/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23132701/VRG_ILL_4947_Zoom_secure_call.jpg "Top Free Video Conferencing Apps to Use in 2022")
While many companies are encouraging their employees to return to the office, working remotely (when possible) seems to have caught on and is probably not going anywhere in the near future. Many of us are still using videoconferencing apps to keep in touch with work colleagues, family, and friends. Zoom continues to top the list of these meeting apps, but there are a bunch of other free applications out there that will allow you to meet others online. What follows are descriptions of some of the more interesting free video conferencing apps. We’ve concentrated on applications that allow at least 10 or more participants. Rather than simply assume that Zoom is best for you, you may want to try one or two of these out for yourself to see how well they fit in with your style and that of your friends and / or colleagues. This list is a good place to start.
The most popular video meeting app
Zoom is one of the most widely used video meeting apps.
Zoom has become one of the most well-known videoconferencing apps — in fact, its name is practically synonymous with video meetings. Before the pandemic hit, the company marketed Zoom mostly for corporate use but included a free basic version for individuals. Since then, the company has introduced several different versions: Zoom One, its more traditional conferencing software; Zoom Events & Webinars; and Zoom Rooms, which provide breakout discussion areas.
The free version of Zoom allows up to 100 users to meet, but there is a 40-minute limit on meetings. Having enjoyed an increase in visibility since the beginning of the pandemic, Zoom still has a page offering help and advice to new users.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 100
- One-on-one meetings: 40-minute time limit
- Group meetings: 40-minute time limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: Yes, locally
A longtime go-to for online calls
Skype’s Meet Now feature supports up to 50 people with a four-hour time limit.
Skype has been the go-to platform for one-on-one conversations since its beta was released in 2003. Its Meet Now feature allows for videoconferencing; up to 100 people (including you) can meet with a generous 24-hour time limit on meetings. You don’t even have to sign up for the service; there is a separate page that lets you create a free video meeting without having to actually sign up for the service (as long as you’re using either the Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser). However, you get more features using the app, so if you’re okay with registering for a free account, you may be better off doing that.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 100
- One-on-one meetings: 24-hour time limit
- Group meetings: 24-hour time limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: Yes; recording stored for up to 30 days
A corporate app with a solid freemium version
Webex, a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ’90s, has a useful free version.
Webex is a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ’90s and was acquired by Cisco in 2007. While it’s been mainly known as a business application and continues to focus on serving companies, it does have a fairly generous free version that’s worth checking out. The freemium version allows for 100 participants, you can meet for up to 40 minutes, and you can create breakout rooms.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 100
- One-on-one meetings: 40-minute time limit
- Group meetings: 40-minute time limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: Yes, locally
Accessible from your Gmail page
Google Meet is a video calling option that requires Google accounts to use.
Meet, which merged (sort of) with Google’s Duo last year, offers a very simple and efficient way to video chat with colleagues, friends, and family — assuming they all have Google accounts, which is a requirement for both hosts and participants. (And note that if you used to use the original Meet app, you’ll be asked to download the new one.) It’s easy to find: you can find a Meet link in the Gmail app and in every appointment you make using Google Calendar. And Meet has some neat features, including real-time captions.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 100
- One-on-one meetings: 24-hour time limit
- Group meetings: 60-minute time limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: No
Not just for business
Microsoft Teams is a conferencing app that offers video meets as well.
Microsoft Teams is a competitor to Slack and an especially good idea if you’re part of the Office ecosystem. While the application is mainly focused on business use, a few years ago, Microsoft stepped out of its three-piece suit and unveiled a free personal version of Teams, which lets anyone chat, talk, or have video meetings in a virtual shared space — you just have to create an account with Microsoft in order to use it. While the free version lets you have 100 participants for a maximum of 60 minutes per meeting, subscribers to Microsoft 365 Personal can have up to 300 people video chat for up to 30 consecutive hours.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 100
- One-on-one meetings: 30-hour limit
- Group meetings: 60-minute limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: No
A wide-ranging suite of apps
The free version of Zoho Meeting offers a clean, easy-to-use interface.
Zoho offers a wide-ranging suite of online apps that range from the day to day (like email, calendars, and notebooks) to business and development (such as finance, HR, and marketing). The free version of Zoho Meeting allows up to 100 participants. Unusually, the free version doesn’t just include meetings but webinars as well (also with a limit of 100 attendees). Also worthy of mention is the company’s new Standard Edition, which starts at $1 a month for 10 participants (the price goes up with the number of participants) and adds features such as cloud recording, 24-hour meetings, and polls.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 100
- One-on-one meetings: 60-minute limit
- Group meetings: 60-minute limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: No
Innovative recording features
When you run a recording of your Vowel meeting, a graph below shows who was speaking when. A side panel can show meeting notes, a summary of the meeting, or the transcript.
Vowel is a new and innovative videoconferencing service with some very interesting features. It records and transcribes each meeting (you can choose not to record or turn the recording off at any time); the transcription includes any emoticons you may have used, and you can also drop in bookmarks to indicate good (or bad) points that you may want to reference later. The recording adds a graph that tracks who was speaking when. While the free version doesn’t let you download your recording, you can rewatch and search through it for the next seven days. A paid Business tier gives you access for as long as you wish.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 12
- One-on-one meetings: 40 minutes
- Group meetings: 40 minutes
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: Yes
Open source with plenty of features
Jitsi Meet is open source and filled with useful features.
Jitsi is an open-source platform that doesn’t require an account: you easily meet online by simply going to the site and clicking on Start meeting. If you’re a developer, you can build your own conferencing app via Jitsi Videobridge, and there is a paid business version called JaaS (“Jitsi as a Service”), but most people will be happy with the quick web version, which offers many features found in more well-known apps, such as fake backgrounds, chat, local session recording, and the ability to livestream to YouTube.
Free version features
- Maximum participants: 500
- One-on-one meetings: No time limit
- Group meetings: No time limit
- Screen sharing: Yes
- Record meetings: Yes (by livestreaming to YouTube)
A free version called Basic
BlueJeans by Verizon now offers a free version.
BlueJeans by Verizon was, until recently, on our “not available for free” list; but recently, that changed. Now, together with its paid plans, BlueJeans offers a free version called Basic that bests some of its rivals in allowing up to 25 participants an unlimited amount of time and meetings. Like Zoom, you can either generate a separate meeting ID or use a permanent ID for