Comparison of web conferencing software

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This list is a comparison of web conferencing software available for Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms. Many of the applications support the use of videoconferencing.

Comparison chart

Program License Capacity
Linux

Linux

macOS

Mac OS X

Microsoft Windows
Audio Support

Audio Support

Video Support
Video Quality
Chat Support
Desktop Sharing
Support
Whiteboard
Upload PPT
Upload PDF
Upload Doc/DocX
Co-browsing
Mobile Device
Support
Break-Out rooms
Security Access
Encrypted
communication
Host meeting
from Mobile
Attend meeting
from Mobile
Cloud Based
Recording
capabilities
VoIP
Embeddable
Dial in
Adobe Connect Proprietary 1–1,500
(80,000 w/webcast)
Partial Yes Yes Yes[note 1] Yes 1080p, 360°[1][failed verification] Yes Yes[note 2] Yes Yes Yes No Yes[note 3] ✓ iPhone, iPad, and Android[2] Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS, Android and RIM Yes Yes Yes No[3] Yes
alfaview Proprietary 1–500 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HQ Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes One-time download No Yes Yes No
AT&T Connect Proprietary 1–1,500 Yes[note 4] Yes Yes Yes Yes HQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS, Android, RIM and Windows Phone Yes Yes ? ? ?
AnyMeeting Proprietary 1–200 No[4] Yes Yes Yes Yes HQ Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No ✓ iPad and Android Tablets[5] No Yes Yes No iOS and Android Tablets Yes Yes ? ? ?
BigBlueButton LGPL, GPL 1–150+[6][self-published source] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cisco WebEx Proprietary 1–3,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ✓ 256-bit AES,PKI,End-to-end (Transport layer: 128-bit

SSLv3)

✓ iOS devices, Android, and BlackBerry Yes Yes ✓ Computer-based and server-based Yes ? Yes
Conference XP Apache License 2.0 ? No No Yes Yes Yes Full HD Yes ? Yes ? ? ? Yes ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Yes ? ? ?
Discord Proprietary 50 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HD, 1080p Yes Yes ? Yes Yes Yes ? Yes ? ? ? Yes Yes ? ? Yes ? ?
LogMeIn GotoMeeting Proprietary 1–1,000 Yes[note 5] Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HD Yes Yes Whiteboard Anywhere No[note 6] No[note 7] No[note 8] Yes[note 9] Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[note 10] Yes ? ? Yes
Facebook Messenger Rooms Proprietary 1–50
Fuze Meeting Proprietary 1–1,000 Partial[7] Yes ✓ (Vista, 7 & 8) Yes Yes HD, QVGA Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ✓ Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablet No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
Genesys Meeting Center Proprietary 125+ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA Yes Yes ? Yes No ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes Yes Yes ? ? ?
Google Meet Proprietary 100–1000 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? ? Yes
HCL Sametime Proprietary ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD (H.264) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? ? ?
iMeet Proprietary Up to 125 Partial[8] Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? ? ?
InterCall Unified Meeting (IUM) Proprietary 125+ Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA Yes Yes ? Yes No ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? ? Yes
Jami GNU General Public License 1–8[9] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD (H.264), HEVC (H.265) Yes Yes ? ? ? ? ? ✓ iOS and Android ? Yes Yes Yes iOS and Android ? Yes ? ? ?
Jitsi Meet Apache License 1-1000+[10] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD (H.264) Yes Yes Yes[11] No No No Yes ✓ iOS and Android Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS and Android Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [12]
Lifesize Proprietary 1–300
(10,000 webinar)
No[13] Yes Yes Yes Yes HQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Microsoft Live Meeting (discontinued) Proprietary ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Partial Yes ? ? ?
Microsoft Teams Proprietary 10?, 250–10,000
(250–10,000 paid)
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD Yes Yes Yes[14] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes ? iOS, Android, WebRTC Partial ✓ (Paid) ? ? ✓ (paid; add-on)
Mikogo Proprietary 1–25 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes ? ? ? ? Yes ? Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes ? ? ?
Netviewer Proprietary 1–100 No No Yes Yes Yes VGA Yes Yes ? ? ? ? ? No ? Yes No ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
omNovia Web Conference Proprietary 2–5,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? No No ? Yes Yes Yes ? ? ?
OpenMeetings Apache License 1–125 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? ? No Yes ? ? ? Yes[15] ? ? ?
PowWow365 Proprietary 1–500 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS (iPhone, iPad) Yes Yes ? ? ?
Skype Proprietary 1 to 50 Partial[note 11] Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes ? Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes ? ? ?
Skype for Business (discontinued) Proprietary 1 to 1,000
(10,000 webinar[citation needed])
No Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial Yes Yes ? Yes
StarLeaf Proprietary 1–300
(Unlimited streaming audience)
Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
TeamViewer Proprietary 1–25 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA Yes Yes ? Yes[note 12] Yes[note 12] ? Yes Yes No Yes Yes ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
TrueConf Proprietary 1–1,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Ultra HD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS, Android, WebRTC iOS, Android, WebRTC Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[16]
VenueGen Proprietary 1–500 No No Yes Yes[note 1] Yes VGA Yes Yes[note 2] ? Yes Yes ? Yes[note 3] No No No No ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
VideoMost Proprietary 1–250
(+1,500 video broadcast)
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HD, Full HD, Ultra HD (4K) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ✓ iPad, Android Phones & Tablets Yes Yes Yes Yes iPad, Android Phones & Tablets Yes Yes Yes API VideoMost ?
WizIQ Proprietary Up to 1,999 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes VGA, HQ, HD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes API Web Services Archived 2020-04-13 at the Wayback Machine ?
Yuuguu Proprietary 1–30 Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes ? No No ? No No Yes ? Yes No Yes ? ? ? ? ?
Zoho Proprietary 1–250 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Zoom Proprietary 50–500
(10,000 webinar)
Partial[note 11] Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[17] Yes Yes One-time download Yes Yes ? Yes
Program License Capacity
Linux

