Video conferencing has long been a standard part of doing business for large nonprofits with multiple offices or global operations. However, for many small nonprofits, where all staff work out of the same office space, video conferencing has not been a part of their day-to-day operations. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all that. With the pandemic forcing nonprofits to close their physical offices, video conferencing has quickly transitioned from being a sometimes-used tool to a daily necessity for organizations of all sizes, budgets, and missions.

Choosing which video conferencing platform to use can be a time-consuming task. Not only are there a growing number of companies offering video conferencing services, but each company offers slightly different features designed to increase and facilitate collaboration.

To help make the task of finding a workable video conferencing solution easier, we’re going to profile three established, popular video conferencing tools that all offer a free plan and a range of features. If you choose one of the options profiled below, you’ll be able to launch your first online meeting in a few minutes, no advanced tech skills required.

Skype

Skype is a service you may already use for personal video chats. Skype is also an excellent option for work-related video conferencing for small groups.

https://www.skype.com/en/free-conference-call/

Pros:

A big advantage of Skype over the other video conferencing platforms is that, because it has has been around for so long, many people already have an account and are familiar with its features. For workplace video conferencing, Skype offers standard video conferencing features, including:

• Screen sharing
• Call recording
• Background blurring
• Ability for participants to join through a browser or Skype app, no account set-up needed
• Industry standard end-to-end encryption
• Real-time translation of voice calls, video calls and instant messages
• No time limit for call length

Cons:

Like many free video conferencing options, Skype limits the number of meeting participants to 50. Additionally, while Skype offers some great options, such as the ability to call landline phones and international numbers at low rates, its video conferencing options are less full-featured than those provided by other companies.

Could Skype Be a Good Fit for You?