即使视频聊天、电子邮件、即时消息和电话在工作环境中发挥着主导作用，电话会议，尤其是视频电话会议(video conference calls)仍然是各种规模企业进行群组通信的最佳选择。
选择合适的电话会议服务将取决于您的要求、预算和需求。在本文中，我们将回顾最好的免费和付费电话会议服务，以便您做出明智的决定。
Skype是一种基于 Web 的通信工具，提供即时消息、群组视频会议、视频聊天、文档和图像共享、屏幕共享和群组聊天。
免费版的Skype允许多达 50 人的免费在线音频或视频电话会议。
Skype 让您可以轻松地与来自世界任何地方的朋友、家人、商业伙伴和客户免费聊天。
其他免费功能包括：
- 共享手机屏幕或桌面。
- 记录对话和会议。
- 将最大 300 MB 的选定视频、文件和文档拖放到对话窗口中。
Skype可能是 Zoom 的电话会议替代方案(alternative to Zoom)，可能对需要在虚拟环境中开会的企业有用。它的缺点之一是它不包含内置的语言翻译工具。
有时Skype会冻结。如果您正在开会并且需要挂断电话并再次通话，这可能会造成干扰。
Microsoft Teams以前称为Skype for Business，是一个基于聊天的协作和通信平台，可简化小组工作。
它是现在与Office 365 商业(Business)和企业(Enterprise)帐户集成的团队合作中心，可将视频电话会议、即时消息传递和文档协作结合到一个集成应用程序中。
此电话会议服务的其他功能包括：
- 与其他Microsoft(Microsoft)产品集成，可在视频、语音和文本聊天之间轻松切换，协作编辑和共享文件和日历。
- 为多个称为频道的群聊室设置团队。
- 通知用户更新并从上到下流动的线程对话。
Microsoft Teams是一个高度可定制的功能丰富的通信和会议平台，适用于已经在使用Microsoft平台和产品的用户。
UberConference 是一种易于使用且简单的电话会议服务，具有基本的通话功能。
他们提供免费和付费选项。如果您正在为小团体寻找基本的通话功能，UberConference是一个不错的选择。免费版包括：
- 最多十名参与者。
- 无限通话。
- 共享屏幕、通过移动设备访问和记录电话会议的能力。
- 高清音频和视频质量。
免费版需要您使用PIN才能加入会议。付费版本每月收费 15 美元，不需要PIN 码(PIN)，包括国际访问权限，最多允许 100 名参与者。
录制功能仅录制网络会议的音频部分。此外，免费功能在电话会议中可以包含的人数有所限制。
Zoom已迅速成为一种流行的电话会议服务。它基于云，适用于各种规模的企业，并提供免费和付费选项。它可以在智能手机和台式机(martphones and desktops)上运行，主持 Zoom 会议(hosting a Zoom meeting)通常是一种简单的体验。
有四个级别的定价和计划。第一个是免费的，包括：
- 通话时间长达 40 分钟。
- 最多 100 名参与者。
- 网络会议。
- 高清视频会议。
- 群组协作的功能。
Zoom Pro起价为每台主机每月 14.99 美元。其他功能包括管理员控制、24 小时长会议和云录制。
商业(Business)计划的费用为 19.99 美元/月/主持人，以及其他功能，例如允许 10 位主持人、多达 300 名参与者、公司品牌和专用电话支持。
Zoom Enterprise的费用为 19.99 美元/月/主机。在此级别，您最多可以拥有 1,000 名参与者、无限的云存储空间和专门的客户支持经理。
Zoom的免费计划比其免费电话会议同行允许更多的与会者。然而，最近，人们对Zoom(Zoom)的安全和隐私感到非常担忧。
Vast Conference是一项付费服务，每月 11.99 美元起。它提供 14 天免费试用，看看它是否满足您的电话会议服务需求。
无需提前安排会议即可主持(Host)按需会议。他们提供四种定价计划，起价为每月 11.99 美元。
计划选项因参与者人数而异：
- 基本：(Essential:) 11.99 美元/月 (10)。
- 标准：(Standard:) 15.99 美元/月 (100)。
- 专业：(Professional:) 31.99 美元/月 (250)。
- 企业：(Enterprise:)自定义定价 (500)。
所有计划都包括云录制。前三层没有限制，基本(Essential)计划的存储空间限制为 1 GB。
这些功能包括屏幕共享、操作员辅助呼叫、录音、定制问候和国际覆盖。
FreeConferenceCall 免费拥有更大、更昂贵服务的所有功能和特性。
您不仅可以获得免费的视频会议和免费的屏幕共享功能，而且FreeConferenceCall还提供以下直观功能：
- 最多可添加 1,000 名视频参与者。
- 录制音频和视频直播演示。
- 私人或公共聊天。
- 切换(Switch)演示者模式，包括绘图工具。
注册(Sign)一个免费帐户，他们会给你一个拨入号码和一个访问代码。您的免费电话会议线路 24/7 全天候可用，无需预留时间段。
RingCentral是一种VoIP电话服务和会议呼叫平台。使用免费计划，您最多可以包括 100 名参与者，每次会议最多 40 分钟。
RingCentral 的费用从每位用户每月 19.99 美元到每月 49.99 美元不等。它还提供 30 天免费试用，如果按年付费，每位用户每月可节省 10 美元。
托管在云端的 RingCentral：
- 不需要安装任何设备。
- 负责(Takes)升级和维护。
- 通过将会议与VoIP(VoIP)企业商务电话计划捆绑在一起可以节省您的资金。
