6 Best GoToMeeting Alternatives
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
As part of LogMeIn’s suite of voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) and unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions, GoToMeeting has a lot going for it. Not only does it work well for businesses on a budget, but it also has HD video and a good level of security. However, there are other options with higher-quality audio and more robust features that aren’t limited to higher-tiered plans. In this guide, we describe the best GoToMeeting alternatives to help you find a better potential fit for your business:
- Zoom: The best overall choice for business video conferencing thanks to a useful free plan, HD audio and video, and a robust selection of background effects
- RingCentral: Best provider for businesses that not only need video conferencing but VoIP calling and unified communications tools as well
- BlueJeans: For businesses looking for a more immersive experience, this video conferencing provider’s sound and high definition (HD) video are outstanding
- Microsoft Teams: This is best for companies that are already subscribed to the Office 365 suite of business solutions
- 8×8: Best for businesses that want to reach a larger, potentially companywide audience with their meetings; 8×8 allows users to livestream meetings to YouTube
- Google Meet: For budget-conscious businesses using Google Workspace, this useful, simplified video conferencing solution won’t break the bank
GoTo Meeting & Best Alternatives at a Glance
GoTo Meeting and Alternatives | Starting Price | Key Features | Base Plan Meeting Capacity | Our Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
$12 per user, per month |
| 150 participants | N/A | |
Free for 40-minute group meetings of up to 100 participants |
| 100 participants | 4.41 out of 5 | |
$29.99 per user, per month |
| 100 participants | 4.34 out of 5 | |
$9.99 per user, per month |
| 100 participants | 4.34 out of 5 | |
Free |
| 100 participants | 4.01 out of 5 | |
Free for up to 50 participants |
| 50 participants | 3.94 out of 5 | |
Free for unlimited one-hour group conferences up to 100 participants |
| 100 participants | 3.54 out of 5 | |
Zoom: Best Overall GoToMeeting Alternative for Video Conferencing
Zoom
What We Like
- A free plan small businesses can use for video conferencing
- It’s easy to blur backgrounds and use the “Touch Up My Appearance” setting to reduce poor lighting and distractions
- Very easy-to-navigate interface
What's Missing
- Only up to 1GB of cloud recording per license unless you upgrade to the Enterprise tier
- End-to-end encryption not available for users calling in from telephones
- Without proper security measures, video conferences can be “Zoombombed”
How It Compares to GoToMeeting
- Allows attendees with multi-monitor setups to share applications on any screen
- More calendar compatibility than GoToMeeting; for example, Zoom allows you to send invites via Yahoo Calendar
- Zoom for Telehealth is HIPAA-, PHIPA-, and PIPEDA-compliant* so that electronic healthcare information is protected
- Zoom has video adjustment features that are unavailable in GoToMeeting, including image softening and gamma adjustment
*Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
It’s impossible to ignore Zoom, considering how it’s become the go-to for both business and personal video conferences. In fact, Zoom reported it had an average of 300 million daily meeting participants using its platform in 2020. This is a considerable uptick from the previous year, which was reported as seeing 200 million meeting attendees a day.
There’s a reason for this popularity; Zoom is a great GoToMeeting alternative due to its strong encryption, clean interface, and very versatile desktop and mobile apps. Zoom cleanly beats GoToMeeting in the high-definition experience. It not only has the HD video that you can find on GoToMeeting, but has HD audio as well. This means that Zoom tends to emulate the feeling of being in the same room with your attendees better.
Zoom also has the benefit of having a free tier. While you’re limited in terms of meeting duration and features, having a free video conferencing option helps your small business communicate. Each meeting is limited to 40 minutes in the free version, but there’s no cap on the number of concurrent meetings possible.
Overall, Zoom is just a very well-rounded option for small businesses and solopreneurs, which is why we named it our best overall pick out of our GoToMeeting alternatives.
Zoom Pricing at a Glance*
- Free: Completely free for hosting meetings with up to 100 participants and up to 40 minutes in length.
- Pro: $12.49 per license, per month; host meetings for up to 100 participants like the Free plan but not limited to 40 minutes, and includes a Large Meeting add-on option, which bumps the allowed participant count to 1,000.
- Business: $16.66 per license, per month. Increases the number of participants allowed to 300.
- Enterprise: $20 per license, per month. Increases the number of participants allowed to 500.
*This information is based on paying for the plan annually.
Zoom Features
(Source: Zoom)
- Zoom has both HD audio and video.
- Breakout rooms allow you to quickly set aside up to 50 individual sessions for more private discussion.
- Not only screen sharing, but application sharing as well so that you only show attendees what you want them to see.
