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March 26, 2024

8 Best Video Conferencing Software (Free and Paid)

Recently, our users have asked our thoughts on the best video conferencing software for small businesses.

With many teams working remotely, having a video conferencing solution is essential for firms. It allows you to communicate with team members and clients over video from all around the world.

In this article, we will show you the best video conferencing software so you can pick the right solution for your website.

How to Choose the Best Video Conferencing Software

Video conferencing software helps improve business communication by allowing participants to connect via video. Whether you have a fully remote team or have client dealings from around the world, a video chatting solution is essential for meetings in today’s world.

When choosing a video chat solution for your business or WordPress site, there are multiple things to look for. Plus, the size of your team and your budget also play a key role in picking the right software for your business.

Here are some key factors to look for when choosing a video conferencing solution:

Video and Audio Quality – One of the most important things to look for is the reliability and quality of video and audio during meetings.
Ease of Use – Another important factor to consider is how easy it is to connect to meetings, schedule meetings, integrate it with a calendar, share call links, and more. The right software should be beginner-friendly and should not have a huge learning curve.
Number of Participants Allowed – Many platforms have a limit on how many members can join a video conference. You should look for a solution that allows a maximum number of participants.
Video Recording & Additional Features – The right video conference solution should go beyond offering basic features of video calling. For instance, look for video recording options, collaborative features like whiteboards, screen sharing, mobile apps, and more.

That said, let’s look at some of the best video conferencing software you can pick for your business.

1. RingCentral

RingCentral is the best video conferencing software in the market. The VoIP phone service offers powerful features that let you connect teams and clients via video without any interruption.

You get features like video call scheduling, secure meeting hosting, screen sharing, whiteboard, breakout rooms, meeting recordings, and more. RingCentral supports up to 200 participants in a single meeting and lets you expand the capacity even further with addons.

Other than that, the video conferencing software offers advanced meeting insights, live transcription, AI-powered noise reduction, presentation mode, webinars, and more.

One of the standout features of RingCentral is that it easily integrates with third-party tools like Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace (G Suite), and more. You even get apps for iOS and Android, so your team can attend video calls on the go.

Pros:

Powerful video conferencing features
Up to 200 meeting participants
Seamless integrations
Apps for desktop, mobile, and tablet
Powerful real-time analytics
AI-powered noise reduction
Join calls without installing software or creating an account

Cons:

Lacks social media integration

Why We Recommend RingCentral: If you’re a small to medium sized business that’s looking for a video conferencing solution, then we highly recommend RingCentral. It is packed with features and makes it very easy to set up video conferencing for your business.

Pricing: RingCentral prices start from $20 per month per user, and you can invite up to 100 participants.

2. Nextiva

Nextiva is a popular business phone service that offers a video conferencing feature. It is a cloud-based platform that helps businesses of all sizes solve their phone needs.

With Nextiva, you get desktop and mobile apps, so your team members can connect remotely from anywhere. It also provides high-quality video and audio during meetings.

Other features offered by Nextiva include screen sharing, file sharing, whiteboard, live streaming, and webinar support.

Besides that, Nextiva also provides a toll-free number, dedicated apps for different devices, call forwarding, live chat, CRM, call analytics, advanced interactive voice response (IVR), internet FAX, and more.

Note: We use Nextiva at WPBeginner for our business phone service. In our experience, Nextiva is the best small business phone system in the market from both features and pricing points of view.

Pros:

Powerful VoIP phone features
Unlimited video conferencing
Mobile and desktop apps
Seamless integration with CRMs
Unlimited call and video conference recording
Voicemail transcription

Cons:

Limits on video calling and video meetings

Why We Recommend Nextiva: We highly recommend Nextiva to small businesses that need an enterprise-level business phone service with a video conferencing feature at affordable prices.

Pricing: Nextiva prices start from $14.95 per user per month.

3. Google Meet

Google Meet is part of the Google Workspace platform that was previously known as G Suite.

It is an excellent solution for small businesses and teams that need a video conferencing solution. You can use a Google account to create a free video conference and invite up to 100 participants for up to 60 minutes at no cost.

The best part about using Google Meet is that you get to use it with other Google products. For instance, it easily integrates with Google Calendar, Sheets, Docs, and more. You can also use a professional business email address and cloud storage.

Google Meet offers high-quality video calls, noise cancellation features, live captions, presentation mode, whiteboard, and secure encrypted calls.

Pros:

Invite up to 100 participants for free
Simple and easy to use
Seamless Google Workspace integration
Professional email address
Encrypted video calling

Cons:

Lacks VoIP business phone features
No transcription feature
Difficult to integrate with third-party tools outside of Google

Why We Recommend Google Meet: We believe Google Meet is the perfect video conferencing solution for new startups and small teams. It offers a free version that lets you invite up to 100 participants and works smoothly with other Google Workspace apps.

Pricing: Google Meet is a free solution. However, it also offers premium plans starting from $6 per user per month.

4. Zoom

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing software in the world. You can easily set up an online conference call or meetings, as the software is beginner-friendly to use.

The best part about Zoom is that it supports up to 100 participants and unlimited 1 on 1 meetings in the free plan. However, you’re restricted to only 40 minutes of video conferencing time in the free version.

