With remote teams becoming increasingly common in businesses across the world, conference calling has become a vital part of modern business. There are many different options available in 2020, all with different features and benefits. We researched dozens of services and analyzed several factors, including pricing, types of services offered (reservationless or operator-assisted) and included features. In addition to our best pick selections, we cover how much you can expect to pay for a conference call service, the features they generally include and things you should consider when shopping for a conference call service.
\n"}},{"__typename":"SectionBestPicks","id":"best-picks","isInToc":true,"type":"bestpicks","megaBestPicksTopCardLimit":4,"bestpicks":[{"bullets":["Supports both call types","Accommodates up to 500 callers","Multiple price plans available"],"description":"Vast Conference is our pick for the best overall conference call service because it offers everything a business would want in a conference calling service. You can choose reservationless or operator-assisted services, there are multiple cost structures based on how often you use the service, and it offers a wide selection of valuable features.
\r\n\r\nThe reservationless service allows you to host conference calls at any time without scheduling them in advance. This option easily hosts up to 500 callers (and you can increase it by alerting Vast Conference to your needs). It offers customizable greeting options and includes call recording for no added cost. Hosts can control these meetings from their phone or the service's online portal.
\r\n\r\nThe reservationless service is available in both monthly and pay-as-you-go pricing plans. The monthly plans allow you to host as many calls as you want each month. The plans, which range between $15 and $40 per month, vary in the number of participants that can be on each call and cloud recording space. The pay-as-you-go plan supports up to 500 callers and costs 3.5 cents per caller, per minute.
\r\n\r\nYou can add callers into a meeting as it is going on by dialing out to them, and it’s easy to turn the meeting into a video conference so participants can see each other and view presentations or documents via screen sharing.
\r\n\r\nFor those looking to host larger and more formal conference calls, the operator-assisted service may be a better fit. This option can host calls with up to 6,000 attendees and provides a dedicated operator who helps you plan the call before it takes place, greets callers as they join in and remains in the meeting to handle any questions or conduct Q&A sessions.
\r\n\r\nThe operator-assisted service costs 16 cents per caller, per minute for a standard event and 19 cents per caller, per minute for a premium event.
\r\n\r\nRegardless of the service you choose, there are no contracts with Vast Conference, so you can cancel at any time.
","descriptionTest":"","fullTitle":"Best Overall Conference Calling Service","isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best Overall Service","review":{"displayName":"Vast Conference","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/conference-calling/","id":"7198f9d88fd9717aff06b18d8417135c","url":"https://www.conferencecalling.com/","review":{"pros":null,"cons":null,"fullReviewTest":"Vast Conference is our pick as the best overall conference call service because it provides all the necessary and desired features as well as multiple pricing and scaling options. You can also choose which type of service you want: reservationless or operator-assisted.
\r\nThe reservationless service allows you to host conference calls at any time without scheduling them in advance. This option easily supports up to 500 callers (and you can increase it by alerting Vast Conference to your needs). It offers customizable greeting options and includes call recording for no added cost. Hosts can control these meetings from their phone or the service's online portal.
","fullReview":"Vast Conference specializes in conference calls, and this focus shows in the quality of the calls and the number of features its Conference Calling service offers. Vast Conference offers both reservationless and operator-assisted conferences. The reservationless system can handle hundreds of callers at one time, while the operator-moderated service supports more than 5,000 participants. The many features available with Conference Calling by Vast Conference include call recording, web controls, screen sharing and custom greetings. It's because of these aspects and more that Conference Calling by Vast Conference is our choice for the best overall conference call service.
\r\n\r\n
View all our recommendations for conference call services on our best picks pages.
\r\nConference Calling by Vast Conference offers two types of pricing plans for its reservationless service: monthly and pay-as-you-go. With the monthly plans, you pay a flat fee every month and can host as many meetings as you like. There are four unlimited monthly plans:
\r\nBusinesses that opt to pay annually instead of monthly save 20%. The service offers a 14-day free trial.
\r\nVast Conference also offers a pay-as-you-go plan. This option, which supports up to 500 callers, is 3.5 cents per caller per minute. For example, if you have a 30-minute meeting with 10 participants, the call would cost $10.50.
\r\nYou can purchase several add-ons with the reservationless plan, including transcription services, custom greetings, CDs of recordings and additional host accounts.
\r\nThe operator-moderated service is only available on the pay-as-you-go plan. This service costs 16 cents a minute per caller for a standard event and 19 cents a minute per caller for a premium event.
\r\nSeveral features cost extra with the operator-assisted service, including custom scripts, subconference rooms, pre-recording and recording services, digital replay services, call transcripts, participant lists, conference polling reports, and web conferencing. To get custom pricing for these services, you'll have to contact Vast Conference directly.
\r\nThere are no contracts with Vast Conference, and you can cancel or change plans at any time.
\r\nA benefit of Conference Calling by Vast Conference is that it offers both types of conference calling services: instant calls, also known as reservationless, and operator-assisted conference calls.
\r\nReservationless calls leave the scheduling up to you. You can schedule calls for any time or hold them instantly when an impromptu meeting is necessary. You send participants the conference line and access code along with the time of the meeting.
\r\nWhen the meeting begins, participants dial in and enter the provided codes. Depending on the plan you choose, the reservationless option lets you host meetings with up to 500 participants.
\r\nYou can also turn a conference call into an online meeting. The conferencing service allows for web conferencing and screen sharing.
\r\nOperator-assisted (or operator-moderated) calls are typically used by organizations that host large, formal conference calls, such as public companies that hold annual or quarterly investor calls. With this service, Conference Calling operators assist you before, during and after your conference call.
\r\nBefore your call, Conference Calling assigns you an operator, which it refers to as an event specialist. This person works with you to develop the greeting and introductions and set up the call's flow and itinerary. On the day of the call, the event specialist meets with the call's host and any other speakers to review the final details.
\r\nDuring the call, the event specialist can greet participants and collect their contact information. Once the call starts, the specialist remains on the line to introduce each speaker and manage any Q&A sessions. Once the call is complete, the event specialist provides you a participant list, a recording of the call and a transcript if needed.
\r\nOperator-moderated calls support up to 6,000 attendees.
\r\nIn addition to a top conference calling platform, Vast Conference is a video conferencing solution. The HD video conferencing software allows participants to virtually meet face to face.
\r\nConference Calling offers HD screen-sharing services so that you can share visuals with your audience during your meetings. You can host web conferences that allow you to share your screen, instant-message participants and send files to the group.
\r\nThe video conferencing option also allows hosts to change presenters and record the meeting for playback at a later time. There are no apps to download, and you can join a meeting from any web browser. The service integrates with Outlook, Google and Microsoft 365 calendars, which makes scheduling meetings an easy task.
\r\nAll of this extra functionality is included in your service plan for no added cost.
\r\nIn addition to the flexibility of multiple cost structures and types of conference calls, the wide range of call features is a big bonus with this service. Customizable greetings and call recordings are some of the standout features.
\r\nYou can create your own greeting for callers, giving them a personalized welcome. You can record your own greeting or give Vast Conference a script and have one of their voice actors record the greeting for you.
\r\nAll calls can be recorded at no additional charge. With the push of a button on your phone, you can start recording your meeting, and participants will hear a message stating that the call is being recorded. You can start and stop recording from the online portal, and there is no limit to the number of recordings you can make. Each recording can be downloaded as an MP3 file, and you can email a link to anyone who needs to access the recording. You can listen to it online or by phone.
