Noah Zelvis – Page 8 – Management Library

March 9, 2022November 23, 2022

The Complete Wrike Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

There are many types of project management software out there, but they are not all created the same. Wrike stands out for its accurate time tracking, specialized feature sets for your specific business, and easy to navigate UI. This review of Wrike covers in detail what makes it a tool worth considering.

Wrike

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With so much customizability, Wrike fits into just about any type of business. With several tiers of features, it scales perfectly with organizations of any size. The price may be on the higher side, but you get what you pay for.

Built with people in mind, it’s easy to add and manage users and share documents with anyone you wish. Teams can work together within the platform and track projects along the way. Reports flow in real-time so you can be immediately aware if something or someone falls behind.

Specialized packages for marketing, creative, and services delivery teams
Time tracking within tasks, with timesheets tracking totals
Analytics tool automatically generates charts

Slightly more expensive than other PM software
Templates can remove some options
Can’t prioritize tasks

Pricing

A Wrike account may not be your first choice if you’re looking for cheap or free project management software. It’s neither the most nor the least expensive option to help manage projects, but it is closer to the costlier end of the spectrum. Wrike pricing does include a free version that allows unlimited users but is limited in tasks and features.

Access to many of the most useful features requires a paid subscription. Options include:

Professional Plan: $9.80/user per month.
Business Plan: $24.80/user per month.
Enterprise Plan: Inquire for price.

Additionally, there is the Enterprise Pinnacle plan, which offers specific features for professionals who manage projects which require more sophisticated analytical tools. Like the Enterprise standard option, you’ll have to talk to their sales team about the cost. There are also special offerings for your creative team, marketing team, or service delivery team.

For those uncertain which tier to choose, Wrike offers a 30-day free trial.

Team Management

Most project management software out there, Wrike included, puts its focus in two areas. The first is team management, using task and subtask management to organize a team’s work. Your workspace can be broken up into multiple projects and multiple teams, with the Stream widget keeping you informed of everything that is happening.

Time tracking is included natively, which is an advantage over other platforms. It’s linked to specific tasks, which means it might be easy to lose track of it. On the other hand, it does make it easy to track resource allocation and your team members’ workload. Altogether, Wrike’s features make it suitable for either large teams or small teams.

There is an optional add-on with an additional cost called Wrike Resource that offers some more features such as timesheets and team utilization reports.

Project Delivery Management

Screenshot of Wrike project portfolio overview

The task management features project management software like Wrike offer is aimed at shepherding a team to project completion. In Wrike’s case, there are many tools to help managers track project progress, even complex projects, and identify problem areas.

We’ve mentioned time tracking and workloads. You can also create time estimates by adding ‘Effort’ estimates to tasks. You can also turn tasks into milestones as a way of noting important dates.

Customizable dashboards offer a number of ways to organize information, dividing things into projects, spaces, folders, and tasks, all of which can be added with a click. The ‘Recent’ area of the dashboard may be of particular use for navigating larger projects. Different views can also be added to spaces and projects, for example, to track dependencies using Gantt charts.

Risk/Issue Management

There isn’t a specific tool for issue tracking within Wrike, though you can get those tools through integration with Github. Alternatively, depending on your project management needs, one of Wrike’s other tools could fill the role of risk tracking. Wrike recommends using their Request forms as an issue tracker, for example.

There is also a Project Risk assessment that you can receive each week, which we’ll discuss a bit more when we get to Wrike’s AI options.

Reporting

Some of the most important project management tools are those that help visualize data in an understandable way, whether you’re trying to monitor progress, time tracking, due dates, or whatever. With Wrike, you can easily add Gantt charts to track a business plan or a workload chart to see time spent on each task.

Additionally, the Analytics tab allows you to automatically generate various charts that are updated as tasks are for real-time visibility. Note that the analytics project management tool is only available for Business plans and above customers.

Finance Management

Wrike offers some basic functionality for finance management. For example, you can set a project to track either billable or non-billable hours. Limited options in this area is not unusual for a project management system, which will often integrate with financial tools and then focus on managing other resources. Still, Wrike’s expense combined with the cost of separate financial software might be worth keeping in mind, particularly for projects on a tight budget.

Collaboration and Communication

We mentioned that team management is one area of focus for most project management solutions. The other is usually team collaboration, offering communication and collaboration features to keep remote team members working together. Wrike offers many features to foster communication, many focused on task management. For example, you can comment on individual tasks.

It’s also possible to send private messages to other users. Additionally, Wrike Proof allows you to mark up files stored on Wrike, allowing for some digital asset management, though file storage is somewhat limited. Even the Enterprise level is limited to 5GB per account, which for projects involving graphics or video may only scratch the surface.

Tasks also have an approval process feature, giving managers a chance to review assignments before marking them complete.

Integration With Other Apps

No project management solution will have every tool you need. To pull those other project management tools, many of which can offer a huge advantage, into your Wrike dashboard you’ll need to look for an integration. Wrike offers a long list of options through their integration marketplace.

There are a few standard options, including a Salesforce integration, and integrations with both Google and Microsoft products. There are also many specialized apps for specific uses. Additionally, two-way sync keeps information updated across platforms, though at a separate cost.

Artificial Intelligence

Wrike offers some AI features in a few specific spots. The software uses its AI project management tool, called Work Intelligence, which is described as machine learning technology. It probably is doing a lot behind the scenes, but Wrike picks out instances in which you’ll see it in action:

Risk: As long as enough information is entered, Wrike will assess project statuses and determine whether it’s likely to be successfully completed.
Replies: Wrike will suggest three replies to messages and notifications based on the conversation context.
Document processing: Work Intelligence also provides OCR technology to convert scanned or handwritten notes into text files.

As far as work management goes, you’re also able to create some automated workflows, such as recurring tasks or notifications.

Usability

Screenshot of Wrike app home user interface

Wrike recently redesigned its user interface, adding some top features requested by users. One of the nicest new features is the ability to design your own Home, choosing what information is easily available. Once you figure out how to get around Wrike’s customizable dashboards, the learning curve is actually pretty easy to climb. The same tools are replicated in different views, so you generally only need to learn to do something once.

Like most platforms, the different features are built on basic task management. You assign tasks to team members, then track progress, monitor workload, and create reports based on those tasks. Specific tasks can be turned into milestones, or you can add custom fields to all the tasks in a project. Time tracking also takes place within a task.

Project templates offer you a different set of tools depending on your needs. You may not see the option to track billable hours if you select a template for creative teams, for example. While it’s not exactly simple project management software, anyone who has used similar platforms shouldn’t have a problem. A mobile app for Android and iOS is also available.

Support

It turns out that many people don’t object to complex, feature-rich platforms as long as they’re given the tools to figure it out. As a result, support options are vital. There is a standard set of offerings that has evolved for these platforms that include things like support docs, tutorials, videos, and community support. Wrike provides all of those.

One major difference is the support options for more expensive tiers. For many platforms, these come with dedicated support. However, that’s not true with Wrike.

Instead, it’s good to note that support is supplied by another service. They include things like professionally designed workspaces, help moving to Wrike, and how to get the most out of its analytics, as well as additional support options.

Privacy

Wrike provides the same sort of security and privacy guarantees you’d expect from any similar platform. It has limited access to uploaded files, for example, and guarantees 99% uptime. Wrike also guarantees that its backup system operates in nearly real-time, so you won’t lose anything if there is a serious issue.

Several additional and professional features for security have an additional cost or require a more expensive subscription. For example, two-factor authentication is an optional add-on. Charging extra for some features is not unusual. Wrike is unusual in offering some of these options ala carte, so you could add them to less expensive tiers if you wanted.

Enterprise-level customers can also add on Wrike Lock, which provides a master encryption key for your account that only you have access to.

Methodology Suitability

Unsurprisingly, Wrike’s project management solution includes some features tailored toward an Agile approach. If you choose the Software Development set of templates, it will even set up options for Sprint work management. In many ways, Wrike could be used for any type of PM methodology you can build out of a task management system, though choosing the right template may make things a lot easier.

The platform can easily be used with Waterfall methodologies as well. It depends on how you set it up or which template you choose. You get a different set of options with a content creation template than you do with the web development option.

Wrike Alternatives

Most project management software, as we’ve mentioned already in our Wrike review, is based around task management. There are a number of variations on the theme with different price points, interfaces, features, etc. Some examples include:

Many Wrike features can also be found on other platforms. For example, Asana and Monday both provide an equivalent of Wrike Proof. Other options may also offer some of the professional services Wrike does.

The best project management software for your needs may be fairly similar to Wrike. However, since it actually offers some common features, top solutions that businesses look for, you may want to try out some of those other options and see how they suit you.

The differences may not be apparent in a quick overview, so taking advantage of a free trial or free plan is often a good idea. Wrike does offer some unusual features, most notably native time tracking.

If the task management model doesn’t appeal to you, there are a couple options that are organized differently, including Confluence and Basecamp. If you’re considering using a Wrike alternative, check out the battle between Microsoft Project vs Monday.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Wrike Review

Why Should I Use Wrike?

Many platforms used for project management, or for the more modern idea of a work OS, follow a task management system similar to Wrike’s, with a broadly similar design and set of features. The factors that make the decision for you may have more to do with cost and personal preference.

However, there are a few features Wrike offers, like time tracking, that might be hard to find elsewhere without an integration. Wrike’s free plan may also be of interest to teams looking for a low-cost option, as it offers a nice set of features.

Why Is Wrike Bad?

Wrike is a service used successfully by many large companies and has the reputation of generally being reliable and easy to use. However, there are some reasons why you might want to look at a different service.

At the top of the list is Wrike pricing, which is among the more expensive options out there. Additionally, there might be some specific features you can find elsewhere at a lower cost tier. For example, Asana offers custom fields in tasks at the $10.99 tier, while Wrike saves that feature for the more expensive $24.80 tier.

Is Wrike Trustworthy?

There is no question that Wrike is a legitimate business and that their work management system is a potentially worthwhile product. Additionally, they make guarantees on their website regarding data privacy, service uptime, and a number of other important issues. You can try Wrike without risk by signing up for a free plan or trial.

What Are Wrike Features?

Wrike has a range of helpful features available at different price tiers. For example, the basic tool of Gantt charts is available with the lower pay tier.

Time tracking is a native feature Wrike offers that similar services often don’t, but you’ll have to spring for the business plan to get it.

Additionally, Wrike has several specialist packages, as well as offering a range of professional services.

Is Wrike Bad?

Wrike isn’t a bad PM system, being on par with other options like Asana, monday.com, and Microsoft Project. Additionally, Wrike’s website claims large businesses and international corporations like Google and Siemens use their system.

It is a little more expensive than some other options, with a professional plan costing $9.80/user per month and a business plan at $24.80/user per month. However, you do get a raft-load of features for that price.

Final Thoughts on Wrike Review

While the higher price might initially put some people off, Wrike is one of the easier to use and feature-packed professional services out there. That may not make it the right choice for your project management requirements. However, it should be on your short list of platforms worth checking out.

March 7, 2022November 23, 2022

Gusto Review: Solid Payroll Software Mixed With Time Management

Gusto is a payroll processing software, offering tools to expedite payment processing and tax filing. To rise above the competition, it provides features to make other areas of business management easier as well. This Gusto review uncovers the features that make this platform shine.

Our Verdict

Gusto

From $39

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Built with small businesses in mind, Gusto has a slew of payroll tools that simplify or automate the entire process. In addition, its higher tiers throw in HR services to help you and your employees make the most of time management.

Built-in time tracking
Unlimited payroll runs
Auto process and submit payroll taxes

HR assistance locked behind the most expensive tier
Customer service is slow
Costlier than other options

Gusto at a Glance

Gusto packs a lot into each of its packages, going well beyond what a typical payroll processing app can do. At its core, Gusto offers unlimited payroll runs and automated payroll processing for fixed hourly and salaried workers.

If you are slow to get payments processed in any given week, Gusto might be a good pick for you – it can have funds in your employees’ bank accounts in just 24 hours. Above that, the software calculates and processes tax filing without you needing to lift a finger.

Gusto really stands out through additional tools such as time tracking and access to HR professionals that can help with the tough questions. Starting at $39 per month, Gusto isn’t as cheap as some other payroll processing software, but you get what you pay for.

Who Gusto is Best For

The payroll processing software gets along best with smaller businesses that can make the most of having an abundance of features in one package. Gusto can run payroll in any state and even seamlessly crunches the numbers for small businesses spread across multiple states.

Pricing

Gusto features three price points to connect with your business. The Core tier costs $39 per month, with an additional $6 per payee. The Complete plan has the same base rate of $39, but each employee is $12 per month. Finally, the Concierge package will set you back $149 per month, but staff are still just an additional $12 each.

Price

$39/month

$6 per month per person

$39/month

$12 per month per person

$149/month

$12 per month per person

Unlimited payrolls

Automated payroll processing

Auto-file payroll taxes

Next-day direct deposit

Time tracking

HR resource center

Gusto Features

Gusto’s features extend beyond typical payroll processing tools to include HR services as well. You can get quick direct deposits for employees, automated payroll processing, and an HR resource center, which can connect you with an actual HR professional.

