Best Tools For Remote Meetings

Best Tools For Remote Meetings: Now that remote meetings have become a daily thing we need to figure out what tools to use to make our remote meetings better.

All you need is three different tools and you should be good to go. You need video conferencing software for online meetings, screen recording to record your meetings, and cloud storage to store and share your files.

However, if you’re not tech-savvy and don’t know your way around these tools you may find yourself confused and overwhelmed given how many options the internet gives you.

To make your job a bit easier we’ve put together a list of some of the best tools for remote meetings below.

Video Conferencing Softwares

Video conferencing

There are tons of video conferencing software out there like Zoom, google meet, Microsoft teams, etc. if you’re new to video conferencing you will get overwhelmed with the plethora of options that you get.

Let’s weigh the pros and cons of some of the most popular video conferencing software and try to understand which one will cater to your needs the best.

Zoom

Zoom is one of the best video conferencing and messaging software for computers and mobile devices. What makes Zoom so popular amongst people of all age groups is that it has a user-friendly design, and the UI is extremely intuitive and easy to understand.

It supports 1,000 participants at a time and can support 49 videos on a single screen, though such large meetings need to be conducted on big-screen monitors.

Zoom offers a wide range of features. It allows you to save the meetings locally or on the cloud. Additionally, it also transcribes your meeting for you which is a very useful feature. The participants can also share their screens and provide their own notes if required.

Moreover, Zoom is extremely secure. It uses 256 TLS encryption for both the meeting and the shared files.

Zoom has become a household name in the midst of the current global pandemic. People were forced to stay at home to stop the spread of covid-19 which allowed Zoom to rise to the top by connecting the world virtually. It became the go-to platform for everybody when it came to virtual meetings. Whether it was for office meetings, online school, or a virtual game night everybody started using Zoom.

Although Zoom is a paid software the basic account is free of charge and can accommodate up to 100 people for 40 minutes.

Some may think of this restriction as a blessing, though, since meetings are sure to start on time and the participants stick to the agenda.

The tool has a premium version that costs $14.99 monthly and allows limitless sessions.

Google Meet

Google Meet is one of the most popular video conferencing services out there. It was formerly known as Google Hangouts but was later rebranded as Google Meets as a part of the Google workspace office productivity platform.

It is one of the simplest video conferencing software out there. It doesn’t require you to sign up or create a new account, all you need is a Gmail account and you are ready to get started. Plus there is no need to download this software on your computer because it is available in the form of a web app. If you’re using it on a mobile device you can download the app but it isn’t necessary.

One of the most impressive things about this app is that it doesn’t come with a monthly cost. It provides all the features for free which gives it an edge over apps like Zoom.

Although it doesn’t come with too many features as zoom does, it gives you everything you need for a smooth meeting like screen sharing and video sharing. Another plus is that this app has a very intuitive and simple UI which means everyone can use it without needing to watch a bunch of youtube tutorials to understand how the app works.

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is another video conferencing service that provides all the basics like audio, video conferencing, and screen sharing.

What makes GoToMeeting one of the best video conferencing apps in the market is its mobile-friendliness. From setting up a meeting, inviting participants, and conducting the whole meeting everything can be done using your smartphone. It also gives you the option to change call and video quality which is a unique feature. Plus it works both on Android and iOS which is always an added bonus.

This software can cost you somewhere between $12 to $50 a month depending on the package that you go for. The cost can also vary depending on whether you’re buying for an individual or an organization. The most basic package offers 150 participants which is more than enough for most users.

The Business plan allows 250 participants and gives you access to some admin options. In addition to that you also get drawing tools and mouse sharing. The enterprise plan, however, can accommodate a total of 3000 participants.

This app also allows you to join a meeting with a single click much like some of the very best video conferencing apps out there like Zoom and Google Meet. The users also get the option to change call and image quality.

This software has as many as 3 million users globally on a monthly basis and over 55 million meetings every year.

Microsoft teams

MS teams allow you to set up a meeting with one or multiple people. What makes it different from other video conferencing softwares is that it can also be used to conduct webinars and large meetings with up to 1000 participants.

Microsoft Teams comes loaded with features. It offers video conferencing, screen sharing, call recording, live captions, background blur, and chat. When integrated with Microsoft 365 this software becomes better than any other video conferencing software in the market.

Some schools and colleges have started using MS Teams for online study in place of Zoom because it is as good as Zoom if not better.

It comes with both Android and iOS support which means you can join or start meetings from wherever and whenever without having to jump onto a desktop or boot up your laptop.

