8 Best Video Call Apps to Help Distributed Teams Stay Connected and Collaborative

Hey there! As more companies embrace remote and hybrid work models, video calls have become indispensable for keeping teams aligned and working together smoothly. But with so many options out there, how do you even choose the right app for your business?

Well, you‘ve come to the right place! I‘ve done the homework and shortlisted the top 8 video conferencing platforms used by leading companies worldwide. In this guide, we‘ll dive into their key features, use cases, pricing, and more to help you make an informed decision. We‘ll also discuss some best practices to make your virtual meetings more engaging and productive.

So grab a cup of coffee, and let‘s get started!

Why Video Calls Are Essential for Today‘s Businesses

Before looking at the solutions, it‘s important to understand why business teams need a reliable video conferencing platform in the first place. Here are some key reasons:

More Engaging Than Audio Calls or Emails

Video calls allow teams to pick up on facial expressions, body language, and other visual cues that get lost on voice-only channels. This leads to better understanding and helps strengthen relationships.

As per research by Albert Mehrabian, 93% of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. So video calls deliver a much richer experience.

Real-Time Collaboration From Anywhere

Video meetings enable teams to brainstorm ideas together, review designs, annotate on shared documents, and make decisions in real-time, regardless of where they are located.

As per a Forbes study, 65% of employees feel better connected with remote video calls compared to in-person meetings.

Reduced Need for In-Person Meetings

With high-quality video conferencing, teams can conduct detailed design reviews, project syncs, training programs etc. virtually, minimizing the need for expensive in-person meetings.

Video calls help save an average of $5,000 per year per employee in travel costs. And eliminating commute time recoups 2 weeks of productivity per employee annually.

Supports Flexible Working Arrangements

Video apps allow employees to work from anywhere while seamlessly collaborating with teams back in the office. This facilitates flexible work-from-home and hybrid arrangements.

A Stanford study found remote workers were 13% more productive on average compared to their office-based counterparts.

Improved Client Relationships

Video calls help make client communications more personalized, interactive, and satisfactory compared to phone calls or emails alone.

According to research by RingCentral, 72% of customers prefer video conferencing over any other communication channel.

Virtual Events at Scale

Video apps enable conducting webinars, workshops, town halls, and other events online for wider reach across locations at lower costs.

As per a Kaltura study, typical webinars see 58% higher attendance compared to physical events.

Clearly, virtual video meetings are pivotal for organizational success in current times. But how do you pick the right platform for your needs? Let‘s go over the key factors to consider.

Critical Factors to Evaluate When Choosing a Business Video Call App

With the availability of so many solutions, it‘s essential to assess your specific requirements to determine the ideal fit. Here are the most important criteria to evaluate:

Call Quality: Ensure crisp high-definition video and lag-free audio for smooth discussions. Dropped calls or glitches during important meetings cannot be afforded.
Reliability: The platform must offer robust connectivity across locations and minimal downtime for uninterrupted meetings. Reliability drives user adoption.
Scalability: It should be able to support meetings from 1-on-1 calls to sessions with thousands of participants as your needs evolve. Scalability brings future-proofing.
Security: Encryption, role-based permissions, data centers – security aspects like these are critical for safeguarding sensitive business data.
Cross-platform Access: Availability on desktops, web, and mobile apps is vital for easy meeting access from anywhere, on any device.
Collaborative Tools: Built-in options for screen sharing, co-editing documents, whiteboarding, polls etc. facilitate better engagement during meetings.
Third-party Integrations: Integration with existing workflows like calendaring, email, chat, CRM systems etc. is useful for smoother processes before and after meetings.
Recording & Playback: The ability to record meetings and share playback later is extremely valuable for reference and aligning absent members.
Customizable Appearance: Virtual backgrounds, custom meeting URLs, branding options make meetings more professional.
Analytics: Insights into meeting frequency, engagement levels, attendee feedback etc. help continually optimize and demonstrate ROI.
Ease of Use: The platform should be intuitive and easy to use with minimal training needed for quick user adoption. Complex UIs lead to frustration.
Customer Support: Timely assistance via email, phone, chat etc. is vital, especially when issues arise during important meetings.
Budget: Pricing can range from free versions to premium plans – assess costs against your current budgets and future projections.

Let‘s now look at the top players in the video conferencing space that excel across these aspects.

8 Leading Video Call Apps for Seamless Business Collaboration

Based on extensive research and real-world usage feedback, I‘ve curated the 8 best platforms for business video meetings:

1. Zoom

Zoom has become the poster child of video calls, with its easy-to-use interface and robust meeting capabilities.