RingCentral: Best Alternative With Calling & Unified Communications
RingCentral
What We Like
- 99.999% uptime guarantee
- Native compatibility with the majority of meeting room hardware
- Either browser-based or app-based video conferences with no missing features
What's Missing
- 200-attendee video conference caps
- Subscription plan is semi-pricey
- In-depth analytics dashboard may be too detailed for most users
How It Compares to GoToMeeting
- RingCentral is more expensive than GoToMeeting, but with your subscription, you also get UCaaS and VoIP calling features
- While GoToMeeting has “clear audio,” RingCentral has HD audio that enhances the feeling of being in-person
- While standard RingCentral MVP has built-in video conferencing, the provider also offers a distinct RingCentral Video plan for 100 and 200 participants with a free Pro tier
It’s easy to build your entire business communications stack using RingCentral. It has dedicated call features like interactive voice response (IVR) menus, team communication with presence, and of course, video conferencing. It’s also one of the best business phone systems on the market. Like Zoom, RingCentral packs in both HD audio and video, and encryption is done both in-transit as data is sent and at-rest as your communications data sits on the servers.
If there were a drawback to using RingCentral for video conferencing, it would be the 200-participant cap on video conferences―many providers, including Zoom, 8×8, and Google Meet, exceed this. In fact, the main provider that we’re presenting RingCentral as an alternative for, GoToMeeting, has 150-attendee meeting limits at its first tier and 250-attendee limits at its second.
Still, if you don’t intend to have larger video conferences, then RingCentral checks many other boxes for businesses. You’re able to use breakout rooms, there are both softphone desktop and smartphone apps, and you also get automatic call recording at the Premium tier, which isn’t available with GoToMeeting.
RingCentral Pricing at a Glance*
- Essentials: $29.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 100 attendees with a 40-minute time constraint.
- Standard: $34.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 100 attendees.
- Premium: $44.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 200 attendees.
- Ultimate: $59.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 200 attendees.
*This information is based on paying for the plan annually.
RingCentral Features
(Source: RingCentral)
- Plans also include unlimited domestic calling and texting.
- There are four distinct plans so it’s easy to scale up your communications features.
- Conferences have both HD video and audio.
- An analytics dashboard for analyzing video call performance and utilization is available.
BlueJeans: Best GoToMeeting Alternative for HD Sound Quality
BlueJeans
What We Like
- Dolby Voice sound quality
- Real-time closed captioning during meetings is very accurate
- 24/7 customer service available via chat and phone
What's Missing
- Only 200 meeting attendees, even at Enterprise tier
- Base tier has limited integrations
- Some users reported latency issues
How It Compares to GoToMeeting
- Insofar as audio quality, GoToMeeting’s standard definition sound is much less immersive than BlueJean’s Dolby Voice
- BlueJeans has native virtual backgrounds and background blur while GoToMeeting has background blur only available through the third-party program ChromaCam
- Reactions button that allows attendees to provide non-verbal reactions to presenters
Similar to GoToMeeting and Zoom, BlueJeans is a provider that specializes in video conferencing and doesn’t have bundled calling and unified communications (UC) features like RingCentral. Where BlueJeans stands out is in its usage of Dolby Voice.
While other providers like Zoom and RingCentral have HD voice, none quite have the sound quality that matches what you’d hear with a Voice-compatible setup for your video conferences. This is a particularly strong GoToMeeting alternative, because GoToMeeting doesn’t have HD audio. This makes BlueJeans the go-to option if you need high-fidelity sound during your meetings.
How does this technology enhance meetings? The point of video conferencing is to emulate a face-to-face meeting. With Voice, each attendee’s voice is projected from a different location so that a spatial feeling is generated, making it feel like everyone is in the same workspace. The technology also intelligently separates voices so that everyone is heard clearly, even when conversations overlap.
In addition to its impressive audio features, BlueJeans has all of the features that make it a competitive GoToMeeting competitor. For example, it has breakout rooms, an enhanced gallery view, HD video, virtual backgrounds, and the ability to join from any device. BlueJeans also has a free trial. Pricing is very reasonable as well; for 100-attendee meetings, you’ll only pay $119.88 per year when billed annually.
BlueJeans Pricing at a Glance*
- Standard: $9.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 100 attendees.
- Pro: $13.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 150 attendees.
- Enterprise: $16.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 200 attendees.
- Enterprise Plus: Pricing not published. Video conferences are limited to 200 attendees.
*This information is based on paying for the plan annually.
BlueJeans Features
(Source: BlueJeans)
- Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Smart Meetings automatically captures discussion points and action items, and records meeting highlight reels.