Besides that, Zoom offers apps for different operating systems and devices. This allows cross platform compatibility and gives flexibility to team members and clients to easily join meetings from any device.

Zoom also offers other features like 2-factor authenticated meetings, screen sharing, whiteboards, live polls, video annotations, and more.

Pros:

Easy to use and set up
End-to-end call encryption
Easily integrates with CRMs and third-party tools
Supports up to 100 participants in the free version

Cons:

Free plan limited to 40 minutes meeting duration
Premium plans can be expensive for small businesses

Why We Recommend Zoom: If you’re a small business or a remote team that’s looking for a cost-effective video conferencing solution, then we highly recommend Zoom. Its free version has all the basic features for video conferencing and supports 100 attendees.

Pricing: Zoom is a free video conferencing software. However, its premium plans start from $149.90 per year per user.

5. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is another popular video conferencing software and is a great alternative to Google Meet.

It is perfect for enterprises, small businesses, educational institutes, and personal users who are already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

You get all the standard video conferencing software features with Microsoft Teams. For instance, it offers screen sharing, call recording, group chat during video calls, and more.

Other than that, it integrates with Office 365 apps and offers a custom-branded email address with Outlook.

Pros:

Supports up to 10,000 members
Highly customizable
Easily integrates with Microsoft 365 apps
Good video conferencing features

Cons:

Works best in the Microsoft ecosystem

Why We Recommend Microsoft Teams: If you’re already using Office 365 and other Microsoft products, then we highly recommend Microsoft Teams. It supports up to 10,000 members in a single meeting and offers great features.

Pricing: Microsoft Teams prices start from $4 per month per user and supports up to 300 participants per meeting.

6. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is the next video conferencing software on our list. It offers great features and is versatile software for businesses of all sizes.

For starters, you get mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. They are very easy to use and allow clients and team members to take video calls from anywhere.

Besides that, the software offers screen sharing, meeting drawing tools, customizable backgrounds, and presenter controls. You also get cloud storage to save recordings and meeting transcription. GoToMeeting easily integrates with other tools like Slack, Outlook, and Salesforce.

Pros:

Easy and versatile software
Screen sharing and video recording feature
Meeting transcription
Cloud storage
Integrates with other tools

Cons:

No free version to try the software

Why We Recommend GoToMeeting: GoToMeeting is great for companies looking for a video conferencing solution that is mobile-friendly. It offers dedicated apps that are beginner-friendly to use.

Pricing: GoToMeeting prices start from $12 per user per month and supports up to 150 participants.

7. Ooma Meetings

Ooma Meetings is a popular cloud phone service that offers a video conferencing solution.

It offers HD video calling, call scheduling, a desktop app, conference calls, call analytics and queuing, call recording, and more.

One of the benefits of using Ooma Meetings is that it easily integrates with Google and Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and other tools. Another unique feature of Ooma Meetings is that 2 or more people can share their screen at the same time.

Pros:

High-quality video conferencing
Simultaneous screen sharing
Video call recording
Voicemail transcription
Seamless CRM integration
Toll-free number

Cons:

Lacks video conferencing collaborative features

Why We Recommend Ooma Meetings: If you require multiple people to present at the same time and share their screens, then Ooma Meetings is the perfect solution.

Pricing: Ooma Meetings is available in the Ooma Office Pro plan, which will cost you $24.95 per month.

8. Skype

Skype is one of the most popular video chatting software in the industry. The best part is that it is completely free to use.

With dedicated apps for mobile and desktops, Skype is extremely versatile and easy to use. In the free version, you can invite up to 50 participants for a video call.

Skype also offers basic features like call recording and live subtitles, smart messaging, screen sharing, and more. However, it doesn’t offer more collaborative features like other video conferencing software.

Pros:

HD video calling
Call recording and live subtitles
Screen sharing feature
Private conversations
Dedicated apps for all devices

Cons:

Lacks a lot of collaborative features

Why We Recommend Skype: If you are looking for a free solution to connect your team and clients via video, then Skype is an excellent solution.

Pricing: Skype is a free video conferencing software. It also offers premium plans that start from $5 per month.

Which is the Best Video Conferencing Software?

After reviewing and testing multiple video conferencing software, we believe that RingCentral is the best solution for all types of businesses.

It offers powerful features and supports up to 200 participants in a single video call. Plus, it is very easy to use and set up. You get dedicated apps for all devices and other features like AI-powered noise reduction, analytics, and integrations.

As an honorable mention, you can also check out Nextiva. It is a popular business phone service that also offers a video conferencing feature.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a free option, then Google Meet is perfect. You can invite up to 100 people in the free version for a video call.

We hope this article helped you learn about the best video conferencing software. You may also want to see our list of the best auto dialer software for small business and how to create a free business email address.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 8 Best Video Conferencing Software (Free and Paid) first appeared on WPBeginner.

December 25, 2023

5 Best Cheap VoIP Phone Services Compared (2023)

Are you looking for the best and cheapest VoIP phone services?

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone services are helpful for team and customer communication. Sometimes, these services add an extra cost to your budget, and looking for a cheaper option is the way to go.