Unlimited Payrolls

When it comes to doing payroll, sometimes once just isn’t enough. Last minute changes or addendums can be an issue if your software service decides to charge you every time you need to run the numbers. With Gusto, you can do your payroll as many times as you need to and not worry about incurring additional costs.

Automated Payroll Processing

Gusto has the ability to run payroll automatically on the day of your choice. The software can accommodate salaried employees or hourly staff with fixed hours where payment is the same each time. You’ll receive a notification a day before Gusto does its processing, so you can make any last-minute changes before it’s too late.

Auto-file Payroll Taxes

Managing and submitting payroll taxes for each employee can be a job in itself, and any issues with the numbers can lead to more headaches down the road. Luckily, Gusto can calculate and file these for you.

The software can handle filings for local, state, and federal governments each time payroll is completed. To sweeten the pot further, Gusto makes this service available at even their lowest price tier.

Next-day Direct Deposit

Even if you’re a little late to work through payroll for the week, Gusto has your back. With its Complete and Concierge plans, you can direct deposit funds into employees’ accounts the very next day. If you’ve chosen to go with the Core plan, you still have the option to direct deposit two or four days after payroll is processed.

Time Tracking

When dealing with hourly staff, it’s imperative to know hours worked so you can pay them the correct amount. Gusto has a built-in time tracker through the website or mobile app to keep everything in-house. At a glance, you can add hours worked for each employee into payroll without getting lost in a sea of programs. Read how to do payroll for contractors and freelancers.

You can also use Gusto to track sick days and PTO and run reports off the data. Team members can also see this information and make time-off requests right from their Gusto login. Note that this feature is missing from the Core package.

HR Resource Center

Gusto’s Concierge service goes a step further with a comprehensive HR resource center. Within this portal, you have unlimited access to a team of human resource professionals who can guide you through issues you may face while on the job. Furthermore, this resource center allows you to build a custom employee handbook, job descriptions, and guides and policies for your company. Read on the different payroll laws here.

Alternatives to Gusto

While Gusto has a lot to offer, it may not be for everyone. Business managers with other time management software are effectively double-dipping with Gusto’s extra features. All these tools do come at a higher price than other options out there. Here are some alternatives to Gusto worth checking out:

SurePayroll

SurePayroll matches Gusto blow for blow with payroll processing at its $29.99 per month tier. At $5 per employee, it is cheaper than Gusto in that regard. SurePayroll’s services are more affordable because it lacks the time tracking tools that Gusto brings to the table. If you already have time tracking covered elsewhere, SurePayroll may be a good option for your small business instead. Read the SurePayroll review if you’re interested in this tool or the SurePayroll vs Gusto review.

Wave

Wave’s unique pricing structure is based on its limited ability to run automated payroll. The software can only do so in 14 states and charges a $35 base fee for use in those states. Other states are only $20 per month, but both charge $6 per employee.

What makes Wave stand out for small businesses is its free accounting and invoicing software. Without setup fees or hidden charges, these tools are made available at any time. If you’re interested in this tool, read the Wave Payroll review.

Onpay

Onpay doesn’t charge for setup or the first month of use, and its base fee of $35 is lower than Gusto. With only one tier of service, you’re not able to pick from a list of packages for the one with the features you need.

The payroll processing software does scale well with small businesses, adding just $4 for each new user. Onpay includes automatic payroll, unlimited pay runs, and free tax document processing just like Gusto does. It doesn’t have any built-in time tracking but does come with some basic HR tools. Read the OnPay review to learn more about this payroll software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Gusto Review

Does Gusto Do Direct Deposit?

Gusto can direct deposit funds into bank accounts or prepaid debit cards. Depending on which subscription tier you choose, payments can go out in as little as 24 hours.

Does Gusto Integrate With QuickBooks?

Gusto integrates with several different applications, including QuickBooks. Once a link is established, you can use QuickBooks to sync up wages and taxes between the two.

Does Gusto Provide HR Services?

At its higher tiers, Gusto provides HR services such as time tracking, PTO and sick day tracking, and the ability for employees to submit time-off requests. Its Concierge package gives unlimited access to a team of HR professionals who can help with documentation and questions.

Bottom Line on Gusto Review

Gusto doesn’t stop at payroll software, adding more features small businesses can use. A project management software with built-in time tracker and HR tools eliminate confusion about hours and processes so you can dedicate more time to getting things done. The service includes the staples of auto payroll and fast deposits while keeping costs to a modest amount.

March 7, 2022March 20, 2023

The 10 Best VoIP Providers in 2023

As new technology emerges, professional communication tools are no longer limited to large corporations. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software brings cost-effective calling to businesses of any size while adding features that increase both productivity and efficiency. We found the best VoIP providers for businesses of all types.

Quick View

Best Overall – RingCentral
Best Customer Service – Nextiva
Best API Customization – Vonage
Best for Direct Dial Numbers – Ooma Office
Best for Team Collaboration – Mitel
Best AI Functionality – Dialpad
Best Flat Rate VoIP Provider – Grasshopper
Best for Call Centers – Freshdesk Contact Center
Best for International Calling – 8×8
Best for Audio and Video Conferencing – GoTo Connect

RingCentral

$19.99 to $49.99 per user per month

On-demand or automatic depending on plan

Visual voicemail, voicemail to email, voicemail to text

Up to 100 video participants for free

Multi-level auto attendant

Nextiva

$11.95 to $57.95 per user per month

Can record calls and videos at higher tiers

Voicemail to email or SMS notifications, no call forwarding

Video up to 250 participants, unlimited audio conferences

Can customize to route calls to appropriate area

Vonage

As low as $14.99 per month, scales with business

On-demand call recording

Virtual voicemail, recordings sent to inbox, call forwarding

Up to 30 participants with conference bridge

AI virtual assistant with natural voice interactions

Ooma Office

$19.95 to $24.95 per month per user

Record calls and play back as needed with Pro plan

Basic voicemail and call forwarding available

Up to 25 participants with Pro plan

Automate how you manage incoming calls

Mitel

$25.49 to $46.74 per user per month

On-demand or always on at higher tiers only

Voicemail transcription limited to higher tiers

Up to 100 person video conferences

Can set up and record prompts

Dialpad

$15 to $25 per user per month, custom plans available

As simple as clicking the record button

Voicemail transcription at any tier level

Video conferencing with AI transcription

Multi-level auto attendant

Grasshopper

$26 to $80 per month

None available

Call forwarding and voicemail to email audio files

None available

Custom greetings, live receptionist available for an additional fee

Freshdesk Contact Center

$0 to $99 per user per month

Record calls to gauge team’s performance

Can forward calls at any time to voicemail

Conference calls to collaborate from anywhere

Automatic call distribution system to get calls to the right place

8×8

$15 to $133 per user per month

Save recordings to your device or a cloud

Call forwarding, voicemail transcription

HD audio and video conferencing with up to 500 participants

Multi-level auto attendant

GoTo Connect

$22 to $39 per user per month

Record all calls or just specific ones, access recordings from the cloud

Call forwarding, voicemail to email

Built-in one click audio and video conferencing

Recorded greetings to route callers to the right place

Quick Verdict

Best Overall: RingCentral. RingCentral makes its service available for as low as $19.99 per month to small businesses. You can make and receive unlimited calls within the US and Canada, structure automated prompts for callers, and make use of several collaborative tools to boot.

The Best VoIP Providers for Businesses

Choosing the right VoIP provider for your business comes down to functionality, feature set, and price. Without further ado, here’s a breakdown of the best VoIP providers for businesses on our list.

RingCentral

$19.99 to $49.99

★★★★★

4.7

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RingCentral isn’t afraid of sharing features. Even its introductory plan at $19.99 per user monthly has voicemail capabilities, toll-free numbers with minutes, and access to the mobile app. Jumping up a tier adds in the majority of remaining features for just $27.99 a user.

Call recording is available on-demand at this price point, but saving the conversations you want to keep is as easy as the push of a button. You can set up your multi-level auto attendant with custom greetings and phrases to help it guide customers to the correct member of your team.

A separate application called RingCentral Video Pro allows you to host meetings of up to 100 participants and integrates well with Google and Microsoft. The basic video package is always free, but there is an option to upgrade for $11.99 per user per month.

With all it offers, RingCentral can be daunting for new users to dive into. Once you’ve learned the software and taught your team, you likely won’t look back.

This internet phone service stands out further by providing a means to share documents and chats within the app itself. This piece of project management software can be a huge blessing for smaller businesses that can’t afford multiple packages.

RingCentral covers communication and collaboration for one low price, making it the best VoIP provider for small businesses. Check out our complete RingCentral review if you’re interested in this software.

Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Built-in team messaging and document sharing

Can be overcomplicated for first time users

Nextiva

$11.95 to $57.95

★★★★★

4.4

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Nextiva has an abundance of features at its disposal, but a lot of these are hidden away in higher-tier plans. It’s possible to use the VoIP service for under $12 per month, but most key components aren’t accessible unless you’re able to pay $26.95 per user per month for the Enterprise plan.

At this level, you’ll be able to perform an unlimited number of audio or video calls or conferences with customers or teams. You can be notified of any calls you miss through email or SMS. The Enterprise plan also allows you to record calls or video conferences for training or future reference.

Nextiva has an attentive auto-attendant that helps save time on the phone. While the lower tier offers only a basic attendant, higher-level plans allow you to customize the attendant to your specific business phone system. It can also direct calls to the right person within your team.

A mobile and desktop app is available at all price points and lets you manage your communications from anywhere you have internet access. Should you encounter any issues along the way, Nextiva boasts 24/7 customer support that is quick to problem-solve. To learn more about Nextiva’s features, read our complete Nextiva review.

Unlimited calling within US and Canada
Mobile app to stay connected from anywhere
Customizable auto attendant
24/7 customer support

Call recording is limited to higher-tier plans

Vonage

From $14.99

★★★★★

4.3

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Vonage is no stranger to VoIP, providing internet phone service to both home and business. When it comes to business, pricing per user varies depending on how many team members you have. Businesses between 20 and 50 users pay $14.99 for the lowest tier plan, but smaller enterprises will pay more. Once you’ve surpassed 100 users, you’ll have to call sales for a quote.

This VoIP service prides itself on keeping you connected, offering a mobile and desktop app to access your communications from anywhere. When it’s time to put the business down for the day, you can still be notified of important voicemails or allow only specific calls through.

To help screen calls, Vonage has an AI-based virtual assistant that understands voice. It has the capability to direct callers where they need to go and can be customized further at higher-priced tiers.

Of all its features, Vonage has limitations on large-scale conferences. Its conference bridge only allows 30 participants to join at one time, which may not be enough for some teams. Vonage’s customer service also leaves something to be desired, only reachable through email or chat.

If you’re familiar with APIs, Vonage has several layers of customization to make your setup unique. Customers remember a tailored phone experience much more than a canned one.

Vonage is a large telecommunications provider that still understands the tools small businesses need to succeed. Its customizability affords the opportunity to make your internet phone service your own.

Several routing options to never miss a call
Apps for mobile and desktop
Very customizable with communications APIs

Limited customer support
Hard to understand which plans offer which features

Ooma Office

$19.95 to $24.95

★★★★★

3.9

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Ooma Office has two price points for businesses that vary significantly in features. To use the features that small businesses tend to use the most, you will need to grab the Office Pro plan at $24.95 per user per month.

The basic tier lacks the ability to record any phone call. Pro users can choose to record every conversation or set up the app to save talks on demand. Similarly, the entry-level package doesn’t have the means to do any video conferencing with clients or your team. Nor will you be able to access the desktop app to communicate or manage VoIP settings on the low-priced tier.

No matter which plans you choose, you will be able to make use of voicemail or call forwarding as needed. You can also set up an AI attendant to receive calls and point clients to the correct team member.

A true benefit of Ooma Office is that each user receives a unique direct-dial number instead of an extension. This can add a level of professionalism to a business while making it easier for customers to reach your team. If you have a number you’re passionate about, Ooma often waives the fee for porting it over.

Most of Ooma’s best features are only available in the Pro plan. That being said, all your users have access to a personal direct-dial number no matter which package you choose. Read our Ooma Office review to learn more about its pricing and features.

Desktop and mobile app
Unlimited calling in U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico
Direct dial numbers for each user

Desktop app is limited to the Pro plan

Mitel

$25.49 to $46.74

★★★★★

4.2

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Mitel keeps most of its features as low-hanging fruit, giving access to a majority of its tools for $25.49 per user on a monthly basis. Limitations creep in with voicemail transcription and call recording. You can only find these features hiding out in higher-tier plans.

At every price point, Mitel makes available its slew of collaborative tools. These include video conferences of up to 100 people and a platform for teamwork and business SMS messages. Although Mitel integrates with Salesforce, what’s offered here is enough for a small business to start.

The internet phone service further links up with Microsoft Outlook and Google’s suite of applications for seamless information sharing. It also casually shells out an unlimited number of minutes per month for outbound calls–something that’s usually limited in other plans.

