The Best Conference Call Software for Small Businesses (Free and Paid)

Depending on the phone system you have for your business, you might not need separate conference call software. Most phone systems designed for businesses have some sort of built-in conferencing option. However, the features available to you depend on your specific system and plan. If you have a phone plan through Grasshopper,  RingCentral, or a similar service, you likely have everything you need to make basic conference calls already.  

However, the popularity of and need for video conference calls skyrocketed in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. To make a video call, you may have to upgrade through your phone system — if it’s available — or select conference call software that meets your needs.

Paid Conference Call Software with Video Conferencing

In some cases, paid conference call software will be the best fit for your small business. This is true if you have extended video calls for collaboration, require many participants on the same call, or need certain other features such as call recording or screen sharing. Most have a relatively small monthly fee, often under $20.  

Some of the top paid conference calling options include:  

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a paid service with a 14-day free trial. This service is one of the most streamlined options, offering only the most in-demand features and focusing on audio and video quality. It is a good option for managing teams working remotely, regardless of the size of the team. It also provides call recording and automatic transcriptions, integrating with Slack and other technology.    

Cisco Webex Meetings

Cisco Webex Meetings offers a free version for up to 50 participants per call with a 40-minute limit on calls. With their paid service, you get additional features, no time limits, and additional participants. Webex is a popular platform that is reliable and provides features ranging from call-in audio for video calls to custom branding.

Zoom

Zoom is one of the most well-known of the video conferencing options in 2021. It is a cloud-based system that offers a free version as well as Zoom Pro, Zoom Business, or Zoom Enterprise. The free version provides video calls for up to 100 participants and 40 minutes per call.  

The paid versions increase the time limit to 24 hours and raise the number of participants and the number of hosts allowed. Zoom is a good option for presenting video presentations and slideshows to team members, potential clients, and others.  

Vast Conference

Vast Conference provides unlimited conference calls and other call services, such as operator assisted calls, international conference calls, webinar events, and webcasting for live streams. Set plans range from $11.99 to 31.99 per month or you can contact them for a quote. Vast Conference also offers a 14-day free trial to test out each plan before purchasing.  

Callbridge

Callbridge by Iotum is a Canadian-based conference call service, though its product can be used anywhere in the world. This software adds security to video conference calls as well as customized branding to allow businesses to make their video calls more in line with their image. Another great feature is that Callbridge uses Cue™ to automatically produce transcripts for each call, including speaker tags and time stamps. Cue™ also allows users to catalog their videos, assigning relevant tags to each file for easy search later, and stores media files into a cloud storage.  

Callbridge offers a 14-day free trial for users to test out their program, but plans begin at $9.99 a month per host account (up to 10 hosts). You can also email them for annual pricing options if desired.  

BlueJeans

BlueJeans offers cloud-based meetings and interactive options to improve the effectiveness of meetings. This software also uses artificial intelligence to produce transcripts for meetings, include interactive options (e.g., screen sharing and recording), and provide analytics on team productivity.  

BlueJeans offers plans for meetings, with prices starting at $9.99 per host per month. However, if you are interested in hosting regular webinars or hosting conference rooms, there are plan options for those features as well.

ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting is a multipurpose conference call service. Users can host meetings, stream live webinars, give presentations, and host online events. Users will also have access to cloud storage, whiteboard functions, and can include branding on their videos (e.g., call-to-action links and event landing pages).  

You can try out ClickMeeting for free in a 30-day trial. Plans start at $25 per month (billed annually), but you can also get a quote for your business after contacting them.  

Small Business Video Conference Calling for Free

There are some free paid conference call software options that may work for your team. Most of the paid options have a free version with fewer features, or there are some free programs with a limited menu of features that may meet your needs.

Two of the most popular options for free conferencing include:

Uber Conference

Uber Conference includes high-quality video and audio calls. It also has a mobile app that allows participants and hosts to call in and use features on the go. The free version supports small groups and limits calls to 45 minutes each. However, you can upgrade to make an unlimited number of calls and gain additional features, such as call recording and screen sharing.  

Google Meet

Google Meet is Google’s video conferencing option and is free to anyone with a Gmail account. It integrates with the full suite of Google services, including Calendar. It can host up to 100 people per 60-minute call. There are paid options if you would like additional features.

VoIP Services with Conference Calling

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allows people to make phone calls without a landline, as this system converts analog technology into internet data. This allows people to have conversations over the internet, which can be a convenient alternative that businesses can use to handle their calls.  

Below are some VoIP services that offer conference calling.

Dialpad

Dialpad is a video conferencing software that lets users host conference meetings from anywhere. Conference rooms have easy functions, much like a browser, and can be synced with calendar tools from other apps. Dialpad also uses Voice Intelligence to transcribe conversations and present analytics for businesses to use to enhance their productivity or strategies.  

For video conferencing, Dialpad offers a free plan, which allows unlimited video conferencing (45 minutes per call) and call recordings for up to 10 participants. However, if your business requires more participants, there is a business plan for $15 a month.

Nextiva

Nextiva is a safe VoIP option that allows conference calls for up to 200 participants. Nextiva’s security for its conference calls allows it to be HIPAA and SOC-2 compliant, which means any party with confidential and important information can safely use Nextiva to communicate.  

Plans start at $18.95 per user per month. Other features offered by Nextiva include unlimited internet fac, 24/7 customer support, and voicemail to email notifications.  

Phone.com

Phone.com is another great VoIP business communication tool. Users can register with Phone.com using their phone number or they can create a new one with this tool. Each user is able to engage in video meetings, which increase in security as you upgrade. Other tools like moderator controls, screen and document sharing, and audio and video recording are also available.  

Plans start at $12.99 per user per month and can also be billed on an annual basis.

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting by LogMeIn is another video conferencing tool that enables VoIP users to host meetings from anywhere. VoIP users can use GoToMeeting using their mobile device and OpenVoice allows them to host meetings with up to 500 people. Other features include unlimited minutes for conference calls, note taking features, and smart assistant technology.  

Plans start at $12 per host per month and is billed annually. Businesses can also call to receive a quote.

Let Our Team Help You Build a Plan that Supports Your Goals

At Smith.ai, our team believes that small business owners need to delegate, automate, and work with smart technology. This allows them to relieve themselves of some of the tasks that take over their calendar and prevent them from focusing on operations, growth, and other key tasks.  

Our virtual services can convene your conference calls so you don’t have to organize it and waste your time trying to get a hold of everyone. We also provide other helpful call services so you can spend time running your business.

Our services and solutions can help with inbound and outbound calls, responses to emails, chats, and social media messages, and even managing your calendar. Our team handles appointment scheduling, including putting conference calls, callbacks, and meetings on your own calendar. We can set up appointments with clients, potential customers, or even team members.  

Our services also integrate with your phone system, including most of the leading systems and conferencing software. We may also be able to help you set up conferencing software, schedule your conference calls, and contact participants to get the call on everyone’s calendar.  

At Smith.ai, our team is available 24/7 by calling, texting, chatting, or emailing. We offer multiple ways to get in touch with us because we know every business operates differently, and we want to provide you with the easiest way to connect based on your needs.  

If you prefer calling or texting, our team is standing by at (650) 727-6484. Or, you can send an email to hello@smith.ai. You can reach a real person about your needs within minutes.  

Our website provides upfront, transparent pricing for our plans for small businesses or larger corporations. If none of these fits your needs, or if you are interested in other services, we also provide free, 30-minute consultations. We can explain all the services and solutions we offer and help you create a plan that best fits your company’s needs.