Virtual meeting tools

Key Takeaways

  • Best for most businesses: Zoom. Reliable, familiar to clients and scales to very large meetings.
  • Best for Google users: Google Meet. Built into Google Workspace, nothing to install, and up to 1,000 participants on higher plans.
  • Best for Microsoft users: Microsoft Teams. Meetings, chat and files in one place inside Microsoft 365.
  • Best all-in-one: Lark. Meetings sit alongside chat, docs and AI transcription in one app.
  • Free plans have limits. Zoom’s free plan caps meetings at 40 minutes; Google Meet and Teams allow 60-minute group meetings.

What Are Online Meeting Platforms?

Online meeting platforms are software tools that let people hold video and audio meetings over the internet, with features like screen sharing, chat, recording and meeting transcripts. Businesses use them for internal meetings, client calls, webinars and interviews across remote and hybrid teams.

The best platform depends on three things: how many participants you host, how long your meetings run, and whether you already use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. This guide compares the leading online meeting platforms for Singapore businesses in 2026, including free plan limits and participant caps.

Online Meeting Platforms Compared

Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams all host 100 people free; Zoom’s free meetings end at 40 minutes, the other two at 60.

Platform Free plan limits Max participants (paid) Best for
Zoom 100 participants, 40 minutes Up to 1,000 Client meetings and large calls
Google Meet 100 participants, 60-minute group meetings 150 to 1,000, depending on Workspace plan Google Workspace users
Microsoft Teams 100 participants, 60-minute group meetings Up to 300 (more on some enterprise plans) Microsoft 365 users
Lark 1-on-1 video meetings (Starter plan) 500 on Pro All-in-one collaboration
Webex See vendor See vendor Enterprises and large events
GoTo Meeting See vendor See vendor Dependable business calls

Limits checked October 2026. Plans change often; confirm on each vendor’s pricing page before buying.

The Best Online Meeting Platforms in 2026

1. Zoom — Best for most businesses

Zoom combines video meetings, webinars and team chat in one familiar interface. Most clients and partners already know how to join a Zoom call, which makes it a safe choice for external meetings. Meetings are protected with encryption, and scheduling integrates with Gmail, Outlook and iCal.

Zoom’s free plan allows unlimited meetings of up to 40 minutes with 100 participants. Paid plans extend meeting length and add cloud recording, transcripts and larger capacity, with up to 1,000 participants on Enterprise.

Best for: Client meetings, sales calls and large company-wide sessions.

Watch out for: The 40-minute cap on the free plan cuts off longer meetings.

2. Google Meet — Best for Google Workspace users

Google Meet runs in the browser with no download and works directly from Gmail and Google Calendar. Participants can share screens, use live captions and join by phone.

Participant limits depend on your Google Workspace plan: up to 100 on Business Starter, 150 on Business Standard, 500 on Business Plus and 1,000 on Enterprise. Meeting recording and transcripts are available from Business Standard upwards, and Gemini AI can take notes in higher plans. The free version allows group meetings of up to 60 minutes.

Best for: Teams that already use Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar.

Watch out for: Business Starter does not include meeting recording.

3. Microsoft Teams — Best for Microsoft 365 users

Microsoft Teams is the meeting and chat app inside Microsoft 365. Meetings, chats, files and calendars live in one place, and documents open directly in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Teams Free supports group meetings of up to 60 minutes with 100 participants. Paid Microsoft 365 plans extend meetings to 30 hours and up to 300 participants. Teams also replaced Skype, which Microsoft retired in May 2025.

Best for: Companies that work in Outlook and Microsoft Office.

Watch out for: The interface can feel busy for teams that only need simple video calls.

4. Lark — Best all-in-one platform

Lark combines video meetings with chat, docs, calendar and approvals in one app. You can start a meeting straight from a group chat, edit documents together during a call with Magic Share, and let Lark Minutes transcribe the meeting into searchable text.

The Lark Pro plan supports up to 500 participants and meetings of up to 24 hours, with unlimited AI meeting transcription and video caption translation. The free Starter plan includes 1-on-1 video meetings.

Best for: Teams that want meetings and everyday collaboration in one workspace, especially regional teams working across languages.

Watch out for: Group meetings require a paid plan.

Explore Lark for business in Singapore →

5. Webex — Best for enterprises and large events

Webex by Cisco is built for large organisations, with strong audio quality, enterprise security controls and tools for webinars and large-scale events. It integrates with Outlook, so you can schedule meetings straight from your calendar.

Best for: Enterprises, training sessions and product launches.

Watch out for: It can feel more complex than Zoom or Google Meet for small teams.

6. GoTo Meeting — Best for dependable business calls

GoTo Meeting focuses on reliable call quality, screen sharing and straightforward meeting controls, backed by business-grade support.

Best for: Professional services firms that run frequent client calls.

Watch out for: It offers fewer collaboration features than all-in-one platforms.

How to Choose the Right Online Meeting Platform

Start with the tools your team already uses. If you work in Gmail, Google Meet is the natural fit; if you work in Outlook, choose Microsoft Teams. Then check that the platform covers your largest meeting size and longest meeting length.

Key features to look for

Feature Why it matters
Participant limit Must cover your largest internal or client meeting
Meeting length Free plans cut meetings at 40 or 60 minutes
Recording and transcripts Lets absent team members catch up and keeps a record of decisions
AI notes and summaries Saves time writing minutes and action items
Screen sharing and whiteboards Supports presentations, demos and brainstorming
Calendar integration Makes scheduling and joining meetings one click
Security controls Waiting rooms, passcodes and encryption protect confidential calls
Mobile apps Lets staff join reliably from anywhere

Checklist for Singapore businesses

  • Match your email suite: Google Meet comes with Google Workspace and Teams with Microsoft 365, so you may already be paying for one.
  • Regional teams: If you work across Malaysia, Indonesia or China, look for live captions and translation.
  • Data protection: Check where recordings and transcripts are stored and whether this supports your obligations under Singapore’s PDPA.
  • Total cost: Compare the per-user price at your real team size, not just the free plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best online meeting platform?

Zoom is the most widely used option for client meetings and large calls. Google Meet and Microsoft Teams are the best choices if your company already uses Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Lark suits teams that want meetings, chat and docs in one app.

Which online meeting platform is free?

Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams all offer free plans with up to 100 participants. Zoom’s free plan limits meetings to 40 minutes, while Google Meet and Teams Free allow group meetings of up to 60 minutes.

Which online meeting platform supports the most participants?

Google Meet on Workspace Enterprise and Zoom on its Enterprise plan both support up to 1,000 participants.

Is Skype still available?

No. Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025 and moved users to Microsoft Teams Free.

What is the difference between Zoom and Google Meet?

Zoom is a standalone meeting platform built for large and external meetings. Google Meet is part of Google Workspace, so it works directly from Gmail and Google Calendar with no download.

Can I record meetings on a free plan?

Usually not to the cloud. Google Meet recording starts on the Business Standard plan, and most platforms reserve cloud recording and transcripts for paid plans.

Do I need a paid plan for business meetings?

If your meetings regularly run past 40 to 60 minutes, need recording, or include more than 100 people, a paid plan is worth it. Paid plans also add admin controls and stronger security.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Online Meeting Platform

The right online meeting platform is the one that fits how your team already works. Zoom suits client-facing and large meetings, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams fit naturally into their productivity suites, and Lark brings meetings, chat and docs together in one workspace.

Exabytes Singapore offers Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Lark, so you can get your meeting platform, business email and collaboration tools from one local provider.