What makes Mitel frustrating at times is the amount of work it takes to initially set up. Once you’ve navigated these potholes, you should have clear roads ahead.

Finally, Mitel’s app works on PC, Android, and iOS devices, so you can stay plugged in no matter where you are. It’s easy to reroute calls when you’re ready to hang things up for the day.

100-user video conferences available even at the lowest tier
Unlimited minutes per month
Integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Google Suite
App for PC, Android, and iOS

Initial setup can be daunting

Dialpad

$15 to $25

★★★★★

4.6

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Dialpad has a lot of great features, but none compare to what it can do with artificial intelligence. This AI can be the core of your customer service experience, guiding callers to the correct location while setting the tone of your business.

You can also use AI to scale sales and revenue to be proactive on each of those fronts through automated messaging. These virtual assistants can also transcribe conversations during video conferences that you can read through later.

When transcribing voicemail, the AI lets you know the tone of the message, so you know what you’re about to jump into. Dialpad also makes call recording easy, where a click of a button records and then saves those critical pieces of data.

The two price points vary the most when it comes to customer service, as Dialpad isn’t always available should you use the Standard plan. The Standard plan also limits your service to one physical location.

Each plan boasts unlimited calling and SMS to stay at the forefront of communication. Best of all, you can find out for yourself risk-free through Dialpad’s 14-day trial.

Dialpad maximizes its artificial intelligence output through attendant and transcription to save you time and effort. Check out our complete Dialpad review if you’re interested in this tool.

Free 14-day trial
Unlimited calls, SMS, group messaging
Call recording and voicemail transcription at every tier
AI can record conversations for playback later

Limited integrations and support on the Standard plan

Grasshopper

$26 to $80

★★★★★

3.1

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Grasshopper introduces a rather unique pricing formula that makes it one of the best VoIP providers for small businesses. All features are always made available, and plans are flat rate depending on the number of phone lines and extensions you use.

For $26 per month, you’ll have access to one phone number and three extensions. This scales to $80 a month for five lines but an unlimited number of extensions to share among your team.

Each line or extension can set up its own call forwarding and voicemail transcription for calls that don’t get answered. A desktop and mobile app make this process as smooth as can be.

Grasshopper lets you record personalized greetings when customers call in to help guide them to the right extension. If this isn’t enough, Grasshopper partners with Ruby to send your calls to a live receptionist for an additional fee.

The VoIP service doesn’t have the means to record audio from phone calls, nor does it have any conferencing capabilities. This may not be an issue for small businesses but should be kept in mind if you’re working across multiple locations.

Grasshopper’s flat monthly rate speaks to businesses that don’t need a lot of phone numbers but still want to capitalize on features. If you’re interested in this VoIP provider, check out our complete Grasshopper review.

Free 7-day trial
Mobile and desktop apps
Flat rate per month

Lacks conferencing and call recording

Freshdesk Contact Center

$0 to $99

★★★★★

4.3

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Freshdesk Contact Center’s feature list fits well with businesses that make use of a call center. There is technically a free VoIP plan, but this tier doesn’t offer a single minute of incoming or outgoing calls. You’re forced to pay for every minute your team uses.

It’s almost assuredly better to invest in one of the other plans that start with 2,000 free minutes and scale depending on how much voice traffic you’re going to see each month. These plans also grow in features representative of larger-scale businesses.

The internet phone service includes call recording to monitor employee interactions with customers. There are also options for wait queues and custom greetings to keep callers informed.

Conference calls let you stay in touch with your team to collaborate and share insights. You can capture notes while on calls to look back on as needed.

While you can customize some initial interaction points with customers, most of the software is rigid and unable to be modified. It’s designed with call centers in mind, and there’s little you can do to get away from that. However, if your small business has a call center of any size, Freshdesk is worth a look.

Freshdesk Contact Center is built for call centers with agent tracking, call recording, and a real-time dashboard.

Free 21-day trial
Call notes on conference calls
Monitor service levels

Limited customization options

8×8

$15 to $133

★★★★★

4.6

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8×8, named for the number of video pixels representing the basic building block of video transformation, brings together voice, video, and messaging.

Even the Express plan for $15 per user per month doesn’t shy away from features. You can use the auto attendant to build a multi-level automated call system with prompts and talk back. One account allows for multiple call flows depending on the origin of the call.

You’re also privy to visual voicemail features that you can read at a glance. Even at this level, it’s possible to set up video conferences for up to 100 individuals. The software can record and transcribe meetings for future reference.

Video conferencing capability grows with each plan, expanding to a total of 500 participants at higher levels. While missing from the Express package, call recording is available to keep important conversations or points you want to circle back to later.

These higher-tier plans also introduce the ability to call internationally to 48 different countries. Communications to these countries are unlimited at these plan levels.

For all 8×8 does have, it’s not as easy to identify and block spam calls like the other best VoIP providers for businesses can. While not impossible, it can’t be accomplished with a simple button press.

8×8’s X Series is one of the best VoIP apps for business or personal use with stellar features and the capability to connect with 48 countries around the globe. Read our ultimate 8×8 review to learn more about its features and pricing.

Voice calling for up to 48 countries
HD video conferencing
Mobile and desktop apps

Limited protection from spam calls

GoTo Connect

$22 to $39

★★★★★

4.5

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Formerly known as Jive, GoTo Connect has rebranded itself as one of the best VoIP providers for small businesses. At the top of its list of features are built-in audio and video conferencing tools that require nothing more than a click to use.

Conferencing is handled seamlessly from GoTo Connect’s desktop or mobile apps without requiring any additional downloads. You can pull in up to 250 people from 30 different countries, even with just the base package.

While you’re chatting with your team, your auto attendant can field your incoming calls with custom greetings and directions. If no one can answer the phone, the internet phone service can forward calls elsewhere, or you can receive an email notification from voicemail.

Plans don’t cost an arm and a leg either, with the Basic plan at $22 per user per month. You’ll need to upgrade plans to have access to call recording and GoTo Connect’s analytics.

Even small businesses need more than local calling, and GoTo Connect skimps on minutes until you reach the upper echelon of its plans. The same holds true for international calling, where they could be a bit more generous upfront.

Bottom Line: GoTo Connect carries a lot of features even at the basic level, with a stellar audio and video conferencing service.

Built-in conferencing at every level
Unlimited extensions
Real-time analytics

Limited toll-free minutes in lower tiers

Choosing the Best VoIP Provider For Your Business

When deciding what the best VoIP provider might be for your business, consider how the following features would impact your business.

Hardware
Local/toll-free numbers
Desktop/mobile apps
Call routing
Customer support
Usability
Price

Hardware

When investing in VoIP software, you’ll also need to pick up or have access to the appropriate hardware to make use of your new service. Providers often sell headsets or VoIP-specific phones as an add-on to your package. In some cases, you may be able to bring in a VoIP-enabled device that you already own.

Local/Toll-free Numbers

Even if you’re only planning to run a local business to start, consider how it will scale over time. If you expand to online sales, it’s helpful to have a toll-free number that customers can call from anywhere.

The best VoIP providers for small businesses give you room to scale and add toll-free or vanity numbers as you grow. They also allow a number of toll-free minutes for calls to keep your costs down.

Desktop and Mobile Apps

While VoIP revolves around making and receiving calls, a desktop or mobile app serves as a hub for customization, collaboration, and analytics. Here’s a list of the best VoIP cell phone services for you to check out.

These apps allow you to view incoming and outgoing calls, listen to recordings, and see how each member handles the calls they receive. Analytics can show how long customers are on hold, and where bottlenecks are located and offer insights to make your system more efficient.

It’s also within these apps that some VoIP providers feature video conferencing so you can communicate with your teams no matter where they may be.

Call Routing

Customers hate being bounced around when they call in with a question, or complaint, or to place an order. It’s important to use a VoIP service provider that helps customers navigate where they need to go and fast.

Auto attendants serve as a means to greet callers without tying up one of your staff, and most can be customized to fit your business. Multi-level attendants can seamlessly weave clients through a maze of prompts and handle callers differently based on the criteria you choose.

Customer Support

An internet phone service is only as good as the amount of time it’s working. Most VoIP services boast 99.99% uptime, but it’s crucial to be able to reach for help when something isn’t working as planned. Some basic plans lack customer support options, so check before you buy.

Usability

It stands to reason that your entire team will be working with your VoIP software in some capacity. Whether these people are tech-savvy or not, the service needs to be presented in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand.

Some VoIP providers have a lot of features and are difficult to take in at first glance. Should you choose one of these, work through the systems first to teach your team when the time comes.

Price

Pricing is an integral factor for any small business, and VoIP systems providers don’t typically come cheap – however, there are some pretty affordable VoIP services worth checking out. Although you want to pick a plan that factors into your budget now, make sure it also scales well as your company grows. Some providers offer discounts based on the number of users who receive a line or extension.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best VoIP Providers

Is VoIP Good for Small Businesses?

Yes, using a VoIP provider for your communication can be an ideal solution for its cost-effectiveness. These services also scale well with businesses, allowing you to add or remove lines as needed.

Do Businesses Need Landlines?

No, landlines were the only viable option for many years, but VoIP phone systems is rising up to take its place. VoIP also introduces other features such as conferencing and recording that landline phones can’t offer.

What Are the Disadvantages of VoIP?

As the name implies, Voice over Internet Protocol relies solely on the strength of your internet connection. It requires a decent internet speed and stability to avoid dropping calls or experiencing lag.

Can a VoIP Phone Call a Landline?

Yes, VoIP phones function just like a traditional landline in the sense that they can call anywhere your plan authorizes. There’s no distinction between landlines or other VoIP phone system.

Conclusion: Best VOIP Providers

VoIP technology brings not only a better way to communicate with customers but also tools to help your company succeed. Recordings and easy-to-access voicemail mean you’ll never miss an important detail, while audio and video conferencing help keep your team on the same page.

We’ve found RingCentral to be the top option for businesses with its low price point, robust feature set, and unlimited calling anywhere in the US or Canada. If RingCentral doesn’t push your buttons, we’re confident one of the other VoIP service providers on this list will.

March 3, 2022November 23, 2022

How To Start an Online Store in 2023

Thanks to modern technology, starting an online store has never been easier. Shipping companies make it possible to get products anywhere in the world in a flash. Web hosting platforms educate even the untrained in how to build the website of their dreams. Follow the steps below to learn how to start an online store yourself.

Step 1: Choose Your Concept/Product

Before you start building your ecommerce business, you need to have something to sell. It’s essential to approach your online store with a unique selling position. What is it about your merchandise that will stand out among the competition? Of course you’d rather sell products you’re excited about, but you don’t want your business to get lost in the vast reaches of the internet.

When choosing what you want your own products to be, consider the following questions:

Are you going to sell something physical or offer a digital product?
If you’re making it yourself, can you keep up with demand?
Can you locate a quality manufacturer for components or the product itself?
Do you have the space to keep inventory if you have multiple products?
How narrow or broad will your product category be?
Is this a product you’ll still be excited about down the road?

Before spending any money on your online business, make sure that you’ve researched and tested your concept. Don’t hesitate to bounce the idea off a few friends or others who will give honest feedback.

Step 2: Create a Business Plan

As you’re working through the details of your store, you’ll need to make a business model that encompasses the costs that will appear along the way. A sound business strategy goes a long way toward lessening bumps down the road.

Register Your Business

Depending on the state (or country) you’re setting up in, check to see if there are any business or sales tax licenses. Each region can have very different regulations when it comes to ecommerce stores and how you store inventory.

Should you bring a never-before-seen product to the internet, you’ll want to see if there’s anything patentable. Don’t let your great idea get ripped off because you didn’t take the time to protect it.

Whether you’re starting out solo or with a friend, you’ll need to define your business structure. For example, sole proprietorships link your business and personal assets together, whereas a limited liability company (LLC) lets you keep the two separate.

Partnerships are set up for two individuals starting a business together. Within a partner agreement, you’ll define each of your roles and responsibilities. If this process seems daunting, consider bringing in a business lawyer to help with the fine print.

Count the Costs

Your product is going to come from somewhere. Even if you make it with your own two hands, there will be costs associated with the materials you’ll need for a finished item.

Dropshipping or shipping (if you don’t pass costs to the consumer)
Domain name
Web hosting platform
Sales tax and income tax
Salaries for additional help

After you’ve chosen a shipping method, there may be fees for a dropshipper or even to send directly if you don’t pass along those costs to the consumer.

There will be recurring fees to keep your domain name and hosting platform up and running. These costs depend on the plans you choose for a site builder or web host you use to create your website.

Quarterly, you’re going to have to pay sales tax and income tax on what’s coming in and going out. Some tools can help you understand these expenses and keep you advised on what you’ll have to pay when the time comes.

You might be a one-person operation as you bring your own business online, but that may not always be the case. Should you hire additional help, you’ll need to budget for that as well.

