{"question": "best video conferencing software for small businesses", "category": "video-conferencing-software", "category_name": "video conferencing software", "audience": "small-businesses", "audience_name": "small businesses", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-09T00:12:15Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/video-conferencing-software-small-businesses-2026-10-09", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/video-conferencing-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Google", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Google Meet", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Google Workspace", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Zoom", "label": "compared"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Zoom Pro", "label": "compared"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Microsoft", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Microsoft Teams", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Microsoft 365", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Microsoft 365 Business", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "SharePoint", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Zoho", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Zoho Meeting", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "Zoho CRM", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 14, "brand": "Webex", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 15, "brand": "GoTo Meeting", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 16, "brand": "Jitsi Meet", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://findstack.com/software/video-conferencing/small-business", "domain": "findstack.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://crm.org/news/best-video-conferencing-software", "domain": "crm.org", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://zoho.com/meeting/best-video-conferencing-software.html", "domain": "zoho.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/compare/google-meet-vs-microsoft-teams/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/compare/zoom-vs-google-meet/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://vodium.com/blog/zoom-vs.-google-meet-vs.-microsoft-teams-how-to-choose", "domain": "vodium.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "The honest answer: for most small businesses this is decided by which office suite you already pay for, not by the video features. Here's how I'd rank them.\n\n**1. Google Meet** - Best default if you're on Google Workspace, and the best value overall if you're not locked into anything. Business Starter runs about $7/user/month, versus roughly $13-14 for Zoom Pro, and it's included in a suite you're probably already paying for (Gmail, Drive, Docs). Browser-based, nothing to install for guests, 60-minute cap on the free tier. Weakest on webinar-style features and large-meeting controls.\n\n**2. Microsoft Teams** - Best if you have Microsoft 365, which most small businesses with Windows machines and Outlook do. Teams Essentials is ~$4/user/month standalone, or it comes bundled in Microsoft 365 Business Basic at ~$6/user/month alongside Office apps and SharePoint. It's genuinely the most-reviewed and highest-rated option in the small business category. Buying Teams *separately* when you're not a Microsoft shop makes little sense - the app is clunkier than Meet or Zoom on its own merits.\n\n**3. Zoom** - Best if you meet a lot of outside clients. It's still the one nobody has to be taught ho", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}