15 Web Conferencing and Webinar Tools and How to Choose One

Quick answer: As of October 2026, the main web conferencing and webinar tools include Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, GoTo Webinar, ClickMeeting, Livestorm, Demio, WebinarJam, EverWebinar, ProProfs WebinarNinja, MegaMeeting, Class Collaborate (formerly Blackboard Collaborate) and Vimeo, plus free broadcasting on YouTube Live and Facebook Live. Skype is no longer an option: Microsoft retired it on 5 May 2025. Choose by audience size, whether you need two-way meetings or one-to-many webinars, and whether you want live, automated or both.

Web conferencing software lets people meet, present and share screens over the internet. Webinar software is a special case: one or a few presenters speak to a larger audience, usually with registration pages, polls, Q&A and recordings. Businesses use webinars for product launches, lead generation, customer training and internal meetings.

We first published this list in 2020. When we checked every product again in October 2026, Skype had been retired, Blackboard Collaborate had a new owner and name, WebinarNinja had become part of ProProfs, Demio had joined Banzai, and Vimeo had been bought by Bending Spoons. The list below has 15 tools that are still sold for meetings, webinars or live broadcasts. Microsoft Teams replaces Skype, because Microsoft itself moved Skype users to Teams Free.

How to choose a web conferencing or webinar tool

• Meeting or webinar? Meeting tools (Zoom, Webex, Teams, MegaMeeting) suit two-way calls where everyone can speak. Webinar platforms (GoTo Webinar, Livestorm, Demio, ClickMeeting, WebinarJam) add registration pages, reminder emails, attendee analytics and presenter controls.
• Audience size. Plans are usually priced by host and by the number of attendees per session. Check the attendee cap on the plan you can afford, not the headline figure.
• Live, automated or both. EverWebinar, WebinarJam, Livestorm, Demio, ClickMeeting and WebinarNinja can replay a recorded webinar on a schedule. That suits evergreen sales or onboarding sessions, but tell attendees honestly that it is a recording.
• Free broadcast vs owned audience. YouTube Live and Facebook Live cost nothing and reach people where they already are, but you do not collect registrations, and the platform’s rules decide who can stream.
• Education and training. If sessions run inside a learning management system (LMS), a classroom tool such as Class Collaborate may fit better than a marketing webinar platform.
• Branding, privacy and integrations. Check whether you can put your own logo and domain on rooms, where recordings are stored, and whether registrations flow into your CRM or email tool.

Web conferencing and webinar tools compared

The 15 tools in detail

1. Zoom

Zoom remains one of the most widely used meeting tools, and it now sells a wider workplace suite (chat, phone, whiteboard and contact centre) alongside meetings. According to Zoom’s pricing page in October 2026, the free Basic plan allows 40 minutes per meeting and up to 100 participants per meeting. For larger audiences, Zoom sells Webinars and Events as separate products. That free plan is fine for short calls, as the original article said, but anything longer needs a paid plan; check Zoom’s pricing page for current paid-plan limits.

2. YouTube Live

YouTube Live is a free way to broadcast a talk or demo to anyone with the link. According to YouTube Help, you need a verified channel and no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and you must be at least 16 years old to live stream. You can stream from a phone, a webcam, an encoder or a games console, and the recording stays on your channel afterwards. YouTube Live is a broadcast rather than a meeting: viewers interact through live chat, not by speaking.

3. Facebook Live

Facebook Live suits businesses that already have an audience on a Facebook Page. Facebook’s Help Centre says your account must be at least 60 days old, and a Page or professional-mode profile must have at least 100 followers, before you can go live. On a computer, Facebook recommends the Google Chrome browser. As with YouTube, viewers watch and comment rather than join as participants.

4. Webex

Webex, from Cisco, covers meetings, calling, webinars and events. Webex’s pricing page in October 2026 listed a free plan with unlimited meetings of up to 40 minutes each and up to 100 attendees per meeting, with screen sharing, whiteboards and local recording. Webinars and Events are sold as separate plans. The original article’s figures (3,000 webinar attendees and 100,000 for webcasts) came from older plans, so check current capacities on Webex’s site.

5. Microsoft Teams (replaces Skype)

Microsoft retired Skype on 5 May 2025, and skype.com now redirects to Microsoft Teams Free. Microsoft’s support page says Skype users can sign in to Teams Free with their Skype credentials and their contacts and chats move across. Teams Free lets you start a video meeting and invite people with a link. Businesses using Microsoft 365 usually get Teams as part of their plan. Skype for Business was a separate product and is covered by different Microsoft guidance.

6. GoTo Webinar

GoTo Webinar (formerly GoToWebinar, from the company now called GoTo) is still sold in October 2026 under three plans named Reach, Elevate and Unlimited, with a free trial. Its site describes interactive polls, live Q&A, breakout rooms, recorded sessions and pre-recorded webinars. The original article mentioned handouts and audience tiers from 100 to 3,000; GoTo’s current page does not list those details, so compare attendee limits on its pricing page.

