Comparison of web conferencing software

This list is a comparison of web conferencing software available for Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms. Many of the applications support the use of videoconferencing.

Comparison chart

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ProgramLicenseCapacity
Linux
macOS
Microsoft Windows
Audio Support
Video Support
Video Quality
Chat Support
Desktop Sharing
Support
Whiteboard
Upload PPT
Upload PDF
Upload Doc/DocX
Co-browsing
Mobile Device
Support
Break-Out rooms
Security Access
Encrypted
communication
Host meeting
from Mobile
Attend meeting
from Mobile
Screen share
from Mobile
Cloud Based
Recording
capabilities
VoIP
Embeddable
Dial in
Adobe ConnectProprietary1–1,500
(80,000 w/webcast)
Partial [note 1] 1080p, 360°[1][failed verification] [note 2] [note 3]✓ iPhone, iPad, and Android[2] iOS, Android and RIM? [3]
alfaviewProprietary1–500 HQ ?One-time download
AT&T ConnectProprietary1–1,500 [note 4] HQ iOS, Android, RIM and Windows Phone? ???
AnyMeetingProprietary1–200 [4] HQ ✓ iPad and Android Tablets[5] iOS and Android Tablets? ???
BigBlueButtonLGPL, GPL1–150+[6][self-published source] VGA, HQ ?
Cisco WebExProprietary1–3,000 VGA, HQ, HD ✓ 256-bit AES,PKI,End-to-end (Transport layer: 128-bit

SSLv3)

✓ iOS devices, Android, and BlackBerry ? ✓ Computer-based and server-based ?
Conference XPApache License 2.0? Full HD ? ??? ???????? ???
DiscordProprietary50 HD, 1080p ? ? ??? ??? ??
LogMeIn GotoMeetingProprietary1–1,000 [note 5] VGA, HD Whiteboard Anywhere [note 6] [note 7] [note 8] [note 9] ? [note 10] ??
Facebook Messenger RoomsProprietary1–50
FreeConferenceCallProprietary1–1,000 HD ✓ 256-bit AES,PKI,End-to-end (Transport layer: 128-bit

SSLv3)

✓ iOS devices, Android, and BlackBerry ✓ Computer-based and server-based
Fuze MeetingProprietary1–1,000Partial[7] ✓ (Vista, 7 & 8) HD, QVGA ✓ Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablet ? ?
Genesys Meeting CenterProprietary125+ VGA ? ? ? ? ???
GaleneMIT Licence1-1000 HD No [8]
Google MeetProprietary100–1000 HD ? ??
HCL SametimeProprietary? VGA, HQ, HD (H.264) ? ???
iMeetProprietaryUp to 125Partial[9] HD ? ???
InterCall Unified Meeting (IUM)Proprietary125+Partial VGA ? ? ? ??
JamiGNU General Public License1–8[10] VGA, HQ, HD (H.264), HEVC (H.265) ?????✓ iOS and Android? iOS and Android?? ???
Jitsi MeetApache License1-1000+[11] VGA, HQ, HD (H.264) [12] ✓ iOS and Android iOS and Android? [13]
LifesizeProprietary1–300
(10,000 webinar)
[14] HQ ?
Microsoft Live Meeting (discontinued)Proprietary? VGA, HQ ?Partial ???
Microsoft TeamsProprietary10?, 250–10,000
(250–10,000 paid)
VGA, HQ, HD [15] ?iOS, Android, WebRTC?Partial✓ (Paid)??✓ (paid; add-on)
MikogoProprietary1–25 ???? ? ? ???
NetviewerProprietary1–100 VGA ????? ? ????????
omNovia Web ConferenceProprietary2–5,000 VGA ? ? ? ???
OpenMeetingsApache License1–125 VGA ?? ???? [16]???
PowWow365Proprietary1–500 iOS (iPhone, iPad)? ???
SkypeProprietary1 to 50Partial[note 11] VGA, HQ, HD ? ? ???
Skype for Business (discontinued)Proprietary1 to 1,000
(10,000 webinar[citation needed])
VGA, HQ, HD ? ?Partial ?
StarLeafProprietary1–300
(Unlimited streaming audience)
Partial HD ? ?
TeamViewerProprietary1–25 VGA ? [note 12] [note 12]? ????????
TrueConfProprietary1–1,000 Ultra HD iOS, Android, WebRTCiOS, Android, WebRTC? [17]
VenueGenProprietary1–500 [note 1] VGA [note 2]? ? [note 3] ????????
VideoMostProprietary1–250
(+1,500 video broadcast)
HD, Full HD, Ultra HD (4K) ✓ iPad, Android Phones & Tablets iPad, Android Phones & Tablets? API VideoMost?
WizIQProprietaryUp to 1,999 VGA, HQ, HD ? API Web Services Archived 2020-04-13 at the Wayback Machine?
YuuguuProprietary1–30 ? ? ? ??????
ZohoProprietary1–250 ? ?
ZoomProprietary50–500
(10,000 webinar)
Partial[note 11] HD [18] ?One-time download ?
ProgramLicenseCapacity
Linux
macOS
Microsoft Windows
Audio Support
Video Support
Video Quality
Chat Support
Desktop Sharing
Support
Whiteboard
Upload PPT
Upload PDF
Upload Doc/DocX
Co-browsing
Mobile Device
Support
Break-Out rooms
Security Access
Encrypted
communication
Host meeting
from Mobile
Attend meeting
from Mobile
Screen share
from Mobile
Cloud Based
Recording
capabilities
VoIP
Embeddable
Dial in

