Top 10 Online Group Meeting Platforms: A Comprehensive Overview

In the age of remote work, digital nomads, and global collaborations, the way we meet and communicate has transformed.

Remember the days when meetings meant stuffy boardrooms, long commutes, and jet lags? Fast forward to today, and we're just a click away from face-to-face interactions, thanks to online group meeting platforms.

But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one?

In this article, we'll explore the top online meeting platforms, their unique features, and how to make the most of them for your needs.

Why online meeting platforms are essential

It's hard to imagine a time when we weren't hopping onto virtual meetings at the drop of a hat. The shift to online collaboration wasn't just a fleeting trend; it's become a staple in how we work and connect.

Here's why these platforms have earned their spot on our desktops and in our routines:

No more miles between us: Gone are the days when team members being in different cities or countries meant delayed projects. Online meeting platforms have made it feel like we're all working from the same room, even if oceans apart. And when there's a need to rally a big group? There are platforms ready to handle that with ease.

‍Clearer chats, better outcomes: We've all been in those meetings where messages get lost in translation. But with the tools these platforms offer, from video calls to screen sharing, our conversations have become clearer. It's less about nodding along and more about truly understanding and collaborating.

‍Kind to our wallets: Organizing physical meetings can be a drain, both logistically and financially. Think of the travel, venue costs, and those last-minute arrangements. Switching to online? It's not just convenient; it's cost-effective. And with so many platforms vying for our attention, many offer competitive pricing that's hard to resist.

Features to look for in an online meeting platform

Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of online meeting platforms out there? You're not alone.

With remote work and virtual gatherings becoming the norm, it's essential to find a platform that ticks all the right boxes.

Here's a simple guide to help you out:

• Clear video and audio: First things first, you want to see and hear everyone clearly. There's nothing more frustrating than choppy audio or pixelated video. So, quality matters. A lot.
• Screen sharing: Whether you're showing off your latest presentation or just sharing a funny meme, being able to share your screen is a game-changer. It's all about making sure everyone's on the same page - literally.
• Interactive tools: Meetings shouldn't be a one-way street. Features like hand raising, Q&A channels, and even live translations can make your sessions more engaging and inclusive. Especially when you're dealing with larger groups, these little tools can make a big difference.
• Safety first: With all the news about online security breaches, you want to ensure your meetings are private and secure. Look for platforms that take security seriously, offering things like encryption and password options.
  

Remember, the best platform for you depends on your needs. Whether you're hosting team huddles or larger gatherings, there's something out there that's just right.

So, take a deep breath, consider these features, and let’s dive into the world of online meeting platforms together.

Top 10 online meeting platforms to consider

1. Profi

Best for: Coaches and organizations seeking a robust online meeting platform with integrated coaching tools.

‍Profi stands out as an online meeting platform tailored not just for communication but for meaningful coaching interactions. Whether you're a solo coach or part of a larger organization, Profi ensures that your online meetings are efficient, engaging, and effective.

Features:

• Integrated video conferencing: Host seamless 1:1 or group meetings with high-quality video and audio. Enhance the experience with in-session messaging, note-taking, screen sharing, and recording capabilities.
• Scheduling & calendar: Simplify meeting bookings with an intuitive calendar system. Sync with Google & Outlook to prevent double bookings and share a branded link for easy client access.
• Interactive programs: Beyond standard meetings, create and deliver coaching courses and programs. Incorporate quizzes or interactive sessions to boost engagement.
• Secure messaging: Communicate with clients or team members before and after meetings. Keep all your conversations in one place, ensuring continuity and clarity.
• Client portal: Offer clients a dedicated space to access meeting links, schedules, and resources. This branded portal ensures a professional experience from start to finish.
• Payments & billing: If your meetings come with a fee, Profi's integrated payment system makes transactions smooth. Offer flexible payment options, from one-time to subscription models.
• Forms & feedback: Collect vital information or feedback post-meeting with customizable forms. This can be especially useful for follow-up sessions or continuous improvement.
• Reporting & insights: Understand your meeting trends, attendance, and more with detailed reports. Make data-driven decisions to enhance your online meeting experiences.

2. Zoom

Best for: Seamless video conferencing and collaboration for businesses of all sizes.

Zoom is a leading online meeting platform known for its reliability and ease of use. It offers a comprehensive suite of communication tools, from video conferencing to team chats, making it a go-to solution for businesses worldwide.

Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, Zoom provides a unified platform to connect, collaborate, and get work done efficiently.

Features:

• Virtual meetings: Offers face-to-face video interactions, screen sharing, chat, captioning, and more. Ensures inclusive video conferencing that makes everyone feel part of the conversation.
• Team chat: Allows for conversations and collaboration outside of virtual meetings. Features include direct or group messages, file sharing, video messages, and fun interactions with emojis and gifs.
• Online whiteboard: A platform for teams to brainstorm, plan, and learn. It offers a persistent, virtual whiteboard interface with tools like sticky notes, drawing tools, and comments.
• VoIP phone system: An effective cloud phone system with traditional PBX features. It offers intelligent call routing, IVRs, call recording, shared lines, and more.
• Email & scheduler: Integrates all your important communications and scheduling tools, whether you're using Microsoft 365, Google, or Zoom Mail and Calendar Service.
• Webinars & sessions: Broadcast your message to a large audience with an interactive interface. Offers advanced branding, registration pages, and robust analytics.

3. Switchboard

Best for: Remote and hybrid teams seeking a unified workspace for collaborative projects and meetings.

Switchboard is a cutting-edge collaboration platform designed for remote and hybrid teams. It goes beyond traditional video conferencing, offering a shared workspace where teams can organize apps, documents, and tools in one place.

With Switchboard, teams can work together in real-time, reducing the need for endless discussions and increasing productivity.

Features:

• Unified workspaces: Rooms for recurring meetings and projects, ensuring all relevant links and documents are easily accessible.
• Integrated apps & docs: Organize all the apps and documents you use in one place. Team members can add apps, websites, files, images, and videos to each room for side-by-side viewing.
• Interactive shared browsers: Co-browse the web and apps together in real-time. Everyone can scroll, type, click, and interact without the need for traditional screen-sharing.
• Meeting memory: Anything added to the Switchboard Canvas remains in the room, ensuring continuity between sessions and reducing prep time.
• Comprehensive communication tools: Every room is equipped with video, audio, and chat features, ensuring seamless communication during collaborations.
• No integration hassles: All web-based apps work in Switchboard without the need for additional integrations. Plus, you can add images, videos, PDFs, and even links to non-web documents.
• Safety & security: Switchboard prioritizes security with modern, secure, hosted cloud infrastructure. The platform is SOC 2 compliant and stores minimal data.

4. Skype

Best for: Individuals and businesses seeking reliable audio and video communication with a range of collaboration tools.

Skype is a pioneer in the realm of online communication, offering both individuals and businesses a platform to connect through high-quality audio and video calls. With its user-friendly interface and a plethora of features, Skype ensures that users can communicate seamlessly, whether it's a casual chat with friends or a formal business meeting.

Features:

• Audio and HD video calling: Experience crystal clear audio and high-definition video in one-on-one or group calls. Enhanced with call reactions for a more interactive experience.
• Smart messaging: Instantly react to messages with fun reactions or use @mentions to grab someone's attention. Share photos, videos, and other files up to 300 MB.
• Screen sharing: Share presentations, photos, or anything on your screen during a call, making collaborations more effective.
• Call recording and live subtitles: Record Skype calls to capture important moments and use live subtitles to read spoken words during calls.
• Call phones: Reach friends who aren't online with affordable international calling rates to mobiles and landlines.
• Private conversations: Keep sensitive conversations secure with industry-standard end-to-end encryption.
• Skype translator: Break language barriers with real-time translation of voice calls, video calls, and instant messages.
• Raise hand feature: Allows participants to signal when they wish to speak, ensuring a more organized and inclusive meeting environment.
• Caller ID: Display your mobile number or Skype Number when calling mobiles and landlines from Skype, ensuring recipients know who's calling.

5. Microsoft Teams

Best for: Businesses and organizations seeking a unified communication platform for seamless collaboration and online meetings.

Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive communication and collaboration platform that brings together chat, video conferencing, and file collaboration. It's designed to enhance productivity by offering a unified workspace where teams can chat, meet, and collaborate in real-time, whether they're in the office or working remotely.