\r\nConference hosts have total control over the call from the online portal. The web tools allow the host to see everyone who is on the call, mute callers when necessary, and conduct Q&A sessions. There's also a feature that allows the host to dial out to any U.S. telephone number, even mid-meeting, to add someone else to the call.
\r\nThe host can also control the call straight from their phone's dial pad. For example, 1* mutes all callers, 6* can request that each participant state their name so you know who is on the call, and 9* toggles the entry notice (which alerts you when a new participant has joined the call) on and off. Participants can use their dial pad to control their portion of the call, such as to mute themselves and ask permission to speak. The call continuation feature allows the meeting to continue without the host on the call.
\r\nSeveral other factors make Conference Calling by Vast Conference an impressive service. For businesses that hold meetings with international participants, Conference Calling offers local numbers in more than 80 countries worldwide. There are also international toll-free options.
\r\nConference Calling integrates with Microsoft Outlook by adding buttons to your Outlook Home toolbar, from which you can instantly create conference call invitations with an email template or calendar appointment. The pertinent information automatically populates in your invitation.
\r\nVast Conference offers a mobile app that allows users to schedule and host conference calls, run meetings, screen share, chat and host full-scale video conferences from any iOS device.
\r\nThe downside, however, is that the app currently isn't available for Android devices.
\r\nThe customer support from Vast Conference is impressive. To test the level of service, we contacted the company several times by phone, posing as a small business owner interested in conference calling services.
\r\nEach time we contacted the company, we had helpful and pleasant exchanges. Our calls were always taken immediately, and our questions were always thoroughly answered. By the end of the calls, we had a clear understanding of how the service works, what it offers and how much it would cost.
\r\nVast Conference offers telephone, email and live chat support options. The website is also filled with helpful training materials.
\r\nThe company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. As of April 2020, no complaints have been filed against Vast Conference in the past three years.
\r\n"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate-widget","widgetId":"10765","widget":{"id":"10765","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=257&aff_id=1000&source=best-conference-call-services&aff_sub4=revenue|Sponsorship&aff_sub3=deal|Vast+Conference&url_id=1","name":"Sponsorship"}},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5fb2e00f9c658a19198b4567/vast12_logo.png"}}},{"bullets":["Ideal for budget-conscious SMBs","Accommodates up to 1,000 callers","Reservationless"],"description":"FreeConferenceCall.com is our choice for the best free conference calling service because it provides a robust service for no cost. The reservationless service, which supports up to 1,000 callers at one time, includes many of the features businesses need in a conference call service, such as web management, call recording and calendar integrations.
\r\nWhile you always have the option to use the service for free, FreeConferenceCall.com suggests a monthly donation for those who can afford it. The website gives you the option of paying $4, the suggested amount; $6, the average amount; or $15, the market rate. You can also donate your own custom amount. If you can't (or don't want to) pay, the service will remain free.
\r\nIn addition to traditional audio conference calls, FreeConferenceCall.com allows you to host online meetings for no cost. This gives attendees the chance to meet face to face (virtually, at least) and view presentations or documents via desktop sharing.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, offers international calling options, and provides excellent customer support. If you need to host meetings with more than 1,000 attendees, you can contact FreeConferenceCall.com's large meeting services to arrange that. FreeConferenceCall.com does not offer operator-assisted conference call services.
\r\nMarch 2021: This month, FreeConferenceCall.com unveiled a new premium plan called Huddle. With Huddle, users get access to virtual backgrounds and the ability to eliminate access codes, receive notifications when participants join meetings, and customize hold music and greetings. Huddle also comes with a virtual phone line that includes in-app voicemail. FreeConferenceCall.com is currently allowing users to pick their own price for this service. The suggested monthly cost is $7, but $10 is the company's \"this helps us so much\" amount.
\r\n","descriptionTest":"","fullTitle":"Best Free Conference Call Service","isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best Free Service","review":{"displayName":"FreeConferenceCall.com","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/freeconferencecall-com/","id":"7ea2d061141714efce4a646ede92faa4","url":"https://www.freeconferencecall.com/","review":{"pros":["Reservationless service supports meetings with up to 1,000 callers at a time.","Features include web management, call recording and calendar integration."],"cons":["Operator-assisted meetings are not available."],"fullReviewTest":"FreeConferenceCall.com is our choice as the best free conference calling service. It provides all the necessary features of a conference call service at no cost, with the option to pay for additional features. The reservationless service, which supports up to 1,000 callers at one time, includes many of the features businesses need, such as web management, call recording and calendar integrations.
","fullReview":"FreeConferenceCall.com offers a robust conference calling service for no cost. It has many of the key features and tools you find with paid services, including web management, call recording and calendar integrations. The service allows users to host online meetings, also for free. What also makes this service such a great option is how easy it is to use. You can sign up in seconds and be hosting conference calls shortly after that. It's because of these aspects, and more, that FreeConferenceCall.com is our choice as the best free conference call service.
\r\n\r\n
View all of our recommendations for conference call services on our best picks pages.
\r\nUnlike some services that tout their product as free but add charges for even basic features, FreeConferenceCall.com lives up to its name. You can access the system and all of its main features, including audio conference calls, web meetings, screen sharing, and call recording, for no cost anytime.
\r\nRecently, FreeConferenceCall.com instituted a \"pay what you can\" option. The company is requesting suggested donations for the service, but you can still use FreeConferenceCall.com even if you do not make a monthly donation.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com has a paid business plan, StartMeeting, which costs $9.95 per month for an account and is recommended for one to 10 users. For those who have more than 10 employees or need enterprise-level services, StartMeeting asks you to contact the company for a custom package.
\r\nAdvertising is what differentiates the free plan from the paid plans. If you use the free plan, meeting attendees hear an ad for FreeConferenceCall.com each time they log in to a meeting. There are also ads on email invites sent to meeting participants. Paid-plan users can replace the FreeConferenceCall.com branding with their company branding. The paid plan also allows for a custom experience with greetings and custom on-hold music.
\r\nThere are several add-on features that businesses can purchase. If you want to provide your meeting participants with a toll-free number to dial into the meeting, the charge is 3.9 cents per minute. You can also get a personalized number that doesn't require access codes for $3.95 per month. Custom greetings and on-hold music are each $2 per month, and you can purchase additional cloud storage space for meeting recordings starting at $3 per month.
\r\nThere are no contracts with FreeConferenceCall.com, and your account never expires. You use the same account for an unlimited number of conference calls and online meetings.
\r\nBoth the free and paid plans from FreeConferenceCall.com are reservationless services. While you can schedule meetings in advance, it isn't required with this service. If you need to host an impromptu meeting, you can do so – 24/7.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com's free plan comes with the essential features and tools for a business conference call service. The service is easy to sign up for, meetings are easy to schedule, and the system, whether you use it for an audio call or online meeting, is simple to use.
\r\nWith the free plan, you can host audio or online meetings with as many 1,000 participants. Of the free services we considered, this has one of the largest caller maximums. If you need to host a meeting with up to 50,000 participants, contact FreeConferenceCall.com's large meeting services team who will arrange that for you.
\r\nSigning up for the service takes seconds. You create your free account by entering your email address and choosing a password. You'll immediately receive a confirmation email that includes your conference call telephone number, access code and host PIN. It also includes your online meeting ID, your playback number and a brief overview on how to host your first call.
