7 Best Conference Call Services for 2023

The best conference call services facilitate smooth and efficient online collaboration, offer ample participant capacity, and have an easy-to-use interface. While most providers have these elements, they still vary in cost, the maximum number of participants, and integrations with other online tools. This guide helps you explore the best conference call options for different business requirements.

Based on our research of over a dozen providers, these are the best options in the market:

• Zoom: Best overall for its feature-rich conference call platform
• RingCentral Video: Best for its customizable solutions with APIs (application programming interface) and integrations
• Cisco Webex: Ideal choice for conducting inclusive meetings
• GoTo Meeting: Excellent option for supporting mobile teams
• Nextiva: Top choice for teams that require hardware
• Dialpad Meetings: Best for artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities
• Phone.com: Great choice for small teams needing a no-frills solution

Best Conference Call Services at a Glance

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Take our quiz to find out which conference call service is best for you.

Zoom: Best Overall for Its Robust Feature Set

*Pricing scheme is per user; save 17% with annual billing.

Zoom is our top pick for the best overall conference call service because it’s packed with useful meeting features, including screen sharing, breakout rooms, team chat, multishare, and remote keyboard and mouse control. These capabilities are available on the Basic plan, which is why Zoom also topped our list of best free conference call providers.

When you upgrade to the paid, high-tier plans, you get access to unlimited whiteboards, a virtual canvas that helps teams brainstorm and illustrate ideas and processes. Our Zoom review outlines other features of the platform.

It’s no secret, however, that Zoom has been plagued with security issues, including Zoombombing and encryption flaws. Although the provider made significant steps in addressing these problems, the host of issues in the past caused some businesses to be cautious about using it.

If you’re looking for a more secure alternative, GoTo Meeting is an excellent choice. This video conferencing solution uses an open source, end-to-end encryption standard (EES) that protects your data while in transit. Check out more Zoom alternatives here.

Zoom Features

• Spotlight multiple people: Zoom allows hosts to spotlight up to nine participants’ videos. If you’re hosting a panel discussion, this feature is beneficial in directing everybody’s attention to the key speakers.
• Livestreaming to third-party platforms: Broadcast your meeting to a larger audience. Zoom allows livestreaming to YouTube and Facebook, even with its entry-level plan.
• Branding: Include your company’s branding on a dedicated page for your meeting. This feature also lets you send branded email invites to attendees.

RingCentral Video: Best for Its Customization Options

*Pricing scheme is per user; save up to 33% with annual billing.

RingCentral Video is the best conference call service for businesses that need a customizable solution. The paid plan allows access to the Developer platform, where you are able to integrate real-time conferencing capabilities to your apps and websites through application programming interfaces (APIs). These digital platforms could be the ones you use internally in your organization or the ones you offer to customers to better engage with them.

These APIs support various programming languages, namely JavaScript, Python, PHP, and Ruby. Moreover, they offer excellent conferencing features, such as standard industry encryption and AI technologies. RingCentral has an active developer community that supports businesses in app development efforts.

Aside from the APIs, RingCentral allows customization with their integrations. It’s easy to connect your video conference platform to tools you already use, from customer relationship management (CRM) and collaboration to calendaring and productivity.

While the provider offers many customization options, some businesses may find this overwhelming. If you want a straightforward, easier-to-use video conferencing solution, Zoom and Phone.com are excellent options.

RingCentral Video Features

• Delegate scheduling: Enable participants to schedule meetings on your behalf. Under the Video meeting settings, find the “Delegates” option and enter the name of the team member you want to assign scheduling to.
• Closed captioning: Make discussions clearer for meeting participants. To switch on this feature, click the “More” option on the menu bar and hit “Enable closed captions.”
• Custom personal meeting ID: Reduce confusion over where you’ll meet by having a permanent meeting ID. Take note that the ID should be five to 40 characters long, contain at least one letter, and end in a letter or number. The only symbols allowed are underscore, dash, and period.

Cisco Webex: Best Conference Call Service for Teams Promoting Inclusivity

*Pricing scheme is per user; save 10% with annual billing.

