Best Conference Call Services for Business [Free & Paid]

A conference call service is a technology that allows multiple participants to connect via audio or video in a single phone call simultaneously. To start a conference call, a meeting organizer creates a virtual meeting room and sends out invitations before the event. Here, people interact on a phone or computer with the help of the internet in a conference call.

Nowadays, businesses organize conference calls remotely via Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc., which provide flexibility and save time.

The essentials for conference calls include a clear agenda, a designated facilitator, a timely start, proper introductions, active listening, muted mics when not speaking, concise contributions, clear next steps, and a focus on achieving desired outcomes.

• Collaboration and Screen Sharing: Facilitate online meetings by utilizing virtual whiteboards, drawing tools, and screen sharing to brainstorm and share ideas.
• Options for Recording and Transcription: Recording and transcription features in conference calls enhance meetings by providing a clear, accessible record. Recordings capture every detail, allowing participants to review content later, ensuring nothing is missed, and aiding accountability.
• Dial-in Numbers: Offer flexibility to participants who would rather join over the phone or who have limited internet access.
• Breakout Rooms: Perfect for concentrated brainstorming or team projects, these spaces provide a small space for group discussions on targeted ideas during large conferences.
• Enhanced Audio and Video Features: Look for noise cancellation, high-definition video, and virtual backgrounds for a professional conferencing experience.

The best conference call service for business depends on your needs, but popular options include Calilio, RingCentral, Vonage, Zoom, and Nextiva.

Calilio is a cloud-based phone system that offers call solutions for businesses and individuals. It provides a unified platform for calls, chats, reports, and analytics. One of its key features is facilitating conference calls, enabling multiple participants to connect simultaneously, regardless of their locations. For companies hoping to keep team members, clients, and stakeholders working together seamlessly, this functionality is crucial.

Features

• High-Quality Audio
• Call Blocking
• Recording Capabilities
• Multi-Device Access
• AI-powered call Summary

Pricing

• Core: $12 per user/month (billed annually)
• Advance: $28 per user/month (billed annually)
• Extra: Custom pricing

Pros

• Affordable Entry Point
• Scalability
• Free Local Number

Cons

• Confusing navigation system for beginners

RingCentral is one of the popular teleconference services that provide unlimited conference calls. It allows businesses and teams to hold audio and video meetings with multiple participants from different locations. It is perfect for growing businesses that want to organize remote or virtual meetings.
RingCentral is unified communications (Ucaas) software that provides virtual phone systems, integrated Slack, and CRM integration for conference calls.

Features

• Multi-way conference calls
• Call screening
• Call forwarding
• Business calling
• Mobile app for IOS and Android

Pricing

• Core: $30/user/month ( for less than 100 users )
• Advanced: $35/user/month ( for less than 100 users )
• Ultra: $45/user/month ( for less than 100 users )
• Custom: Pricing ( for more than 100 users )

Pros

• Easy to set up conference calls.
• User-friendly Interface.
• Provides multiple business phone numbers.

Cons

• Lacks group messaging feature.
• Limited texting plan.

Vonage is a call service provider that provides both audio and video conferencing calls. Vonage has AI-powered virtual assistants that may be suitable for web conferences, which helps to reduce human errors and streamline tedious workflows. It also helps your agent find the optimal solution with AI designed specifically for conference bridges.

• Virtual Receptionist
• Voicemail
• Call Recording
• Admin Portal
• AI Virtual Assistant
• Call Hold
• Call Logs
• DND Mode

Pricing

• Contact Sales Team

Pros

• Provides high-quality audio for calls
• Interface is user-friendly
• Simple for users to configure call

Cons

• Calls can be unstable
• Customer Support needs to be improved

Ooma is a voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology that offers phone, messaging, and video services for homes and businesses. It acts as a conference bridge for meetings of up to 10 participants per user. Along with conference calls, it offers features such as video conferencing, audio conferencing, call recording, and group calls, which are suitable for remote meetings.