However, when considering a cheap VoIP phone platform, you may wonder if the quality and features are up to par. And you might be concerned if you’ll be paying for a service that will actually add value to your business workflow.

In this article, we will share some of the best cheap VoIP services that you can use for your small business.

What Is VoIP?

Making business phone calls without a landline connection is the technology commonly known as VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol.

It’s common among many small and big businesses to use VoIP phone services for their professional communication. You can have a live voice call or send a scheduled message to your teammates, clients, or any of your connections with an internet facility.

But again, what is VoIP, and how does VoIP work?

VoIP is a technology that uses an internet connection to allow you to make phone calls. These are like regular phone calls, but you will not be using a phone connection.

You can also connect using video calls and group calls. Moreover, you can send voice messages and video messages based on the VoIP service you are using for communication.

Choosing a VoIP phone service provider is easy as there are several options available. However, finding a cheap yet reliable VoIP phone service to set up your business communication can be tricky.

Without further delay, let’s look at our expert pick for the best cheap VoIP phone services.

1. Nextiva

Nextiva is one of the best VoIP phone services on the market. They offer unlimited voice calls and internet fax facilities.

You can access the business phone from your desktop or mobile, making you available to your clients from anywhere.

Moreover, Nextiva provides local and toll-free numbers that can give your business a professional look from the start.

And in case you want help setting Nextiva up, there’s a team of customer support professionals available 24/7, even with the basic VoIP phone services plan.

Additionally, Nextiva integrates with popular email marketing, CRM, and other software. The service also tracks your calls in real-time, giving you the data and reports you need to improve your communication.

Pros of Nextiva VoIP Phone Service

Cloud-based phone service
Privacy fence with encryption
Built-in app for desktops and smartphones
Scalable as your business grows
Virtual assistant, auto attendant, and voicemail options

Cons of Nextiva VoIP Phone Service

Requires a powerful internet connection
The mobile app doesn’t include major management features

Why do we recommend Nextiva?

Nextiva is our top recommended VoIP phone service. They offer a complete and reliable phone system for any business size and niche. Nextiva provides HD call quality at an affordable price, making them a top choice for small businesses.

Price: Starts at $17.95 per user/month.

2. Ooma Office Phone

Ooma Office Phone is an affordable VoIP phone service for small businesses. Their service is built for online communication between team members and customers.

The phone service has dozens of features to improve your workflow. Ooma has solutions for different business niches, including dental, real estate, hospitality, insurance, and more.

Some of their most notable features include a virtual receptionist that makes your business look professional on every incoming call. They also let users select an extension to connect with your different teams automatically.

The setup and installation are easy for beginners. If you need help, then Ooma has tons of resources like their business blog, podcast, webinars, FAQs, and more.

Ooma has a call-blocking service to prevent unwanted calls. Moreover, the call recording feature allows you to build an archive of your conversations for learning and other purposes.

Pros of Ooma VoIP Service

Unlimited calling in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
Free number transfer
Voicemail transcription, call transfer, and call forwarding
Complete call logs
Mobile app for both iOS and Android

Cons of Ooma VoIP Service

Call quality issues
Fewer integrations with other services

Why Do We Recommend Ooma?

We recommend Ooma because they have been consistent in their service as a cheap VoIP phone solution for small businesses. Among other phone solutions, Ooma has no hidden charges and offers multiple plans that let you scale when your business grows.

Price: Starts at $19.95 per month/user.

3. Phone.com

Phone.com is another cheap VoIP phone service for small businesses. They offer voice calls, video calls, text messaging, fax, and conference call features.

The phone service comes with speed test software to ensure the high quality of your calls. It checks for upload and download speeds, jitters, and pings.

Phone.com also includes a premium AI-powered Answer Bot service. This saves you time by checking for spam calls and routing your calls to the right team member every time.

Phone.com can offer local numbers, vanity numbers, and international numbers. You can use the service from anywhere using the desktop or mobile app with a good internet connection.

Pros of Phone.com VoIP Service

Video conferencing with up to 100 users
Free conference calls are included in all plans
Mobile and desktop app
Virtual background templates for video calls
Call blocking, call forwarding, and call logs

Cons of Phone.com VoIP Service

The basic plan doesn’t include unlimited call time
Some common features like call analytics and call recording are only available for their Pro plan users

Why Do We Recommend Phone.com?

We recommend Phone.com because their service comes with a built-in speed test that helps improve your communication. Moreover, the VoIP phone service is more affordable when you pay them upfront for the full year.

Price: Starts at $14.99 per user/month.

4. RingCentral

RingCentral is a popular VoIP phone service for small to large-scale businesses. They offer several communication tools that let you make voice calls, video calls, and conference calls. You are also able to send text messages and faxes.

Their AI tools make your communication more powerful with personalized bot responses. These AI tools can handle routine tasks, route calls, and even provide basic information to callers.

And you can always use the analytics and call logs to monitor the performance of your communication with customers.

RingCentral also comes with team messaging and collaboration tools. They have an inside platform where your team can communicate in real time, share files, and collaborate on projects.