Aside from being one of the top webinar software platforms, Cisco Webex emerged as one of the best conference call services, ideal for teams that prioritize inclusivity in virtual meetings. The provider packs several accessibility features that benefit people with disabilities.

For one, it supports screen readers, which translate texts and images to speech or braille. It has gesture recognition, converting hand movements into animated reactions like applause and hand raise. On top of that, the platform gives visibility to sign language interpreters, as hosts can easily customize a view for participants with hearing impairments. In our Webex review, you’ll learn more about its features.

While Webex provides excellent access to people with disabilities, it could limit meeting access to some users, as the toll-free dial-in option is only available in the highest-tier package. If you have remote team members, Dialpad Meeting’s excellent toll-free usage policy will be more beneficial for you. The provider doesn’t charge per minute for the toll-free license. Plus, you keep toll-free usage down by giving participants the local number included in your account.

Cisco Webex Features

• Live polling and question and answer by Slido: Gather real-time feedback from participants while in the virtual meeting. Or, if you run seminars and workshops, maximize the audience question and answer tool.
• Mobile screen sharing: Address an issue on a mobile app fast or present a deck while in transit with this feature. Tap the “More” option on the menu and select “Share screen.”
• Interactive whiteboarding: Illustrate ideas and processes with colleagues better using this virtual canvas. The whiteboard tools include a pointer, pen, magic pen, eraser, and stickies.

GoTo Meeting: Best Conference Call Service for Mobile Teams

*Pricing scheme is per user; save up to 16% with annual billing.

GoTo Meeting is the best conference call service for businesses that are always on the go—offering extensive mobile support features, like the Commuter Mode. This mode enables users to join and host meetings anywhere. GoTo Meeting’s mobile app is available for both iOS and Android users. For iPhone users, it’s easy to start and join a meeting as the app supports voice commands for Siri.

Through the app, users share their screens, transfer presentation control to other participants, and chat with individuals or the team in real time. Cloud recording is likewise available on the app, which means you can do away with note-taking while on the road or in transit.

The Commuter Mode feature also helps on-the-go teams. It turns the entire phone screen into a color-coded mute/unmute button, so it’s easy to manage audio. It also reduces bandwidth to ensure great call quality even with poor mobile signal. Read our GoTo Meeting review to learn more about its mobile features.

Before adopting this platform, take note that features like the meeting lock, keyboard and mouse sharing, and drawing tools are only available in higher-tier plans. However, you’ll find these tools in Zoom’s entry-level subscription package. Check out our guide about GoTo Meeting alternatives to learn more.

GoTo Meeting Features

• Slide to PDF: GoTo Meeting automatically captures the slides presented in a meeting and compiles them into a PDF document. The meeting participants will be able to download this for future reference. To use this feature, you should record the session to the cloud and enable the “Detect Slides” option in the settings.
• Note-taking: Jot down important information in the Notes section of the meeting platform. GoTo Meeting saves the notes when the session is over, you’ll be able to share them with colleagues.
• Smart Assistant: Alternatively, if you have meeting transcriptions enabled, GoTo Meeting will automatically generate notes for you. It will spot highlights and action items mentioned in the meeting.

Nextiva: Best Conference Call Service With Affordable Hardware Options

*Pricing scheme is for five to 19 users; save 27% with annual billing.

Also ranked as one of the best business phone systems, Nextiva is a leading provider of conference call services, especially with its affordable hardware offerings. You’ll find conference phones for rent for as low as $7.70 a month. The provider carries reliable brands, namely Snom and Poly. With these devices, it’s easy to organize and join meetings, connect to several lines, and enjoy clear sounds without any static on the line.

The downside in choosing Nextiva is that its conference call platform limits meeting duration to 45 minutes. There’s no room for flexibility in the participant capacity either since all the plans have a 250-participant cap. Before committing to a subscription, we recommend reading our in-depth Nextiva review.

It’s also a wiser choice to go for Zoom if you have a large global team, as it supports longer meeting durations and accommodates more participants. Learn more about other excellent Nextiva alternatives.

