Online meetings have long ceased to be something unusual. Today they’re an everyday work tool: standups with colleagues, negotiations with partners, employee training, client presentations. Even corporate parties and teambuilding events are often held as video conferences.
Over the past few years, video conferencing has evolved significantly. If it used to be simple calls with not-so-great video quality, now we increasingly see full-fledged work platforms where you can share files, run group chats, host webinars, and even record meetings.
The market is growing rapidly: annual growth is — 10–15%. That’s why choosing the right tool is getting harder: there are dozens of options, from free and simple to heavyweight enterprise systems.
In this review, we’ve compiled the most popular solutions for video conferencing. We relied on up-to-date rankings, tests by independent publications (PCMag, ZDNet, etc.), as well as user experience. At the end, we’ll look separately at the Russian platform eXpress — a solution focused on security and corporate scenarios.
Why are video conferences so important in 2025?
With the development of 5G, AI, and cloud computing, video conferences have become productivity tools. They integrate with calendars, CRM systems, and even AI assistants that transcribe speech, generate summaries, and help with analysis. This saves businesses a lot of time and money, as there’s no need for business trips and teams can work from anywhere in the world. Education has moved to online lessons, and healthcare has turned into telemedicine.
However, there are also problems: data security, connection quality, and interface convenience. Therefore, in 2025 companies focus not only on functionality but also on stability, security, and simplicity. That’s why in this review we lean on competitors to highlight strengths and weaknesses.
According to recent rankings, the market leaders are Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Cisco Webex, and GoToMeeting. They are popular thanks to scalability and numerous integrations. But businesses in Russia are increasingly choosing local solutions that comply with Federal Law 152 and ensure data storage within the country. Below we’ll talk about some of them.
Overview of popular video conferencing services
Below is a brief overview of the most popular solutions, their strengths and weaknesses.
Kontur.Tolk: a tool for business and government agencies
Kontur.Tolk was created by SKB Kontur and is initially aimed at corporate and government customers. It’s a platform for meetings, webinars, and collaboration.
What matters:
- high level of protection and data storage in Russia;
- joining meetings without installing apps;
- support for large conferences and built-in chats, recordings, and screen sharing.
Kontur.Tolk is often chosen by organizations for which compliance with Russian legislation and infrastructure reliability are critical. Users also note an intuitive and convenient interface that looks modern and pleasant.
Yandex Telemost: simplicity and accessibility
Yandex Telemost is a free video calling service in the Yandex ecosystem. To join, you don’t need to register, since you can follow a link in the browser.
Pros:
- easy to join even without an account;
- calls are protected with encryption;
- works in a browser and on a smartphone;
- screen sharing is available.
This service is suitable for small meetings, online lessons, or family calls. It’s chosen by those who need the simplest possible tool without complex settings.
TrueConf: video conferencing for work and education
TrueConf is a platform for business, education, and government agencies. It supports 4K UltraHD video calls, large conferences of up to 1500 participants, and integration with Cisco, Poly, and Avaya equipment.
Advantages of TrueConf:
- compatibility with Microsoft Teams and Zoom;
- support for on-prem servers and local data storage;
- convenient for universities and government institutions that need protection and scale.
Suitable for government institutions requiring local data storage, large companies with internal servers, educational organizations, and businesses.
Zoom: a universal solution for video conferencing
Zoom is the service that practically saved offices, schools, and universities around the world during the 2020 pandemic. Many people first learned the word “Zoom” then and still use it as a synonym for “video call.”
In 2025 the platform is still around and remains one of the most widely used — largely thanks to its simplicity. You can create a meeting in a couple of clicks, and the feature set covers almost every scenario: from a regular call with colleagues to large lectures.
What users like:
- picture and sound are stable even with less-than-ideal internet;
- you can split participants into groups (breakout rooms — very convenient for workshops or seminars);
- virtual backgrounds and interactive whiteboards make meetings a bit less boring;
- there’s chat, screen sharing, and the ability to record meetings.
Notably, there’s an AI assistant that automatically writes a meeting summary and marks key points. In companies with dozens of meetings a day, this saves hours of manual work.
Pricing: the basic version is free but limited to 40 minutes per meeting (a familiar pain for anyone who’s ever run a long planning session). To remove the limit and add administration, you need to pay: from $13.33 per user per month.
Pros: simplicity, reliability, integrations with Google Calendar, Slack, and CRM.
Cons: that very limit of the free version and old security concerns, though Zoom has improved protection in recent years.
Google Meet: simplicity for small business
Google Meet is about minimalism. No installations, no extra windows. You can join via a link. For small businesses or educational projects, it’s a real lifesaver when there’s no time to fiddle with settings.
The free version allows up to 100 people, though limited to one hour. That’s enough for short meetings, but if it runs long, you’ll have to either recreate the link or switch to a paid plan. Paid versions start at $7 per user per month and offer a bit more freedom — up to 150 participants and call recording.
What sets Meet apart from competitors:
- automatic captions in 69 languages (often helpful when participants have different English proficiency levels);
- AI-based prompts — for example, the service can prepare an agenda in advance;
- the ability to draw and leave notes right on the screen;
- stable video and audio, even if the internet isn’t ideal.
Pros: everything works “out of the box,” deeply integrated with Google Calendar and Gmail, fits perfectly into the workflow of those who already live in the Google ecosystem.
Cons: no full-fledged collaborative whiteboard and most features are unlocked only with a Workspace subscription.
SaluteJazz: intelligent online meetings
SaluteJazz is a solution from the “Salut” ecosystem, built with a focus on convenience and accessibility. It works on smartphones, in the browser, and on Yandex devices (e.g., speakers).