Linux

macOS

Mac OS X

Microsoft Windows
Audio Support

Audio Support

Video Support
Video Quality
Chat Support
Desktop Sharing
Support
Whiteboard
Upload PPT
Upload PDF
Upload Doc/DocX
Co-browsing
Mobile Device
Support
Break-Out rooms
Security Access
Encrypted
communication
Host meeting
from Mobile
Attend meeting
from Mobile
Cloud Based
Recording
capabilities
VoIP
Embeddable
Dial in

Terminology

In the table above, the following terminology is intended to be used to describe some important features:

  • Audio Support: the remote control software transfers audio signals across the network and plays the audio through the speakers attached to the local computer. For example, music playback software normally sends audio signals to the locally attached speakers, via some sound controller hardware. If the remote control software package supports audio transfer, the playback software can run on the remote computer, while the music can be heard from the local computer, as though the software were running locally.
  • Co-Browsing: the navigation of the Web by several people accessing the same web pages at the same time. When session leader clicks on a link, all other users are transferred to the new page. Co-browsers should support multiple frames and support embedded multimedia (e.g., if a page contains a video player, the session leader may commence synchronized playback for all users. Passing URLs via other tools such as a chat or phone and entering them into browser by each user is not considered co-browsing.
  • File Transfer: the software allows the user to transfer files between the local and remote computers, from within the client program's user interface.
  • Unified Communications (UC) is a marketing buzzword describing the integration of real-time, enterprise, communication services such as instant messaging (chat), presence information, voice (including IP telephony), mobility features (including extension mobility and single number reach), audio, web & video conferencing, fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), desktop sharing, data sharing (including web connected electronic interactive whiteboards), call control and speech recognition with non-real-time communication services such as unified messaging (integrated voicemail, e-mail, SMS and fax). UC is not necessarily a single product, but a set of products that provides a consistent unified user-interface and user-experience across multiple devices and media-types.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Supports two-way teleconference integration
  2. ^ a b Linux users may only view another user's desktop
  3. ^ a b Yes, but only via a screen-sharing "pod" with control permissions granted
  4. ^ Web based client without the ability to share
  5. ^ Requires HTML5 enabled browsers
  6. ^ Not secure for general meetings, this feature is only available in GoToTraining
  7. ^ Not secure for general meetings, this feature is only available in GoToTraining
  8. ^ Not secure for general meetings, this feature is only available in GoToTraining
  9. ^ Mouse and Keyboard control can be shared with multiple users.
  10. ^ New HTML5-enabled browsers will be able to join without downloads, with reduced features.
  11. ^ a b Requires installation of closed-source software.
  12. ^ a b Any upload possible

References

  1. ^ Adobe (2012-01-11). "Podium HD Pod". Adobe. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  2. ^ Adobe. "Adobe Connect Mobile". Adobe. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  3. ^ Designed for VOIP; requires additional service to support phone. See URL https://helpx.adobe.com/adobe-connect/kb/audio-choices-connect.html
  4. ^ AnyMeeting (2013-11-22). "Presenter - Frequently Asked Questions". AnyMeeting. Archived from the original on 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  5. ^ chrisb (23 April 2013). "AnyMeeting Rolls Out New Mobile Apps for iPad and Android". AnyMeeting. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  6. ^ Dixon, Fred. "FAQ". BigBlueButton. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  7. ^ How do I get the Fuze Linux App? : Fuze Support Archived 2011-08-23 at the Wayback Machine. Support.fuzemeeting.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-27.
  8. ^ Can iMeet run on Linux? | iMeet Community Archived 2016-03-22 at the Wayback Machine. Community.imeet.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-27.
  9. ^ Amin, Bandali (23 February 2023). "jami-20230206.0 (Világfa) released [stable]". GNU Operating System. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Jitsi Videobridge Performance Evaluation | Performance Testing".
  11. ^ "Introducing whiteboards in Jitsi Meet". December 2022.
  12. ^ "Jitsi offers a telephony interface that allows users to dial into a conference or for placing dial-out reminder calls. You can try this for free on meet.jit.si. Self-installed Jitsi Meet deployments will need to set up and configure Jigasi with a SIP provider to connect to the phone network." jitsi.org. "JitsiMeet". jitsi.org. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Video Conferencing Apps for Desktop, Mobile and Browsers".
  14. ^ "Manage the Whiteboard in Microsoft Teams"
  15. ^ User's Manual, page 18
  16. ^ "How to join conferences and call TrueConf users from a regular phone"
  17. ^ "It's Here! 5 Things to Know About Zoom 5.0". 27 April 2020.
  18. ^ Pleasant, Blair (2008-07-28). "What UC is and isn't". SearchUnifiedCommunications.com. Retrieved 2013-07-26. UC is not a single product but rather a solution made up of a variety of communication tools and components. [...] UC is a comprehensive solution that ties several components together with user experience.