Best Online Meeting Platforms in 2026: 8 Platforms Compared

Zoom remains the default meeting platform for most teams, because almost everyone knows how to join a Zoom call and it works reliably across devices. Features include breakout rooms, polls, whiteboard, recording, captions and webinar options on paid plans. The free plan allows one to one meetings without a time limit and group meetings up to 40 minutes.

Security settings need attention, since meeting links can be shared widely if waiting rooms and passwords are not enabled. For most businesses, schools and community groups, Zoom's familiarity outweighs its limits, and paid plans remove the time cap and add admin controls.

Microsoft Teams suits organisations already using Microsoft 365, Outlook, OneDrive and SharePoint, since meetings, chat, files and calendars live in one app. That integration reduces switching between tools and makes scheduling from Outlook straightforward. Admin controls, compliance tools and security features are strong, which matters for regulated industries.

The interface can feel busy for casual users, and guests without a Microsoft account may find joining less smooth than Zoom. A free version exists with chat and meetings, while full features need a Microsoft 365 subscription. If your organisation already pays for Microsoft 365, Teams is the obvious meeting choice.

Google Meet is the simplest meeting platform for Google Workspace users, since it runs in the browser and integrates with Gmail and Google Calendar. Guests can join from a link without installing software, and live captions, noise cancellation and recording on paid plans work well. The free plan allows meetings up to 60 minutes with up to 100 participants.

Webinar and large event features are thinner than Zoom's, so large public events may need another tool. For schools, small businesses and teams already on Google Workspace, Meet is a clean, reliable choice that needs almost no training.

Webex, from Cisco, is built for large, formal meetings where security and admin control matter. It offers end to end encryption options, detailed admin controls, breakout sessions, polling and webinar tools, with a reputation for reliable audio in large calls. Many enterprises, governments and healthcare organisations use Webex for that reason.

The interface feels more formal than Zoom or Meet, and new users may need a short orientation. A free plan exists with basic meetings, while paid plans add larger capacity and advanced features. If security and scale are your priorities, Webex is a strong contender.

GoTo Meeting focuses on simple, reliable business meetings without the extra collaboration layers of Teams. Hosts can start a meeting quickly, share screens, record and use drawing tools, while guests join from a link. That simplicity suits small businesses that want a dependable meeting tool without learning a full collaboration suite.

There is no permanent free plan, only a trial, so GoTo Meeting is a paid choice. Collaboration features like persistent chat and file workspaces are thinner than Teams, so teams that need those tools should look elsewhere, but for straightforward meetings, GoTo Meeting is dependable.

Skype remains useful for small, casual calls, especially for personal use and international calls to phones. Skype to Skype video and voice calls are free, and the app is familiar to many long term users. It also offers low cost calls to landlines and mobiles in many countries, which is handy for personal contacts abroad.

For business meetings, Skype has fallen behind Zoom and Teams, since Microsoft's focus shifted to Teams and Skype's business features are thinner. Use Skype for personal calls and small group chats, but choose Zoom, Meet or Teams for regular business meetings.

Whereby offers browser based meeting rooms with simple links that guests can open without downloading an app. That ease of joining suits small teams, coaches, clinics and websites that embed meetings directly into a page. Rooms are persistent, so the same link works for recurring meetings, and the interface is clean and uncluttered.

Participant limits are lower than Zoom or Meet on free and entry plans, and large webinar features are limited. For small meetings where ease of joining matters most, Whereby is an excellent choice, but large organisations should choose a platform built for scale.

Jitsi Meet is a free, open source meeting platform that needs no account to start or join a meeting. You can use the public service at meet.jit.si, or self host Jitsi on your own server for full control over privacy and data. That openness appeals to privacy conscious users, schools and nonprofits with no budget for meeting software.

Performance on the public service can vary with load, and admin controls are thinner than enterprise platforms. Support is community based rather than a paid helpdesk, so organisations that need guaranteed uptime and support should choose a commercial platform, but for free, private meetings, Jitsi Meet is hard to beat.