Pros of RingCentral VoIP Service:

Voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools
Excellent customer support
Local, toll-free, and international numbers
Personalized outgoing calls with a customizable caller ID
Robust security measures

Cons of RingCentral VoIP Service:

Higher costs when you compare it with top VoIP services like Nextiva
The learning curve for beginners to set up the phone service

Why Do We Recommend RingCentral?

We recommend RingCentral for their powerful AI tools that can boost your sales and revenue. The service is designed for businesses looking for a powerful VoIP solution with communication and collaboration tools.

Price: Starts at $30 per user/month.

5. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a cheap VoIP phone service built for small businesses. They provide all the basic features like voice calls and text messaging for your communication with your team and clients.

The service comes with call management features on their desktop and mobile app. You can block spam calls, route calls to team members, and check your call logs.

Grasshopper is made with simplicity and flexibility in mind. They are not bloated with features yet give you the right tools to communicate easily.

Pros of Grasshopper VoIP Service:

Quick and intuitive setup
Virtual phone receptionist
Mobile and desktop apps
Call tracking, call forwarding, and other management tools
Dedicated business numbers, local numbers, and toll-free numbers

Cons of Grasshopper VoIP Service:

Not available globally (limited to the US and Canada)
You need to get the Pro plan for common features like call analytics

Why Do We Recommend Grasshopper?

We recommend Grasshopper for their simplicity and budget-friendly pricing, making them a good choice for small businesses. Though the basic plan has limited features, it’s affordable for your initial days. You can also select the annual payment plan and get more discounts on the VoIP service.

Price: Starts at $17 per month/user.

Which Is the Best Cheap VoIP Phone Service?

Nextiva is the best cheap VoIP service. They give you all the necessary features and are affordable for small businesses to set up a communication system.

Ooma and Phone.com are also budget-friendly VoIP services for business communication.

Ooma comes with a virtual receptionist to answer your calls and route calls to the right extensions. They can make your small business presentable to all your callers.

Phone.com has an AI Answer Bot service that checks for spam calls and saves your time by transferring real clients to your team.

We hope this article has helped you find the best cheap VoIP service for small businesses. You may also want to check out our other WordPress guides that can help improve your communication.

Best WordPress Guides to Improve Business Communication

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 5 Best Cheap VoIP Phone Services Compared (2023) first appeared on WPBeginner.

March 22, 2023

Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma: Which is Better? (Compared)

Are you comparing Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma to find out the best VoIP provider for your business?

Many small businesses rely on phone services to communicate with customers and Nextiva, RingCentral, and Ooma are among the top business VOIP providers on the market.

In this article, we’ll compare Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma to help you decide which one is the best small business VoIP provider.

Comparing Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma

Comparing Nextiva vs RingCentral and Ooma VOIP Services

Many small businesses use VoIP phone services for sales, customer support, and team collaboration.

Nextiva, RingCentral, and Ooma are considered among the top VoIP providers for small businesses.

They offer toll-free numbers, virtual numbers, cheaper local and international call rates, easier team collaboration, and more.

Business phone services is a highly competitive industry and all of our top three contenders offer similar features and pricing. This makes it difficult for small business owners to choose one of them for their business.

To make this easier, we’ll do a side-by-side comparison of Nextiva, RingCentral, and Ooma for the best business VoIP service providers.

We’ll look into the following criteria.

Pricing Comparison
Feature Comparison
Available Integrations
Customer Support Options
Mobile App Comparison
Conclusion: Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma – Which is The Best Small Business VoIP Provider?

That being said, let’s take a look at Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma to find out which one is the best small business VOIP provider.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing is one of the top deciding factors for small businesses looking for a VoIP service provider.

All three of our contenders offer very competitive pricing for similar features. However, they use a variable pricing model based on the number of users, plan duration, and features.

This makes it difficult to decide which VoIP service provider is cheaper for small businesses.

Nextiva Pricing

Nextiva has a variable pricing model where your pricing changes based on the number of users, payment duration, and feature plans.

For instance, you can get started for $18.95 per user each month (paid annually) if you have more than 20 users.

If you have fewer than 4 users, then you can get started for $23.95 per user each month (paid annually).

This means that your costs will go down as your team size grows and you need to add more users to your account.

RingCentral Pricing

RingCentral pricing plans use a slightly different pricing model.

Their Essential plan starts at $19.95 per user each month (paid annually) for up to 20 users.

This means that if you have a smaller team of fewer than 20 users, then you can save some money and have room for growth too.

Ooma Pricing

Ooma offers pretty straightforward fees. Their rates differ based on which plan you choose regardless of the number of users.

This means that if you choose the Essential plan, then you will pay at the same rate when your team grows.

Ooma only offers month-to-month payment plans which means you pay as you go and can easily cancel at any time.

Winner: Tie – All three of our contenders offer similar pricing that is very close to each other.

Feature Comparison

Perhaps the most important thing when choosing a VoIP provider is the features they offer.

Nextiva, RingCentral, and Ooma all offer a ton of features with each of their business phone service plans.

However, you’ll need to choose one based on your own requirements. For instance, video conferencing may not be important for some small businesses, while it could be a deal breaker for others.