- BlueJeans has a Command Center that provides an in-depth analytical analysis of your organization’s meetings.
- The Join from any Device functionality enables users to not only connect through softphone and smartphone apps, but also through browser windows without losing security.
Microsoft Teams: Best Alternative for Office 365 Subscribers
Microsoft Teams
What We Like
- Apps are accessible from a single location
- Seamless integrations for day-to-day needs
- Solid security, even at the base tier
What's Missing
- Navigating the interface is somewhat confusing
- Recordings are not always easily accessible
- Edges are difficult to see when sharing a screen
How It Compares to GoToMeeting
- On the whole, Microsoft Teams has better integrations compared to GoToMeeting; in addition, it’s designed for Office, so Office 365 users will adopt it easily
- The free tier of Microsoft Teams allows for 60-minute meetings, which is longer than the 40-minute meetings of GoToMeeting Free
- Conversation search is seamless in Microsoft Teams; to peruse conversations in GoToMeeting, you have to manually search through logs
When it comes to team communication, Microsoft Teams is one of the leaders in the industry thanks to a strong promotional push by the company during the last year or so. Microsoft Teams has a robust video conferencing feature that is natively very secure and allows for 1,000-attendee count meetings.
For those who need to share meetings with team members, Microsoft Teams has the capability to record any meeting to the cloud and share later. Like providers such as Zoom and BlueJeans, you can edit your background image with Microsoft Teams. Also, like those providers, you can opt to blur your background to minimize distractions.
Unlike many providers, including GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams allows you to download participant lists so that you can follow up via email, text, or voice after the meeting has ended. This makes for a webinar-like experience that can benefit some businesses. Speaking of which, Microsoft Teams also segues easily into webinar territory since you can host 10,000-attendee webinars on the platform.
Microsoft Teams Pricing at a Glance*
- Microsoft Teams (free): $0 per user, per month. Meetings and calls are limited to 100 participants and 60 minutes. Desktop version not included with this plan.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $5.00 per user, per month. Meetings and calls are limited to 300 participants. Desktop version not included with this plan.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user, per month. Meetings and calls are limited to 300 participants.
*This information is based on paying for the plan annually.
Microsoft Teams Features
(Source: Microsoft Teams)
- Live captioning during meetings is available so participants can read along with what’s being said.
- Microsoft Teams has very customizable backgrounds to reduce distractions.
- A free plan that allows for unlimited meetings with 60-minute durations is available.
- Every Microsoft Teams plan includes one terabyte of file storage.
8×8: Best GoToMeeting Alternative for Meeting Streaming
8x8
What We Like
- Video meetings are unlimited, even on the free plan
- Interface is very intuitive and easy to use
- Works well with mobile devices
What's Missing
- Transcription services could be better
- Calendar does not sync more than 24 hours in advance
- Limited technical support
How It Compares to GoToMeeting
- Native features to stream live meetings to YouTube, even with a free account; this feature isn’t available on GoToMeeting
- 8×8 has both HD audio and video
- No limits on how many concurrent meetings can be hosted or joined for free, and no set meeting duration limit
While those who need to warehouse medical records indefinitely would need a stronger recording option, small businesses that just want to record meetings for short-term future reference will find 8×8 a good option. With the basic plan, these recordings have no duration limits and are saved for three days.
For Pro users, this storage period is increased to two months, which is very compelling for those who want to save and share meetings with colleagues. Compare this to Microsoft Teams, which saves meetings for only 21 days, and you’ll quickly see the value.
8×8 video conferencing also has extensive calendar app integration. When sending out a calendar invite, you’ll be able to do so through:
- Google Calendar
- Microsoft Exchange
- Apple Calendar
- Office 365
- Outlook.com
This is very robust, especially compared to GoToMeeting, which only has calendar invite capability through Outlook and Google Calendar.
8×8 also has downloadable meeting plugins that expand functionality and allow you to schedule meetings from start to finish. Like a few of the GoToMeeting alternatives on this list, 8×8 has both HD audio and video, which helps to aid the sense of being face-to-face during meetings.
8×8 Pricing at a Glance*
- Meetings Free: $0 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 50 attendees.
- Meetings Pro: $9 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 100 attendees.
- 8×8 Express: $12 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 500 attendees.
- X2: $24 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 500 attendees.
- X4: $44 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 500 attendees.
*This information is based on paying for the plan annually.
8×8 Features
(Source: 8×8)
- 8x8x has the capability for attendees to dial in both domestically and internationally, thanks to numbers available in over 50 countries.
- Invite participants at any time, even when the meeting is underway.
- Its robust analytics displays video conferencing usage and quality of service.