Some key highlights:

Superior call quality – HD 1080p video plus noise cancellation ensure discussions are crystal clear.
Reliable connections – Zoom leverages partnerships with major ISPs for consistent performance.
Scales up to 1000 participants – Great for company all-hands meets. Breakout rooms allow smaller discussions.
Extensive customization – Virtual backgrounds, pinning videos, spotlight modes make meetings more engaging.
Top-notch security – 256-bit AES encryption for data protection.
Powerful recording – Cloud recordings with searchable transcripts are invaluable assets.
Integrations galore – Zoom integrates with tools like Slack, Salesforce, Dropbox to enrich workflows.
Insights galore – Dashboards provide meeting statistics to optimize experience.
Premium support – 24/7 technical assistance via phone, chat or email.

With reliable connections, robust features for engagement, and top-class support, it‘s no surprise Zoom has become the industry standard. The free plan supports 40-minute group sessions.

2. Microsoft Teams

As part of the Office 365 suite, Microsoft Teams brings calling, chat, meetings and collaboration together in one app.

Let‘s look at some winning features:

Deep Office integration – Interoperability with Word, Excel, Sharepoint, Outlook and other Microsoft apps.
Interactive galleries – Customizable layouts for video participants.
Background filters – Blur or replace backgrounds to maintain privacy.
Live captions – AI-powered real-time subtitles are extremely useful.
Cloud recordings – Meetings can be recorded and saved to Microsoft Stream automatically.
Scheduling integration – Easy meeting schedule from within Outlook.
Desktop/app sharing – Share your work items seamlessly during meetings.
third-party integrations – 100+ apps like GitHub, SurveyMonkey, Asana and more.
Up to 250 participants – Caters to mid-sized meetings.
Enterprise-grade security – Encryption, compliance standards, permissions etc.

With deep integrations into Microsoft ecosystem, Teams is a natural choice for Office-centric teams looking for an all-in-one app.

3. Google Meet

Part of G Suite, Google Meet delivers a reliable and easy-to-use meeting solution.

Some awesome aspects:

HD quality – Up to 720p video optimized for business discussions.
Noise cancellation – AI removes distracting sounds like keyboard clicks.
Real-time captions – Machine learning generates live subtitles.
Calendar integration – Easy meeting scheduling via Google Calendar.
Support for 250 participants – Great for company townhalls.
Deep G Suite integrations – Works flawlessly with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides and more.
Safety and security – Encryption keeps your data safe.
Insights – Provides attendance reports and Q&A analytics.
Add-ons – Extend functionality with apps like Salesforce, Miro, Mural.
24/7 support – Get quick assistance even during meetings via chat/call.

For companies invested in the Google ecosystem, Meet offers a frictionless video meeting experience.

4. Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex is the enterprise-grade video conferencing solution built by networking leader Cisco.

It packs a punch with features like:

Up to 1000 participants – Host large company events and webinars.
Continuous video presence – See all participants on-screen during multi-party calls.
Real-time translation – Translate to and from over 100 languages live.
Post-meeting transcripts – Meeting transcripts are available for recall later.
AI-based background noise removal – Ensures minimal interruptions.
Webex Assistant – Helps hosts manage meetings via voice commands.
Advanced security – Encryption, cybersecurity monitoring, and more.
Hardware integration – Integrates with Webex conferencing gear and desk phones.
Integrated calendaring – Syncs meetings across platforms automatically.
Robust analytics – Detailed reports provide actionable insights.
24×7 enterprise support – Get quick answers even for complex issues.

With robust tools for large-scale meetings and events, deep integrations and global deployment expertise, Webex is a top contender for enterprise needs.

5. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting brings easy and convenient video conferencing for businesses.

Here are the notable highlights:

Browser-based and downloadable apps – Join from whichever is convenient.
Screen sharing – Share your screen or apps for live demos.
Drawing tools – Collaborate on shared whiteboard.
One-click scheduling – Easily schedule from Office, Google or Mac calendars.
Switch seamlessly between devices – Start from computer and switch to mobile as needed.
Toll-free conferencing numbers – Local dial-in numbers for global access.
Intelligent audio – Automatically detects and eliminates echo and distortions.
Add-ons – Extended capabilities like Webinars, Salesforce integration etc.
24×7 customer support – Quick assistance over phone, chat or email.
Competitive pricing – Affordable for teams of all sizes.