Nextiva Features

• Team chat: Share insights on presentations with colleagues using the chatbox. It’s also possible to upload files here.
• Host controls: As the host, you have access to different functionalities that help in managing meetings better. These include muting all participants, turning off all videos, and assigning another participant as a co-host.
• Third-party integrations: Expand what you can do on the Nextiva platform by integrating it with tools you already use. Available integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Oracle, and ServiceNow. Take note that some are only available in Nextiva’s higher-tier plans.

Dialpad Meetings: Best AI Features

*Pricing scheme is per user; the monthly fee is reduced to $15 with annual billing.

Dialpad Meetings is the ideal choice for a conference call service when you prefer the convenience and support of automation technologies. This provider has various artificial intelligence (AI) features, including live meetings and post-meeting transcriptions.

The live meeting transcripts enable everyone in the meeting to follow the discussion better. Meanwhile, post-meeting transcriptions are beneficial for revisiting important information, such as the next action steps, upcoming events, and dates.

The post-meeting summaries are likewise part of Dialpad Meetings’ AI features, offering access to the recording, transcript, and chat log. The platform also captures “moments,” or interesting mentions in the call, such as action items, dates (as in, “Let’s do the event on Friday.”), and interesting questions (like “Can we meet next week?”). If you’re curious about other features, check out our comprehensive Dialpad Meetings review.

Note that when you choose this platform for conference call services, you’re paying more monthly than with GoTo Meeting or Cisco Webex. These solutions are relatively cheaper but still offer the same number of participants as Dialpad Meetings in their entry-level plans. Explore other Dialpad Meetings alternatives here.

Dialpad Meetings Features

• Meeting countdown timer: Budget your time in the meeting to cover all the topics you need to discuss. Session wrap-ups don’t have to be done in a hurry since you know how much time you have left.
• International dial-in numbers: Have team members from abroad connect easily to the call with international dial-in numbers.
• Custom hold music: Play excellent tracks while participants wait for the meeting to start. Dialpad Meetings features different sounds, but you also have the option to upload your own.

Phone.com: Best Basic Conference Call Service for Small, Remote Teams

*Pricing scheme is per user; save 20% with annual billing.

Phone.com is the ideal choice for small, remote teams that require a straightforward, no-frills video conference call service. Its basic plan only allows 10 participants and provides essential collaboration tools, namely screen sharing, document sharing, and meeting chat. It’s a suitable solution if you don’t want to be overwhelmed with too many features and options.

However, take note that the recording functionality is only available when you upgrade your subscription to Plus. The transcription feature, on the other hand, is locked in the most expensive package. In our Phone.com review, you’ll understand better if it’s the right solution for you.

In case you don’t want to pay more for those mentioned functionalities, it would be better to go for a conference call service provider like Cisco Webex. Its basic plan, which costs $14.95, is a slightly lower price than Phone.com’s entry-level plan and already includes recording and transcription. Our guide helps you learn more about Phone.com alternatives also worth considering.

Phone.com Features

• Branded meeting room: Include brand elements, such as your logo, in virtual meeting sessions. This creates an ambiance of professionalism and credibility when you meet clients online.
• Pin-less entry: Have quick and easy access to meetings by activating PIN-less call entry in the settings. Enter your colleagues’ phone numbers so the system will grant them meeting access when they call from the registered numbers. The system will send SMS reminders 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting.
• YouTube livestreaming: Expand the reach of your webinars and workshops. Under the Record icon on Phone.com’s top toolbar, you’ll find the option Live Stream Video. Once that’s toggled on, the video recording will be livestreamed to the connected platform.

How We Evaluated the Best Conference Call Service

Several business communications platforms offer conference call services, connecting remote teams and facilitating better collaboration. To determine the best among providers and help small businesses choose the best-suited solution for their needs, we considered these criteria points on the tab below:

Bottom Line

Call conference services are essential tools for remote work arrangements. Zoom stands out as the best among the providers we evaluated, thanks to its ease of use, decent participant capacity, collaboration tools, and reasonable pricing. Support your remote team with this excellent conference call service. Subscribe to Zoom today.

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