Costs associated with starting an online store

Step 3: Come Up With a Name

Once you’ve worked out the details of what your online store is going to sell, you need to build the actual ecommerce website. To do so, you’ll need to create a business name that will represent you online. Make sure it’s something catchy and unique that will stick in a consumer’s head so they can remember it the next time they’re in the market for your product.

With a business name established, your ecommerce site will also need a domain name. This domain name is the unique access point to your own site and must be different from all other websites out there. Choose something that compliments your name and brand.

Since domain names have to be unique, your first choice may not be available. Should this happen, play with hyphens, move words around, or spell out numbers. Keep it simple, ideally to three words or less.

Step 4: Choose Your Online Platform

With a domain name in tow, you’ll need to make use of a web hosting service to turn your domain into a new online store. Some of the best Ecommerce platforms include a domain name with your plan, but you might prefer the do-it-yourself route.

Most website builders offer free trials, so you can try them before you buy. Each platform comes with different tiers of service, so study the features of each to determine which works best with your online store. Be sure to pick something that can grow with your small business.

Shopify

Shopify is a well-known ecommerce platform that doubles as an online store builder. Once you’ve created an account, you can choose from pre-constructed templates or build your own. Since you’re one of many online stores on Shopify, take the time to make yours stand out as much as possible.

WordPress + WooCommerce

WordPress, with the WooCommerce extension, is another website builder to consider. While the platform itself doesn’t cater solely to online shopping, WooCommerce adds all the tools you’ll need to create content for your online store.

Wix

Wix similarly has an ecommerce builder that online businesses can use to sculpt the site of their dreams. Although Wix is another hosting service that covers a range of niches, it has robust sales features for selling online.

Choosing the DIY method? Bluehost offers some of the lowest prices for web hosting–starting at $4.95 per month.

Step 5: Build Your Site

Your website speaks loudly to potential customers, and a successful online store will make it as appealing as possible. Give yourself a unique identity to share who you and your products are while increasing the customer experience. First impressions are crucial and help develop a sense of brand loyalty.

Don’t immediately shy away from paid templates or taking the time to build (or program) the site yourself. Any personal touches will go a long way toward that unique appeal you need to succeed.

When building your site, determine your target audience and work around that niche. This target market should be an area you’re familiar with that you can inject your own personality into.

Keep Mobile Users in Mind

There’s been a trend of more sales coming from mobile devices, and you don’t want to neglect this group of shoppers. Not every template or style available on your site builder will run or look good on a smartphone or tablet, so be sure to choose one that offers mobile-responsive sites, which automatically resize and optimize your site for mobile.

Add Products and Set Pricing

With a template created, it’s time to start building product pages. When users shop online, they want to be able to quickly navigate to whatever they’re looking for and then be on their way. This is an important point to remember when deciding on a layout.

Your product descriptions need to capture the essence of what you’re selling in a minimal number of words. You’ll be lucky if potential customers get through a paragraph or two of text before losing interest. To go along with your concise description, quality photos are essential since customers can’t view things on a rack or try them on.

When first starting out, it may be better to start with a small number of items to test the proverbial waters. This will also help with initial inventory management. As you find success, you can open up your site to a more diverse selection of wares.

Step 6: Set Up Payment Methods

Now that your online business is fleshed out with the items you’re going to sell, you’ll need to choose how you’ll be accepting payments. While often overlooked, set the currency to use for each purchase. Your e-commerce business may reach international shores, and you don’t want any confusion about pricing.

The online store builders referenced earlier provide ways for customers to pay you. Depending on which hosting plan you choose, you may be able to accept payments from a check or bank transfer directly from the platform.

Customers will likely prefer to use a credit or debit card for purchases, so having this option available is key. For credit card payments, you’ll want to link up your site to a secure payment gateway. These payment gateways add the security necessary to process card charges online.

The most popular options to consider are:

Stripe
Square
PayPal

It’s not a bad idea to give customers access to multiple payment gateways, as your clients may have a preference. Having multiple options is also a benefit in the event one of the gateways goes down. Be sure to verify that your hosting platform integrates with whichever gateways you choose.

Step 7: Think About How To Ship Products

If your ecommerce store is selling a physical item, you’ll want to work out shipping details for getting the product into your customers’ hands. There are two routes to pick from here.

Dropshipping

You can hire a dropshipping company to handle all your shipping for you. These businesses will take a portion off the top of each sale but will deliver your product for you. Alternatively, you can choose products from a marketplace, such as AliExpress, to sell in your online store and never have to store inventory.

Ship It Yourself

Should you wish to handle your deliveries yourself, you’ll need to be able to handle any and all demands. You’ll also have to set shipping costs and work with your preferred shipping provider to ensure items arrive at the right location and on time.

Step 8: Ready for Launch

With all these steps complete, your ecommerce website is finally on the verge of launch. Run through your links, check product descriptions, and make sure everything works as it should.

With one last click of a button, publish your online store. Congrats, your site is now live! You’re on your way to making your first sale.

Step 9: Create Online Marketing Strategies

Whether or not your products start flying off the shelves, you can’t rest on your laurels. You’ll need a good marketing strategy to retain existing customers and keep bringing in new ones.

Social Media Marketing

For new businesses, social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are the biggest paid marketing channels to promote through. Each advertising platform offers inexpensive ways to get the word out about your site. Strategic social media posts can pique interest in no time flat. Plus, you can sell products through your social media channels.

Offer Incentives

Shoppers will admittedly come and go, but don’t overlook what you can do with your marketing strategy. A structured email marketing campaign can remind people just what they’re missing. Getting the word out about daily deals or flash sales will likely bring clients back and boost the customer lifetime value (CLV) of your site.

Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Many customers will use search engines, such as Google or Bing, to find your site for the first time. Focusing on your site’s SEO can make all the difference between your site and a competitor’s simply because one of them is optimized in Google and the other isn’t.

Step 10: Allow for Customer Feedback

Customers are the lifeblood of your business, and a wise business owner will listen to what they have to say. Be sure to create a means to hear back from your shoppers, whether it be from a survey or a place for reviews. You may glean helpful tips to improve aspects of your business that would have gone otherwise overlooked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an online store?

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to begin your online journey for free, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either. If you’re willing to do all the work yourself, you can get by spending only the funds you need for a domain, hosting, and fees surrounding licensing and taxes.

How do I become a successful online retailer?

To be successful in the online world, you need to identify an untapped niche or find a way to set yourself apart from the competition. After building a unique space, a solid marketing strategy can bring in customers new and old.

How do I start an online store with no money?

Trying to start an online business with no money is a bit of a pipe dream, but there are ways to curb costs. Some hosting platforms offer a free service with limited functionality to help get things off the ground. You may even be able to get a free domain through the same platform.

Keep in mind that free may be beneficial in the short term, but you’ll be very limited in what you can do. This can have a dramatic effect on long-term potential and your ability to carve out a unique space.

How do beginners sell online?

It’s possible to sell just about anything on the market if you have the means to make it. Even someone lacking expertise in web design can build an ecommerce site with the help of templated hosting platforms. Pre-built marketing campaigns can elevate your success and keep customers coming back for more.

Final Thoughts on How to Start an Online Store

Ecommerce only continues to grow over time as more people turn to the internet for product consumption. The online space makes it possible for beginners to have success selling products without the need for a costly physical space.

Turning your business idea into a thriving online store isn’t an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be difficult either. If you’re willing to put in the work, the steps covered in this article can set you on the path to a profitable business in short order.

March 1, 2022November 23, 2022

SurePayroll Review: Great for Small Businesses and In-Home Help

SurePayroll is a payment processing app designed to take the stress and guesswork out of paying your employees. This SurePayroll review takes a look at the software’s top features and what makes it worth considering for your small business.

Our Verdict

SurePayroll

From $19.9

Visit

Designed for small to medium businesses, SurePayroll features the ability to auto-process payroll while dealing with the nuances of tax forms and state government submissions.

One of its most notable features is an entire service dedicated to payroll for in-home care. SurePayroll easily navigates all the pitfalls of payroll processing for these employees that often amount to penalties and headaches.

Unlimited payroll runs
2-month free trial
Can process and submit taxes

Struggles with employees who switch between hourly and salaried pay
App can be challenging to navigate
Long customer service hold times

SurePayroll at a Glance

Screenshot of SurePayroll website homepage

SurePayroll stands tall as one of the best payroll options for small businesses currently available. The product has three different tiers of service starting at $19.99 per month and working their way up to $49.99 monthly at the highest level.

All plans offer the option to perform payroll automatically, and payroll can be run an unlimited number of times per day without additional cost. The Full Service plan goes so far as to calculate and submit all payroll taxes alongside a guarantee that they will be filed correctly. Higher tier plans drop money into employees’ accounts two days after submission for prompt payment.

The payroll system has a feature tier specific to in-home care, such as nannies. This particular package contains all the payroll and tax info you need to avoid penalties and fees.

Screenshot of SurePayroll Nanny Payroll services page

SurePayroll extends its service to offer worker’s comp, 401(k) plans, health insurance, and pre-employment screening, though HR services aren’t included in any plan. Having these options available keeps everything under one roof while also meaning you don’t have to search around for them on your own.

Who SurePayroll is Best For

SurePayroll’s line of services are all set up specifically with small and medium businesses in mind. Pricing is reasonable at the onset but grows quickly for organizations with a large number of employees. Should you need to keep track of payroll for a household helper, SurePayroll has a feature set just for that.

Pricing

SurePayroll has three tiers of service to choose from, depending on your needs. The No Tax Filing plan costs $19.99 per month, plus $4 for each employee in your organization. The Full Service plan starts at $29.99 monthly but charges $5 per team member. Finally, the Household Payroll plan runs $49.99, including one employee. Additional employees will set you back $10 a month for each.

Price

$19.99/month + $4 per employee

$29.99/month + $5 per employee

$49.99/month (includes one employee)

$10 per additional employee

Free two-day direct deposit

File and deposit taxes

Unlimited payroll runs

Auto payroll

New hire reporting

PTO/sick time tracking

SurePayroll Features

SurePayroll’s suite of payroll handling tools center around making the process as simple as possible. It includes two-day direct deposit, which is faster than some big names in payroll that may take up to four days to deposit funds. The company also offers paid time off (PTO) and sick day time tracking without you having to integrate an app.

Free Two-Day Direct Deposit

SurePayroll provides the means to pay your employees through printed checks or via direct deposit. There’s no additional charge for either one outside of the costs you’ll incur for paper and ink for a printed option.

When it comes to direct depositing, SurePayroll lets you know once you’ve completed payroll when employees can expect the funds to reach their bank accounts. If you’ve signed up for the Full Service or Household Payroll plan, SurePayroll promises a two-day turnaround.

File and Deposit Taxes

Screenshot of Payroll processing, tax calculation on SurePayroll

Even with a small business, calculating and submitting payroll taxes and filings is quite the chore. In the Full Service and Household Payroll plans, SurePayroll will crunch the numbers and send everything off for you error-free.

Read: How to Avoid Common Payroll Mistakes

Even if you opt for the No Tax Filing plan, SurePayroll still runs calculations for you when it generates payroll information. That being said, it’s up to you to submit the paperwork and applicable fees on your own.

Unlimited Payroll Runs

Whenever the need arises, SurePayroll allows you to run an unlimited number of payrolls on any day at any time. Whether you need to add, change, or remove information, you can do it for no additional cost. Best of all, this feature is available at any price tier.

Auto Payroll

With Auto Payroll, you can set up a repeating day of the week and time that SurePayroll will run the numbers for you. The software will send you a reminder before payroll processing begins, giving you time to input salary numbers or hours worked for each employee. You can even have SurePayroll add in these values automatically if you’re sure they won’t change from week to week.

When the aforementioned day and time arrive, SurePayroll will run the payroll and prepare checks or send out direct deposits as instructed. The platform will inform you once the process is complete.

New Hire Reporting

Depending on your state, you only have so many days to report a new employee to the state government. SurePayroll can take the information for new staff entered into its payroll system and send the necessary details to the powers that be so you don’t have to.

PTO/Sick Time Tracking

Although only available in the Household Payroll plan, SurePayroll is able to keep tabs on days employees miss and track vacation days they can use this year. Since the Household Payroll plan is designed for nannies and other in-home services, you won’t be caught completely off guard by time-off requests.

Alternatives to SurePayroll

SurePayroll has several features at its disposal, but struggles with a difficult-to-manage app and lackluster customer service. While good at what it does, the software doesn’t offer much outside of payroll. If you’re looking for something a little different, here are some alternatives to SurePayroll that are also worth considering:

Gusto

Gusto is a modern payroll platform in the same vein as SurePayroll. Similar to SurePayroll, Gusto can auto-process payroll and run the numbers as many times as needed. Although comparable on payroll, Gusto adds time management and employee benefits to its package that SurePayroll does not have. If you’re interested in both software, see the Gusto vs SurePayroll review.

Still built for small to medium-sized businesses, Gusto does cost more because of its enhanced feature set. Plans start at $39 per month but can reach as high as $149. Read the Gusto review to learn more about it.