\r\nAfter you are signed up, you can log into FreeConferenceCall.com's online portal. From there, you can send out invites to your meetings. The invitations include the dial-in number, access code, date and time of the meeting, and you can add any notes you want the participants to know about the meeting. From the email, participants can automatically download the meeting details to their calendar.
\r\nWhile you can access nearly everything FreeConferenceCall.com has to offer in the free account, there are some benefits to their paid plans.
\r\nThe biggest benefit of the paid plans is that there is no advertising. With the free plan, each participant who dials into a meeting hears a message saying the meeting is brought to you by FreeConferenceCall.com, and there's company branding on the meeting invites, too. With the paid plan, you can create a custom greeting and add your branding.
\r\nThe paid plans also include several features that free plan users would have to pay for if they wanted to use them. Paid-plan users can upload their own hold music for when callers are waiting for a meeting to start. Other features paid users have access to, depending on the plan they choose, include custom branding, a dedicated account manager, training, an active directory and single sign-on.
\r\nClearly, the biggest benefit of this conferencing service is that it is free. If you don't mind advertising on your calls and email invitations, you will have no problems with this free service.
\r\nWhen hosting a call, you can control the meeting from your account's online meeting wall. You can see who is on the call, mute callers, pause the meeting, record the meeting, and drop callers from the meeting.
\r\nIf you aren't in front of your computer, you can complete these tasks from your phone's dial pad. For example, pressing *9 starts recording the meeting, and *5 mutes all the call's participants. Then, if individual callers need to speak, they can press *6 to unmute themselves. Other dial pad controls include *1 to manage Q&A sessions, *2 to hear a caller count and *3 to create a breakout room.
\r\nWe also like that you can change various settings for your conference calls. You can turn on entry and exit tones so you know when callers are entering and leaving the meeting. Additionally, you decide if you want callers to announce themselves when they enter the room, if meeting participants can enter the room before the host, and if a call can continue after the host leaves. You can also control whether an attendance list displays in your web portal, whether meetings automatically record, and whether you want to be prompted for a code when the meeting begins.
\r\nAll calls can be recorded for free, and you can record the entire meeting or just a portion of it. When the meeting is over, the recording is automatically stored in your account. All users receive 1GB of free storage. You can purchase more storage for a small monthly fee.
\r\nWith an access code and reference number, which are sent after every call, you can listen to the meeting. You can also download the recording and listen to it from your computer or email it to others.
\r\nIn addition to traditional audio-only conference calls, FreeConferenceCall.com allows clients to host online meetings for no cost. The online meetings support video conferencing and screen sharing.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com offers local numbers in more than 60 countries worldwide; integrates with Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, Slack, Dropbox, and Evernote; provides a secure and intuitive desktop app; and has a mobile app for iPhone and Android mobile devices. From the app, you can manage all of your conferences, allowing you to control your audience with ease.
\r\nThere's not much we don't like about FreeConferenceCall.com, especially for a free service. The biggest downside is that it doesn't offer operated-assisted conference calling. This type of service has an operator who can plan the call, greet callers when they join in, manage Q&A sessions, and share recordings and transcriptions after the call is complete.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com, however, isn't alone in lacking this type of hands-on service. Most of the free services we looked into don't offer operated-assisted services, and the ones that do charge for them.
\r\nThe customer support FreeConferenceCall.com offered us was exceptional. To test the level of customer service, we contacted the company several times posing as a small business owner interested in conference calling services.
\r\nWe were impressed at how accommodating and helpful the representative we spoke to was. Some free conference calling services don't offer phone support.
\r\nThe FreeConferenceCall.com representative answered all of our questions in detail and thoroughly explained the differences between the free and paid plans. He didn't try to pressure us into signing up for the paid options. Instead, he recommended that we the free version since we could easily switch to a paid plan if the need arose.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com offers customer support 24/7. You can reach the company by phone or online support ticket. In addition, the FreeConferenceCall.com website has helpful training materials, including answers to FAQs and user guides.
\r\nFreeConferenceCall.com isn't an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. It does have an A- rating and, as of April 2020, had not had any complaints filed against it in the past three years.
"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10765","widget":{"id":"10765","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.freeconferencecall.com/","name":""}},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5b11a2c251ee47f4518b456b/FreeConferenceCall-Logo.png"}}},{"bullets":["Offers flexible options","Accommodates up to 1,000 callers","Reservationless"],"description":"RingCentral is our choice for the best conference call service within a phone system because of its support for up to 1,000 callers at a time, which is far and above what many other phone systems offer.\r\nWith RingCentral, each user has access to their own conference bridge, which can host unlimited conference calls with up to 1,000 participants. This is a reservationless service, which means users can host audio meetings without scheduling them in advance.\r\nThe RingCentral mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices, makes it simple to join conference calls. With the app, you can quickly tap a button to connect to the call without having to dial in to the conference and enter a PIN.
\r\n\r\nThe conference call service is just one aspect of RingCentral that makes it a useful business phone system. RingCentral is a cloud-hosted unified communications system that is also our choice for the best business phone service.
\r\n\r\nRingCentral has all of the calling and mobile collaboration features businesses look for in a phone system. Some of the more valuable features are voicemail, voicemail transcription, auto-attendants, call queues, softphones, call screening and instant messaging. It also includes HD video conferencing services.
\r\n\r\nRingCentral is available in four plans that range from $29.99 to $59.99 per user, per month. Prices drop by $10 per user if you pay annually. There is a 30-day free trial period.
\r\n\r\nCustomer support is available by phone 24/7. In addition, the RingCentral website is filled with helpful training materials, including user guides, FAQs, videos and whitepapers.
\r\n\r\nDecember 2020: RingCentral recently launched RingCentral Glip, a video and chat app that works in conjunction with its audio calling services. RingCentral Glip is free for up to 100 users. Besides video and live chat, users can create groups, share files and start meetings directly from a messaging thread. (The maximum meeting duration is 24 hours.) RingCentral Glip is designed to reduce meeting fatigue as a result of remote work while uniting video and audio conferencing with team collaboration tools all in one place.
\r\n\r\nMay 2020: RingCentral recently unveiled a new unified desktop app for both Windows PC and Mac computers. In addition to hosting and joining conference calls, users can seamlessly switch between RingCentral's phone, message and video solutions with the new app. It also has calendar integrations with Microsoft Office 365 and Google.
\r\n","descriptionTest":"","fullTitle":"Best Conference Call Service Within a Phone System","isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best Within a Phone System","review":{"displayName":"RingCentral","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/ringcentral-business-phone-systems/","id":"0a7931a57b393ef7787449f9bd958038","url":"https://www.ringcentral.com/","review":{"pros":["No special equipment or wiring is needed for this cloud-hosted business phone system.","RingCentral offers an array of calling, collaboration and mobile features."],"cons":["Audio and video conferencing is not included in the cheapest service plan."],"fullReviewTest":"RingCentral is our choice for the best business phone service because it's a robust cloud-hosted VoIP phone system and a great option for businesses of all sizes. The system offers nearly every calling, collaboration and mobile feature businesses would want from a phone system. RingCentral is also our choice for the best conference calling service within a phone system because it's easy to use and allows every user to host calls with up to 1,000 participants.