Features:

• Video conferencing: Engage in high-quality video meetings, with options to share your screen, change or blur your background, and use together mode for a more immersive experience.
• Virtual events: Host secure web conferences and webinars for large audiences, with capabilities to broadcast to thousands of attendees.
• Audio conferencing: Join meetings using a mobile device, a dial-in number, or directly through the Teams app.
• Chat: Engage in one-on-one or group chats, share files, photos, and GIFs, and keep a record of the chat for future reference.
• Screen sharing: Share your screen with participants to enhance discussions and presentations.
• Recording: Capture audio, video, and shared content during team meetings, making it accessible for those who couldn't attend or for future reference.
• Microsoft whiteboard integration: Drive effective creative meetings with visual ideas and collaborative annotations.
• Virtual backgrounds: Opt for fun or professional virtual backgrounds or blur your background for added privacy during video calls.
• Hand-raising feature: Allows participants to signal when they wish to speak, ensuring organized and inclusive discussions.

6. Google Chat

Google Chat is a dynamic messaging platform that offers more than just text-based communication. With the integration of Duet AI, Google Chat has transformed into a real-time collaboration partner, providing updates, insights, and proactive suggestions across Google Workspace apps. It's designed to cater to the evolving needs of modern teams, ensuring efficient communication and collaboration.

Features:

• Duet AI integration: Enhance your chat experience with AI-powered updates, insights, and proactive suggestions across Google Workspace apps.
• Unified workspaces: Streamlined user experience with an updated color palette, typography, and visual styling based on Google’s Material 3 design language.
• Smart messaging: Engage in chats with real-time collaboration features, including the ability to search across messages and files in Gmail and Drive, summarize documents, and recap missed conversations.
• Intelligent home view: Prioritize your messages based on your communication patterns, ensuring you stay on top of important conversations.
• Smart canvas integration: Use smart chips for quick file sharing and in-line threading for relevant conversation threads within shortcuts.
• Enhanced search: Redesigned search results page with suggested queries, autocomplete, and AI-based relevance ranking.
• Huddles: A new way for teams to communicate in real-time using quick-to-join audio and video conversations, integrating meetings directly into the Chat experience.

7. Dialpad Meetings

Best for: Hybrid teams looking for AI-enhanced video conferencing and collaboration tools.

Dialpad Meetings offers a new way to connect teams around the world with one-click video conferencing enhanced by live AI transcriptions. Designed for hybrid work environments, it ensures that meetings are not just about communication but also about productivity, with AI-powered features that capture the essence of every discussion.

Features:

• One-click meetings: Initiate meetings straight from your browser or the app without the need for downloads or PINs.
• AI-powered productivity: Enhance meetings with AI tools like live transcription and call summaries, ensuring that every word is captured.
• Unlimited collaboration: Share screens, brainstorm with a whiteboard, and collaborate on files in real-time.
• Host large meetings: Increase your participant limit to 1,000, complete with advanced moderator tools.
• Brilliant HD video: Experience high-quality video that makes virtual meetings feel as good as in-person ones.
• Crisp, clear audio: Benefit from background noise reduction to ensure every participant is heard clearly.
• Content sharing: Share your screen while streaming video, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
• Call summaries: Receive an automatic email recap with transcripts, recordings, and action items post-meeting.
• Emoji reactions & in-meeting chat: Engage participants with quick reactions and share links or comments without interrupting the ongoing discussion.
• Always-on video: Use the picture-in-picture mode to work on other apps or documents while still viewing the video feed.
• Recordings and transcripts: Access a complete history of your past meetings, including recordings and chat transcripts.

8. TrueConf Online

Best for: Organizations seeking secure, high-quality video communication without the need for dedicated server installations.

TrueConf Online is a cloud-based video conferencing solution that brings the robust features of TrueConf Server to users without the necessity of server installations. It's designed for seamless video communication over the internet, ensuring that users can engage in high-quality video conferences with ease and security.

Features:

• Cloud-based solution: Experience the majority of TrueConf Server features without the need for a dedicated video conferencing server.
• High-quality video communication: Engage in clear and crisp video conferences, ensuring effective communication over the internet.
• Easy access: All you need is a webcam, a microphone or headset, and internet access to start using TrueConf Online.
• Interoperability: Compatible with a range of devices and platforms, ensuring that users can connect from anywhere.
• Secure communication: Benefit from TrueConf's years of experience in ensuring secure video conferencing, protecting your data and conversations.
• Integrated collaboration tools: Enhance your meetings with a range of collaboration tools, ensuring productive discussions and interactions.
• Flexible solutions: Whether you're a small team or a large organization, TrueConf Online scales to meet your needs.