Wave

Wave has payroll with direct depositing and automation options alongside timesheets for either $20 or $35 per month, depending on the state your business is located in. What makes Wave stand out is the free accounting and invoicing software that you can use at any time.

Following the same trend as SurePayroll, Wave is best for smaller businesses without a massive number of employees to process payroll for. Wave is limited to automatic filing in only 14 states. Read the Wave payroll review if you’re interested in this software.

Payroll4Free

Payroll4Free boasts that its basic payroll software is entirely free for any business with fewer than 25 employees. These features include payroll processing, tax calculations, and reporting. Tools are more rudimentary than what SurePayroll offers, but the price is right.

If you want the software to process taxes and run direct deposits for you, this will cost $30 per month.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for SurePayroll Review

Should I Outsource Payroll?

Outsourcing payroll to a software service can save time and money in the long run. This allows you to use that time on areas of your business where it will be better spent.

What is the Average Payroll Cost Per Employee?

Finding the right payroll processing software can keep costs down to an absolute minimum for small businesses. The average platform costs $30 per month plus roughly $6 per employee. Even with five individuals on staff, you’re only looking at $12 per person per month.

Can I Do My Own Payroll for My Small Business?

There’s certainly nothing stopping you from doing your own payroll in your small business, but this may not be the most efficient use of your time. Processing payroll and the taxes that come with it is a timely process that could be used elsewhere.

Bottom Line on SurePayroll Review

SurePayroll is a stellar tool for small to medium businesses, offering the capability to automate payroll and tax submissions so you don’t have to. In addition, you can run an unlimited number of reports and pay your employees within a few days of payroll submission. Best of all, it is a very affordable solution even for new ventures just getting their feet off the ground.

March 1, 2022November 23, 2022

Best Restaurant POS Systems in 2023

Managing all the facets of a restaurant can be a tireless endeavor. Fortunately, point of sale (POS) systems exist to bring everything from payments to staff management together in one neat package.

This article looks at the top restaurant POS systems in the restaurant industry today and highlights those that stand out the most.

Quick View

Best Overall – Toast
Best for Small Restaurants – TouchBistro
Best Free POS System – Square for Restaurants
Best for Restaurants With Multiple Locations – Revel
Best for Integrations – Lightspeed Restaurant
Best for Quick-Service Restaurants – Clover

Toast

Free to $165 per month, custom options available

Accelerate service with accurate customer placement

Access to scheduling and payroll add-on

Commission-free channels for ordering and delivery

Detailed reports and analytics that can be accessed from anywhere

TouchBistro

Starts at $69 per month for a single POS terminal, with optional add-ons

Floor plan maker, table assignments, table monitoring

Simplify shift management, build payroll

Add-on feature, allows ordering from website

Over 50 reports that update in real-time

Square for Restaurants

Free to $60 per month per location, custom options available

Customizable floor plan, optimize layout, and monitor every seat

Scheduling, clocking in and out within the system

Free e-commerce site, integrations with third-party apps

View daily stat summaries, keep tabs on business trends

Revel

From $99 per month per terminal

Custom dining room layout, identify high and low volume areas

Create and modify schedules, unique passcodes for each team member

Fully integrated online order solution

Reporting for sales, inventory, labor

Lightspeed

$39 to $289 per month, additional terminals $39 per month. Custom options available

Adjust the floor plan on the app, check table stats

No staffing options, links to other software for accounting

Delivery and contactless online ordering

Advanced insights reveal successes and failures

Clover

Free to $69.95 per month

Guest seating, dynamic floor plans

Manage shifts and schedules

Customers can order from website, app, or a third-party

Robust point of sale reporting

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – Toast. Toast offers the best of everything from table management to online ordering and everything in-between. Best of all, the software is available at several different price points to accommodate any size business.

6 Best POS Systems for Restaurants

Here are the six best restaurant POS systems available with all the features you need to run your business efficiently.

Toast

Free to $165

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

If your restaurant management system uses only one or two POS terminals, Toast’s free plan contains a handful of restaurant-specific features to get you working efficiently. To build an online footprint, you will need to upgrade to the Essentials plan at $165 per month.

In either case, restaurant businesses will likely need to invest in Toast’s proprietary hardware to run the show. These restaurant computer systems do not come cheap, making the Toast POS system even viable for larger full-service restaurants.

The POS system makes it easy to develop a table service restaurant plan to optimize service and turnover rate. If you can get them in the door, Toast has email marketing and customer loyalty programs to keep them coming back for a nominal additional fee. Using the best VoIP app can help expedite communications to customers.

Toast’s interface allows restaurant owners to view sales across all locations. It’s also possible to watch which tactics are working and which areas could use improvement.

Free tier of service.
Commission-free online orders.
24/7 customer support.
Software built around Android platforms.

Proprietary hardware.
Limited options for reservations.

TouchBistro

Starts at $69

★★★★★

3.7

Visit

TouchBistro makes it easy for businesses to plug into its POS software with nothing more than an internet connection and a handful of iPads. These restaurant iPad POS systems tend to speak well to a small restaurant that could struggle with proprietary hardware fees.

Even at its most basic level, the restaurant POS software features floor plan and table management, menu management, inventory calculations, and the ability to handle employee scheduling. TouchBistro plays well with other apps to enhance accounting or help manage inventory, which makes restaurant payroll a bit easier. Payment processing has to be done through a third party, often resulting in extra fees.

With TouchBistro, you can build your website to handle reservation management to bring more customers inside your establishment. This service is one of many that comes with an extra fee. Online ordering and delivery is also an option but will set you back at least an additional $50 per month.

Over 50 different reports will help your restaurant manager level up the guest experience, streamline operations, and pull in employee insights.

Free demo.
Several integration options.
Menu management.
Runs on iPad devices.

Payment processing is handled through third-party integrations.
Many features have additional fees.

Square for Restaurants

Free to $60

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

Square is one of the few restaurant POS systems that offers a free plan for unlimited devices and locations. Most customer management tools are included, with only a few options left behind a $60 paywall for its premium plan.

The free POS software offers employee management tools that factor well into small counter service restaurants such as coffee shops or food trucks. If you do have a table service restaurant, you can use Square for Restaurants to create a custom layout and monitor what’s happening at every seat.

A nice bonus feature in Square’s repertoire is a free e-commerce site to create your brand around. It’s possible to handle reservation management and set up online ordering capabilities directly from the platform.

With all the free plan has, Square for Restaurants only gives 24/7 customer support to its premium members. A suite of built-in reporting tools should help you figure out what’s working and what’s not within your restaurant business all on your own.

Offers a free plan.
Includes a free e-commerce site.
No long-term contracts are required.
30-day free trial on premium plans.

Free plan does not have 24/7 support.
No employee management tools.

Revel

From $99

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

Revel’s restaurant POS software should appeal to franchise owners with multiple restaurants looking to keep tabs on each location. While it doesn’t do automated inventory management, Revel allows inventory tracking among different locations.

Quick or table service restaurants can make use of the fully integrated online order system to maximize profitability. There’s also a built-in full driver dispatch feature, and Revel can accept payments within its app.

For all it does, Revel is one of the more pricier restaurant POS providers at $99 per terminal. This doesn’t include payment processing fees or hardware such as a cash drawer.

Of the different point of sale systems for restaurants, Revel does a great job of intelligent reporting tools that let you track sales, inventory management, and even how your team is doing. Should you wish to customize things further, you can add in your own integrations with Revel’s open API.

Open API system.
Sleek and easy-to-use interface.
Runs off iPad devices.
Smart reporting.

Pricing is for a three-year contract.
Expensive.

Lightspeed

$39 to $289

★★★★★

3.2

Visit

Lightspeed Restaurant lists three pricing tiers and is designed to scale as a business grows. A $39 per month plan works best for new restaurants that utilize one terminal, while a $119 monthly plan was created with full-service restaurants in mind. At $289 per month, the pro plan contains advanced tools for larger restaurants.

Fees for payment processing are the same across the board and are a bit on the high side. The Lightspeed POS platform makes up for this with stellar internet-based ordering and a delivery service that works directly with the major apps.

While its most expensive plan offers advanced insights, Lightspeed’s reporting system isn’t as strong as other POS systems. You can still glean information from table placement and make adjustments on the fly to capitalize on opportunities.

When it comes to integrations, Lightspeed has you covered. If you already have a tool you prefer for employee management or accounting, the POS software likely works with it.

Integrates well with other software.
Free one-on-one onboarding.
Unlimited 24/7 support.
Built-in customer relationship management hub.

Some additional features are costly add-ons.
Lack of robust reporting tools.

Clover

Free to $69.95

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

The Clover POS system covers a multitude of pricing options that tend to cater to the quick-service crowd. Although its $69.96 per month plan offers table mapping and tableside ordering, all other plans focus on the terminal and online payments.

In fact, Clover has one of the nicest systems for ordering online. The POS software interfaces directly into your website, app, through Google, or through third-party delivery platforms. Customers can pay online, and as long as you use Clover’s hardware, fees for payment processing won’t break the bank.

Clover also has built-in staff management tools to keep your team running as efficiently as possible. Within the software, you can schedule staff hours and track their register usage on any given day.

Speaking of tracking, Clover offers some powerful point of sale reporting so you can find pinch points in your business. Real-time analytics allows you to make changes on the fly that could turn a bad day into a good one.

Robust online order and delivery service.
Affordable hardware.
Flat monthly rates.
No long contracts, can customize your plan from month to month.

Processing fees are higher for non-Clover hardware.

How To Choose a Restaurant POS System

When looking for the best restaurant POS software for your business, consider how the following points play into your organization:

Affordability.
Key features.
Flexibility.
User-friendliness.
Support.

Affordability

When it comes to restaurant POS prices, there is a vast range of options available. Just about every plan you’ll come across will have a monthly fee for using the software. Some features are considered add-ons and can come with additional costs.

Software aside, most POS systems have hardware that they recommend using. Hardware can be costly, but fees for payment processing are often higher if you use your own device.

Key Features

Maybe it goes without saying, but make sure the POS system you’re going to use has all the features you can’t live without. POS software can provide inventory, staff, menu, and even table management tools to make running things that much easier.

Furthermore, many of these systems incorporate e-commerce tools customers can use to order online for pick up or delivery. Platforms such as Square for Restaurants even give space to create a website. You may also be able to tie in your VoIP caller base for marketing purposes if you have it.

Flexibility

The best point of sale systems have the capability to grow with you as your restaurant grows. Whether it be additional terminals or enhanced features, the last thing you want is to get stuck in a contract that doesn’t work for you.

Some systems don’t require long-term contracts for software, making it easier to upgrade or switch as needed.

User-Friendliness

If you’ve picked up some software and your team is still asking “what is a POS system?”, chances are they can’t run it. The best software isn’t worth its digital weight if your team can’t make sense of what to do. Many point of sale systems offer demos for their paid services, so you can try before you buy.

Support

Point of sale software can effectively shut down your business if it’s not working as it should. When such situations arise, it’s essential that customer support is a quick phone call away, so you don’t lose business or patience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Restaurant POS Systems

What Is the Most Popular POS System for Restaurants?

In our humble opinion, Toast takes the cake as the best restaurant POS system currently available. The software covers a multitude of restaurant models and has the features you need to succeed. With several pricing options, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either.

Which POS Terminal Is the Best?

Hardware is an integral part of any point of sale system. Companies like Square pride themselves on having many terminal models to suit any restaurant.

What POS System Does McDonald’s Use?

McDonald’s uses a platform called NP6 for all their point of sale needs. Since the fast-food chain sees nearly 70 million customers daily across its 37,000 locations, the software is specifically designed to handle a large number of contact points—and fast.

Which POS System Is the Best?

We feel that Toast offers the biggest bang for your buck, but the answer to this question ultimately comes down to you. The best POS system will include all the tools you need to run a successful business while being affordable for you.

Conclusion: Best Restaurant POS Systems

Restaurant point of sale systems allow for efficient management of customers, payments, and more. Many of them extend their reach to online sales to maximize profitability and your restaurant’s footprint. Perhaps best of all, they can help you identify areas within your restaurant that need improvement.

No matter the size of your restaurant, we feel that the best restaurant POS system is Toast for all the features it offers. With several price points, it can cater to small or large businesses without blinking an eye. If you’re not a fan of Toast, chances are one of the other options on this list will taste just as good.

February 9, 2022November 23, 2022

Best Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Businesses

Hiring can be a time-consuming process that costs a lot of money and distracts your team from the goal of your business. The right applicant tracking system (ATS) can save time and generate better results from the candidate pool while streamlining the recruiting process. This helps you find the right candidates faster and your team can stay focused on the right tasks. In this article, we look at the best applicant tracking systems for small businesses.