Features

• Unlimited calling to the US and Canada
• Voicemail-to-email
• Call Blocking
• CRM Integration
• Toll-free number
• Call Management

Pricing

• Contact Sales Team

Pros

• Easy to use.
• User-friendly online system.
• Easy installation.
• Advanced call management features.

Cons

• There is no call-waiting feature.
• Customer support needs improvement.

Zoom is a cloud-based communication software that allows one-on-one meetings and group conferences using audio or video. It offers both free and commercial conference calling features. For outbound calls, a Zoom Phone subscription is necessary to conduct business calls outside the corporation.

Zoom became the most used platform for conference calls worldwide during the pandemic for conducting online and remote meetings.
 

Features

• 24/7 support
• CMS Integrations
• Group Live Chat
• Voicemail to Email
• File Sharing
• Screen Sharing

Pricing

• Basic (Limited Plan): Free
• Pro: Starting at $14.99/user/month
• Business: $21.99/user/month
• Business plus and enterprise: Contact Sales

Pros

• Easy to use.
• User-friendly interface.
• Easy installation.
• Affordable Pricing Structure ( free and paid plans available ).

Cons

• The occurrence of technical issues while using Zoom rooms.
• Poor customer service.
• Camera and screen-sharing issues.

Nextiva is one of the popular virtual phone systems that offers HD VoIP conference calling service and combines business software with intelligent automation tools and communication.

Like other good conference calling options, Nextiva provides better options to scale up your functionality from basic calling to call analytics and automated transcriptions. However, the conference bridge is available only on professional plans to use conference calls.

Features

• Call Recording
• Call Forwarding
• SIP Trunking
• Voicemail
• DND Mode
• Call Analytics

Pricing

• Essential: Starting at $25.95/user/month
• Professional: Starting at $30.95/user/month
• Enterprise: $40.95/user/month

Pros

• Easy to set up.
• User-friendly interface.
• Value for money.
• Excellent customer service.

Cons

• Poor scalability.
• Some users report technical glitches and fluctuations in video call quality.

GoTo Connect is a VoIP phone system that offers paid conference call service generally used for teleconferencing, small-scale meetings, and much more. It offers a product called GoTo Meetings, which is intended for large organizations as a conference bridge.

• Phone Calls
• Video Calls
• Instant Messaging
• Screen Sharing
• Unified admin

Pricing

• Basic: Starting at $27.00/user/month
• Standard: Starting at $32.00/user/month

Pros

• Offers unlimited international calls at a low price.
• Device management tools that help with cybersecurity.
• HD video conferencing on every plan.
• User-friendly video conferencing tools.
• Good security and privacy.

Cons

• The app is slow.
• Fewer supported integrations than competitors.
• The basic plan limits video meetings to four participants.

Zoho is also one of the most popular conference call providers for remote workers, providing audio and video communication, bulk messaging, and CRM capabilities. It allows hot online meetings with screen sharing, audio, and video in real-time, YouTube live streaming, and registration moderation.

Features

• Online Meetings
• Video Webinars
• Meetings Rooms
• Screen Sharing
• Video Conferencing
• Audio Conferencing

Pricing

• Contact Sales Team

Pros

• Easy to use.
• Good voice quality.
• Integrates well with other Zoho products.
• High sound quality.
• Sharp and crisp video streams.

Cons

• No video recording.
• No presentation streaming.
• No presentation tools.

Choosing the best conference call service depends on your business needs, budget, and required features. Look for options with high-quality audio, screen sharing, and call recording to enhance collaboration.
 

Follow the steps below to start a conference call.

1. Dial the first person and wait for the call to connect.
2. Tap Add.
3. Select the second person and wait for the call to connect.
4. Tap Merge Calls—two calls merge into a conference call.
5. To add additional people, repeat steps 2-4.

A conference call example would be a situation where a project manager dials a phone number to connect with several team members from different locations. It allows them to all speak and listen simultaneously during a virtual meeting.