4 Pro Video Conferencing Tools You Can Get for Free

pcmag.com:

In the wake of the global COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, video conferencing and business messaging software and solutions have become vital tools used to keep people connected. With the rise of hybrid work and millions of workers new to working from home, many entrepreneurs and small to midsize businesses (SMBs) are struggling to adapt to the new reality of communicating at a distance.

Fortunately, the field of video conferencing systems is broad, with many options to choose from. Better yet, several major players offer their services at a no-cost tier that provides a subset of their full features. If you don't think you'll need all the bells and whistles of an enterprise-grade video conferencing solution, these free offerings may be just the ticket to keep your remote workers connected. Let's look at what's available, how to get it, and what you need to know for each of these tools.

Cisco's free Webex tier lets anyone launch meeting for up to 100 participants and that last as long as 50 minutes. (You can double that to 200 participants with the Meet plan, but this costs $15 per user per month.) The free plan is pretty generous with communications features, which include screen sharing, breakout rooms, chat, notes, and hand-raising. What's more, you can connect via your browser or using dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

If you do decide to upgrade to a paid tier, Cisco offers powerful features, including automatic meeting recording and transcription and the ability to transfer files. Some plans even let you use your Webex client as a softphone, which allows you to reach out to anyone with a phone number.

Sign up for a free Webex personal account at webex.com. Enter your personal email and you'll