Best ATS Overview

Best Overall – Pinpoint
Best Access to Job Boards – iCIMS Recruit
Best for Candidate Tracking – Greenhouse
Best for Social Media Interaction – Manatal
Best for Staffing Agencies – Zoho Recruit
Best for Automated Tools – SmartRecruiter

PinPoint

$600 per month or $1200 per month

Can advertise on 1,450 job sites

Communications, video interviews, talent pools, candidate scorecards

Personalized workflows to engage employees from day one

Analytics dashboard, custom report builder

iCIMS Recruit

From $1,700 per month

iCIMS career sites and platform

Text engagement, video interview scheduling

Automated processes to maximize engagement

Robust recruitment marketing reporting and source analytics

Greenhouse

Must contact sales for pricing information

Access to job postings from over 1,000 boards with candidate recommendations

Collaborate with hiring managers; scorecards and plans to track candidate skills

Automated task execution, personalized welcome experience

Analyze and share 30+ core reports

Manatal

$15 to $35 per user per month, with custom options available

Thousands of free or premium channels, LinkedIn and social media extensions

Easy to use candidate pipeline

In-app training and interactive onboarding

Customizable dashboard, complete analytics suite

Zoho Recruit

Free to $75 per user per month

Career portal, premium boards, job posting on Facebook and Google

Client portal with assessments and interview options

Candidate and employee flows for onboarding

Multiple levels of reporting

SmartRecruiter

Depends on your customized bundle and the number of employees

Manage all job post contracts in one location

Standardized interview evaluation criteria and processes

Custom fields and automatic data transfer

Reports based on interviews, positions, applications, and more

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – Pinpoint. Pinpoint brings together the best of every aspect of recruiting together in one package. Its access to job sites, applicant screening, and customizable onboarding are second to none. Best of all, its features are available for one flat rate.

The 6 Best Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Businesses in 2023

Here are the six best options available for tracking and hiring applicants:

Pinpoint

$600 to $1200

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

Pinpoint’s applicant tracking software brings several features to your hiring process for a flat monthly fee. You can get started with Pinpoint for $600 per month or gain access to all its features for $1,200 monthly. In either case, you can post job openings on as many of the 1,450 popular job boards that Pinpoint works with all from within the recruiting software itself. The ATS provides candidate profiles and scorecards to rate job applicants. During the recruitment process, you and your hiring team can communicate directly in Pinpoint.

Once you’ve identified promising candidates from the talent pool, you or your HR managers can schedule interviews and generate offers from within Pinpoint. The software creates employee engagement from day one with a customizable built-in onboarding process. While in the recruiting process, you’ll have access to Pinpoint’s powerful analytics dashboard to view candidate information. A custom report builder helps pull insights from your hiring processes and glean insights for next time.

Unlimited active jobs.
Fixed monthly fees.
Customizable reporting.
Good customer service.

Can be pricey for smaller businesses.

iCIMS Recruit

From $1700

★★★★★

3.9

Visit

iCIMS Recruit’s applicant tracking systems work to connect you with qualified candidates as quickly as possible. The platform is built around cloud-based recruiting software, making everything easily accessible no matter where you are. A user-friendly mobile app lets you and top talent communicate with the push of a button.

The talent cloud is the place for job seekers and hiring managers alike to track the recruitment process through every step of the journey. You or your HR professionals can conduct video interviews, track applicants, and manage offers from the cloud.

Although there are features aplenty, iCIMS Recruit comes with a hefty price tag. Pricing information on their site is far from transparent, but their talent management solutions will likely set you back upwards of $1,700 per month.

There are also several impressive reporting tools to help analyze your recruiting efforts. Hiring managers can view candidate data at a glance across iCIMS’ multiple job boards and identify the best people for your needs.

Unique software for career portal.
Automated employee onboarding.
Cloud-based software.
Stellar mobile app.

Cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses.

Greenhouse

Must contact sales

★★★★★

3.4

Visit

Greenhouse is an ATS solution that proves strong in candidate management through diverse talent acquisition tools. Unfortunately, the ATS software hides its pricing information from view, theoretically offering custom plans depending on company size and feature set.

This modern applicant tracking system uses the power of technology through a mobile app and automated candidate sourcing. Greenhouse optimizes the talent acquisition process by recommending job applications based on your history.

Also within Greenhouse are several candidate relationship management tools to track qualified candidates every step of the way. Hiring teams can communicate right within the ATS software to keep everyone informed in one fell swoop.

Human resources teams or recruitment agencies have over 30 different core reports to view performance management metrics at a glance. There are abundant integration capabilities across all areas to plug into as needed.

Mobile app.
Several reporting features.
Job advertising on over 1,000 external job boards.
Automated hiring tasks.

Opaque pricing.
Clunky user interface.

Manatal

$15 to $35

★★★★★

4.1

Visit

At prices as low as $15 per user from your company per month, Manatal offers the next best thing to free software. You’re limited in your job posting to just 15 per account unless you upgrade to the $35 plan where you can go unlimited.

One of Manatal’s strongest features is the extension that lets you tie its applicant tracking software to social media like LinkedIn or Facebook. With thousands of other job posting channels available, these are just the tip of the iceberg.

The ATS software can pull in data from resumes to create candidates in your system. Manatal has several applicant tracking tools, including a candidate pipeline that recruiting teams can use to list these applicants in various buckets to keep things organized.

Similarly, you can run various reports within Manatal to understand your performance management during the recruiting process. Manatal also lets you see candidate reports for optimal talent acquisition and even where your money is going during the process.

Can list jobs on social media platforms.
Budget-friendly price points.
Candidate pipeline to track prospects.
Tight security features.

Customer service can be slow to help.

Zoho Recruit

Free to $75

★★★★★

3.9

Visit

Zoho Recruit was created with corporate HRs and staffing agencies in mind. The applicant tracking software shows off powerful sourcing channels alongside automated resume extraction tools to manage candidates across a multitude of positions.

Among other benefits, these tools will automatically scan resumes for key skills or experience and weed out applicants that don’t have the experience you’re looking for. Such features can really expedite the hiring process, especially when you’re looking across several jobs at any given time.

Prices are set to a monthly fee per recruiter and can range anywhere from $25 to $75 per month, depending on your desired feature set. Zoho does offer a free applicant tracking system that’s limited to one job posting at a time.

The client portal is the best place to view qualified candidates at a glance and offer assessments. You can plan and schedule interviews with individuals that stand out the most from the portal.

The ATS software has multiple layers of reporting tools and dashboards, but many of these only become available at the $50 price point or higher.

Automated resume screening.
Several job sites, including Facebook and Google.
Free plan available.
Employee referrals.

Few options for job advertisement.
Limited customer support.

SmartRecruiter

No fixed fee

★★★★★

3.3

Visit

SmartRecruiter offers a one-stop-shop for advertising through a central vendor management system. You can track your postings across the big names in job hunting from one convenient location within the software.

You and your hiring managers can standardize things like the interview evaluation process to save time and peruse common results. You can run reports based on applications or interviews, but this tool has some limitations.

When it comes to pricing, SmartRecruiter gets a little hazy. There’s not so much as a hint of what plan options may be, and only filling out a form with the features you’re interested in will get you a quote.

SmartRecruiter shines with automation and is designed to make the hiring process as easy as possible. You can make use of chatbots, automatic resume screening, or recommendations based on artificial intelligence.

Recruitment chatbot.
Dashboard for managing applications.
Automatically screen resumes.
Centralized viewing of posted jobs.

Vague pricing model.
Limited reporting features.

How To Choose an Applicant Tracking System for a Small Business

It’s helpful to do an applicant tracking system comparison to uncover the ideal platform for your business. The right applicant tracking software is going to incorporate the best mix of the following:

Features.
Corroboration.
Career site.
Analytics and reporting.
Think long term.

Features

Having the right tools for the job can go a long way towards making the recruitment process a snap. Applicant tracking systems manage candidate tracking and onboarding areas so you don’t have to.

Corroboration

This may not be important if you are the only person on your hiring team, but corroboration is paramount for companies with an HR staff. The best recruitment software provides the means to talk with your team right from the interface, keeping information in one place and not lost in a series of emails.

Career Site

If you’re using an ATS for posting jobs, make sure it allows you to list on the top free and premium boards out there. Some platforms will let you build and customize your own career portal to appeal to applicants and walk them through the onboarding process.

Analytics and Reporting

The best applicant tracking systems come with analytic and reporting tools to offer additional insights into potentially exceptional applicants. These tools can also provide the means to look into your own hiring process to see what you’re doing well and which areas need improvement.

Think Long Term

Pick software that will benefit you both now and in the future. As your business grows, you want your ATS software to expand with you as you post more jobs and increase the size of your hiring team.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Applicant Tracking Systems

What is the most popular applicant tracking system?

Many applicant tracking systems have standout features, but Pinpoint does the best at bringing all of these together. It has access to thousands of job sites and the tools you need to bring in the best candidates. In addition, there’s one monthly fee no matter how large or small your team becomes in the future.

How do I choose an applicant tracking system?

Consider features, corroboration, career sites, and analytics and reporting when choosing an applicant tracking system that works best for you. Start with the features you can’t live without and go from there. Many platforms allow customized plans depending on what you need and what you can live without.

Do small businesses use an ATS?

Even a single hiring manager can benefit from the reach that an ATS provides. You can access thousands of job sites from one location and automate searches and onboarding processes that free you up to spend time on interviews or other areas that need attention.

Conclusion: Top Applicant Tracking Systems

Applicant tracking software provides a way to automate a lot of redundant job hiring tasks and makes it easier to focus on the more human side of things. These platforms also allow quick access to thousands of sites and the means to screen candidates faster and more completely than ever before.

Whether you have a team or are a one-person show, we feel that Pinpoint is the best applicant tracking system for the features it adds to your repertoire. If this platform doesn’t fit into your business model, we’re confident one of the others on this list will.

February 4, 2022November 23, 2022

Best Free Payroll Software for Small Businesses 2023

Every business that needs to hire employees will need to process payroll. With all of the complexities that payroll can bring, and the rules varying by state, it’s important to either have a firm that can process payroll for you or the right software to guide you through the process. A mistake can be costly, but not everyone can afford a good payroll solution. We’ve analyzed the best free payroll options to make the choice easier for you.

Quick View

Best Overall – Payroll4Free
Best Scaleable Payroll Software – TimeTrex
Best for Global Businesses – HR.my
Best Payroll Calculator – eSmart Paycheck
Best for Microsoft Office Users – ExcelPayroll
Best for Tax Calculations – Paycheck Manager

Payroll4Free

Direct deposit, paper checks, or a combination of each

Can calculate and track vacation hours, PTO, and sick days

Can run detailed reports on earnings, tax, benefit, accrued time, and more

Tax calculation, filled out tax forms

2048 bit SSL encryption alongside Amazon Cloud to store data

TimeTrex

Direct deposit, paper checks, or a combination of each

Tracks in real-time, can add vacation or sick days

Real-time timesheets

Can generate a variety of tax forms, including international

Cloud-based system with robust built-in security features

HR.my

Automates payroll processing

Track overtime, undertime, tardiness, daily attendance, time off

Monthly attendance reports with filtering

None available

Encrypted with SSL (TLS) protocol and secured with daily off-site export

eSmart Paycheck

Can print pay stubs or paychecks

Information must be added manually

None with free payroll service

Performs tax deductions

No information is saved

ExcelPayroll

Can print checks

Everything must be entered manually

Can run reports from Excel

Can print tax forms

Limited to the security of your device

Paycheck Manager

None available

Will calculate tax compliance

No information is saved

Quick Verdict

Payroll4Free gives free access to more tools than any other payroll software out there. The ability to track employee time and hours away from work is second to none. Payroll4Free makes your life easier by offering options for paper checks or direct deposit and will even do tax calculations for you. However, free payroll software can only do so much. If you’re looking for the best paying option, check out our article on the best overall payroll software.

6 Best Free Payroll Software for Small Businesses

Below we cover the six best payroll software options available for small businesses.

Payroll4Free

4.6

★★★★★

Visit

Payroll4Free offers completely free payroll services for any small business with 25 employees or less. The software tracks time and absences, and you can log whether these are vacation hours or sick days. Your team can check their hours via the employee portal to print pay stubs or check accruals.

With the information in hand, Payroll4Free gives you the option to send direct deposits or use paper checks. You can view this information through the payroll processing software’s reporting tools.

The HR and payroll software has some strong security to protect your information. Large-scale SSL encryption alongside Amazon’s cloud is well-designed to keep your info safe.

When it comes to payroll taxes, Payroll4Free can calculate tax numbers for you. While they will be ready to send, the free software doesn’t do tax filing services for free. The service has a $15 monthly fee and no free trial available.

Since Payroll4Free makes it easy to report wages and tips for a small staff, it is one of the best restaurant payroll software options.

Integrates with QuickBooks and other accounting software.
Higher security than most.
Unlimited customer support.
Pre-filled year-end tax forms.

Tax filing is not free.
Limited to Windows OS only.

TimeTrex

4.3

★★★★★

Visit

TimeTrex fancies itself as paid payroll processing software but has a free option with their Community Edition. This plan is open-source and supported by a network of volunteers from around the world.

There are no limits to the number of users you can have in the Community Plan. The free payroll software tracks hours in real-time, and you can view this data at any time through timesheets. Time and attendance tracking are viewable on the employee self-service portal.

