8 Best Video Meeting Tools in 2026
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Whereby, Jitsi, or a meeting started from a chat message? The best video meeting tools of 2026, compared.
Yantra Team4 min read
On this page
Video calls are a commodity. What is not a commodity is how many steps stand between "let's talk" and talking, whether guests need an account or an install, and what happens to the meeting afterwards.
We compared the leading video meeting tools of 2026. Prices are approximate as of September 2026. Confirm on official pricing pages.
Key takeaways
- A code and a link is the right interface. Every tool that makes guests install something loses meetings to the ones that do not.
- The lobby is where trust is built. Device check, name, who is already inside, and a locked notice.
- Host controls matter more than filters. Mute all, remove, lock, end for all.
- The meeting is not over when the call ends. Notes, recordings and the follow-up are the real product.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Guests need an account | Runs in browser | Screen share, chat, reactions | Recording | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yantra VideoX | Meetings you start and manage from chat | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included in Yantra plans |
| Zoom | The default for external meetings | No | Yes, app preferred | Yes | Yes | Yes, 40-minute limit |
| Google Meet | Workspace shops | No | Yes | Yes | Paid tiers | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Microsoft 365 shops | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Whereby | Simple browser rooms | No | Yes | Yes | Paid | Yes |
| Jitsi Meet | Open source, self-hostable | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Around | Small teams, camera-first | No | App | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Webex | Enterprise and telephony | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What should a meeting tool actually do?
- Start now or later with a link and a code, and show upcoming and recent meetings.
- Lobby: camera preview, mic level, device pickers, name, who is inside.
- In the call: grid and speaker layouts, pin, screen share, in-call chat, reactions, raised hands.
- Host controls: lock, mute, remove, record, end for all.
- After: why it ended, duration, rejoin, recordings.
1. Yantra VideoX - best for meetings you run from chat
VideoX does video meetings the way Meet and Zoom do them: a code and a link, a lobby with a device check, then a call with an auto grid or speaker layout, filmstrip, pin, screen share, mic and camera toggles, raised hands, reactions and in-call chat. A side panel holds details with link, code, lock, record and end for all, plus people with host mute and remove. Shortcuts cover mic, camera and raise hand.
Home lists your upcoming and recent meetings with live counts. New meeting is now, for later, or at a time. Join takes a code or a link, and ?meeting=<code> opens a room directly. Guests never need an account.
The reason it is on this list is the chat. "Start a meeting now and give me the join link", "schedule a meeting with the design team tomorrow at 10", "who is in my meeting right now", "lock my meeting and mute everyone but me" are all one message. Pair it with Meetings and a notetaker can join the same call.
Pros
- Full lobby, call and host controls in the browser
- Meetings started, scheduled, listed and controlled from chat
- No account for guests
- Recordings and history when a registry is configured
Cons
- Needs a LiveKit project connected, or a LiveKit server from your admin
- Without a registry there is no history and nothing can be scheduled for later
Pricing: included with Yantra plans; free to start.
2. Zoom - the external default
Everyone can join a Zoom. The app is preferred, the browser works, and AI Companion adds summaries on paid plans.
Pros: ubiquity, reliability. Cons: 40-minute cap on free group calls; the app nag. Pricing: free; paid tiers per user.
3. Google Meet - best for Workspace
Zero-install for Google users, with Gemini notes on the Workspace add-on.
Pros: native to Workspace. Cons: recording and notes gated by plan. Pricing: free; with Workspace.
4. Microsoft Teams - best for Microsoft 365
Meetings, chat and files in one place for Microsoft shops.
Pros: integration. Cons: heavy client; guest experience varies. Pricing: free; with Microsoft 365.
5. Whereby - best simple rooms
A persistent room link in the browser. Nothing to learn.
Pros: simplicity. Cons: small rooms on free; recording is paid. Pricing: free; paid tiers.
6. Jitsi Meet - best open source
Free, self-hostable, no accounts.
Pros: open, free. Cons: you host the scale. Pricing: free.
7. Around - best for small camera-first teams
Floating heads instead of a grid, for teams who keep a call open.
Pros: unobtrusive. Cons: app-based; niche. Pricing: free; paid tiers.
8. Webex - best for enterprise telephony
Meetings plus a phone system and devices.
Pros: enterprise depth. Cons: more than most teams need. Pricing: free; paid tiers.
How to choose
- You want to start, schedule and control meetings from chat: VideoX.
- You meet with the outside world constantly: Zoom.
- You live in one suite: Meet or Teams.
- You want to own the stack: Jitsi.
Learn more in the VideoX help article.