\r\nRingCentral offers four service plans that vary in price and features to fit the budgets and needs of a wide range of businesses. All of the plans include unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada, unlimited business text messaging, a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, HD voice, visual voicemail, voicemail-to-email, file sharing, instant messaging and chatrooms, 24/7 customer support, call logs, call recording, and integrations with Box, Okta, Outlook and Google. Here is a breakdown of how each plan differs from the others:
\r\nPrices drop by 33% per user if you pay annually instead of monthly. RingCentral offers all users a 30-day risk-free trial.
\r\nWhile each plan comes with one local or-toll-free number, there is an additional cost if you want more numbers. Toll-free numbers are $4.99 per month, local numbers are $5.99 per user per month, and vanity numbers are available for a one-time $30 fee.
\r\nBusinesses have the option to buy or rent desk phones from RingCentral. Desk phones can be purchased for $80 to $400 each or rented for $5 to $21 per month. RingCentral does not offer a free plan, but you can request a 15-day free trial.
\r\nRingCentral is a cloud-hosted system that doesn't require any special equipment or wiring. All you need is a high-speed internet connection with enough bandwidth to handle the number of calls your small business makes. RingCentral recommends that you use a high-speed DSL, cable, or fiber optic connection with dedicated upload and download bandwidth for voice of at least 90Kbps for each voice line. You don't need a dedicated IT team to maintain this system; RingCentral handles all of the maintenance and upgrades.
\r\nPart of what makes RingCentral such a solid business phone solution is its reliability. It boasts a 99.999% uptime, the highest possible for cloud-hosted phone systems. This means the service is down for just a few minutes each year.
\r\nRingCentral has 17 data centers worldwide. Should one center shut down or have a problem, clients will have no loss of service, because the data will instantly transfer to one of the other centers. Each data center is monitored 24/7 and staffed by onsite engineering specialists and security guards.
\r\nRingCentral allows number porting. This means businesses with an established phone number can transfer their number over to RingCentral after signing up for the service. When transferring your number, you'll choose a temporary number to use until the porting process is complete, which is typically in 2-4 weeks.
\r\nThe system is controlled entirely from an online portal. From this portal, administrators can assign employees numbers and extensions and create ring groups. Employees can also log in to change their personal settings and make calls from their computers using a softphone.
\r\nUsers are encouraged to set their mobile phone as a forwarding number. If you and your team do this, you won't miss any calls should your business lose power or its internet connection. All calls will automatically be forwarded to the appropriate staff member's mobile phone in those situations.
\r\nRingCentral Office has over 50 calling, collaboration, and mobile features, including caller ID control, one-touch calling, call recording, call flip, call park, call screening, intercoms, paging, call logs, message alerts, missed-call notifications, auto-attendants, multilevel IVRs, call reports, on-hold music, answering rules, extensions, and the ability to forward calls to multiple devices.
\r\nThere are several voicemail options as well: traditional voicemail, voicemail-to-email, visual voicemail and voicemail transcription to text. Among the collaboration tools are audio and HD video conferencing, presence indicators, and team messaging.
\r\nThe RingCentral mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, lets employees make and receive calls from their business lines on their mobile phones. The RingCentral app also lets users send and receive faxes and texts, set up and join conference calls, check voicemail, change their individual settings, and receive notifications.
\r\nRingCentral also offers a softphone. This lets your employees make and receive calls from their computers, whether from desktops in the office or internet-connected laptops outside the office. To use the softphone, all you need to do is plug in a headset or use the computer's speakers and microphone.
\r\nFor businesses that want to connect with colleagues or customers overseas, RingCentral offers a number of international calling options, including full-service coverage in 40 countries and international inbound virtual numbers in 119 countries.
\r\nIn addition to being the best business phone system, RingCentral tops our list of the best conference calling services within a phone system.
\r\nEach user has access to their own conference bridge. This means that each employee can host unlimited conference calls with up to 1,000 participants at a time. You don't have to worry about limiting your guest list or running out of minutes. The 1,000-caller limit is significantly higher than the thresholds of the other phone systems we reviewed. Multiple employees can host conference calls at the same time.
\r\nRingCentral's conferencing service is reservationless, which means you can begin calls instantly. While you can still schedule conferences in advance, this gives you the option to host an impromptu meeting when the need arises.
\r\nWhen you set up your conferencing preferences, you can select \"enable join before host,\" which lets the call begin and continue without you or another host being present. You can also enable settings that lock the call once it has started and everyone has joined so no one else will be able to enter your call. The lecture mode lets you mute all the attendees' lines; your guests can still hear you, but no one can hear them. This is a useful feature for large meetings where there could be a lot of background noise.
\r\nYou can send conference invites via Microsoft Outlook or your email provider. You simply click \"invite with email,\" and RingCentral generates an email with the dial-in number and the participant access codes.
\r\nIf you are hosting a call with participants outside the U.S., they can dial in using local numbers. RingCentral offers local numbers in more than 50 countries.
\r\nWhen you are hosting a call, you can record your conference free of charge and listen to it later. You can also share your recordings with anyone who was unable to attend the conference.
\r\nRingCentral makes it easy for hosts and meeting participants to join conference calls from mobile devices, typically by tapping a button or link. This saves you the hassle of entering the dial-in number and access code.
\r\nThe biggest feature missing from RingCentral's conference calling service is operator-assisted calls. With this option, you'd have a representative from the service to set the call's itinerary, greet callers and take down their contact information, moderate Q&A sessions, and provide transcripts. If your company hosts large meetings that need this type of dedicated attention, you will need to find a provider that specializes in operator-assisted calling services.
\r\nThe customer support we've received from RingCentral has been mostly positive. During our research, we contacted the company numerous times by phone, email and live chat, posing as a business owner interested in phone service. While most of our interactions have gone well, we did have a couple of calls and chats that were less than helpful. Our most recent interactions with the company were significant improvements from our first calls and chats.
\r\nIn our recent interactions with RingCentral, all of the representatives we dealt with were extremely helpful. They took our calls immediately and provided in-depth answers to all our questions. They also highlighted points we hadn't thought to ask about. By the end of our calls, we had a clear understanding of how RingCentral works, the features it offers and its price points.
\r\nThe RingCentral website offers an array of valuable information, such as FAQs, videos, case studies, webinars and whitepapers. The company provides phone and chat support 24/7.
\r\nOne area of concern is the number of complaints filed against RingCentral with the Better Business Bureau. As of April 2020, 273 complaints had been filed against the company over the past three years. Despite the complaints, RingCentral is accredited with the BBB and has an A+ rating on the site. Such a high rating means that the company is addressing all of these complaints. While RingCentral might not be able to provide everyone the solution they demand, it is at least attempting to resolve issues to everyone's satisfaction.
","fullReview":"RingCentral is our choice for the best business phone service because it is the complete package for unified communications. It can handle all of your communication needs, regardless of how small or large your business is. The system is extremely reliable, offers multiple price points to fit your budget, and has nearly every calling, collaboration and mobile feature businesses could want from a phone system. While several phone systems excel in some of these areas, RingCentral nails them all.
\r\nRingCentral is also our choice for the best conference calling service within a phone system because it's easy to use and allows every user to host calls with up to 1,000 participants.
\r\n\r\n
View all our recommendations for business phone systems and conference call services on our best picks pages.