However, Microsoft Teams is one of the more expensive options because it doesn’t come as a standalone software it comes with Microsoft 365. Microsoft offers 3 different plans the MS 365 business essentials costs $5 a month, the MS 365 business costs $8.25 while the Business premium plan costs $12 a months

The premium plan gives you access to a full MS 365 desktop applications suite whereas the essentials plan only gives the user access to cloud-based applications and storage.

Screen recording.

Tool 2 – Screen Video Capture

A business meeting can be useful even after it is over. Chances are the team may need to refer to the content of the corporate get-together for some data or details. To this end, it would be reasonable to have the meeting recorded.

Screen recording is particularly useful for students who are taking online classes. They get to listen to the recorded lectures multiple times which gives them the opportunity to get a better understanding of the course content.

However, there really isn’t any need for separate screen recording applications because most of the video conferencing softwares come with the option of screen recording. Not just that some softwares even transcribes the meetings for you.

Making screencasts, editing and saving any video content, sound recording, taking screenshots, capturing the webcam output, and even scheduling the recording are some features that you may want for your online meeting all of which are offered by softwares like Movavi, Zoom and Microsoft teams.

Cloud Storage Services

Cloud Storage Services

Cloud storage is an incredibly useful tool for remote meetings. rather than having to mail your files to your team members, you upload your files on the cloud storage that you are using and share the link with your team.

You no longer have to send your files to every team member through the email and worry about not being able to share large-sized files. You can upload all your files on the cloud storage and your team can access them through the permanent link that you’ve shared with them. With cloud storage, you get more accessibility, flexibility, and scalability

Dropbox

Dropbox is a place where all the scattered work comes together. It helps you organize your data, get it in sync with the team plan and keep it secure.

Dropbox allows you to store your content in a safe place that you can access from any device that has an internet connection whether it be your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Whatever changes you make will be synced with your account and every team member will start seeing the updated content.

Using dropbox also saves you a lot of time because you don’t have to switch back and forth between different apps to edit your office files. You can work on all your office files directly in dropbox.

Back in June 2019 dropbox partnered up with Zoom and Slack for new integrations. Now not only can you share your content with your team, but you can also send messages on Slack and set up a video conference using zoom.

Dropbox started out as a cloud storage service but now it has evolved into a full virtual workspace equipped with tons of useful tools.

One of the reasons that made dropbox so popular was how quickly it would sync all your files. It uses a technique called block-level file copying. In layman’s terms, this means that when dropbox syncs a file it only copies the edited parts rather than copying the whole file every time changes are made. it takes the longest time to sync the first time but after that, it syncs all your files almost immediately.

Dropbox offers you a small amount of storage for free. The free plan has 2 GB of storage but, if you want to increase the storage space you can do a few things, you can either add your friends and get 500 MB with each friend or you can pay $11.99 per month to get 2 TB of storage.

Google Drive

Google Drive is Probably the most popular cloud storage tool with almost a billion users worldwide daily. It allows you to create files, edit them, and share them in real-time collaboration.

Google Drive is really effective because it integrates quite seamlessly with docs, Sheets and Slides, and most importantly cloud-native apps that ensure effective team collaboration.

Drive supports more than 100 different types of files, including, word, pdf, and images. It also works perfectly with apps like Adobe, Atlassian, DocuSign, Salesforce, Slack, and much much more, Creating an efficient ecosystem for the users.

Anyone who is granted editor’s access can write or make any other additions or alterations to the file, leave comments, and suggest corrections. All the changes are saved the second they are made.

Compared to Dropbox Google Drive offers a lot more free storage space, 15 GB to be precise. However, your storage space is not limited to that, google gives Unlimited storage with google photos. You can store an unlimited number of photos on google photos as long as they don’t exceed 16MP and unlimited videos up to 1080p.

You can buy additional storage by paying $20 annually for 100GB or 30$ per year for 300GB.

Final thoughts

If we were to pick the best video conferencing software in the market right now Zoom will come out on top simply because of how many options and features it gives you. Even though Microsoft teams gives you everything that Zoom does but when it comes to pricing MS Teams is on the expensive side, which gives Zoom the edge over MS teams.

When it comes to cloud storage Google Drive always beats Dropbox because it has more features, better pricing, and a better overall ecosystem.

Written By Isabella

Isabella Martinez, your go-to relationship advisor and creator of Life Falcon. I love diving into love, life, and star signs, sharing helpful tips and interesting thoughts with you.