- (Host)无需提前安排即可按需主持电话会议。
- 与 Microsoft Outlook 集成。
- 在 50 多个国家/地区提供本地拨入号码。
与其他电话会议服务相比，当您添加多个用户时，RingCentral 往往会变得昂贵。
您应该使用哪种电话会议服务？(Which Conference Call Service Should You Use?)
要确定哪种服务最好，请同时考虑您的预算和需求。需要注意的一些功能是参与者限制、录音功能、移动易用性、国际访问、呼叫控制、呼叫工具和集成。
首先尝试免费服务，看看它们是否适合您。如果您发现需要更高级的功能或其他特性，您可以升级当前计划、寻找附加组件或选择其他服务。
What Is The Best Conference Call Service – The Best Apps Compared
Even with video chats, emails, instant messaging, and phone calls plаying a dominant role in work environments, conference calls and especially video conference calls are still the best option for group communication in businesses of all sizes.
Choosing the right conference call service will depend upon your requirements, budget, and needs. In this article, we will review the best free and paid conference call services so you can make an informed decision.
Skype is a web-based communications tool that offers instant messaging, group video conferencing, video chat, document and image sharing, screen sharing, and group chat.
The free version of Skype allows for free online audio or video conference calls for up to 50 people.
Skype makes it easy to chat with friends, family, business associates, and clients from anywhere in the world at no cost.
Additional free features include:
- Sharing mobile screen or desktop.
- Recording conversations and meetings.
- Dragging and dropping select videos, files, and documents up to 300 MB into the conversation window.
Skype is a possible conference call alternative to Zoom and may be useful for businesses that need to meet in a virtual environment. One of its disadvantages is that it doesn’t include language translation tools built into it.
Sometimes Skype will freeze up. This can be disruptive if you are in the middle of a meeting and need to hang up and call again.
Formerly known as Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams is a chat-based collaborative and communication platform that simplifies group work.
It is the hub for teamwork that now integrates with Office 365 Business & Enterprise accounts to combine video conference calls, instant messaging, and document collaboration into an integrated app.
Other features of this conference call service include:
- Integration with other Microsoft products to easily switch between video, voice, and text chat, collaboratively edit and share files and calendars.
- Setting up teams for multiple group chat rooms called channels.