\r\nRingCentral offers four service plans that vary in price and features to fit the budgets and needs of a wide range of businesses. While most systems have multiple price points, few offer as many options as RingCentral does. This flexibility gives many businesses the opportunity to use the service, regardless of their budgets. All of the plans include unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada, unlimited business text messaging, a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, HD voice, visual voicemail, voicemail-to-email, file sharing, team messaging, and call logs.
\r\nRingCentral offers both monthly and annual subscription pricing options for each of its service plans. Here is a breakdown of how each plan differs from the others:
\r\nRingCentral does not have a free plan, but it offers all users a 30-day risk-free trial.
\r\nWhile each plan comes with one local or-toll-free number, there is an additional cost if you want more numbers. Toll-free numbers and local numbers are $4.99 per month, and vanity numbers are available for a one-time $30 fee.
\r\nBusinesses have the option to buy or rent desk phones from RingCentral. You can purchase desk phones for $80 to $400 each or rent them for $5 to $21 per month.
\r\nRingCentral Office is loaded with features. It has over 50 calling, collaboration, and mobile features, including caller ID control, one-touch calling, call recording, call flip, call park, call screening, intercoms, paging, call logs, message alerts, missed-call notifications, auto-attendants, multilevel IVRs, call reports, on-hold music, answering rules, extensions, and the ability to forward calls to multiple devices.
\r\nThere are several voicemail options as well: traditional voicemail, voicemail-to-email, visual voicemail and voicemail transcription to text. Among the collaboration tools are audio and HD video conferencing as well as team messaging.
\r\nThe RingCentral mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, lets employees make and receive calls from their business lines on their mobile phones. The RingCentral app also lets users send and receive faxes and texts, set up and join conference calls, check voicemail, change their individual settings, and receive notifications.
\r\nRingCentral also offers a softphone. This lets your employees make and receive calls from their computers, whether from desktops in the office or internet-connected laptops outside the office. To use the softphone, all you need to do is plug in a headset or use the computer's speakers and microphone.
\r\nFor businesses that want to connect with colleagues or customers overseas, RingCentral offers a number of international calling options, including full-service coverage in 40 countries and international inbound virtual numbers in more than 100 countries.
\r\nIn addition to being the best business phone system, RingCentral tops our list of the best conference calling services within a phone system.
\r\nEach user has access to their own conference bridge. This means that each employee can host unlimited conference calls with up to 1,000 participants at a time. You don't have to worry about limiting your guest list or running out of minutes. The 1,000-caller limit is significantly higher than the thresholds of the other phone systems we reviewed. Multiple employees can host conference calls at the same time.
\r\nRingCentral's conferencing service is reservationless, which means you can begin calls instantly. While you can still schedule conferences in advance, this gives you the option to host an impromptu meeting when the need arises.
\r\nWhen you set up your conferencing preferences, you can select \"enable join before host,\" which lets the call begin and continue without you or another host being present. You can also enable settings that lock the call once it has started and everyone has joined so no one else will be able to enter your call. The lecture mode lets you mute all the attendees' lines; your guests can still hear you, but no one can hear them. This is a useful feature for large meetings where there could be a lot of background noise.
\r\nYou can send conference invites via Microsoft Outlook or your email provider. You simply click \"invite with email,\" and RingCentral generates an email with the dial-in number and the participant access codes.
\r\nIf you are hosting a call with participants outside the U.S., they can dial in using local numbers. RingCentral offers local numbers in more than 50 countries.
\r\nWhen you are hosting a call, you can record your conference free of charge and listen to it later. You can also share your recordings with anyone who was unable to attend the conference.
\r\nRingCentral makes it easy for hosts and meeting participants to join conference calls from mobile devices, typically by tapping a button or link. This saves you the hassle of entering the dial-in number and access code.
\r\nThe biggest feature missing from RingCentral's conference calling service is operator-assisted calls. With this option, you'd have a representative from the service to set the call's itinerary, greet callers and take down their contact information, moderate Q&A sessions, and provide transcripts. If your company hosts large meetings that need this type of dedicated attention, you will need to find a provider that specializes in operator-assisted calling services.
\r\nRingCentral is a cloud-hosted system that doesn't require any special equipment or wiring. All you need is a high-speed internet connection with enough bandwidth to handle the number of calls your small business makes. RingCentral recommends that you use a high-speed DSL, cable, or fiber optic connection with dedicated upload and download bandwidth for voice of at least 90Kbps for each voice line. You don't need a dedicated IT team to maintain this system; RingCentral handles all of the maintenance and upgrades.
\r\nPart of what makes RingCentral such a solid business phone solution is its reliability. It boasts a 99.999% uptime, the highest possible for cloud-hosted phone systems. This means the service is down for just a few minutes each year.
\r\nRingCentral has numerous data centers worldwide. Should one center shut down or have a problem, clients will have no loss of service, because the data will instantly transfer to one of the other centers. Each data center is monitored 24/7 and staffed by onsite engineering specialists and security guards.
\r\nRingCentral allows number porting. This means businesses with an established phone number can transfer their number over to RingCentral after signing up for the service. When transferring your number, you'll choose a temporary number to use until the porting process is complete, which is typically in 2-4 weeks.
\r\nThe system is controlled entirely from an online portal. From this portal, administrators can assign employees numbers and extensions and create ring groups. Employees can also log in to change their personal settings and make calls from their computers using a softphone.
\r\nUsers are encouraged to set their mobile phone as a forwarding number. If you and your team do this, you won't miss any calls should your business lose power or its internet connection. All calls will automatically be forwarded to the appropriate staff member's mobile phone in those situations.
\r\nOne potential downside of RingCentral is that the Essentials plan doesn't include any audio or video conferencing. If those are communication tools you need, you will either have to upgrade to another service plan or go purchase separate conferencing calling and video conferencing solutions.
\r\nOne area of concern is the number of complaints filed against RingCentral with the Better Business Bureau. As of July 2020, 301 complaints had been filed against the company over the past three years. That number is higher than we saw with some of RingCentral's competitors. Despite the complaints, RingCentral is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating on the site. Such a high rating means that the company is addressing all of these complaints. While RingCentral might not be able to provide everyone the solution they demand, it is at least attempting to resolve issues to everyone's satisfaction.
\r\nThe customer support we've received from RingCentral has been mostly positive. During our research, we contacted the company numerous times by phone, email and live chat, posing as a business owner interested in phone service. While most of our interactions have gone well, we did have a couple of calls and chats that were less than helpful. Our most recent interactions with the company were significant improvements over our first calls and chats.
\r\nIn our recent interactions with RingCentral, all of the representatives we dealt with were extremely helpful. They took our calls immediately and provided in-depth answers to all our questions. They also highlighted points we hadn't thought to ask about. By the end of our calls, we had a clear understanding of how RingCentral works, the features it offers and its price points.
\r\nThe RingCentral website offers an array of valuable information, such as FAQs, videos, case studies, webinars and whitepapers. The company provides phone and chat support 24/7.
"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":false,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10740","widget":{"id":"10740","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.ringcentral.com/","name":""}},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5de96c9d9c658a7a718b4569/ringcentral.png"}}},{"bullets":["Hybrid system","Supports up to 100,000 callers","Free plan available"],"description":"Although this isn't strictly a conference call service, its flexibility to let participants join meetings by phone, combined with its robust web conference services, make it our top choice as the best conference calling system for businesses with a remote workforce.
