Unbiased picks • Remote teams • Updated for 2026
Best Video Conferencing Software (2026)
This guide compares the best video conferencing software in 2026 for remote teams, client calls, and internal meetings. It’s money-focused: pick the tool that fits your workflow, not a feature checklist.
Want the fastest answer? Start with the comparison table below.
Quick verdict: top picks (2026)
Zoom
Strong all-around experience for client calls and team meetings, with a very familiar UI.
Google Meet
Best if your team lives in Gmail/Calendar/Workspace and wants meetings that “just work”.
Microsoft Teams
Best fit if your company is already on Microsoft 365 and wants meetings + chat in one hub.
Webex
Solid option for orgs that value enterprise controls and a long-standing conferencing platform.
No affiliate links are active at this time. Rankings are editorial.
For most teams, Zoom is the safest all-around choice in 2026.
Try ZoomRankings are editorial. We do not accept paid placements.
Jump to a short review
How we pick winners
US-only scope
This comparison focuses on U.S.-based teams and common meeting workflows: guest join experience, scheduling, call stability, and day-to-day usability.
What we prioritize
We prioritize join reliability, guest experience, audio/video stability, scheduling fit (Google Calendar / Outlook), and pricing value at the entry tier — not feature volume.
Compare the best video conferencing tools (2026)
Use this table as the fastest shortcut to pick the right tool.
| Software | Best for | Price (from) |
Standout strengths | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zoom Read full review → |
Most teams + client calls | From $15.99 |
• Familiar UI • Reliable meetings • Strong ecosystem |
8.9 | Check price |
|
Google Meet Read full review → |
Google Workspace teams | From $6 |
• Calendar-native scheduling • Simple joins • Great for Google-first orgs |
8.6 | Check price |
|
Microsoft Teams Read full review → |
Microsoft 365 teams | From $4.00 |
• Meetings + chat hub • Strong 365 integration • Great for internal collaboration |
8.4 | Check price |
|
Webex Read full review → |
Enterprise controls | From $0 |
• Enterprise heritage • Admin controls • Large org features |
8.1 | Check price |
|
Jitsi Meet Read full review → |
Free / simple meetings | Free ($0) |
• Free + lightweight • No-frills calls • Good for basic use |
7.6 | Use now |
Prices shown are starting monthly rates (USD). Actual pricing may vary by plan, billing cycle, promotions, and region.
👉 Want the simplest decision? Zoom is our “safe pick” for most teams in 2026.
Our top pick (deep dive): Zoom
Zoom is our top pick for most teams because it’s widely adopted, easy to use, and generally reliable across client calls and internal meetings. If you want the lowest-risk choice, Zoom is usually the simplest decision.
- Fast “join meeting” experience
- Good default audio/video quality for most teams
- Commonly supported across clients and organizations
- Costs can increase as you scale seats/features
- Some orgs prefer native Workspace/365 tools
- Teams that do frequent client calls
- Agencies, consultants, remote-first work
- Anyone wanting a familiar, broadly accepted tool
- Strict Google-only or Microsoft-only standardization
- Teams that want everything inside one suite
- Very light usage where free tools are enough
Short reviews (money-focused)
Below are short, money-focused notes to help you pick the right tool fast.
Zoom — Best overall for most teams
Best if you want a widely adopted tool that works well for client calls and internal meetings.
- Familiar interface for most users
- Strong meeting reliability for typical workflows
- Good ecosystem of add-ons and integrations
- Costs can rise as teams scale
- Some orgs prefer suite-native alternatives
Google Meet — Best for Google Workspace teams
Best if your team schedules in Google Calendar and wants meetings tightly integrated with Gmail/Workspace.
- Calendar-native scheduling
- Simple join experience
- Great fit for Google-first workflows
- Feature depth depends on Workspace plan
- Not always the best for external-heavy client workflows
Microsoft Teams — Best for Microsoft 365 organizations
Best if your company is already standardized on Microsoft 365 and wants meetings + chat in one place.
- Strong Microsoft 365 integration
- Good internal collaboration hub
- Great fit for Windows/Office-first orgs
- Can feel heavy for simple “meetings-only” needs
- Best experience often depends on your Microsoft plan
Webex — Best enterprise classic
Best if you want a long-standing enterprise platform and your org values admin controls and policy alignment.
- Enterprise-focused platform
- Strong admin and org controls
- Familiar option in many large organizations
- Not always the simplest experience for small teams
- Value depends on plan and org needs
Jitsi Meet — Best free option
Best if you want basic meetings at $0 cost and can accept fewer “suite-level” features.
- Free and easy to try
- Good for basic meetings
- No-frills “get on a call” simplicity
- Not ideal for enterprise governance needs
- Advanced workflows usually require paid suites
What to look for (fast decision checklist)
This checklist helps you choose the best video conferencing software based on real meeting workflows — not feature checklists.
- Join speed: clicking a calendar link should be effortless for guests.
- Audio stability: clear voice is more important than fancy features.
- Screen sharing: smooth share with minimal “permissions friction”.
- Scheduling: how well it fits Calendar/Outlook.
- Team workflow: meetings-only vs meetings + chat + docs.
- External calls: how easy it is for clients to join without setup.
How we evaluate video conferencing software
To rank the best video conferencing software, we focus on real meeting workflows: join experience, stability, scheduling, and overall fit.
Criteria we use
- Join + guest experience: minimal friction
- Audio/video stability: dependable calls
- Screen sharing: smooth and reliable
- Scheduling: Calendar/Outlook integration
- Team workflow fit: suite vs standalone
- Value: what’s usable at the entry tier
Our process
- We compare tools by “best for” use cases (not feature checklists).
- We check plan limits and pricing periodically.
- We prioritize tools that reduce meeting friction for teams and clients.
Who this guide is for (and not for)
- Remote teams and hybrid organizations
- Agencies / consultants doing frequent client calls
- Businesses standardizing on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
- Teams that want fewer meeting “join problems”
- Organizations needing custom telephony/contact-center solutions
- Teams with strict on-prem / niche compliance requirements (without validation)
- Complex event-webinar production workflows (separate category)
FAQ
What is the best video conferencing software in 2026?
For most teams, Zoom is the safest all-around choice. If you’re standardized on a suite, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams can be the better fit. It’s also a strong reference point when comparing the best video conferencing software for reliability and guest join simplicity.
Should I pick Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams?
Pick the one that matches your ecosystem: Google Workspace → Meet, Microsoft 365 → Teams, mixed/external client calls → Zoom is often the simplest decision.
Is there a free video conferencing tool that’s “good enough”?
Yes—if your needs are basic and you accept fewer advanced workflows, Jitsi Meet can be a $0 starting point.
Do I need a paid plan right away?
Not always. Many tools offer free tiers, but paid plans are typically needed for longer meetings, admin controls, and team features.
Bottom line
This guide focuses on picking the best video conferencing software based on real meeting workflows, pricing entry points, and ecosystem fit.
Safest all-around pick: Zoom.
Google-first teams: Google Meet.
Microsoft-first teams: Microsoft Teams.
Enterprise classic: Webex.
$0 option: Jitsi Meet.
Bottom line: this guide is designed to help you pick the best video conferencing software quickly, based on ecosystem fit and meeting reliability.
Rankings are editorial. No affiliate links are active at this time. We do not accept paid placements.
Sources: zoom.com, Google Meet