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Video conferencing app designed for use in both casual and professional settings

Video conferencing app designed for use in both casual and professional settings

Vote: (1,781 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Zoom Video Communications Inc.

Version: 5.17.11.20383

Works under: Android

Also available for Windows Mac

Vote:

Program license

(1,781 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Zoom Video Communications Inc.

5.17.11.20383

Works under:

Also available for

Android

Windows Mac

Pros

  • Free video conferencing for hundreds of participants
  • Nicely scaled subscription plans
  • Rich bench of features for hosts and participants

Cons

  • Doesn't offer full encryption of video
  • Features are sometimes hidden out of eyesight

Zoom's overall reliability and smart interface makes it one of the best video conferencing tools on the market. Whether you're simply trying to get in touch with family or coordinate your corporation's global strategy, Zoom can scale to your needs. And while there are some problems with the overall Zoom interface, it consistently hits high marks in most of the essential categories for video chat software.

And Zoom is changing video conferencing by changing the idea of what a remote conference room even looks like. This app packs most of the features and functionality of Zoom into a small mobile platform that's suitable for both hosting and attending calls. A simple swipe interface allows you to change between different views, whether that be a tiled layout of all participants or materials that the presenter is sharing in the conference. The limited layout compared to the desktop version means that a lot of the more advanced features are tucked away, but they're generally accessible.

In terms of raw performance, Zoom tends to stand head and shoulders above over video conferencing apps. The maximum attendance size of 500 is double that of the closest competition. It also tends to outperform other video conferencing apps in regards to speed. Average latency and frame rates test better than any other software under comparable testing conditions. Zoom's standard video format is 720p, but users with more advanced plans can opt for an upgrade to a 1080p plan.

If there's one main complaint that can be levied against Zoom, it's that its features are sometimes hidden away too much. That's especially true of the phone version, but this is a piece of software that really shines once you start to dig a little deeper and discover what's all available. Because while the features aren't always presented well, they work pretty handily in action.

Some of these are designed to add functionality to the chat experience. Breakout rooms allow you to segment your chat off into independent groups - an especially valuable option for an online classroom environment. Also valuable for classrooms is the inclusion of a whiteboard. Hosts have full control over who has privileges to the whiteboard, so you can decide exactly how collaborative your presentation can be. Screen sharing allows for a more advanced method for sharing content with your conference room guests. And in case anyone has existing obligations, the free Zoom plan supports local video recording - though you have to pay for a subscription fee if you want a cloud-based video archiving solution. If you're dealing with talkative crowds or you're looking to pass the mic over to someone else, there are some rich controls for muting, volume control, and speaking rights. Full video and audio control are provided to the host.

There are plenty of features designed to help you look better while presenting too. Zoom can automatically touch up your video to reduce the presence of red eyes and put your best sell forward even if you've just rolled out of bed. A chat function allows attendants to stay in conversation without interrupting the lecture or to ask questions. You can even customize your own virtual background using plain colors, stills, or even animated gifs.

Managing a meeting with hundreds of attendants can seem like a nightmare, but Zoom makes it as simple as can be. Hosts can create a new Zoom room with a couple of clicks of a button, and it can be shared with participants via a simple link. All they have to do is click on the link to get access. Alternately, a host can provide the chat room name and a code for access. You can allow anyone with the link to enter the room or require your permission for entry. And you don't need to have the app downloaded on your phone or computer to use it either. Zoom has a browser-based solution for users, although you'll want the app if you really want the full extent of features.

If there was a weak spot to identify in Skype's design, it would be the security features - but they've taken recent changes to rectify most issues that customers might have. A password is now required to access a room, and there's end-to-end encryption for presentations - although you won't find the same option for video chats. No video conference serve can offer perfect security, but Skype's done a good job of getting close.

If you do have a problem with your experience, the Skype customer service team is impressive in their responsiveness. Online chat support is available 24 hours a day, and responses tend to come quick. You hopefully won't have any issues with Zoom, but you can generally count on whatever problems you have to be resolved pretty quickly.

The quality service is matched by one of the most generous free subscription plans you'll find in a video conferencing platform. Free users can host conference rooms for up to 40 minutes at a time and invite up to a hundred people. This should be enough for all but the most serious businesses and educational institutions, but the Pro plan removes that time limitation. A couple of other plans scale better to the needs of larger corporations, and there are even a couple of add-ons that are targeted to the needs of enterprise-level businesses. In other words, Zoom can scale to most situations while still remaining affordable.

There's a reason that Zoom has become a name synonymous with video conferencing. The streaming is smooth and reliable, the features deep and smart, and the pricing plans affordable. While it may not offer perfect security, there's too much good here to pass up. From talking with your family to making presentations, you can use it as a one-size-fits-all platform for video conferencing.

Pros

  • Free video conferencing for hundreds of participants
  • Nicely scaled subscription plans
  • Rich bench of features for hosts and participants

Cons

  • Doesn't offer full encryption of video
  • Features are sometimes hidden out of eyesight