For lean teams focused on convenience and affordability, GoToMeeting hits the sweet spot.

6. BlueJeans

BlueJeans offers robust video meeting features coupled with powerful analytics.

Some interesting capabilities:

Interactive whiteboarding – Annotate, illustrate ideas together.
Smart meeting controls – Mute participants, get attention indicators and more.
Command center – Provides live meeting monitoring and management.
Post-event feedback – Get participant feedback to improve future meetings.
In-depth analytics – Track engagement, participation, adoption metrics.
150+ app integrations – Integrate with tools you already use.
Studio-quality recording – Useful for presentations, training material creation.
Smart calendar integrations – Automated workflows before and after meetings.
Customizable meeting links – Maintain brand consistency.
Enterprise deployment expertise – Dedicated support for large-scale implementations.

For leaders looking to unlock data-driven insights on meeting effectiveness, BlueJeans is a leading choice.

7. 8×8 Video Meetings

8×8 Video Meetings provide robust conferencing with unlimited usage.

Notable features:

Browser-based functionality – Join meetings instantly without downloads.
HD video quality – Clear video optimized for up to 50 participants.
Active Speaker view – Auto-focuses on current speaker for better engagement.
Screen sharing – Share entire desktop or selective apps.
Recording and playback – Cloud recordings allow sharing with absent members.
Private and group chat – Enables backchannel conversations securely.
Seamless experience across devices – Consistent functionality on desktop and mobile.
Integrated business voice – Seamlessly switch between voice and video.
Salesforce integration – Sync contacts and schedule meetings.
24/7 customer support – Round the clock assistance via phone, chat or email.
Affordable plans – Flexible packages for teams of all sizes.

For lean, distributed teams looking for an affordable but full-featured solution, 8×8 delivers excellent bang for buck.

8. Whereby

Whereby offers browser-based video calling that works across devices.

Notable perks:

No downloads required – Quick video meetings without installing apps.
Link sharing – invite others by sharing meeting links.
Meeting lock – Prevent gatecrashing by locking rooms with passcodes.
Remote desktop control – Host can control attendees‘ screens during support sessions.
Custom meeting URLs – Maintain brand consistency.
Chat and screen sharing – Essential collaboration capabilities.
Calendar integrations – Syncs with Office, Google calendars.
Up to 12 participants – Ideal for small team huddles and meetings.
Available across platforms – works equally well on desktops, mobiles, and tablets.
Value-driven pricing – Fair and transparent pricing.

For lean teams that want complexity-free video meetings on a budget, Whereby hits the mark.

This summarizes my top recommendations on leading business video calling platforms currently. Evaluate them against your team’s needs to pick the best fit.

Now let‘s look at some tips to use these apps effectively.

12 Best Practices for Productive Video Meetings

Having the right video platform is just the first step. You also need to use it effectively.

Here are some proven best practices to maximize productivity during video calls:

1. Circulate Agenda Beforehand

Give attendees context by sharing the purpose, topics, required prep work etc. This allows everyone to come prepared.

2. Begin With a Personal Check-in

Take 2 minutes at the start for everyone to share how they are doing. This builds rapport before diving into heavy discussions.

3. Use Headphones to Minimize Audio Issues

Headphones reduce echo, feedback and ambient noise. This results in clearer audio.

4. Frame Yourself Professionally on Camera

Have proper lighting on your face and a tidy background to appear sharp and professional.

5. Limit Distractions and Stay Focused

Avoid multi-tasking and eliminate interruptions to remain fully engaged.

6. Follow Basic Meeting Etiquette

Mute when not talking, wait for cues to speak, avoid interruptions and stay courteous.

7. Take Written Notes and Action Items

Jot down key points, important names, decisions and action items to revisit later.

8. Manage Time Well

Start and end on time. Adjust agenda if needed to cover critical items within allotted timeframe.

Display related slides, images, mockups etc. on screen to reinforce points.

10. Summarize Outcomes and Next Steps

Recap decisions made, action items captured and next steps to align everyone before ending meetings.

Distribute meeting notes and recordings afterwards for those who couldn‘t attend.

12. Continuously Seek Feedback and Improve

Take feedback through polls and surveys to identify areas of improvement for future meetings.

These tips go a long way in keeping meetings structured, productive, and driving outcomes.

Now over to you – evaluate the different video conferencing apps against your needs and give the leader a trial run. Combining the right platform with diligent usage will help your remote teams stay tightly coordinated and work together seamlessly.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘ll be happy to help.