needs these conferencing tools to make calls for purposes like greeting, customer engagement, training, and more.
There's an option for everyone, whether you're a startup, a small business, a mid-sized business, or a large company.
For example, I suggest Grasshopper and Google Hangouts for startups and small businesses.
There are also free conf-call services, including FreeConferenceCall and Dialpad.
If you are looking for a tool for welcoming customers or training employees, ClickMeeting might interest you.
The best overall conf-call service seems to be RingCentral, due to its features such as automatic voice message transcription, toll-free numbers, screen sharing, 15-day free trial, and more.
It also allows you to choose from over 200 area codes.
However, the final decision depends on factors such as your needs, your budget, and the size of your business.
Luckily, most of these tools offer a free trial or freemium plans, so you can test them out before upgrading to a paid version.