Another important thing to consider is which pricing plan includes the features you need. As all of them offer different sets of features for each VoIP plan.

Nextiva Features

As one of the best business VoIP providers on the market, Nextiva offers a unified communications platform with the most value-to-money features.

Unlimited domestic calls in US and Canada
HD voice quality
Free local and toll-free number plus number porting allows you to bring your existing number as well.
Voicemail, voicemail to email notifications, voicemail to SMS, voicemail transcription
Support for desk phones, conference phones, and other telephone devices you may want to use.
Apps for browsers, iPhone, Android, and desktop computers
Video meetings and conferencing
Call logs, call recording, call routing, auto attendant, IVR, and more.

Plus, you can share the same number with different team members.

Contact management features make it super easy to follow up on calls and don’t let the leads slip away.

You can also integrate your own CRM software or use Nextiva CRM for better lead management.

Basically, you can run your own small cloud-based call center at the fraction of the cost with highly advanced features to save you time and resources.

RingCentral Features

When it comes to features RingCentral gives tough competition to Nextiva.

They offer all the business phone features that a small business would need and then some more.

Unlimited calling for the US and Canada.
Free local and toll-free phone numbers.
SMS and voicemail support
Team messaging
Voicemail to text alerts
Video meetings and conferencing
Desk phone support
You can receive calls on the go using your phone or laptop
Real-time call analytics

RingCentral offers all common VoIP phone features like call forwarding, number sharing, call waiting, call management, and more.

It also has integrations for popular CRM software like Salesforce, Zendesk, and more.

Ooma Features

Ooma Office offers a bunch of features in their VoIP plans that will help you grow your small business.

However, some features are available in their more expensive plans. For instance, you can only get access to the Desktop app and text messaging with their PRO plan.

Following are the features you can expect to get based on the plan you choose:

Local and toll-free numbers
Unlimited local calls to the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
Call features like recording, call waiting, voicemail, and more.
Microsoft Dynamics, Office 365, and Google integrations are available
Salesforce Integration (only with Pro Plus plans)

While Ooma offers the most commonly requested features for a VoIP provider, it does lack several features offered by the other top contenders.

Winner: Nextiva

Available Integrations

Integrations help you connect your VoIP phone service to other apps and platforms that you may already be using.

Many businesses need integrations with CRM software like Salesforce, Zendesk, Hubspot, and more. This helps them easily manage customer relationships and can keep track of leads without losing them.

Let’s see how our top contenders stack up when it comes to integrations.

Nextiva Integrations

Nextiva offers comprehensive integrations suitable for all types of small businesses.

It has ready-to-use integrations for all the top CRM software, productivity suites, team communication apps, and more.

This includes Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, Zoho, Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, and more.

RingCentral Integrations

RingCentral offers an extensive set of integrations as apps and add-ins that you can add to your account.

They offer several apps for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Dynamics, and more.

Their integrations also cover the top CRM software that you may already be using including Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot, and more.

Ooma Integrations

Ooma does not offer as many integrations as Nextiva or RingCentral. Their Pro plan offers integration with Google and Microsoft Office 365.

You’ll need to upgrade to their Pro Plus plan to unlock Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 integrations.

Apart from that, you can still use it with your own CRM software but it will be less efficient to track contact history and manage leads within your phone or CRM software.

Winner: Nextiva

Customer Support Options

Unlike traditional phones, VoIP phones are a relatively new technology so many small businesses may need a little bit of help to make the most out of it.

This is why customer support is an important aspect to consider when choosing your VoIP phone service provider.

Let’s compare how our top contenders stack up in terms of customer support options.

Nextiva Customer Support

Nextiva customer support is available through 24/7 live chat, email tickets, and phone.

Plus, they have a comprehensive knowledge base that covers all the commonly asked questions by users.

Finding answers in the knowledge base is fast and easiest way to fix things on your own. However, if you need to speak with someone, then you’ll find their phone and live chat support agents friendly and helpful.

Customer support representatives know their stuff very well and wouldn’t mind going to great lengths to help you out.

RingCentral Customer Support

RingCentral offers support through 24/7 phone, live chat, and email tickets. They also have an extensive library of articles, how-to guides, manuals, and more.

Support response times are fast and representatives are well-trained and highly helpful.

Ooma Customer Support

Ooma offers the same customer support options as the other contenders on the list.

This includes 24/7 live chat support, email tickets, self-help articles, and phone support.

Winner: Tie

Mobile App Comparison

With many businesses switching to a remote or hybrid work model, it is important to consider the mobility of your VoIP service.

This allows remote teams to stay in touch and never miss a call even when away from the desk.

All three of our contenders offer mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. Let’s see how their mobile apps perform against each other.

Nextiva Mobile Apps

Apart from laptop and desk phone systems, Nextiva also offers apps for iOS and Android smartphones.

These apps come with a sleek and easy-to-use interface that allows you to easily make and receive calls, text with team members, manage contacts, and more.

RingCentral Mobile Apps

RingCentral also offers mobile apps for Android and iOS smartphones. These apps are highly intuitive and allow you to easily manage calls while on the go.

