In a previous guide, we analyzed the best hosting alternatives to create a webinar if you were just getting started, or if you didn’t want to spend too much. We will now provide you with the best Webinar software and services of 2016.
Free and budget options package many useful features and you will probably be satisfied by these alternatives in most cases, but what if you are looking for a premium product?
Let’s say you are about to hold a massive conference for hundreds of participants, and want live software integration, impeccable connectivity and monitoring of your audience, or something along those lines.
Well, if you don’t have a budgetary problem, the following are probably the webinar services you are looking for.
Again, let us specify that these price options are for the lowest-tier plans of the relevant software. There may be even more exclusive options for greater attendee numbers, although this is less likely to happen for premium services such as these:
ClickWebinar
Price: $199/month
We did say these were going to be pricey! But what does ClickWebinar offer that others don’t? Well, as with many premium offers, ClickWebinar visually strives for a very professional look, with a sleek, easy to use interface and ample options for customization.
Everything- from the invitations for the webinar to the lobby and presentation interface can be modified to suit your style of webinar. The software also prides itself on remaining stable and reliable for up to 1000 attendees on multiple platforms- including mobile.
This endeavoring for quality and ease of use can also be seen in the additional tools at the speaker’s disposal, including a translation tool and training-specific functionalities, ideal for an international, professional training setting.
ClickWebinar’s focus on training and publicity is also to be blamed for the software’s greatest downside, however: ClickWebinar lacks a first party monetization system for attendees.
Onstream Webinars
Price: $99/month
At precisely half of ClickWebinar’s price, Onstream tries to find a compromise between full-fledged premium offers and more affordable ones. It is a highly reliable platform, with significant emphasis on user experience.
This can be noticed by the easy to use interface and the considerable moderator functionalities offered to webinar teams. These include a tiered structure for viewers with increased clearance for speech and chat granted to specific users, as well as a custom-built Q&A functionality for easy communication.
Customization options are also present, including the possibility to advertise your brand on the interface. On the other hand, similarly to ClickWebinar, this platform lacks a dedicated monetization system, making it more suitable for professional training or educational use.
ReadyTalk
Price: $149/month
ReadyTalk’s unique selling proposition is its very large attendee pool right out of the box. Indeed, the basic plan outlined here will allow you to have up to 150 concurrent viewers. While other services may even top that number, they usually only do so with advanced, and even costlier, plans.
Furthermore, ReadyTalk has a number of excellent software integrations with useful programs such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and more. These marketing tools are excellent, especially if your webinars are aimed at corporate viewers. As an online marketing firm looking to get started with a new media to increase your visibility, ReadyTalk may be just what you are looking for in the world of webinars.
Adobe Connect
Price: $104/month
Everybody knows Adobe. They are pretty ubiquitous with their many software offerings, and are generally very reliable. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the company also has a dedicated group conferencing program.
Adobe Connect is the definition of premium, with a plethora of useful features to make it big in the webinar space. Multiple recording and playback options for your presentation, auto Q&A screening and moderation and fast file transfer for many document formats, along with many more options set Adobe Connect apart from much of the competition, even in the premium market. Add to this a beautiful interface and a mobile-ready build and it’s not hard to see why many professional clients choose this particular software.
A couple of points to consider though: as with many other adobe products, Connect will require to install additional programs to make the most of its functionalities. Additionally, if your presentation relies on phone communication, this is probably not the optimal choice for you, since this service lacks telecommunications integration.
