Primary Tools of Online Engagement
In this section, we look at some of the main online tools people are using, including their features and costs.
The Equality Network has been supporting groups with online tools and has run a number of training events, mostly on the use of Zoom. If your group has any specific questions, you can contact us, and we will try to help.
As with any product you are buying to use, you should give it a try first!
The four main online meeting tools are Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, and GoToMeeting. Many others are available.
Maximum Participants
Few events run by community groups will run up against the maximum number of participants each tool allows, but there may be occasions where this will be a consideration.
- Free
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Up to 100
- Google Meet
- Up to 100
- Zoom
- Up to 100
- GoToMeeting
- Up to 3
- Paid
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Business Basic: Up to 300
- Google Meet
- Workspace Essentials: Up to 150
- Zoom
- Pro: Up to 1000 (+1000 with purchased add-on)
- GoToMeeting
- Pro: Up to 150
Time limits
Nobody wants to feel that they have not had the time to discuss what is important to them. If you are running a committee meeting or a full day event, think about how much time each platform offers you.
- Free
-
- Microsoft Teams
- 1 hour
- Google Meet
- 24 hours for 2 participants or 1 hour for 3+ participants
- Zoom
- 40 minutes
- GoToMeeting
- 40 minutes
- Paid
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Business Basic: 24 hours
- Google Meet
- Workspace Essentials: 24 hours
- Zoom
- Pro: Up to 30 hours
- GoToMeeting
- Pro: No time limit
Recording
Recording meetings can be very useful. Recordings can be used to help with minutes or can be put online for training or presentations. It is important to ask for permission from attendees first.
- Free
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Not available
- Google Meet
- Not available
- Zoom
- Local recording
- GoToMeeting
- Not available
- Paid
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Business Basic: Cloud recording
- Google Meet
- Workplace Essentials: Cloud recording
- Zoom
- Pro: Local & Cloud recording
- GoToMeeting
- Pro: Cloud recording
Screen sharing
Sharing your screen so others can see what you are seeing on your screen is an important feature. It can help with planning and watching short presentations.
All of these tools allow multiple people to share both desktop and applications for free.
Captions
Having captions can help make your meetings more accessible.
- Free
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Real-time captions.
- Google Meet
- Available using speech-to-text technology.
- Zoom
- Manual captioning
- GoToMeeting
- Not available
- Paid
-
- Zoom
- Pro: Manual captioning or new live transcripts.
- GoToMeeting
- Pro: Not available
- Business: Searchable transcripts available.
Cost
Cost is a vital factor in whether or not these tools are available to your group. Each platform has a free version, but it can limit what features are available.
- Free
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Yes
- Google Meet
- Yes
- Zoom
- Yes
- GoToMeeting
- Yes
- Paid
-
- Microsoft Teams
- Business Basic: £3.80 per user/per month (as part of annual commitment)
- Google Meet
- Business Starter: £4.14 per user/per month (as part of annual commitment)
- Zoom
- Pro: £14.39 per month, per license £143.88 per year, per license
- GoToMeeting
- Pro: £11 per month or £114 annually