- Threaded conversations that notify users of updates and flow from top to bottom.
Microsoft Teams is a highly customizable feature-rich communications and conferencing platform for users who are already using Microsoft platforms and products.
UberConference is an easy-to-use and simple conference call service with basic calling features.
They offer both free and paid options. If you are looking for basic calling features for small groups, UberConference is a good option to try. The free version includes:
- Up to ten participants.
- Unlimited calls.
- The ability to share your screen, access via mobile devices, and record conference calls.
- HD audio and video quality.
The free version requires you to use a PIN to join a meeting. The paid version costs $15/month, doesn’t require a PIN, includes international access, and allows up to 100 participants.
The record function only records the audio portion of your web conference. In addition, the free features are somewhat limited in the number of people you can include on your conference call.
Zoom has quickly become a popular conference call service. It is cloud-based, accommodates businesses of all sizes, and offers free and paid options. It will work on smartphones and desktops, and hosting a Zoom meeting is usually a straightforward experience.
There are four levels of pricing and plans. The first one is free and includes:
- Calls for up to 40 minutes.
- Up to 100 participants.
- Web conferencing.
- HD video conferences.
- Features for group collaboration.
Zoom Pro starts at $14.99/month per host. Other features include admin control, 24-hour long meetings, and cloud recording.
The Business plan is $19.99/month/host along with additional features such as allowing ten hosts, up to 300 participants, company branding, and dedicated phone support.
Zoom Enterprise costs $19.99/month/host. At this level, you can have up to 1,000 participants, unlimited cloud storage, and a dedicated customer support manager.
Zoom’s free plan allows for far more attendees than its free conference call counterparts. However, lately, there have been huge concerns about security and privacy with Zoom.
Vast Conference is a paid service starting at $11.99/month. It offers a free 14-day trial to see if it fills your conference call service needs.
Host on-demand conferences without having to schedule meetings in advance. They offer four pricing plans starting at $11.99 per month.
The plan options differ by the number of participants:
- Essential: $11.99/month (10).
- Standard: $15.99/month (100).
- Professional: $31.99/month (250).
- Enterprise: Custom pricing (500).
All the plans include cloud recording. It is unlimited for the top three tiers and limited to 1 GB of storage for the Essential plan.
The features include screen sharing, operator assisted calls, audio recording, customized greetings, and international coverage.
FreeConferenceCall has all the capabilities and features of the larger, more expensive services at no cost.
Not only do you get free video conferencing and free screen sharing capabilities, but FreeConferenceCall also offer the following intuitive features:
- Add up to 1,000 video participants.
- Record audio and visual live broadcast presentations.
- Private or public chat.
- Switch presenter mode including drawing tools.
Sign up for a free account, and they will give you a dial-in number and an access code. Your free teleconferencing line is available 24/7 with no need to reserve a time slot.
RingCentral is a VoIP phone service and a conferencing call platform. With the free plan, you can include up to 100 participants and a maximum of 40 minutes per meeting.
RingCentral costs range from $19.99/month to $49.99/month per user. It also has a 30-day free trial with a saving of $10 per user per month if paid annually.
Hosted on the cloud, RingCentral:
- Doesn’t require installing any equipment.
- Takes care of upgrades and maintenance.
- Can save you money by bundling meetings with VoIP enterprise business phone plans.
- Host conference calls on-demand without having to schedule in advance.
- Integrates with Microsoft Outlook.
- Offers local dial-in numbers in over 50 countries.
RingCentral tends to get pricey when you add multiple users when compared to other conference calling services.
Which Conference Call Service Should You Use?
To identify which service is best, consider both your budget and your needs. Some of the features to pay attention to are participant limits, recording capabilities, mobile ease-of-use, international access, call controls, calling tools, and integrations.
Try out the free services first to see if they work for you. If you find that you require more advanced functionality or other features, you can upgrade your current plan, look for add-ons, or choose another service.
