See more at The Platform Guide – Deep Dive
| Feature | Zoom | Google Meet | Skype | Jitsi | Discord | JackTrip | JamKazam | Jamulus | OBS | SketchSpace (in development) |
| What is it good for? | Original Sound | Google Integration | 11 Language Closed Captions | Set audio volume of each user separately | Least amount of latency | Professional music studio/audio engineer level online recording | Live Online Music Performance, Rehearsals, and Music Lessons | Live Online Music Performance, Rehearsals, and Music Lessons | Livestreaming or recording broadcasts, also as a Virtual Camera for communication platforms. | Seeing performers in the same space with a background behind them, and likely being able to speak/sing together. |
| Who are the main users? | Educators/Business | Everyone | Business | Everyone | Gamers | Musicians | Musicians | Musicians | Creators, Media, Instructors, Gamers, Musicians | Theatre Artists |
| Can I send text messages during the call? (text chat) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | n/a | Yes |
| Can we communicate face-to-face by video chat? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | n/a | Yes |
| How’s the video quality? | High | Low | Low | Mediocre | High | Doesn’t support | High | Doesn’t support | High | High |
| Can we talk to each other by voice chat? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Transmits audio | Transmits audio | Transmits audio | Transmits audio | Transmits audio |
| How’s the audio quality without additional headphones and microphone? (And also with?) | Mediocre (High) | Mediocre (High) | Low (Mid-High) | Mediocre (Mid-High) | Mediocre (High) | High | High | High | High | High |
| Can we talk/sing in real-time? | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (if input audio from JackTrip, JamKazam or Jamulus) | Likely! |
| How many people can join? (Free Basic account) | 100 (additional with paid versions) | 100 (additional with paid versions) | 50 (additional with paid versions) | 50 (additional with paid versions) | 25 for video calls, 5000 for audio calls | Peer to Peer connection (2 users) | 4 (Unlimited with paid subscription) | 10 by default, can be configured to 50. | n/a | 5 |
| Can I schedule meeting ahead of time? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Yes |
| Can you send calendar invitations? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | No |
| Can I share my device’s audio? | Yes | Yes (with video/screen sharing) | Yes (with video/screen sharing) | Yes (with video/screen sharing) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| What’s the maximum time limit of the session? | 40 min | Unlimited (until March 2021) | 100 hours per month | Unlimited | Unlimited | n/a | 1 hour free, Unlimited with paid subscription | n/a | n/a | Unlimited |
| Is it free? | Yes (with limited features) | Yes (until March 2021) | Yes (with limited features) | Yes (with limited features) | Yes | Yes | Yes (with very limited features) | Yes | Yes | Yes, you just need to sign up |
| Can I share my device’s screen with others? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes with subscription | No | It’s a broadcasting software | No |
| How easy-to-use is it? | Average | Simple | Simple | Simple | Average | Advanced | Intermediate | Intermediate to Advanced | Intermediate | Yes, SpiderWebShow has a tutorial |
| Can I record the meeting? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes with subscription | Yes | It can record your broadcast | No |
| Do you need coding experience? | No | No | No | Maybe/Depends (Not for general use) | No | No | No | At least some knowledge of using console commands is helpful, if running a server | No | No |
| Is Ethernet connection necessary? (Note: For best performance, ALWAYS use an ethernet connection when possible.) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Can you use it alone for communication? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, you can use it to setup your audio input for other apps like Zoom or Google Meet. | Yes | Yes | No, you can use it to setup your video/audio input for other apps like Zoom or Google Meet. | Not easily, since you need to book it first |
| Can you use it for live streaming? | No | No | No | No | Yes, as a companion app when streming via OBS when you want to stream a conversation or interview, or you can stream your screen just for a specific Discord channel. | Yes, you can use it to setup your audio input/output for live streaming on other platforms | Yes | Yes, you can use it to setup your audio input/output for live streaming on other platforms | Yes, you can use it to setup your video/audio for live streaming on other platforms | Yes |
| Can I have multiple video inputs (webcams) and switch between them? | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | No, it only supports audio | Yes | No, it only supports audio | Yes, it supports up to 8 video inputs | N/A (you can see all participants at once in the same space) |
| Picture in picture Webcam | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | Yes when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | n/a | Possible when combined with OBS Virtual Camera | n/a | Can be configured | N/A |
| What audio features does it have? | You can share your computer’s audio in addition to your microphone | Share audio with video sharing | Share audio from the computer alone | Share audio with video sharing | Share computer audio when sharing screen, Echo Cancellation for laptop, webcam, or smartphone(/accessory) microphones. | It supports unlimited number of input/output channels. You can speak and monitor simultaneously (bi-directional audio). Flexible routing (route any input to any output) | Plenty. This is a music performance and rehearsal platform. Please see website. | Very similar to features found in Jacktrip | Use multiple audio inputs, mix audio levels per input, apply built-in audio filters such as compressor or noise gate as well as third-party audio plugins that are compatible. | TBD |
