Platforms & Apps

16 Live Meeting and Webinar Platforms

With web conferencing you can reach a broad audience, whether it’s a 25-person live meeting or a 2,500-person webinar.

Here is a list of live-conferencing services. Many of these distinguish between smaller meetings and larger webinars, offering services for both categories.

While the more established platforms are software-based, there are multiple browser-based services that offer unique features and affordability. All of these services offer powerful tools to take your message to the next level. Additional questions for each platform could include compatibility with different browsers, Mac and PC functionality, and recording ability.

  1. Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro. Give a webinar to hundreds of participants with Adobe’s Connect Pro software. Features include audience tracking, a whiteboard to create notes, simultaneous public and private instant messaging, and session recording. Plans start at $45 per month for unlimited meetings with up to 25 participants. There is also a pay-per-use plan at 32 cents per minute per user. Free for 30 days.

    Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro.

    Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro.

  2. Cisco WebEx. One of the best-known conferencing solutions, Cisco’s WebEx web conferencing software has all the bells and whistles you need in a webinar. Features include mobile access, session recording, and live polling. WebEx Training Center can host 1,000 participants. WebEx Event Center can host 3,000 participants. Plans start at $49 per month for unlimited meetings with up to 25 participants. Free for 14 days.
  3. GoToWebinar. Conduct a multimedia webinar with up to 1,000 people at once using GoToWebinar software. Put together a presentation with slides, text, video and more. Schedule the event and invite panelists and audience members. Features include customized branding, desktop sharing, drawing tools, and session recording. GoToWebinar plans start at $99 per month for up to 100 participants. GoToMeeting plans start at $49 per month for up to 15 attendees. Free for 30 days.
  4. LotusLive. Give a webinar using the LotusLive Events software. Features include event management tools, automated email services, integrated instant messaging, mobile access, and live polling. LotusLive Event can host meetings with up to 1,000 participants, with plans starting as low as $79 per month. For up to 15 attendees, use LotusLive Meeting at $39 per month. Free for 60 days.

    LotusLive Meetings.

    LotusLive Meetings.

  5. Microsoft Office Live Meeting. Conduct a webinar with up to 1,250 participants with Microsoft Office Live Meeting software. Features include desktop sharing, live polling, and session recording. Standard Users can conduct meetings with up to 250 participants per meeting for $4.50 per user per month. Professional Users can conduct meetings with up to 1,250 participants per meeting for $16 per user per month, and can store recordings for 360 days. Windows only. Free for 14 days.
  6. Verizon Small Business Web Conferencing. Join the Verizon Collaboration Center to hold online meetings using Cisco WebEx software. Plans start at $24.99 per month for unlimited meetings with 5 participants. For pricing on meetings of more than 10 participants you’ll need to call a small business representative. Free for 30 days.
  7. AnyMeeting. A free online meeting service that lets you hold unlimited meetings for up to 200 participants. AnyMeeting runs an advertiser-based model to keep the meeting service free. AnyMeeting is browser-based and features screen sharing, live polling, and session recording.

    AnyMeeting.

    AnyMeeting.

  8. Comapping. Allows users to collaborate with one another visually and in real-time from anywhere around the globe. Ideas are captured and tracked in a visual on-the-fly flowchart style. Once the brainstorming is complete, assign tasks, set deadlines and keep the entire team in sync. Host meetings for up to 100 users. Plans start at $184 per year for unlimited meetings with up to 5 participants.
  9. Fuze Meetings. With Fuze Meeting you can host a meeting from your iPhone. As a browser-based platform, there’s no need for attendees to download software. Fuze can call participants into the web conference. Features such as session recording and site branding are available with upgrades. Plans start at $9.99 for meetings by the day, and $29 per month for up to 25 participants. Account upgrades can be purchased for meetings of more than 100 attendees. Free for 30 days.
  10. GatherPlace. Run a GatherPlace meeting on a Java-enabled browser or download a small application. No software downloads required for guests. Features desktop sharing, instant messaging with audience, audience usage reports, and session recording. Conduct meetings with up to 2,000 guests. Plans start at $29 per month for unlimited meetings with 5 participants, and $49 per month for up to 100 participants. Free for 14 days.

    GatherPlace.

    GatherPlace.

  11. iLinc. iLinc offers meetings, e-learning and webinars. Also it can leverage integrations with Salesform.com and create a customer tracking option. Host webinars for up to 1,000 participants. Host meetings for up to 25 participants. Features include attendee monitoring, live polling, session recording, automated reminders and follow-ups. Webinars start at $79 per month. Meetings start at $39 per month. Free for 30 days.
  12. InterCall. InterCall is a tool for web meetings as well as audio conference calls. Anytime conferencing, no reservations required. Features include desktop sharing, session recording, and mobile access. Plans start at $42 per month for unlimited meetings with up to 20 attendees. Also there’s a pay-as-you-go plan for 17 cents per person.
  13. omNovia. Host a webinar for up to 5,000 participants. This browser-based system features desktop sharing, white board, slide show module, session recording, and live polling. Plans start at $49 per month for unlimited meetings of up to 25 attendees. $178 per month for up to 100 attendees. Free for 20 days.
  14. ReadyTalk. ReadyTalk web conferencing offers a browser-based online meeting system with tools for promoting your event, sharing content, interacting with your audience, and recording your event. ReadyTalk offers support for high-value events. ReadyTalk Web Event bundles pre- and post-event consulting for webinars with as many as 3,000 participants. Plans start at $49 per month for up to 25 participants. Free for 30 days.
  15. Yugma. Yugma has a Skype edition for free unlimited online meetings with as many as 20 attendees. Its browser-based Yugma P series can host webinars of up to 500 attendees. Features include white board tools, mouse and keyboard sharing, session recording, and Skype integration. Yugma P plans start at $9.95 month for unlimited meetings of up to 20 participants.

    Yugma.

    Yugma.

  16. Zoho. This browser-based web conferencing system offers an affordable option for meetings of up to 100 participants. Also Zoho has a feature called Embed Meeting to insert the meeting details into your website or blog and actually conduct the meeting right there. Plans start at $12 per month for as many as 5 participants. One-on-one meetings are free.
Sig Ueland
Sig Ueland
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