Web conferencing vendors are offering an array of features to help you connect to people who can help your business grow through web conferencing. When you compare web conferencing platforms, you’ll see an assortment of these features, as well as in delivery type and pricing models.

Compare Web Conferencing by Delivery Method

The most popular delivery methods of web conferencing include hosted and on-premise appliance hosting. If you acquire an on-premise solution, you won’t have to worry about paying monthly fees, and you have more flexibility in how the service works – you can tweak it to your liking. You install the system on your network, make the necessary adjustments, and begin your unlimited web conferencing.

The hosted option allows users to simply pay for use of a company’s software, which is hosted on the vendor’s server. The monthly fee allows companies to download and install software from the vendor. Many companies see this as a positive and prefer this method to paying a big up-front cost for the on-premise appliance method. However, critics of hosted options say it lacks the proper security and has limited flexibility.

Compare Web Conferencing Options and Pricing Models

When you compare web conferencing you will see that pricing for hosted web conferencing changes with the number of attendees you wish to include in your conference. You can pay a lump sum for a system that is based in-house, or go with the hosted option and pay monthly or annual fees; or you might find that a pay-per-use model is more your speed.

For instance, GoToMeeting, a popular hosted model, charges $49 per month or $468 per year to connect to 15 attendees. Other plans that allow up to 1,000 to join cost $499 per month or $4,788 per year. Many of these vendors allow a free trial period to test the product. WebEx by Cisco has a special online offer for $19 per month for unlimited meetings with up to eight people. The next step up is $49 per month for meetings with one host license and 25 people maximum per meeting.

Compare Web Conferencing Features

From sophisticated marketing tools to one-click access to VoIP, the web conferencing features from vendor to vendor vary. When you compare web conferencing options, know what you want out of your web conferencing and match accordingly. Some, like ReadyTalk’s web conferencing solution, boast an “all-in-one” service for web meetings, with social media enhancements, simple interface, and increased audience engagement.

WebEx has seven million people using its products to communicate and collaborate online, from individuals to large corporations using its sales, marketing, and training and support services. Most web conference software offers slide show presentations, live video, VoIP, whiteboard, text chat, polls and surveys, screen sharing, and web tours.

What’s Considered Cutting Edge when You Compare Web Conferencing Software?

Of the many vendors offering web conferencing programs, many lack the support to include mobile devices. Many also do not offer encrypted communication. However, when you compare web conferencing vendors, you’ll find that the more popular choices offered by Adobe, Cisco, Citrix, and Teleskill have included mobile devices and encrypted communication in their platforms.