Things are not always what they seem on the Internet. Shocking, right? Misinformation, misrepresentation, fake reviews.
We get bummed reading how companies continue to pass off mediocre meeting tools as a webinar hosting and online presentation platform. But, then, there’s not much we can do about it. We can only give you a list of tried-and-true webinar software. And don’t take our word for it. Take them on a test drive.
Best Webinar Tools Comparison
Zoom
Zoom is many things, but it’s not exactly a webinar tool. It’s more of a group calling and online meeting app – kind of a replacement for conference calling. It functions well for that purpose of online meetings, has a free plan, and low-priced entry-level plan. That’s why it made it to our carefully curated list.
Zoom’s bread and butter comes from selling software as a service licenses to large companies. It’s primarily software for online calls and meetings. It’s a lot like more like Gotomeeting, Webex, even Skype, than it is a webinar hosting platform.
Pros
- Affordable
- Good audio quality
- Reliable with little or no downtime
- Well known branded
Cons
- No sales and marketing features
- Have to download and install an app – many don’t have access to do that on machine
- App was recently hacked
- Not a good experience for marketing, training, all hands meetings
- Clunky user interface
- Can get expensive at scale
Verdict
Zoom is a good webinar software that could do with a few more features. It’s perfect for online coaching and group calls. But it’s not the ideal marketing webinar solution.
GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar is a competent and reliable piece of software. It offers a suite of meeting software products that allow you to connect with small to medium audiences. It’s a somewhat boring and reliable solution that does most things right.
The tool comes with a handy polls tool that operates perfectly for marketers. It can make your webinars more interactive and is generally a cool teaching tool. The main gripes we have with GoToWebinar is that it requires users to download and install their app, and it’s thin on features. Its utility for marketers is weak, and the webinar registration pages could be better.
Pros
- Reliable
- Good poll feature
- Great multi user features – good for small group collaboration
Cons
- A shortage of marketing features
- Difficult to manage Q&A sessions alone
- App install is lame
Verdict
GoToWebinar is head and shoulders above most of the competition. It’s reliable and stable at scale. But it has a shortage of features that could turn it into a complete webinar hosting platform.
WebEx
Owned by Cisco, WebEx is more of a video conferencing software than a webinar tool. It’s an enterprise solution that’s perfect for large organizations that have distributed teams and clients. The software provides webinar tools as an add-on through the Webex Events solution. It works with a native app so people can dial in by phone. The software can host webinars with an audience of up to 3,000, but again, audiences have to download the WebEx app.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Excellent for large audiences
- Has a free plan
- Minimal voice and video lag
- Fully focused on webinars
Cons
- Cumbersome
- Outdated user interfaces
Verdict
WebEx is an excellent video conferencing tool for conference calling and collaboration. However, the Webex Events webinar solution is not nearly as good as the competition.
webinar.net
webinar.net is a web presentation tool. It comes with a ton of engagement and marketing tools and features. Some of the standout features include presentation slides, not just screen haring, which they have as well. It also features, interactive polls, videos, surveys, group chat, and others.
webinar.net is a modern-day webinar solution for marketers. It’s a cloud-based solution that works across a myriad of devices and platforms so your audience can access presentations seamlessly. It looks much cleaner and more modern than the other webinar products.
Pros
- Easy to use
- A ton of marketing tools
- Cost-effective
- Custom branded UI
- No downloads or installations
Cons
- New in the market
- Not tailored for online meetings
Verdict
webinar.net is a marketer’s dream. It’s the perfect tool for delivering online presentations and comes with a host of tools that make it stand out from the competition. But it’s not meant for online meetings.
ReadyTalk
ReadyTalk is an entirely cloud-based communication service provider offering a host of services. These include hosted voice, web and video conferencing, and webinars. The software makes it easy to host webinars and conduct meetings online. Like Zoom, it also provides large corporations with business phone services.
The webinar feature allows users to make presentations without downloading or installing software. Everything takes place on your browser. It provides basic follow up tools for reaching out to participants after the webinar.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Excellent support
- Affordable
Cons
- Poor audio quality
- The webinar tool is too basic
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a tool that does meetings and webinars in one, then Zoom is your best bet. But, meetings are Zoom’s strong suit. If you’re a professional marketer, you’ll want something more accessible and brand-able for your external presentations. webinar.net is a great option for marketing webinars.
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