\r\n\r\nThe service is really a hybrid of web conferencing and conference calling services. The option to attend by phone opens meetings up to those who aren't always sitting in front of their computer.
\r\n\r\nThe system features many valuable tools, including call recording and a call-me feature that automatically calls meeting participants at the time of the call. WebEx also allows the host to view a list of all the meeting's participants and pass along presenter controls so that participants can present ideas, plans and strategies to attendees.
\r\n\r\nWhat makes Webex ideal for remote teams is its Webex Teams platform, which comes included for all users. This is a digital workspace that includes group messaging, file sharing and HD video for online meetings.
\r\n\r\nWebex is available in four pricing plans. Plans vary based on the number of participants that can join a meeting, the amount of cloud storage space and the level of customer support needed. There is a free plan in which users can host conferences with up to 100 participants. It includes a wide range of features and doesn't restrict how long meetings can last. The Starter plan is $14.95 per host per month, while the Business plan is $29.95 per host per month. There is a 10% discount for paying annually. Pricing for the enterprise plan is customized for each business.
\r\n\r\nWebex offers customer support by phone and live chat. In addition, the website includes a number of helpful materials, including training guides and how-to videos.
\r\n\r\nFebruary 2021: To help meetings run a bit more smoothly, Webex has added some new host controls to its platform. Hosts can now quickly send notifications to participants who are trying to speak while on mute. This prevents the need for others in the meeting to alert the silenced speaker that they are still on mute. Additionally, the platform now allows meeting hosts to quickly and easily transfer the host controls to another user should they need to leave.
\r\n\r\nJanuary 2021: Webex recently announced a host of new features it is adding to its platform in 2021. This includes in-meeting gestures for those using the video functionality. When someone gives a gesture, such as a thumbs-up, the platform recognizes that and automatically translates that to a thumbs-up graphic on your screen for others to see. Immersive sharing is another new feature. This allows users to share presentations, videos or applications as a dynamic background with their video overlayed.
\r\n\r\nNovember 2020: Webex has announced two new features for its conference calling service: background noise removal and call queue availability. It now removes all types of background sounds while amplifying your voice to make you easier to understand. The call queue availability feature allows users to set their availability for when they receive calls to make call routing more effective and better enable work without a desk phone. This feature works on both the Webex mobile app and the desktop service.
","descriptionTest":"","fullTitle":"Best Conference Call Service for Remote Workforces","isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best for Remote Workforces","review":{"displayName":"Webex","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/cisco-webex/","id":"fdbd92d6996f3d75969f2816a249f2c8","url":"http://www.webex.com/products/web-conferencing.html","review":{"pros":null,"cons":null,"fullReviewTest":"","fullReview":"Cisco's Webex web conferencing service has a strong focus on team collaboration that sets it apart from other online meeting software. What makes this system so valuable, especially for organizations with a remote workforce, is that meetings can be joined online or by phone. It really offers a hybrid of web conferencing and conference calling services.
\r\nSeptember 2020: Webex has released several new updates to its Webex Meetings platform to boost security. Specifically, the increased security measures include an updated encryption cipher that provides additional protection of data shared during meetings and provides resistance against tampering.
\r\nThis web conferencing service offers full video conference functionality and provides tools to create profiles. Both features add a personal element that's especially useful for teams. The Webex web conferencing service is compatible with most audio, video and multimedia file types, including Flash animation and playback functionality, and it runs popular demonstration programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint. In addition, Webex instantly integrates with software applications, email programs like Microsoft Outlook, IM servers and other applications to make it a seamless part of your daily workflow.
\r\nWebex stands out in its features for preparation and follow-up. When you schedule the meeting, you can set the software to record it automatically. If you need to talk to someone ahead of time about the agenda, you can send a private message before the meeting. While it does not allow you to directly capture screenshots from the platform, attendees have a chance to upload the files presented and insert notes. Presenters can send out follow-ups and invite others who should be involved in the future.
\r\nWhile this service has several features that improve both the preparation and follow-up for each web conference you host, it does not feature post-call reports that detail attendee participation. This feature would help you pinpoint weaknesses in your presentation and gauge your audience better.
\r\nYou can create breakout rooms with this service. This feature allows private meetings within the larger meeting, which is helpful if a few people need to work on an issue for the larger group.
\r\nThis virtual-meeting application requires a Java installation and cookies. It has mobile optimization for tablets and smartphones, but the features vary by operating system. It works in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe.
\r\nWhat makes Cisco's Webex ideal for businesses with remote employees is that it allows participants to join by phone and participate just as those who have connected via computer can. This option opens up your meetings to those people who can't be in front of their computers at the time of the meeting.
\r\nWith this option, Webex has combined web conferencing and conference calling into one service. The only stipulation for using this system as strictly a conference call service is that one person must be logged in via the web. Once one person has connected to the meeting via computer, everyone else has the opportunity to call in. Webex provides both toll-free and toll numbers, and you can dial in from anywhere around the world.
\r\nAll Webex Meetings users, regardless of the plan they choose, can have participants dial in to their meetings. The system also features many valuable tools that conference call services offer, such as call recording. All meetings can be recorded and shared as MP4A audio files. Another feature for audio participants is the Call Me tool. With this, audio participants don't have to dial in. Instead, the meeting will automatically call them at the time it is scheduled for. This removes the burden of remembering the dial-in number and the access code. This feature is not available to those with the Premium 8 plan.
\r\nWebex also allows the host to view a list of all the meeting's participants. You can pass along presenter controls so that participants can present ideas, plans and strategies to attendees.
\r\nOne downside we found with Webex is that operator assistance is not available with all plans. This feature, which is only available with Webex's Premium Event plans, gives you an operator to help plan your meeting and listen in to your call to assist you if any problems arise.
\r\nWebex Meetings offers full 256-bit, end-to-end SSL encryption for web conferencing participants. This is above the industry standard and offers even more security during your web conference. You also have the option to password-protect online meetings.
\r\nThe service offers a variety of support resources, including dozens of how-to guides, tutorials and systematic instructional materials on the website's support section. Phone support is available 24/7 and includes remote IT support as well as live chat.
\r\nOverall, Webex provides good web conferencing services for businesses of any size. It lacks a few features but stands out in its preparation and follow-up features, which make it especially useful for people scattered across the globe to get together and work on a project.
\r\n| \r\n | Vast Conference | \r\nFreeConferenceCall.com | \r\nRingCentral | \r\nWebex | \r\n
| Type (Reservationless, Operator-Assisted, Hybrid) | \r\nReservationless and Operator-Assisted | \r\nReservationless | \r\nReservation-less | \r\nHybrid | \r\n
| Number of callers | \r\nUp to 500 | \r\nUp to 1,000 | \r\nUp to 1,000 | \r\nUp to 1,000 | \r\n
| Mobile app? | \r\nYes | \r\nYes | \r\nYes | \r\nYes | \r\n
Pricing varies by provider; most conference calling services use one of two main cost structures: pay as you go and unlimited monthly.
\r\nWith pay-as-you-go plans, there is a per-minute fee for each person on a call. For a reservationless service, fees typically range from 2 to 10 cents per minute, per person. For example, a 30-minute call with 10 participants would likely cost $6 to $30.
\r\nOperator-assisted services are more expensive. These calls cost 15 to 30 cents per minute, per caller. So, for example, a 30-minute call with 200 participants would cost between $900 and $1,800.
