Meeting apps review

Overall best: Whereby

• Know each other? Use Signal for best security and call quality.

• Need remote control? Use Zoom.

• Need background blur? Use Google Meet.

Apps are ranked by recommendation. Only the free versions for normal users are considered

All of the following can

• Video meeting with a web link
• Present a browser tab only

⭐ Whereby

https://whereby.com/

Pro:

• Unlimited recording
• Host up to 100 participants
• Nice UI
• End-to-end encryption (see https://vpnoverview.com/internet-safety/business/video-conferencing-software/)

Around

• https://www.around.co/pricing/
• Crops video on recipient end

Pro

• Cool features
  • Floating screen (desktop app only)
  • On screen cursor position and sketch
  • AI noise/echo suppression and sound enhancement
  • Quick keyboard actions like wave (W), raise hand (U) etc.
  • Set background music
  • Built-in team games

Con

• Still in beta, less stable
• No video background filters (only color filters)
• 50 ppl max

Jitsi

https://jitsi.org/

https://meet.jit.si/

• Too new to properly evaluate

Google Meet

https://meet.new/

Pro:

• Can blur background or use background images

Con:

• Privacy concerns with Google
• Cannot control others' machines
• No end-to-end encryption
• Data collection

Zoom

Pro:

• Can control others’ machines
• Zoom Webinar allows you to broadcast a Zoom meeting to up to 10,000 view-only attendees

Con:

• Not end-to-end encryption

• Privacy and censorship concerns with a company with strong China ties

  The Citizen Lab at University of Toronto found all Zoom meetings go through servers in Beijing to retrieve the encryption keys. Zoom has 3 entities and 700+ engineers in China and is obligated to give these keys to the government.

Amazon Chime

• Privacy concerns with Amazon
• A bit hard to use