Dan Kenitz

13 December 2017

What is Google Hangouts, to begin with? It’s essentially cloud services for webinars and online chats, allowing people to connect from any part of the world as if they’re in the same room. You might remember a review of GoToMeeting alternatives very much on the same wavelength. What does it all mean? If you’re looking for a different way to connect with people online, there may be better solutions—and affordable solutions—worth exploring. That’s exactly what we’ll do here.

First, let’s get clear about what we’re evaluating. Google Hangouts is a simple service for connecting people via web conferencing—whether it’s for business or pleasure, these “hangouts” can be recorded as podcasts or simply used to enjoy each other’s company. We’re going to compare Google Hangouts with a number of solutions in the same vein, although each offering might have its own bent—i.e., some target businesses while others target individuals as their customers.

The first entry on our list is Cisco Webex, which makes an immediate impression thanks to the quality of the price. However, it should be noted that the pricing on this list varies wildly, even to our usual standards—and that even means when comparing similar plans. Plans can vary based on how many hosts you have, which is another way of saying how many users, as well as how many attendees you have in web conferences or webinars. In Cisco Webex, you’re allowed up to 8 people per meeting, which may explain where the name “Premium 8” comes from. But there’s plenty else to like here, including the HD video and screensharing technologies that are rapidly becoming expected in the market.

This is a solid alternative to Google Hangouts, even though the limits make its long-term value to large businesses somewhat questionable. That means you’ll get plenty of value, especially if you’re a startup or someone with a small remote team. Otherwise, you may want to think about the other options on this list or upgrading your pricing plan with Cisco Webex.

GoToWebinar understandably makes webinars its priority—heck, it’s literally in the name—and it delivers in that regard, offering up to 100 participants in your get-togethers. That’s a webinar-level audience that you’ll want to take seriously, and GoToWebinar does the same. It also offers VoIP, phone, and toll free options for getting into the webinar, which is why it’s such a popular platform for anyone who has to communicate to a lot of people remotely.

Automated emails and reminders—those are included. GoToWebinar does at least have that down to a science, which in turn makes your life easier. It’s easy to integrate seamlessly into the way you do things, which is important, especially if you’re starting out and just looking for some simple Hangout alternatives that you can use. You’ll notice by the price, however, that GoToWebinar is targeted for those with big hanging out needs, which may not bet your business quite yet. Either way, GoToWebinar deserves mention as a top alternative thanks to its robust features and high quality of overall service, which makes it perfect for established businesses.

You’ll notice that the simple price of $24 per host per month is a great enticement to check out something like ReadyTalk—and your instincts serve you well. ReadyTalk has plenty of features including audio conferencing options for those who can’t quite get to a screen, but can indeed implement screen sharing and the easy screen control you want from remote locations. The fact that it plugs in with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook so easily, however, is a great reason to consider this as an alternative—there’s no reason to tend toward Google Hangouts simply because it’s provided by Google, not when something like ReadyTalk is just as “ready” to join your usual way of doing things.

Add it all up and you have a robust, capable, and affordable option that ranks right up there on our list of Hangout alternatives. There’s no reason not to consider ReadyTalk, especially if your conferencing needs are still in “starter” mode and you don’t have need of the heavy hitters quite yet. ReadyTalk just might be a great way to help you get there.

AnyMeeting is another worthy entrant on the list, offering video broadcasting, fun features like live polls, and the myriad integrations and hook-ins that make it possible to handle the infrastructure of every single meeting easily. The recording and hosting is easy for long-term use, which means you can easily subscribe to this software and count on it for years to come. And with the option of inviting up to 400 people per webinar, you’ll notice that the price is actually very fair, offering the kind of value you would hope for in a list of Google Hangouts alternatives.

What’s not to like? Very little. Although the price might put a damper on your feelings toward AnyMeeting, try to keep in mind that if you need a lot of attendees on each webinar, the price is actually quite fair. You’ll find that especially as you explore the pricing tiers of other Google Hangouts alternatives and discover just how simple this particular service is to use. After all, there has to be a reason they call it that—and “AnyMeeting” lives up to its name, especially for start-ups.

ClickMeeting’s very name inspires hope in its on-off functionality, and the service doesn’t disappoint. Although the pricing tiers are a bit complicated—you can have 50 attendees for the MyWebinars Pro tier, but you can opt for more—the truth is, the pricing is just fine here. No complaints. It should be simpler, but if you’re the kind of budget-conscious individual who needs to know exactly what they’re paying for and not go over on the price for a single penny, you’ll likely find that this will satisfy just fine.

Other features here include the standard HD and 24 hours of recording footage that come with the plan, which means you won’t look like a cheapskate, even if you are going for a relatively affordable Google Hangouts alternative. That makes the choice easy if you’re looking for something on the less expensive side but don’t want to sacrifice any of the usual accoutrement that come with your web conferencing services. All in all, ClickMeeting has enough to justify its spot on our list and show off what a lower-tier pricing plan can do.