\r\nWith unlimited plans, you pay a monthly fee and can host as many calls as you want for as long as you want. Fees for unlimited plans range from $7 to $60 per month.
\r\nSome providers charge extra fees for things such as toll-free calling, call recording and transcription services.
\r\nMany providers have set prices, so there isn't a lot of room for negotiation. However, there are some questions you can ask to ensure you are getting a fair price.
\r\nWhile many providers don't require you to sign a contract, if yours does, read the contract and verify that it has everything you agreed to and doesn't include any price increases after an extended period of time. It is also important to know how to cancel your service if you need to and if there are any costs to do so. There are several free conference call providers, though they may offer fewer features and services than paid plans.
\r\nFree conference call services are a budget-friendly way to communicate with clients and employees, and although free services tend to provide fewer features than paid services, there are plenty of free services that get the job done.
\r\nIf you are looking to save money by choosing a free service, determine which features are must-haves. Most free services offer basic features that let you conduct conference calls without difficulty, but you may find yourself wishing you had the ability to host more callers or save call transcripts.
\r\nFree conference call services are just as safe and secure as paid plans; the only difference is that paid plans provide more features and support more call participants. Another difference you can expect to find is that you will likely have to listen to at least one ad when using a free service.
\n"}},{"__typename":"SectionBuyingGuide","id":"types-of-conference-call-services","isInToc":true,"type":"buying-guide","title":"Buying Guide","containers":[{"title":"Types of Conference Call Services","html":"\nWhile many of today's unified communications and business phone systems include audio conferencing services, you can sign up for a separate conference calling service in conjunction with your phone system.
\r\nWith these add-on services, you are typically provided a local or toll-free phone number you and attendees call to access the conference line. Each caller is then prompted for a host or participant access code. Depending on how you set up the service, participants are either placed immediately in the meeting room or put on hold until the meeting's host starts the call.
\r\nThere are two separate types of conference call services: reservationless and operator-assisted.
\r\nReservationless services are used for your everyday conferences and meetings. These calls can be planned in advance or held instantaneously. Your conference line is free to use 24/7.
\r\nReservationless service generally includes features like call recording, the ability to manage calls online, options to dial out to attendees once a meeting has started, and a \"call-me\" tool that dials participants when the meeting is set to start.
\r\nAdditionally, many reservationless conference call providers include the ability to host web meetings for no added cost. This allows for virtual face-to-face meetings via HD video, where you can share screens, which can helpful when making presentations or discussing documents.
\r\nThe benefit of a reservationless service is that it is simple to use and available whenever you need it. Need to host an impromptu conference call? The conference line is ready to go. These services are also very cost-friendly; some are available for free. Those that aren't free typically offer unlimited monthly plans, which allow you to host unlimited conference calls each month for a flat fee, or pay-as-you-go options that charge you for each call based on how long it is and how many people are attending.
\r\nThe biggest downside to reservationless services is that the host bears the responsibility of planning and running the call. An extra set of hands can be helpful in some situations, which is why businesses may prefer operator-assisted conference call services in some instances.
\r\nOperator-assisted services are generally used for more formal meetings, such as an investor call, and can accommodate thousands of callers at a time.
\r\nThis type of service provides you with a dedicated operator to assist you before, during and after the call. Before the call, they help you plan the meeting and send out invitations. During the call, they greet callers and manage speakers and Q&A sessions. After the call, they provide you with participant lists, recordings and transcriptions.
\r\nWith the added help provided by an operator, the host can focus on the presentation itself rather than being distracted by all the tasks that go with hosting a call, like monitoring who is in attendance.
\r\nOperated-assisted calls need to be planned in advance. This isn't the type of call you conduct at the last minute. These services are much more expensive than a reservationless service as well. Costs for operator-assisted services start at about 15 cents per caller, per minute. Depending on how many attendees you have, the costs could add up quickly.
\n"},{"title":"Benefits of Using a Conference Call Service","html":"\nCommunication and collaboration – whether with customers or colleagues – are key components of any successful business in 2020, and conference calling services help facilitate these tasks. Whether it's for an impromptu brainstorming session or a formal presentation, conference calls mean dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people from anywhere around the world can be on one call at the same time.
\r\nConference call services offer the following benefits for dispersed teams:
\r\nConvenience, increased productivity and reduced costs are among the top reasons organizations adopt conference calling. Research shows that 70% of employees prefer conference call services for their convenience and ease of use. In addition, 96% of remote workers believe access to conference calling improves productivity because it easily allows for increased collaboration.
\n"},{"title":"How to Choose a Conference Call Service","html":"\nWhen searching for a conference call service, there are various factors you'll want to consider. First and foremost, you want to ensure the provider you choose offers services that fit your needs. Among the specific factors you need to consider are:
\r\n\n"},{"title":"Community Experts on Conference Call Services ","html":"\n
We spoke to several small business owners about which conference call service their company uses, what they like and don't like about it, and their opinion of the provider's customer service.
\r\nBruce Hogan, CEO of Software Pundit, is a fan of UberConference because of its ease of use.
\r\n\"The company offers a free plan and a $15 per-month plan that is still quite affordable. It has useful integrations like Slack and Hubspot,\" said Hogan. \"The only major downside of the tool is that its free plan is pretty limited in features and functionality. Their customer support is very attentive.\"
\r\nUberConference is also the service of choice for Ian Kelly, vice president of operations for NuLeaf Naturals.
\r\n\"We've been fond of UberConference for years [because] it doesn't require a lot of tech savvy, so it's quick and easy to use both internally and externally,\" Kelly said. \"It's easy on the budget, easy to use, and it gets the job done. We tried other providers, but for the price and features, UberConference fits the bill.\"
\r\nReuben Yonatan, founder and CEO of GetVoIP, prefers RingCentral for their conference call services.
\r\n\"What I like most about RingCentral is its reliability and enterprise-grade security,\" Yonatan said. \"There isn't much I don't like about RingCentral, but if I had to choose, I would say the fact that it lacks direct Linux support.\"
\n"},{"title":"Phone Systems With Conference Calling","html":"\nDepending on the phone system you have, you might not need a separate conference call service. Most phone systems have some sort of built-in conferencing service. However, you need to determine whether the phone system's built-in conference bridge can support your needs. Some systems can only host conference calls with just a handful of participants, while others can support hundreds.
\r\nAmong the business phone systems and business VoIP phone systems we reviewed, 8x8, Nextiva and Grasshopper support fewer than 20 participants for each conference call. On the other hand, Avaya, RingCentral and Phone.com support more than 50.
\r\nBesides the number of callers these built-in conferencing systems can support, most offer many of the same features as dedicated conference calling services, such as call recording and web controls.
\n"},{"title":"Web Conferencing With Conference Calling","html":"\nWhile some conference calling services also offer web conferencing, most allow you to connect to meetings via phone. Depending on your needs, a web conferencing service that allows remote attendees to join by phone could be a good fit. This gives you the flexibility to have web conferencing, which allows participants to see each other by video and participate with screen sharing and conference calling in one service.
\r\nNearly all of the web conferencing services we reviewed allow participants to join meetings either online or by phone.
\r\nWebinars are an important business tool that allow companies to find new customers, educate current clients and strengthen their customer service. With a webinar service, it's easy to create and share a PowerPoint presentation or conduct a live demonstration.
