The world has changed a lot in the last five years. Due to more flexible work schedules (and Summer Fridays), people are working from outside of the office now more than ever. Luckily, top video conferencing software allows people to connect and work across varying locations and time zones by hopping onto a quick meeting using their laptop, desktop computer, or smartphone.Video conferencing software comes in many forms and flavors from small bolt-ons to productivity suites, standalone solutions, online-only services, and mobile apps. It can be difficult to find the right solution, but the main factors you should consider are how often you will need to use it, how many seats, or licenses, you will need to support, and whether you need collaborative tools. Above all, video conferencing software must be reliable, efficient, secure, and productive.
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Best personal data removal service deals of the week $162 (save $198) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. What is the best video conferencing software right now?The best video conferencing software solution right now is Zoom. The service became a household name during the pandemic and is now one of the most popular video conferencing solutions worldwide. Zoom boasts a user-friendly platform, breakrooms, virtual backgrounds, and collaborative tools for a reasonable price. Zoom's basic plan for meetings under 40 minutes is free, or paid subscriptions start at $13.33 per user per month.Alternatively, you could consider Microsoft Teams if you are using productivity tools and platforms in Microsoft's ecosystem. Business plans are available from $4 per seat per month. Also: Google Meet now automatically centers you - and it's kind of freakyZDNET's team has used video conferencing tools for as long as they have been around. To cut through the noise, I have extensively researched, tested, and examined customer feedback while compiling my guide on the best options.The best video conferencing software of 2026 Zoom gained a huge following during the work-from-home surge of 2020 and is still one of the top performers in video conferencing software.Why we like it: Zoom provides almost everything you want in an end-to-end encrypted HD video conference platform. You can join from a dedicated desktop suite, mobile app, or web browser. Breakout rooms, virtual backgrounds, collaborative whiteboards, screen sharing, live chats, video recording, and even an artificial intelligence companion are all available to enhance productivity. Amid Zoom's explosion in popularity during the pandemic, it also came under fire for security issues, but the service now regularly performs security updates and has also implemented role-based controls. There is also a public bug bounty.Also: The complete Zoom guide: From basic help to advanced tips and tricksZoom still offers a free version, but it comes with a caveat -- free users are limited to 40-minute meetings.Who it's for: I've been using Zoom consistently throughout the years. I can see why so many customers are pleased with it, considering how user-friendly it is and the wide range of tools and features it offers. Outside of free connections and use, Zoom offers a range of individual and paid plans and many bolt-ons and additional services. An individual plan allows you to host up to 100 participants, starting at $13.33 per month per user. Zoom's Business plan, priced at $18.32 per month per seat for 10 users minimum, can support up to 300 -- with more capacity on offer if you add the Large Meeting bolt-on. Who should look elsewhere: Zoom, either free or paid, will suit most use cases. But there might be a subset of users in small businesses who want more than the free solution but can't quite make the leap to the first paid plan. If that's the case, one of my other recommendations might interest you.Zoom features: High-capacity meetings | Collaborative tools | Interactive whiteboards | Messaging | AI | Paid plans available | Free version | Bolt-ons available