Additionally, RingCentral offers separate apps for Meeting Rooms, which is their video conferencing platform.

Ooma Mobile Apps

Ooma doesn’t offer desktop apps for its Essential plan but it does offer mobile apps for all small business plans including the Essential plan.

The app provides easier contact management, and call and text functions. However, user reviews indicate that it does not work very well for many users.

Winner: RingCentral

Conclusion: Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma – Which is The Best Small Business VoIP Provider?

We believe that Nextiva is the best small business VoIP phone provider on the market.

It offers competitive pricing, a ton of features, the best call quality, lower rates for international calls, and a wide range of numbers to choose from (local, international, toll-free, vanity numbers, and more).

→ Click Here to Get Started with Nextiva ←

Note: WPBeginner users can use our Nextiva Coupon to get 20% off when they sign up.

RingCentral comes as a very close second. They offer many of the features offered by their competitors and a slightly better mobile app experience. You can use our RingCentral coupon to get a discount.

We hope this article helped you compare Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma to find out which one is the best VoIP service. You may also want to see our pick of the best email marketing services for small business, or see our article on how to get a free business email address.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma: Which is Better? (Compared) first appeared on WPBeginner.

February 3, 2023

7 Best Business Voicemail Transcription Services (Text and Email)

Are you looking for a service to transcribe your voicemails?

Voicemail transcription helps convert your voicemails to text, so you can read them later on your phone or computer. It saves time, as you don’t have to listen to recordings and quickly view the message in text form.

In this article, we’ll show you the best business voicemail transcription services.

Why Use a Business Voicemail Transcription Service?

Voicemail transcription means converting your audio messages into text format. However, manually transcribing each voicemail is a time-consuming task. Instead, you can use a business voicemail transcription service.

There are a lot of software available that will automatically convert voicemail speech to text. The transcriptions can be sent to you by email or text.

This is more convenient especially when you can’t listen to voicemails. You can quickly read the message anywhere instead of listening to the voice recording.

It also helps streamline your customer support process. Your support staff can search for voicemails from a user and look at previous messages, so they can provide a better customer experience. You can also keep records of your voicemails and connect them to customer relationship management (CRM) software.

That being said, let’s look at the best business voicemail transcription services.

1. Nextiva

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Nextiva is the best virtual phone service in the market that offers powerful features, including voicemail transcriptions. The cloud phone system is easy to use and set up.

It brings multiple communication channels under one roof. For example, you can make HD video calls, send text messages, live chat, voicemails, phone calls, and more from a single place.

Nextiva offers a voicemail to email and text option, where you can receive voicemails inside your inbox. This allows you to respond to customers quickly, even when calls are missed. Once this feature is active, it will automatically transcribe the voicemail.

Besides that, you also get other features like call recording, unlimited calls and texts in North America, toll-free numbers, team chat, auto attendant, call transfer and forwarding, and more.

They also business phone apps for iOS and Android smartphones, so it lets you stay connected with customers anywhere in the world.

At WPBeginner, we use Nextiva for all our business phone needs. We’re huge fans of their platform and the features it offers.

Pricing: You will need the Nextiva Enterprise plan to use the voicemail transcription features, which will cost you $32.95 per user per month.

2. RingCentral

RingCentral is another top business voicemail transcription service. Their business VoIP phone service offers lots of powerful features and is a perfect solution for remote teams.

With its Voicemail for Business feature, you get to choose how to receive voicemails. For instance, you can access voice messages from the RingCentral online account, desktop app, mobile device, email, and desk phone.

RingCentral offers an option to send voicemails to your email address. You’ll receive an audio attachment and transcription, so you can quickly scan through the message without listening to the voicemail.

Other than that, RingCentral offers features like video conference calls, unlimited calling in the US and Canada, voice-to-text features, toll-free numbers, and other call-handling features.

Pricing: The voicemail-to-text feature is available in the Essentials plan and will cost you $19.99 per user per month.

3. Ooma

Ooma is a popular VoIP phone service for businesses of all sizes. It is loaded with features, including voicemail transcription and voicemail-to-email options.

You can configure your voicemails to be automatically sent to an email address when they’re left in your Ooma Office app. You will get an audio recording as an attachment and transcribed text in the body of the email.

Ooma is also easy to use and works out of the box. You get more features like a virtual receptionist, hold music, extension dialing, video conferencing, 1-800 phone numbers, a call center, and more. There are also desktop and mobile apps, so you can call and receive voicemails from anywhere in the world.

Pricing: Ooma prices start from $19.95 per month per user. However, the voicemail transcription feature is available in the Ooma Office Pro and Pro Plus pricing plans.

4. FreshDesk Contact Center

FreshDesk Contact Center is the next business voicemail transcription service on our list. It was previously known as Freshcaller and is a user-friendly virtual business phone provider.

FreshDesk Contact Center offers an AI-power voicemail transcription feature. Its artificial intelligence engine, called Freddy AI, automatically transcribes voicemails.

You can easily access the transcriptions from the FreshDesk phone system and view key metrics like queue time and IVR time. It also lets you enable voicemail transcription for selected phone numbers and set up voicemail greetings.