The software will auto-run payroll, and you can pay employees through direct deposits or print paychecks to hand out. It’s possible to generate forms for federal and local taxes but not do any filing.

While there are several free features, all others such as expense tracking are locked behind a paywall. Pricing for these other plans is unclear on the website, making it hard to decipher what’s best for your small business. TimeTrex does offer free trials for 30 days to try out its full-service payroll software.

Integrates well with payroll programs like QuickBooks.
Several pre-filled tax forms.
Real-time employee hour tracking.
Open-source.

No tax filing feature.
Pricing is not transparent for paid plans.

eSmart Paycheck

2.4

★★★★★

Visit

eSmart Paycheck’s free payroll software for small business owners excels at intuitive payroll calculations. All data has to be entered manually with no option to import employee hours, so eSmart Paycheck is best for small businesses with fewer employees.

As you run the payroll software, you’ll be able to enter hours or salaries alongside overtime, commissions, or bonuses. You can load in local tax information to run payroll specific to your location. It will also calculate benefits, deductions, and how much to withhold.

With all your information entered, you can print pay stubs or paychecks directly from the site. Hopefully you won’t encounter any issues with the payroll check software, as there is no customer support available.

When you’re done with the free software, it doesn’t save your information. This means your data isn’t stored anywhere, but it also means you’ll have to input everything again next time you use it. If you like what you see, there are options to upgrade to a paid plan with more features.

Quick and easy to use.
Paycheck printing.
Customizable inputs.

Does not save information.
No customer support.

ExcelPayroll

2.7

★★★★★

Visit

As the name implies, ExcelPayroll is completely free payroll software that relies on Microsoft Excel to run. If you’re not familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite, you may have trouble adapting to this payroll calculation tool.

If you are familiar with Excel, ExcelPayroll makes payroll processing easy. You do have to manually enter your employee information and hours, but the software shows you how to do payroll as you go. The app allows up to 50 names, but small businesses with fewer employees will have a faster time.

Once you’ve filled in all the blanks, you can run reports off that data through the tools ExcelPayroll has to offer or tap into Excel itself. As an isolated payroll software program, there’s no way to do direct deposit, but you can send paychecks to your local printer.

ExcelPayroll has the means to print pre-filled tax documents and help calculate federal or state taxes. Keep in mind that all this information is saved on your device and must rely on whatever safeguards you use to keep your information safe.

Simple and intuitive to use.
Can customize as you see fit.
Able to print paychecks.
Up to 50 employees.

Customer support only through email.
Rather basic in its design.

Paycheck Manager

1.8

★★★★★

Visit

Paycheck Manager has several features that roll up into a nice package, but many of these are unavailable for free. With a three-month free trial, it’s well worth checking out all it can do.

Free users have access to a calculator that’s effectively a form to fill out on their website or mobile app. You have to manually enter your team’s hours and salary alongside deductions. The form does help fill in federal and state tax information as you go.

Depositing and reports are locked away in Paycheck Manager’s paid plan alongside expense reports. Similarly, there’s no way for your employees to log their hours on the free version of the site.

Websites like Paycheck Manager’s free calculator have no built-in security and don’t save any of your information. You’ll want to make sure your browser is protected, but no data storage means you’ll have to re-enter your numbers every time.

Factors in deductions.
Automatically processes payroll information.
Free mobile app.

Does not save information.
Limited features.

How To Choose a Free Payroll Software for Small Businesses

Here are four things to consider when choosing payroll software for your small business:

Team size.
User-friendliness.
Payment delivery.
Integrations.

Team Size

Some of these free apps have limitations on the number of users they will allow. Double-check that the software you choose can accommodate all your players. It’s also essential to think about how you may be affected down the road if your team grows.

User-Friendliness

Some of the payroll software on this list is for your eyes alone, but others allow access to a self-service portal where employees can log hours and view information. It’s helpful to find a program that is easy to wade through, especially if you want your team to have accurate timesheets.

Payment Delivery

Many companies in this day and age look to direct depositing, while others prefer paper checks. Be sure to check the software you’re considering if you desire one of these options.

Integrations

If you’ve already found a groove with other software, you shouldn’t have to stop using it completely. Look for payroll software that integrates well with those other tools you’re using. It may even be possible to import data from one program to the other and facilitate things that much more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Free Payroll Software

Which free payroll software is best?

The best free payroll software is the one that assimilates most smoothly into your business. That being said, if you only need a program for payroll calculation, Paycheck Manager, eSmart Paycheck, and ExcelPayroll may suit you best. If you’re looking for time tracking, reporting, and payroll depositing, consider Payroll4Free, TimeTrex, or HR.my.

How much does payroll software cost?

Everything we’ve shared on this list today is free to use. Should you decide to upgrade to a paid plan with additional features, assume at least $10 per user every month.

What is the easiest payroll software to use?

None of the software on this list is particularly challenging to use. If you’re big into Microsoft Office, ExcelPayroll seamlessly drops right in. Overall, Payroll4Free is user-friendly and straightforward for reporting and calculations.

How can I do payroll myself for free?

There’s certainly a means for small business owners to create their own payroll spreadsheet in Excel or a similar program. Such a method does allow for complete customization and unique options for reporting. Any of the payroll software options in this article won’t cost you a penny to use. You just need to find the one that best suits your company’s needs.

Bottom Line: Best Free Payroll Software

Payroll can cost a lot of time to do on your own or a lot of money if you look to some of the more expensive software options out there. Fortunately, there is common ground with free payroll services that do a lot of the work for you while not tapping into the coffers.

We’ve chosen Payroll4Free as the best free option out there with its abundance of features and only a few tools that would require payment if needed. Should Payroll4Free not speak to you, it’s likely one of the others on this list will.

January 10, 2022November 11, 2022

Best Conference Call Services for 2023

Business people having a conference call

Conference calling helps connect with clients and brings team members into the fold through audio and video chats. The best conference call services simplify the process and offer tools to collaborate and show off your business. Check out our top picks for conference calling below.

Best Conference Call Services

Nextiva – Best Overall Conference Calling Service
RingCentral – Best for Combined Calls and Conferencing
FreeConferenceCall.com – Best Free Conference Call Service
GoToMeeting – Best for Mobile Users
Zoom – Best for Video Conferencing
Vast Conference – Best for Impromptu Meetings
ClickMeeting – Best for Presenters

Nextiva

$11.95 to $57.95 per organizer per month

40 or unlimited for audio, 250 for video

App for iOS and Android

Call and video recording available on some plans

Screen sharing, team messaging and collaboration

RingCentral

$19.99 to $49.99 per user per month

1,000 for audio, 100 or 200 for video

Easy access through text message links, app or iOS and Android

On-demand or automatic on most plans

Data/file sharing

FreeConferenceCall.com

Free

Up to 1,000 participants for audio and video

Access through iOS and Android apps

Record audio or video, 1GB cloud storage available

Meeting dashboard with drawing tools and chat

GoToMeeting

$12 to $16 per user per month, custom plans available

150 to 250 participants

Mobile apps with commuter mode and recording

Cloud and mobile recording on highest-priced plans

Screen sharing, meeting drawing tools

Zoom

Free to $240 per year per license

100 to 500 participants, large meetings addon allows for 1,000 users

Robust mobile app for iOS and Android

Local and cloud sharing available

Screen sharing, breakout rooms, Zoom Whiteboards

Vast Conference

$11.99 to $31.99 per user per month, custom plans available

10 to 250 participants

Schedule, host and collaborate in mobile video conferences

Cloud recording from 1GB to unlimited use

Screen sharing available

ClickMeeting

$25 or $279 per month based on number of attendees, custom options available

25 to 1,000 attendees depending on price point

Mobile apps on iOS and Android for connecting

Time-based recording storage from 30 minutes to 10 hours

Screen sharing, breakout rooms, whiteboard feature

Nextiva

$11.95 to $57.95

★★★★★

4.7

Visit

Most of Nextiva’s plans offer an unlimited number of callers or 250 video participants to any number of conferences you need to have. All tiers have VoIP calling and 24/7 customer support via chat, email, or phone. There’s mobile functionality, but the apps are somewhat limited in features.

Why we chose it: Nextiva combines inbound and outbound VoIP calling with high-quality audio and video conference calling. To learn more about Nextiva’s features, read our complete Nextiva review.

24/7 customer support on all plans
HD video calling
Includes VoIP calling

Essential plan has no conference calling
Apps are lacking in features
Plans can be pricey

Pricing: Although Nextiva has four communication plans, only three incorporate conference calling. Its Essential plan at $11.95 per month only tackles inbound and outbound calling and peer-to-peer video. No matter which other plan you choose, you’ll be able to benefit from HD video.

The Professional plan opens the door for up to 40 participants to engage in an audio-only conference call for $20.95 per month. Video chats increase that limit to 250 people at a time. You’ll also be able to make use of 3,000 toll-free minutes per month.

Moving up a tier, the Enterprise plan allows an unlimited number of callers over the phone for $26.95 per month. There’s still a 250 person maximum for video conferences and 12,500 toll-free minutes. In addition to more callers, you can record an unlimited number of meetings and access voice analytics.

Nextiva’s Ultimate plan is an eye-opening $57.95 each month but throws in sales productivity and pipeline management alongside automated surveys.

RingCentral

$19.99 to $49.99

★★★★★

4.6

Visit

RingCentral features high-definition audio and video software for smooth connections alongside a top-tier VoIP calling service package. Teams of up to 1,000 can partake in an audio call, or 200 users can video chat for no extra cost. Joining these conversations can be as easy as clicking a button, but collaboration tools are somewhat limited once inside.

Why we chose it: RingCentral has a built-in suite of combined calling and conferencing tools that cover a multitude of uses.

HD video and voice
Up to 1,000 audio call participants
Easy access to conferences from any device

Lowest tier has no conference calling
On the expensive side
Limited collaboration tools

Pricing: RingCentral’s Essentials plan sits at $19.99 monthly for basic communication tools but lacks any sort of call conferencing feature. The following tiers of service include HD voice and video to get the most out of your meetings.

At $27.99 per user per month, the Standard plan isn’t cheap but includes unlimited audio conferences of up to 1,000 people and video meetings for a maximum of 100. RingCentral’s use of access codes and text makes it easy for participants to connect from any device. This price also contains a business phone line with a pool of toll-free minutes.

Bumping tiers up to the Premium level doubles the number of video callers you can have while adding automatic call recording, real-time analytics, and integration tools. Expect to pay $34.99 per month for these additional features.

A final jump to RingCentral’s Ultimate tier adds in device status reports and alerts unavailable with other tiers. You’ll also be able to store an endless amount of files and recordings for a total price of $49.99 per month. Read our in-depth review on RingCentral to learn more.

FreeConferenceCall.com

Free

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

As the name implies, FreeConferenceCall.com offers a free conference calling service for up to 1,000 individuals. It has some powerful features, including call recording and tools for collaboration. The software does fall short in online capacity and looks a little rough around the edges when presenting to an unfamiliar client.

Why we chose it: FreeConferenceCall.com contains a number of features, all made available for $0 per month.

Completely free to use
Up to 1,000 participants
Free international conference calling

Small online storage capacity
Minimal customization options
Software doesn’t feel as polished

Pricing: FreeConferenceCall.com has just one plan that’s entirely free for businesses to use for audio and video conference calling. You can have up to 1,000 people from up to 82 countries all participating in one chat.

The site does ask for companies to adopt a “pay what you can” strategy to cover the costs of maintenance and upkeep. It goes on to say that the conference calling software will remain free for those who need it to be.

GoToMeeting

$12 to $16

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

Both mobile and PC users benefit from GoToMeeting’s deep feature list. The conference calling software made its mobile app easy and intuitive to use without limiting features. While there’s limited customization and no option for audio-only, GoToMeeting makes up for it with a high-quality platform.

Why we chose it: GoToMeeting packs its mobile apps with many of the same features PC users benefit from for maximum flexibility.

HD video
Mobile app loaded with features
Record to local devices or the cloud

Can run slow with large groups
Limited customizations for brand integration
No audio conferencing option

Pricing: Although GoToMeeting’s two price tiers are only four dollars apart, there are some significant differences in features between them. Both offer HD video and access to mobile apps that users can log into from anywhere.

GoToMeeting’s Professional plan at $12 per month allows for 150 logins to your meeting without fear of time limits. You can share screens or split teams into breakout rooms to hash through projects.

The Business tier at $16 monthly opens up the software to unlimited cloud (or local) recording and drawing tools to help get your point across. Should you need to add more to your plan, you can customize your own features with GoToMeeting’s Enterprise plan. Doing so requires a call to their sales team.

Zoom

Free to $240

★★★★★

4.5

Visit

Zoom has become popular as both a business and social tool with a basic plan that costs nothing to use. However, paid plans allow you to make the most of this conference calling service with a 30-hour meeting duration and cloud recording. The software lacks HD video out of the gate, requiring a request to Zoom before the feature is made available.

Why we chose it: From free to paid, Zoom’s deep and customizable feature set makes it the best call conferencing service for video.