9. FreeConference

Best for: Businesses and individuals seeking a no-cost, feature-rich conference calling solution.

FreeConference offers a comprehensive conference calling service without any associated fees or limitations. Whether it's for business discussions or catching up with family and friends, FreeConference ensures high-quality audio and video conferencing, making it a preferred choice for many.

Features:

• No fees or limitations: Host or join a free conference call with up to 100 participants without any hidden charges.
• HD quality conferencing: Experience clear audio and video quality during your conference calls.
• Easy scheduling: Schedule your calls in advance and send out invitations and reminders for seamless coordination.
• Online meeting rooms: Create free online meeting rooms equipped with video and audio conferencing, screen and document sharing, and an online whiteboard.
• Screen sharing: Share your screen directly from your web browser for more engaging presentations and collaborations.
• Conference call recording: Easily record your conference calls and access them later for reference or sharing.
• Smart meeting summaries: Get a concise, searchable record of your post-meeting details.
• Secure and private: Benefit from encryption via WebRTC and ensure your data remains private and secure.
• Use any device: Access FreeConference from any device, be it a phone or a web browser, without the need for any software or plugins.
• Dedicated dial-in number: Get a personal dial-in number for on-demand conferencing.

10. BlueJeans

Best for: Organizations and teams seeking high-fidelity audio and video conferencing with advanced collaboration tools.

BlueJeans offers a premium video conferencing experience, ensuring maximum productivity from anywhere. With the backing of Verizon's robust 5G network, BlueJeans delivers exceptional quality and performance, whether you're working from home, in the office, or on the move. The platform is designed to foster engagement and participation, making every meeting more productive and interactive.

Features:

• High-quality video conferencing: Experience clear audio and video with features like Dolby Voice spatial audio and computer vision.
• AI-powered collaboration: Boost productivity with Smart Meetings and immerse yourself in content for a more engaging experience.
• Unified experience: Host meetings with up to 1,000 attendees, use dynamic polls for feedback, and utilize the Collab Board for brainstorming sessions.
• Content sharing: Drive collaboration with HD screen sharing, video streaming, and digital annotation.
• Calendar sync: Integrate with Google or Microsoft calendars for easy meeting scheduling and joining.
• Meeting chat: Engage in group or personal chats during meetings and even share files.
• Recordings: Record meetings with unlimited cloud storage, easy sharing options, and call trimming features.
• Virtual backgrounds: Customize your video background or use the weatherperson mode to present in front of any content.
• Browser meetings: Offer attendees the option to join meetings directly from their browsers when downloads are restricted.

Tips for hosting effective online meetings

Navigating the world of online group meeting platforms can be a bit daunting, but with the right approach, you can make every virtual gathering feel just as impactful as in-person ones.

Here's a blend of tried-and-true advice and some modern tips to ensure your online meetings shine:

• Choose the right platform: Depending on your team's size and needs, pick from the best online group meeting platforms. It's all about finding the right fit for your group.
• Tech check: A few minutes before the meeting, test your equipment. It's a small step that can prevent those awkward "Can you hear me?" moments.
• Set a clear agenda: A roadmap of what's to be discussed can help everyone come prepared and keep the conversation on track.
• Engage everyone: Use interactive features, encourage questions, and make space for everyone's voice. It's about making the virtual space feel inclusive.
• Address common challenges: From distractions to tech glitches, be ready with solutions. For instance, having a backup meeting link can be a lifesaver.
• Wrap up thoughtfully: After the meeting, send out key takeaways or minutes. It's a courteous way to ensure everyone's aligned.
• Feedback is gold: Every now and then, ask your team for input on the meetings. It's a proactive way to keep improving.
  

By keeping these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to hosting online meetings that are both effective and enjoyable for everyone.

Conclusion: The Importance of Choosing the Right Online Meeting Tool

In today's interconnected world, the value of online group meeting platforms is clear. They're essential for collaboration, bridging geographical gaps, and ensuring efficient communication. With so many options available, finding the right online meeting platform for large groups can be a challenge.

That's where Profi comes in. It offers a balanced mix of functionality and user-friendliness, making it a standout choice among the best online group meeting platforms.

Ready to explore Profi? Book a demo to see its full capabilities or if you're a solo user, try it for free.