\r\nAttendees typically join a webinar or online meeting from a browser or mobile device without downloads or complicated codes. With many services, you can present from a mobile device.
\r\nWebinar software has three main feature categories: presenter tools, moderator options and webinar features. These focus primarily on the attendee experience, including security, integrations and needed downloads (if any) before they attend your webinar.
\r\nIntegration with Outlook is a great convenience – you can invite, remind and schedule webinars straight from your email platform. Social media integration makes it easy to invite people at large, share webinars and have attendees promote for you. The best services also offer encryption and passwords for security.
\r\nWith archiving, you can save recorded webinars and share links if you don't want to transfer files to your own website, though most services allow you to download the recordings as well. Most webinar services have limited editing software, usually just for cutting out sections. With this limited editing ability, you can remove dead time and off-topic questions for a higher-quality final product.
\r\nWhen searching for webinar services, there are several features and tools to look for. These include:
\r\nOther valuable features many webinar services offer include analytics and reporting, drawing tools, email automation, and the ability to take polls and surveys and conduct Q&As.
\r\nAmong some of the more popular and reputable webinar services include Webex, Onstream, Webinato and ClickWebinar.
\r\nWebcasting lets you live stream anything from company seminars to press conferences. Using webcasting software, you can increase brand recognition and promote your company to a wide audience.
\r\nWebcasting services have great recording and editing capabilities, and have become more mobile-friendly so that your listeners can view your material from any web-enabled device. This makes webcasting more on demand and user-friendly than webinar or web conferencing services that tend to be geared toward smaller and more defined audiences.
\r\nA successful webcast depends on the basics. Webcasts should be able to accommodate hundreds of attendees with the ability to expand to thousands if needed The fewer downloads needed, the easier it is for you, your presenters and your audience. Several services also have a phone-in feature for those who lack voice over internet protocol (VoIP) capability.
\r\nWebcasting offers much more versatility than webinars. Among some of the more valuable features webcasting services provide are:
\r\nOther valuable features include recording, analytics and reports, and administrator controls. In addition, some services also provide specialists who will help you plan and run the event.
\r\nSome of the more popular webcasting services include Webex, Onstream Media, Adobe Connect, Webinato, GoToWebinar, and GlobalMeet Webcast.
\n"},{"title":"Methodology","html":"\nTo determine the best conference call services, we started by looking at nearly 30 providers. We then separated vendors that had a good online reputation, such as those consistently ranked highly by other websites. We also visited each company's website. If a company stood out to us, we added it to the final list.
\r\nWe ultimately narrowed down our pool to Arkadin, AT Conference, ConferenceCalls.com, Conference Town, FreeConference, FreeConferenceCall.com, Free Conference Pro, Infinite Conferencing, InterCall, No Cost Conference, PGi, RingCentral, Totally Free Conference Calls, UberConference, Vast Conference, WebEx and Zip Conferencing.
\r\nNext, we thoroughly investigated each service, watching tutorials and how-to videos, testing out the service when possible, and reading user comments. After narrowing the list down even further, we contacted the customer support team of our finalists, posing as business owners to gauge the type of service each provider offers. In all, we analyzed each system based on the following factors:
\r\nConference call services give businesses the ability to host calls with multiple people, regardless of where they are located, at one time. While most modern business communication systems already include conferencing services, you can also sign up for a separate conference calling service in addition to your existing phone system. With these add-on services, you are typically provided a local or toll-free phone number you and attendees call to access the conference line. Each caller is then prompted for a host or participant access code. Depending on how you set up the service, participants are either placed immediately in the meeting room or put on hold until the meeting's host starts the call.
\r\nThere are two separate types of conference call services: reservationless and operator-assisted. Reservationless, as the name suggests, are calls that do not require previous scheduling and are most often used for everyday communication. Operator-assisted calls are generally used for more formal meetings, such as an investor call, and can support thousands of callers at a time, with a dedicated operator who helps run the call.
\r\nYes, Google Hangouts offers conference call services. To start a conference call in Google Hangouts, start a new conversation, then click New Group, and enter the names or phone numbers of the people you wish to add, then click Video Call or Message.
\r\nThe process of setting up a conference call will vary depending on the service you use and which type of call – reservationless or operator-assisted – you are making. The basic steps are to schedule the call, invite participants, and send the information participants will need to join the call, such as time, date, and link or phone number. You can read more about how to set up a conference call and read our tips for having a successful conference call.
\r\nA dial-in conference call allows multiple participants to be connected together seamlessly via a conference call bridge. Dial-in conferencing services are reservationless, meaning you do not need to schedule them ahead of time.
\r\nYes, some conference call providers offer 14- or 30-day free trials. There are also a number of strictly free services. With these, you might not have access to all the features and tools a paid service offers, but you will have the basic functionality to hold quality conference calls.
\r\nHowever, if you need a robust feature set, you should either look for a conference call service that offers a free trial or ask those that don't if they will let you test out the service for free for a week or two. Some companies might let you try the service if they know it will lead to a paid agreement in the future.
\r\nIt depends on the service provider. For example, if you are using a conference bridge that is built into your business phone system, you may be limited to hosting meetings with eight or 10 people. However, most dedicated conference call services let you host reservationless meetings with at least a few hundred people. The exact number may depend on the service plan you select. With operator-assisted calls, however, you can expect to be able to host conference calls with thousands of people at one time.
\n"}},{"__typename":"SectionContainer","id":"what-to-expect-in-2020","isInToc":true,"type":"container","title":"What to Expect in 2020","container":{"isBuyingGuide":false,"html":"\nAs was the case in 2019, we expect the integration of artificial intelligence into conference call services to continue in 2020. All types of call services, business phone systems, unified communications systems and conference call services, are finding ways to use to AI to make phone communication easier for users.
\r\nOne way AI is being employed is to \"listen in\" on calls, take notes and provide feedback on what is being said. These services are especially useful for conference call users.
\r\nA number of unified communications providers that offer conference calling services, such as RingCentral and 8x8, have already invested in AI. Both companies have either acquired or partnered with AI companies to better incorporate the technology into their platforms.
\r\nWe expect additional dedicated conference call services to join this trend in 2020. By not investing in this type of technology, conference call services will lose out to larger unified communications system providers that are now offering their own stand-alone conferencing services.
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Video calls can be made from both platforms.","serviceName":"Webex","pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10091","widget":{"id":"10091","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.webex.com/","name":""}},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5ed8086f5a215e60588b456b/cisco2_logo.png"}}]}],"tocElements":[{"title":"Best Picks","id":"top-of-page"},{"title":"Intro","id":"intro"},{"title":"Get a Quote ","id":"get-a-quote"},{"title":"Compare Our Best Picks","id":"compare-our-best-picks"},{"title":"Our Reviews","id":"our-reviews"},{"title":"Pricing","id":"pricing"},{"title":"Buying Guide","id":"types-of-conference-call-services"},{"title":"FAQs","id":"faqs"},{"title":"What to Expect in 2020","id":"what-to-expect-in-2020"},{"title":"Other Services Considered","id":"other-services-considered"}],"author":{"id":"5c659d6b9c658a1a1d8b4585","name":"Kiely Kuligowski","bio":"Kiely Kuligowski is a business.com and Business News Daily writer and has written more than 200 B2B-related articles on topics designed to help small businesses market and grow their companies. 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