7. Class Collaborate (formerly Blackboard Collaborate)

Blackboard Collaborate is now sold by Class Technologies as Class Collaborate, and the old Blackboard address redirects there. It is a virtual classroom for schools, universities and corporate training, with whiteboards, hand-raise notifications, chat, polls, moderated breakout groups and recordings that appear in the course automatically. Class lists integrations with learning platforms including Blackboard Learn, Canvas, D2L Brightspace, Docebo and Cornerstone. As the original article said, it makes most sense when the purpose is teaching or training.

8. WebinarJam

WebinarJam, from Genesis Digital LLC, is aimed at people who sell through webinars. Its site describes live webinars that attendees join from a browser without downloads, with automated replays, timed offers and follow-ups. The original article mentioned password-protected rooms, chat and polls; we could not confirm those on WebinarJam’s current site, so check its feature list before you buy.

9. Vimeo

The original article listed “Vimeo Livestream”. Vimeo now sells live streaming and webinars as part of its video platform, and Bending Spoons acquired Vimeo in November 2025, according to Bending Spoons’ own website. Vimeo’s live streaming page describes going live from a browser or app, moderated chat and Q&A, audience polling, event analytics and simulcasting to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or any RTMPS destination. It suits organisations that want a branded player and a library of recordings.

10. ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting covers live webinars, paid webinars, automated webinars and online meetings, all in the browser without an install. Its site lists surveys and polls, screen sharing, chat, a virtual whiteboard, breakout rooms, webinar recording and statistics, which matches what the original article described. According to ClickMeeting’s pricing page in October 2026, the free trial lasts 14 days, needs no payment details and allows 25 attendees.

11. EverWebinar

EverWebinar, a sister product of WebinarJam from Genesis Digital, is built for automated, or “evergreen”, webinars that play on a schedule across time zones. Its site describes simulated live experiences with chat simulation, a hybrid mode in which a recording plays while a host answers questions live, and one-click import of sessions from WebinarJam. The original article mentioned built-in autoresponders; the current site focuses on marketing and analytics tools instead.

12. Livestorm

Livestorm is a browser-based platform for live, on-demand and automated webinars and virtual events. Its feature list includes polls, chat, Q&A with upvotes, screen sharing, restreaming to other platforms and CRM integrations. According to Livestorm’s pricing page in October 2026, you buy a yearly pack of attendee credits, and you can try it free without a credit card. An earlier version of this article described a free plan with unlimited webinars; check the pricing page for what the trial includes today.

13. Demio

Demio is now part of the Banzai family, according to its website. It is a browser-based webinar platform for marketers, covering live, automated and on-demand webinars, polls, handouts, analytics and recordings. Its pricing page in October 2026 said the 14-day free trial includes Growth-plan features but is limited to 20 attendees and a one-hour session.

14. ProProfs WebinarNinja

WebinarNinja now trades as ProProfs WebinarNinja. It supports live, automated, series and hybrid webinars, with group and private chat, questions, polls, sales offers and recordings with replays. Its pricing page in October 2026 charged per attendee per month, with a free trial and a default maximum webinar length of eight hours.

15. MegaMeeting

MegaMeeting runs entirely in the browser and focuses on private branding: on its Enterprise plan the room, registration pages and web address can carry your own name. Its features page lists screen sharing, group and private chat, file sharing and presentations, and webinars of up to 100 people on Pro and 500 on Enterprise. MegaMeeting also advertises 24/7 support coverage and a free starting plan.

Removed since our earlier version

• Skype: retired by Microsoft on 5 May 2025. The original article recommended Skype for free webinars of up to 50 people. Microsoft Teams now takes its place in this list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a web meeting and a webinar?

In a web meeting, everyone can usually turn on their camera and speak. In a webinar, presenters speak to an audience that listens and interacts through chat, polls and Q&A, and there is normally a registration page.

Is Zoom still free?

Yes. As of October 2026, Zoom’s Basic plan is free, with meetings of up to 40 minutes and up to 100 participants, according to Zoom’s pricing page.

What replaced Skype?

Microsoft retired Skype on 5 May 2025 and moved users to Microsoft Teams Free, where they can sign in with their Skype account details.

Can I run a webinar for free?

You can broadcast for free on YouTube Live or Facebook Live if you meet their requirements, and Zoom, Webex and MegaMeeting have free meeting plans with limits. Dedicated webinar platforms mostly offer free trials rather than free plans.

What is an automated webinar?

An automated (or evergreen) webinar is a recorded presentation that plays at scheduled times as if it were live. Tools such as EverWebinar, Livestorm and ClickMeeting support it. Be clear with attendees that the session is pre-recorded.

For running larger online or in-person events, see our guide to event management software. To share webinar slides and recordings securely, compare file sharing software for business, and for wider promotion ideas read smart ways of marketing your small business online.

Product details were checked in October 2026 against each vendor’s official website and pricing pages, Microsoft’s Skype retirement notice, YouTube Help, Facebook’s Help Centre and Bending Spoons’ website. Plans and limits change often, so confirm details with the vendor before you buy.