Other features offered by FreshDesk Contact Center include a call waiting option, vanity numbers, mobile apps, shared lines, route calls to voicemail, block spam calls, call recording, and more.

Pricing: You will need the Growth plan or higher to use the voicemail transcription feature in FreshDesk Contact Center. This will cost you $15 per agent per month (billed annually). There is also a free version of the software you use to get started, but it doesn’t include voicemail transcriptions.

5. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is one of the best business phone services, and it is perfect for small businesses and startups. The service offers a voicemail transcription feature and allows you to receive the transcriptions in your email inbox.

It is very easy to set up, and you can add email addresses where you’d like the forwarded messages to go. Then using the Grasshopper desktop app or mobile apps, you can read the voicemail messages.

Aside from voicemail transcription, Grasshopper is filled with robust features. For instance, you get simultaneous call handling, call forwarding, extensions, call transfers, VoIP calling, virtual fax, reporting, and more.

Pricing: Grasshopper pricing plans start from $28 per month (billed annually), and all plans include the voicemail feature. Do note that it is only available in the US and Canada.

6. Google Voice

Google Voice is another business voicemail transcription service you can use for your WordPress website. It is part of Google Workspace and easily integrates with other tools like Google Meet and Calendar.

The service uses Google’s AI to turn voicemails into text automatically. The AI is powerful and converts complex words into easy-to-read text.

Besides that, it is very easy to use and offers free calling to US and Canada, spam call blocking, unlimited text messaging in the US, call forwarding, mobile apps, and more.

Pricing: Google Voice prices start from $10 per user per month and includes a voicemail transcription feature.

7. Phone.com

Phone.com is a popular cloud-based virtual phone service offering a voicemail feature. You can listen to audio messages from your online account and set up a voicemail-to-email feature.

Phone.com will automatically transcribe your voicemails and send them to you as email or text messages. This way, you can read the message instead of listening to the voice note or forward the transcription to other team members.

With Phone.com, you also enjoy other powerful features. It is a complete virtual phone solution and offers call forwarding, call transfer, analytics, number porting, audio conferences, fax from phone, text messaging, and more.

Pricing: The voicemail transcription feature is included in the Plus users or higher plan, and its prices start from $15.99 per user per month.

Which is the Best Business Voicemail Transcription Service?

In our expert opinion, the best business voicemail transcription service is Nextiva, and after careful research we chose to use it for our own business.

Nextiva is user-friendly and offers lots of features to help you connect with your customers and team members from anywhere. You can easily receive voicemail transcriptions in your email, handle calls, conduct virtual meetings, create workflows, and more.

Plus, Nextiva has desktop and mobile apps, so you are always connected on the go. It also easily integrates multiple communication channels into a single platform.

If you’re looking for other solutions, then we recommend RingCentral and Ooma as alternatives to Nextiva for voicemail transcriptions.

We hope this article helped you pick the best business voicemail transcription service. You may also want to see our comparison of the best email marketing services and best live chat software for small business.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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May 7, 2021

8 Best Video Chat Software for Business in 2021 (w/ Free Options)

Are you looking for the best video chat software for your business?

With remote working more common, many businesses need a way to communicate with their teams and clients over video.

There are a ton of great video chat solutions in the market, but how do you pick the right software for your business?

In this article, we’ll share the best video chat software for small businesses and highlight their different features, so you can choose the best video chat software to fit your needs.

What Kind of Video Chat Software is Right for You?

Video chat software and video calling apps are synonymous with applications like FaceTime, Google Duo, WhatsApp, Viber, and the Facebook Messenger.

However, you may require more professional tools and functionality to support your business, instead of simply communicating with friends and family.

The right video chat software will have a variety of features to make business communication much easier:

Real-time live video chat for team meetings
Collaboration, screen sharing, and file sharing tools
Screen recording for reviewing meetings later
Transcription services to improve team accessibility
Integrations to simply make calls from software you’re already using
Group video and one on one live video meetings

That being said, let’s take a look at the top video chat software you can use along with your WordPress business website.

1. RingCentral

RingCentral offers one of the best video conferencing software for small businesses (called Glip). They have some of the most feature-rich video chat software in the market.

You’ll find features like video call scheduling, screen sharing, annotations, live chat messaging, and much more.

This video software integrates with dozens of other tools you’re already using in your business, like Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace (G Suite), and more.

These integrations let you launch video conference calls directly from these third-party platforms.

If you’re already using the RingCentral platform for your business phone system, then adding this tool to your communication workflow is simple.

The video chat software is optimized to run on all modern web browsers with minimal setup. This means you’ll spend less time on technical tasks and more time on your video chats and meetings.

Pricing: Glip by RingCentral offers free video chat for up to 200 users on a single call. Your call durations can be up to 24 hours long. Custom pricing plans are available with more advanced features.

2. Zoom

Zoom is one of the most popular video chat apps in the world. This tool has seen a ton of growth since the start of the pandemic.

It’s known for being easy to use and only takes a few clicks to host your own Zoom meeting with bundled instant messaging.

Plus, it’s cross platform compatible. You can host video chats across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices no matter if you’re using an Android, Windows, Apple, or Linux device.