More About Author

Trending Right Now

How boxers build muscles without lifting weights?

How Boxers Build Muscles without Lifting Weights?

We have all seen the muscles boxers build and sustain, right? How many times have you dreamt of achieving that build? How many times have you wished you looked like

What it means when You Dream About Someone?

Dreaming About Someone? | What Does It Mean?

Dreams are Weird. No doubt. That’s why definitions of dreaming differ based on physical, psychological, and spiritual explanations. This is understandable, but what are dreams generally? What does it really

50 Mottos to live by

50 Mottos To Live By | With Explanation

If you want to live a life worthwhile and if you want people to always remember you in good words; there are a few mottos you need to swear by.

Ways to get your ex back when you are living together

Ways to get your ex back when you are living together

Picture this: things got ugly with your relationship and you had to break it off, but you and your (now) ex have to live together perhaps due to some lease

Best ghost hunting cameras

Best Ghost Hunting Cameras With Night Vision

Most of the “incidents” that happen at night are best recorded by the night vision camcorders as they can store complex information with low lightning conditions. A simple camcorder records

Boxing damaging hands

To What Extent Boxing Can Damage Your Hands?

Have you ever wondered if boxing can cause serious damage to your hands? Ever felt that irksome ache in your wrists and hands after workouts? If yes then you might

Top 15 Marvel Gifts For Men

Top 15 Marvel Gifts For Men

Confused about what would be the perfect gift for your man? Well, Marvel gifts have sorted out this dilemma for you. Like our list of We can’t promise that the

Reasons Why The Geminis Are So Hard To Understand

Reasons Why The Geminis Are So Hard To Understand

As your relationship progresses to a more comfortable place, getting to understand someone feels like a little but an important achievement. And the little bursts of galatentment when you realize

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Wife - Sophie Hunter

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Wife – Sophie Hunter

As an actor, Benedict Cumberbatch’s versatility in his roles is nothing short of amazing. It’s hard to imagine him as anything other than impeccably dressed. From playing the dashing William Carrey in The

Johnny Depp's Ex: Lori Anne Allison : An Inspiration

Lori Anne Allison – An Inspiration (Johnny Depp’s Ex)

Lori Anne Allison had learned to live a life of her choice at a very young age and is now among the many women who inspire others to follow in

Dont trust all not everybody is your friend

Don’t Trust Anyone Not Everyone Is Your Friend

Yes seriously, don’t trust anyone not everyone is your friend, and let me tell you why. Starting off with a quote that I love:Inspiring your journey, one story at a

What To Do When You Miss Someone?

What To Do When You Miss Someone?

Nothing feels as disturbing as the end of a relationship you weren’t ready to let go of. When a loved one leaves your life, whether it is ending a relationship,

Is Asus bad or good?

Is ASUS Good or Bad?

ASUS is a multinational computer hardware and electronics company, based in Taiwan. It is globally renowned and is responsible for a range of innovative devices and major contributions to the

gaming headphones without mic

Good Headphones For Gaming Without Mic?

Good Headphones For Gaming Without Mic?: The headphones that are mentioned above aren’t your only options when purchasing a pair of headphones without a mic for your gaming sessions but

How does Avast make your Computer slow?

How does Avast make your Computer slow?

The most common question about Avast antivirus is “Does Avast slow down your computer”? Well, this particular statement “Avast slows down your computer” may not be entirely true because while

Can you use a USB cable to transfer data from one computer to another?

USB cable To Transfer Data From One PC To Another?

USB cable To Transfer Data From One PC To Another?: If there’s anything that is evolving with every passing minute, it is technology. With fast pace development and inventions in

punching a boxing bag

Does punching a bag build muscle?

So we know that it’s December and you are all hyped for your new year’s resolution to build a nice physique. If you are wondering about ways to cut that

Do Tax Preparers Make Good Money?

Do Tax Preparers Make Good Money?

Self-employed people always seem to have the highest job security in today’s economy. Entrepreneurship rewards individuality, financial security, and more. Imagine having your own safe stream of income — with

Why Is RAM So Expensive?

Why Is RAM So Expensive Right Now?

The supply and demand are a big reason behind the increasing price of RAM. And the interesting thing is that there are only three companies that manufacture and fulfill the

Shopping sites in Pakistan

Best Online Shopping Sites in Pakistan

The concept of online shopping is getting popular with the passage of time. The idea of sitting on your couch, sipping on tea, and shopping your favorite items through a