Terminology

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In the table above, the following terminology is intended to be used to describe some important features:

  • Audio Support: the remote control software transfers audio signals across the network and plays the audio through the speakers attached to the local computer. For example, music playback software normally sends audio signals to the locally attached speakers, via some sound controller hardware. If the remote control software package supports audio transfer, the playback software can run on the remote computer, while the music can be heard from the local computer, as though the software were running locally.
  • Co-Browsing: the navigation of the Web by several people accessing the same web pages at the same time. When session leader clicks on a link, all other users are transferred to the new page. Co-browsers should support multiple frames and support embedded multimedia (e.g., if a page contains a video player, the session leader may commence synchronized playback for all users. Passing URLs via other tools such as a chat or phone and entering them into browser by each user is not considered co-browsing.
  • File Transfer: the software allows the user to transfer files between the local and remote computers, from within the client program's user interface.
  • Unified Communications (UC) is a marketing buzzword describing the integration of real-time, enterprise, communication services such as instant messaging (chat), presence information, voice (including IP telephony), mobility features (including extension mobility and single number reach), audio, web & video conferencing, fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), desktop sharing, data sharing (including web connected electronic interactive whiteboards), call control and speech recognition with non-real-time communication services such as unified messaging (integrated voicemail, e-mail, SMS and fax). UC is not necessarily a single product, but a set of products that provides a consistent unified user-interface and user-experience across multiple devices and media-types.[19]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Supports two-way teleconference integration
  2. ^ a b Linux users may only view another user's desktop
  3. ^ a b Yes, but only via a screen-sharing "pod" with control permissions granted
  4. ^ Web based client without the ability to share
  5. ^ Requires HTML5 enabled browsers
  6. ^ Not secure for general meetings, this feature is only available in GoToTraining
  7. ^ Not secure for general meetings, this feature is only available in GoToTraining
  8. ^ Not secure for general meetings, this feature is only available in GoToTraining
  9. ^ Mouse and Keyboard control can be shared with multiple users.
  10. ^ New HTML5-enabled browsers will be able to join without downloads, with reduced features.
  11. ^ a b Requires installation of closed-source software.
  12. ^ a b Any upload possible

References

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