Platform features:
- voice control support — you can start and manage calls via the “Salut” assistant;
- integration with the Yandex ecosystem: the service works together with Yandex.Mail, Calendar, and Telemost;
- compatibility with mobile and desktop devices without complex setup;
- simple group calls: quickly connect family, colleagues, or friends in one window;
- data security and encrypted connections.
SaluteJazz is aimed more at everyday use and small groups than at large businesses, but it’s valued for simplicity and minimalism.
Cisco Webex: enterprise-level classic
Cisco Webex is one of the oldest and most reputable video conferencing services, well known to large corporations.
Webex is built on Cisco’s traditional focus on stability, scalability, and a high level of security, which makes it in demand among companies with strict data protection requirements. Key features include an AI assistant that automatically creates meeting minutes and highlights key points, whiteboards for collaboration, built-in polling for interactivity, advanced analytics tools, and of course, meeting recording. Video calls are high quality and connection stability remains even with many participants.
Webex pricing is traditionally business-oriented:
- the free version allows up to 100 participants with a 40-minute time limit;
- paid plans start at $12 per seat per month, supporting from several hundred to more than 1000 participants.
The service runs reliably even with a large number of participants and is distinguished by high reliability and flexible scalability.
Pros: enterprise-grade architecture, strong security, scalability, support even for Linux clients.
Cons: high cost and an interface that many find less friendly than Zoom or Meet.
ClickMeeting: for business and education
ClickMeeting works right in the browser; no software installation is needed. This makes the platform popular among educational projects and companies that value quick onboarding.
Functionality:
- flexible interface customization and room branding;
- convenient polls and voting;
- meeting recording and built-in analytics.
However, there are limitations:
- with many participants, stream stability may drop;
- some advanced features are available only in expensive plans.
ClickMeeting is often used for webinars, training programs, and marketing events where simplicity and engagement analytics matter.
eXpress: a secure platform for business communications
eXpress is a Russian platform conceived as a full-fledged corporate super-app. Everything is gathered in one place: chats, calls, video conferences, integrations with business systems, mail, and calendars. And most importantly — all this operates in a protected environment, which is a key factor for many companies today.
Today, as the issue of digital sovereignty and protection of corporate data is especially acute, many companies are looking not just for a convenient service for calls and meetings, but for a platform that can ensure a high level of security while offering the full set of familiar functions for daily work.
It’s no coincidence that clients include giants like Rosatom, Nornickel, and Russian Railways. For them, reliability and security come first.
eXpress is valued for security: end-to-end encryption, compliance with Federal Law 152, and FSTEC certification. For businesses in Russia this is critical — Western services can be disconnected or blocked, while eXpress is completely independent of external factors.
To assess how well the service fits corporate tasks, it’s worth looking in detail at its video conferencing features:
- conferences up to 250+ participants, of which 128 can have video and microphones simultaneously;
- no time limits — meetings can last all day if needed;
- meeting recordings and file storage — convenient for training and documentation;
- scheduling via the built-in calendar with reminders;
- guest access via link — handy when you need to connect contractors;
- reactions, hand raise, virtual backgrounds, screen sharing, and other interactive niceties.
Beyond video conferencing, eXpress has what most competitors don’t:
- BotX-based chatbots — companies can automate certificate approvals, courier service, and other processes.
- SmartApps — an app marketplace that turns the platform into a work hub where you can access CRM, HR services, and the corporate portal without switching between a dozen programs.
Pricing is transparent: 250 ₽ per user per month with annual payment. For companies this means predictable expenses without hidden limits.
Using eXpress is no different from using a classic public messenger. The platform’s developers have thought through every detail so clients quickly get used to the interface and don’t experience inconvenience when working with the secure corporate eXpress system.
In a nutshell: eXpress is a platform that covers all communication tasks within a single ecosystem while meeting security requirements that are particularly important in the Russian context.
Benefits for business
eXpress offers unique capabilities specifically for Russian business. Among other advantages:
- Focus on enterprise security: the platform was designed as a solution specifically for the corporate segment.
- Federated protocol: enables communication between different organizations without complex approvals. This is especially important if a company regularly interacts with contractors and partners.
- Open conferences: convenient for holding regular meetings, trainings, and presentations with external users.
- Unique technical feature — up to 128 active cameras simultaneously in a meeting.
Comparison with foreign services
If you compare eXpress with global platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, the picture is interesting.
- Security and localization. With Western services, data goes to foreign servers, while eXpress stores it in Russia and fully complies with Federal Law 152.
- Risks. Zoom or Teams may restrict access for Russian companies due to sanctions. eXpress is independent and stable in this regard.
- Price. 250 ₽ per user per month is a fixed rate with no “hidden catches.” For large organizations, this is cheaper than subscriptions to Western counterparts.
- Integrations. eXpress is initially “tuned” for the Russian market: SIP telephony, compatibility with Communigate, Vinteo, and other local solutions.
In short, it’s not a copy of Zoom or Teams, but a platform built for Russian realities.
Who is eXpress for
The platform is universal but especially convenient for the following categories of organizations:
- Large corporations. Stable video conferences with hundreds of participants and guaranteed security.
- Medium-sized business. Optimal balance of price and capabilities.
- Government agencies and companies with increased data protection requirements. Full compliance and certification.
- Educational institutions. Ability to record lectures, conduct online exams, and work with large audiences.
Essentially, eXpress is designed for any company that needs stability, security, and convenience at the same time.
What to choose
The choice of a video conferencing service always depends on specific tasks. If you need to work with international teams and global integrations matter, look toward Zoom or Teams. For small businesses and educational projects, Google Meet is suitable: minimal setup and a quick start.
But if your priority is security, reliability, and confidence that the service won’t be switched off tomorrow, eXpress looks like the optimal choice. You can try the service right now in the demo version on the website.
