Whether it’s interviewing, speaking with far-flung employees and clients or organising an international boardroom meeting, video calling has become ever more essential in the modern workplace.
We know about Skype, but issues with functionality or simply a desire for something different mean people are looking elsewhere.
Here, we take a look at the best Skype alternatives which offer messaging, video and voice calling capabilities to help maximise collaboration.
Read next: Best free collaboration software of 2017 .
By Chloe Dobinson & Laurie Clarke
June 8, 2018
1. Google Hangouts
Available as part of the G-Suite, Google Hangouts allows you to conduct voice and video calls.
You simply have to set up the meeting and then share a link with colleagues or clients, without having to worry whether they have the right kind of account. This function is closely linked to the G-Suite's Calendar feature, allowing people to connect through a Calendar invite.
Available on desktop, Android and iOS devices, it lets you communicate in a group or in one-to-one conversations. Additionally, you can archive, delete and organise conversations, great for backing up files and team collaboration.
And you don't need to worry about security - all the video and audio streams are encrypted, with secure joining for members even if they're located off-site.
Video calling and conferencing is available with the Basic and Business packages, which allows the inclusion of up to 25 people. If you'll need up to 50 person remote meetings, you'll need to upgrade to the Enterprise package of the G-Suite.
6. GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is a paid-for video conferencing app that supports up to six high definition video feeds on one call.
No dial-in code is necessary, you can just answer a call to join the conference. You can also launch or join a call from any device and location.
Available on Mac, PC and Android it also allows you to schedule meetings in advance, record calls, draw on a virtual whiteboard, and screen share. What’s more, it has one-click meetings, meaning you set up meetings from email, instant messaging tools and Microsoft Office.
A free trial is available for 30 days while a paid for version starts from £12 per month for the Starter package and increases to £19 per month on a per user basis.
9. Wire
Wire is a text, voice and video calling app which has a strong focus on security, offering end-to-end encryption.
It supports voice calls with up to 10 people, and one-on-one video calls, with group calling functionality in the pipeline.
It has a file sharing feature via the cloud and is optimised for tools such as iCloud or Dropbox. In addition, it has a search feature which lets users to filter by images, links or files that have been shared.
Also supported syncing between up to eight different devices, screen sharing with up to 10 people and easy admin controls.
On an annual basis, it costs five euros per user , per month, with a 30-day free trial offered beforehand.
10. Jitsi
Jitsi is a free, open-source, community-driven platform for voice calling, video conferencing and instant messaging.
The open source nature of the software means you can design your own video conference client, or you can simply use Jitsi's own.
Jitsi's videobridge solution claims to have the edge over competitors, thanks to alternative coding. This means lower latency, higher quality and the promise of a more scalable solution.
In terms of security, it offers end-to-end encryption protecting your company data from third parties. Jitsi is still in early stages of its mobile version but hopes to expand to Android users.