Their primary focus is helping teams collaborate by holding video meetings quickly and easily. There are additional features like searchable transcripts, screen sharing, and collaborative note taking.

You’ll find other unique features, like the ability to run live polls, annotate your videos, add whiteboarding, and more.

Note: Our team uses Zoom for our internal team meetings and video calls, where our team can join via video or audio only. Our team leads have Pro plans, which extends the length of meetings beyond 40 minutes.

Pricing: Zoom has free version available for up to 100 participants with a 40 minute time limit. Paid plans start at $149.90 per year, and offers support for up to 1,000 members and additional collaboration tools.

3. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a popular video conference app for small businesses on the go. It’s very versatile and offers video chat, video conferencing, and even screen sharing.

One main standout feature are the user friendly mobile apps for Android and iOS. Both of these mobile apps let you start and create virtual meetings on the go with ease.

Video call quality is very high, no matter how your team chooses to connect to the call.

Beyond the mobile features there’s support for meeting recording and transcription, end to end encryption, integrated scheduling, and HIPAA compliance support for businesses in the medical space.

GoToMeeting also has a family of other products like GoToWebinar for running live webinars, and GoToConnect for your business phone.

Pricing: GoToMeeting starts at $12 per month, for up to 150 meeting participants. Plans scale up depending on how many users you need to support.

Higher level plans increase the number of participants to 250 and give you more admin features. For larger businesses, the Enterprise plan supports up to 3,000 participants.

4. Nextiva

Nextiva is one of the best business phone system providers in the market. They’ve recently added video conference software to their list of offerings.

The platform is fully cloud based and includes a desktop and mobile app. The audio and video quality is incredibly high, so no glitching or lag during important meetings.

It’s not the most feature rich video chat software, but it does include useful features like, screen sharing, file sharing, live streaming, and webinar support.

If you’re already using the Nextiva as your business VoIP phone, then it’s easy to add video conferencing and screen sharing features to the way your business communicates.

Pricing: Nextiva video conferencing starts at $25.95 per month for up to 250 participants. Unlimited participants start at $35.95 per month.

5. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a popular a video chat service for businesses who use the Microsoft 365 ecosystem of apps.

You can easily host virtual face to face video meetings with a couple of clicks from the application.

It’s also well suited for large businesses, since you’ll find additional features that let you set up video meetings for up to 10,000 members, and host webinars for your team or the public.

This tool has a wide range of features to enhance your video meetings including, screen sharing, call recording, live captioning, and live group chat during video calls.

Mobile, desktop, and Bluetooth conferencing headsets can be used to join in on any call.

Pricing: Microsoft Teams starts at $5 per user per month, which gives you support for up to 300 meeting participants.

6. Google Meet / G Suite Apps

Google Meet is video chat software that’s part of the Google Workplace platform (formerly G Suite).

If you’re an active Google user, then this will integrate seamlessly with your other tools like Google Calendar, Chrome, Google Forms, Gmail, and more.

It’s designed specifically for small business owners and is an enhanced version of Google Hangouts. The goal of this high quality video chat software is to help you interact with third-party clients and customers simply.

It has a fully web-based interface, so there’s no external third-party software to install. It includes a dial in phone number, so team members can join in via voice call if necessary.

Pricing: Google Meet is entirely free to use. You can sign up for Google Workforce Essentials, which starts at $6 per month per user and gives you access to additional video chat features.

7. Ooma Meetings

Ooma is a popular business VOIP phone provider that offers high quality one to one and team video conferencing solutions.

It offers standard features like live HD video chat, host muting, and a meet now link for instant virtual meetings.

One unique feature of this tool is that two or more people can share their screens at the same time. This lets your virtual teams collaborate easily and share information faster.

You can have up to 25 users on the same video call across mobile, desktop, and within their browsers.

There’s also an in-depth virtual meeting manager, so you can easily plan and manage your video calls across your entire business.

Pricing: Ooma Meetings is available with the Ooma Office Pro plan that starts at $24.95 per month.

8. Skype

Skype is one of the longest running video chat software in the market today. It’s entirely free to use and install, and you can use it across nearly all modern operating systems and browsers.

The free tier supports video calling for up to 50 users. It has simple features like screen sharing, the ability to blur screen backgrounds, live subtitling, a basic chat feature, and more.

Overall, it doesn’t pack the same level of features as other tools on this list. But, it’s a great free choice for simple video chat needs.

Pricing: Skype has a free forever plan, while paid business plans start at $5 per month.

Which is the Best Video Chat Software (Expert Pick)?

All of the popular video chat software mentioned above will help you hold video chats with your team members and clients. However, you still need the best tool for your needs.

If you want video chat software that can manage all of your digital and business communication needs, then RingCentral (Grip) is a great choice.

If you’re looking for a standalone video chat service that’s simple to use and can be scaled, then Zoom is a great choice.

GoToMeeting and Microsoft Teams are both great options too, and allow for video chatting across multiple different platforms and devices.

We hope this article has helped you find the best video chat software for your small business. You may also want to see our list of the best live chat software and best push notification software for WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 8 Best Video Chat Software for Business in 2021 (w/ Free Options) appeared first on WPBeginner.