- 8×8 video conferences can be streamed to verified YouTube accounts, expanding video conferences to almost webinar levels.
Google Meet: Best GoToMeeting Alternative for Ease of Use & Budget-friendliness
Google Meet
What We Like
- App installation not required
- Offers document collaboration options
- Recordings saved to Google Drive
What's Missing
- It does not have a transcription feature
- No digital whiteboard is available
- Free users are given a time limit for conferences
How It Compares to GoToMeeting
- Google Meet’s pricing is much cheaper than GoToMeeting’s pricing plans
- The one-hour meeting cap on the free tier is 20 minutes longer than what’s available on GoToMeeting’s relatively limited free plan
- As part of the Google Workspace line of apps, this video conferencing solution is better for businesses using Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and so on
Our final GoToMeeting alternative, Google Meet, is a great option for small businesses that need to pay special attention to budget and ease of use. As part of the Google Workspace, their video conferencing platform fits in neatly with professional versions of apps like Gmail, GDocs, Sheets, and Calendar.
Like many of the best video conferencing platforms for small businesses, Google Meet has a free tier. The chief difference is that Meet includes one-hour meetings rather than the 40-minute ones offered by competitors like GoToMeeting and Zoom.
The free plan is available to anyone with a Google account, which is particularly useful for solopreneurs looking for an easy video conferencing solution. Upgrading from the free tier is also inexpensive; the Essentials Plan only costs about $8 a month and allows for meetings of up to 150 attendees. Compare this pricing to RingCentral Standard, which is about $35 per month, and you’ll understand how budget-friendly Google Meet is.
With Google Meet, there’s no need to download any special software; video conferences are easily hosted in a web browser window. Also, since it’s a part of Google Workspace, it’s very easy to use from other integrated applications, such as Gmail or Calendar.
Video conferences on Google Meet are unfortunately limited to a maximum resolution of 720p. If you’re looking for true HD video, then video conferencing options like Zoom and RingCentral may be better suited to your needs.
Google Meet Pricing at a Glance*
- Google Meet Free: $0 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 100 attendees and one hour of time.
- Google Workspace Individual: $7.99 per user, per month. Video conferences are limited to 150 attendees.
- Google Workspace Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing. Video conferences are limited to 250 attendees.
*It’s important to note that there will be a price increase to $9.99 per month for the Workspace Individual plan in January 2022.
Google Meet Features
(Source: Google Meet)
- At the Workplace Enterprise tier, intelligent noise cancellation features are available for video meetings. While this isn’t expressly HD audio, it does improve call quality significantly.
- All data exchanged and at rest during a video conference is heavily encrypted, even if the data is being sent via web browser.
- Google Drive storage is provided since Meet is part of the larger Google Workspace suite of solutions.
- Google Meet Free allows for one-on-one meetings up to 24 hours in duration.
How We Evaluated the Best GoToMeeting Alternatives
We selected several GoToMeeting competitors that have a range of features teams can use to communicate and share files easily. We evaluated each provider based on overall cost, the availability of general and advanced features that would give it the ability to replace your small business VoIP service, our expertise with the product, and its popularity and ease of use.
Out of the products that we reviewed, we found Zoom to be the most fully featured GoToMeeting alternative. It has a great free plan that provides meetings with a 40-minute duration limit that works well for smaller businesses with limited budgets. In addition to this, it also has add-on packages for telehealth and also has a suite of touch-up effects that you can use for both backgrounds and for individual presenters during meetings.
Here’s a breakdown of how we measured each provider:
25% of Overall Score
Price is typically a determining factor when deciding which video conferencing option best fits the needs of a small business. We looked at the price of subscription plans for each provider and considered whether a demo or a free trial is available for users to try the service before committing.
30% of Overall Score
We checked to see whether platforms have general features that enhance the overall usefulness, like the recording capacity for meetings, sound and video quality, security features like encryption, and whether the software can be run through a browser or a desktop app.
25% of Overall Score
While these features aren’t 100% required, niche and advanced features further enhance user experience. For these types of alternatives, we took a look at whether the solution had a mobile app, had support for features like breakout rooms, or supported file sharing. We also reviewed the meeting capacities (number of participants) supported in each tier.
20% of Overall Score
When considering this section, we considered the standout features that each solution provides, the value you get from each, how popular it is, and if it’s easy to use.
Bottom Line
Video conferencing is unavoidable in this age of remote work, and while GoToMeeting may be a fine solution for some, it’s not for every organization. The alternatives we provided each have their own best uses, so it’s a good idea to first identify your business needs insofar as video conferencing. This will help you decide if it’s best to go with another video conferencing provider instead of GoToMeeting.