Free plan available
Local and cloud call recording
Zoom Whiteboards for collaboration

Must request use of HD video technology
Free version is limited to 40 minutes of video
Limited customer service in free version

Pricing: Zoom introduces a free plan with features you’d have to pay for elsewhere. Record calls, use Zoom’s whiteboard tools, or screen share, all for free. The plan’s downside is a 40-minute call limitation and almost no customer service.

At $149 per year, the Pro plan effectively removes the duration limitation, increasing call time to 30 hours. It also introduces 1GB of cloud storage and the ability to stream live to a third-party service.

Zoom’s Business plan sits at $199.99 yearly and raises the participant cap on video calls to 300 people. You’ll finally have phone access to Zoom’s customer service crew and options to introduce branding.

Increasing the limit further, the Enterprise plan allows 500 users to join a single meeting for $240 per year. You’ll also be able to record an unlimited number of sessions for future reference.

Vast Conference

$11.99 to $31.99

★★★★★

4.1

Visit

Vast Conference makes cumbersome connections ancient history with one-tap texts and unique call-in numbers for each attendee. This feature extends to 52 countries around the world for meetings of global scope. However, there aren’t many options to collaborate with your team, and Vast Conference doesn’t yet play well with other software packages.

Why we chose it: With Vast Conference, your team only needs to dial their unique number and access code to join the conversation.

Each regular attendee gets their own call-in number
Toll-free dial in from 52 countries
HD video conferencing

Low participant limits
Limited collaboration tools
Few integration options

Pricing: Vast Conference showcases four plans with increasing feature sets for you to choose from. Each has screen sharing and HD video conferencing should you not wish to go the audio-only route.

The Essentials tier at $11.99 per month enables you to host conference calls of up to 10 people. Cloud recording is limited to just 1GB of storage space.

Once you outgrow Essentials, the Standard plan at $15.99 increases the participant size to 100 people and unlimited recording to the cloud. This tier also allows for meeting personalization and single sign-on.

At $31.99 monthly, Professional does nothing more than increase the caller limit to 250. Custom plans are available with a call to Vast Conference’s sales team if you require something more.

ClickMeeting

$25 or $279

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

ClickMeeting is designed for presenters who require control over meetings. The software also contains a slew of collaboration tools for smaller conference call meetings and brainstorming sessions. These whiteboard tools are only accessible in calls of 25 participants or less.

Why we chose it: ClickMeeting’s features center around presenting and webinars but work just as well for conference calling.

HD quality video
Several collaboration tools
Edu mode for presenting

Whiteboard only available on calls of up to 25 individuals
Minimal cloud recording storage
Prices scale depending on number of attendees

Pricing: ClickMeeting’s two service tiers present collaborative tools for small conference calls and presentation software for the larger ones. No matter the size of your conference, you’ll have access to HD quality video and access through mobile.

The Live tier boasts recording storage for up to 6 hours and an Edu mode to limit distractions and interruptions. Starting at $25 per month for 25 users or less, the plan scales all the way to $279 for 1,000 attendees.

Grab the Automated plan to access automatic scheduling, streaming, and publishing tools so you can focus on your presentation. This plan starts at $40 per month for 25 users but costs $279 if you plan to have 1,000 participants attending.

Methodology for the Best Conference Call Services

We looked at several factors when picking out the best conference call services. Consider the following features before pulling the trigger on the software you ultimately choose.

Audio/Video Quality: A conference call is only effective if all participants are seen and heard. Not all providers embrace HD audio and video technology that can affect meeting quality.
Number of Users: The last thing you need is to be stuck with capacity limitations that prevent your whole team from joining your call. Think ahead when picking out a plan so you can avoid this down the road as well. Some of the best conference call services have breakout rooms that smaller teams can brainstorm in.
Integration: Some conference calling services excel at what they do but don’t offer any additional functionality such as inbound/outbound calling or customer relationship management software. For these instances, you’ll want to make sure the conference call software you choose integrates well with other platforms you currently use or will use in the future.
Device Compatibility: Our modern world offers users the chance to join a conference call from a number of devices, from personal computers to phones and tablets. Traditional calling is going the way of the dinosaur, so it’s crucial to ensure the software you use works well with all the different devices out there.
Customer Support: The best conference call services work great until they don’t. When meetings become laggy or participants keep dropping out, you need to be able to rely on a customer service team to bail you out in record time. Some lower-price plans limit customer service to a FAQ section or email when you need immediate help.
Price: Pricing needs to meet your business’s budget both now and in the future. Purchasing a service that can scale with your company saves the headache of having to switch every few years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Conference Call Services

This FAQ section covers some of the most common questions regarding conference call services. Read on to discover the answers.

Are There Any Free Conference Call Services?

Of the products we reviewed, both FreeConferenceCall and Zoom offer free conference calling. While others exist, these two have the most functionality included with their free packages.

What Happens If You Go Over 40 Minutes on Zoom?

Calls on Zoom’s free service cap out at 40 minutes. The software will kick everyone out of the call if you attempt to go past this limit.

Is FreeConferenceCall Legit?

FreeConferenceCall.com was founded in 2001, providing over 20 years of free conference calling. Although the company requests a monthly donation, it is committed to continue offering a free service.

Can I Host a Zoom Meeting for Free?

Zoom offers a free video conference call service for up to 100 participants. Users are limited to a 40-minute duration per call.

Bottom Line on Best Conference Call Services

The best conference call services connect you to individuals that help make your business successful. Through high-quality audio/video and robust feature sets, you can plan out your next big project or impress a potential client.

Nextiva brings the best overall service in our opinion, with impressive customer support, unlimited participants, and included VoIP calling. Should Nextiva not speak to you, we’re confident one of the others on this list will.

January 10, 2022November 11, 2022

Best Video Conferencing Software for 2023

Businessman having a video conference meeting with colleagues

Video conferencing software helps make our world that much smaller by connecting people from wherever they may be. The best video conferencing software provides tools to make conversations a breeze while offering tools to collaborate seamlessly. Read on to check out our top picks for video conferencing available today.

Visit

Try out RingCentral for combined video, messaging, and calling services

Best Video Conferencing Software

Zoom – Best Overall
GoToMeeting – Best for Mobile Users
Microsoft Teams – Best for Microsoft Office Users
Google Meet – Best for Ease of Use
Webex – Best for Combined Video Conferencing and Calling
Zoho Meeting – Best for Webinars
RingCentral – Best for Collaboration

Zoom

Free to $240 per year per license

Screen sharing

Private and group chat

Can customize email templates and meeting page

Stored locally or on the cloud

GoToMeeting

$12 to $16 per organizer per month, custom plans available

Share screen or pass control to participants

Organizer can turn on chat or question asking

No brand integration is available

Cloud recording on desktop or mobile

Microsoft Teams

Free to $12.50 per user per month

Screen sharing

Unlimited with file attachments allowed in chat

Customized backgrounds, custom email domain address

Meeting recordings and transcripts

Google Meet

Free or $7.99 per month, custom plans available

Can share and present your screen to viewers

Basic functionality for text and links

Does not support brand accounts, some background customization available

Meeting recording saved to organizers’ Google Drive

Webex

Free to $25 per license per month, custom plans available

Desktop, application, file, and whiteboard sharing options

Chat, notes, raise-hand, and polling

No options for customization or branding

Local or cloud storage options

Zoho Meeting

Free to $300 per month depending on the number of attendees

Screen sharing from desktop or mobile, can share files

Meeting chat and notes

Corporate branding available with paid plans

Limited cloud storage available

RingCentral

Free or $11.99 per organizer monthly

Share files and screen, manage tasks

In-meeting chat with breakouts available

No branding available

Store cloud recordings for up to seven days

Zoom: Best Overall Video Conferencing Software

Free to $240

★★★★★

4.7

Visit

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing apps available thanks to an extensive feature set. Its free plan allows for up to 100 participants but is limited to only 40 minutes of video. Other tiers remove this limitation while offering branding options to get your name out there.

As one of the best video conferencing software options, it’s easy to record video for future reference and allow your teams to chat or break out into smaller groups. For all it does have, it’s a shame that HD video isn’t standard.

Why we chose it: Zoom has several strong features and up to 100 participants (even in its free service). Upgrading to a higher tier won’t break the bank if the need arises.

Excellent chatting capabilities
100 participants even with free version
Customizable interface with branding

Free version is limited to 40 minutes of video
Limited customer service in free version
HD video is not standard

Pricing: Zoom has four tiers of service, each adding new features along the way.

The Basic plan doesn’t shy away from features, with chatting, breakout rooms, recording options, and security. While it allows 100 participants, videos are severely limited to 40 minutes.

An upgrade to the Pro plan boosts the meeting duration to a whopping 30 hours. You’ll have access to Zoom’s live chat customer service, streaming capabilities, and reporting.

With the Zoom business tier, participant capacity jumps to 300 users and you can customize your landing page and emails with your company’s branding. You can add up to 500 people to your video meeting at the Enterprise level and have unlimited cloud storage for recordings and information.

GoToMeeting: Best Video Conferencing Software for Mobile Users

$12 to $16

★★★★★

4.5

Visit

GoToMeeting brings HD video to all platforms and tiers of service. Plans allow between 150 and 3000 members on a conference at a time and have no limitations on duration. The software is built to include mobile devices, offering the ability to host from anywhere with ease. It does have limitations on chat features and lacks the ability to customize with your company’s branding.

Why we chose it: GoToMeeting doesn’t discriminate between PC or mobile devices, allowing easy connectivity and shared functionality for all your guests

14-day free trial
No meeting time limits
HD Video with all plans

No option for brand integration
Chat features are somewhat limited
Can run slow with large groups

Pricing: The three price plans GoToMeeting offers are designed to grow along with your business. Although none are free, a 14-day trial lets you try before you buy.

Its Professional plan for $12 a month per organizer enables up to 150 members to join your conference. While you can hold basic meetings with screen sharing and basic chat, most other features are hidden away in the Business tier.

Advertised as GoToMeeting’s most popular plan, the Business tier for $16 per month increases meeting capacity to 250 and throws in transcription and recording, among others. It is worth noting that as meetings near triple-digit participants, things can slow down considerably.

You’ll need to reach out to sales about pricing for the Enterprise plan, but you’ll be able to customize things to your needs and bring up to 3000 people on board.

Microsoft Teams: Best Video Conferencing Software for Microsoft Office Users

Free to $12.50

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

Microsoft Teams is every Office user’s dream, allowing access to web-based versions of its popular business tools. Teams can collaborate in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint in real-time while on a conference, sharing files and ideas orally or in chat. This can make chatting difficult to navigate through, and hosts have limited ability to mute or otherwise wrangle participants.

Why we chose it: Microsoft Teams takes video conferencing to the next level through collaboration tools and access to the Office suite of software.

Able to put file attachments into chat
Links up to web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Impressive amount of file storage

Limited reporting and support for low-level plans
Chat can become hard to sort through
Hosting tools are somewhat limited

Pricing: Four revamped tiers of video conferencing services are available to those interested in using Microsoft Teams.

There is a free version of the software that’s limited to 100 participants and 60 minutes of conversation at a time. Your team will have access to the Office web suite and storage options, but advanced features and support are nowhere to be found.

Teams Essentials expands the conference size to 300 individuals and caps the meeting duration at 30 hours for $4 per user monthly. It also doubles storage space and provides phone and web support.

The Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan increases file storage to 1TB of space and adds in transcription and recording. The package also comes with a local copy of theOffice 365 product list, all for $6 a month.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard adds in webinar hosting and premium features for Office 365 apps. It does cost significantly more at $12.50 per user each month.

Google Meet: Best Ease of Use Video Conferencing Software

Free or $7.99

★★★★★

4.3

Visit

Google Meet (formerly known as Google Hangouts) developed a networking space that links up with Google tools to help you get work done quickly from anywhere. Its click-and-join approach with unique web links allows users to easily connect from anywhere. While still basic in some areas, Meet is an accessible experience that offers free and premium services.

Why we chose it: Google Meet brings to life a simple video conferencing service with easy connectivity and a handful of neat features.

Ties seamlessly into Google’s other business tools
Easy to connect and use
Free plan

Simple chat functionality
Limited branding options
Storage space is not limited to just Google Meet

Pricing: Google Meet rose out of the ashes of Hangouts with a free forever service for 100 max participants to chat for up to an hour.

Meeting recording and breakout rooms become available with the Google Workspace Individual plan at $7.99 per month. Conferences can last up to 24 hours with this tier, and 24/7 support becomes available.

The Google Workspace Enterprise pushes the meeting capacity to 500 while incorporating additional security features and live streaming in-domain. You’ll have to get in touch with sales to work out the pricing details of this package.

Webex: Best for Combined Video Conferencing and Calling

Free to $25

★★★★★

4.3

Visit

Webex has a lengthy list of plans that cater to businesses in need of video conferencing, calling, or both. On the video side of things, even Webex’s free plan maxes out at 100 users for up to 50 minutes at a time. Paid plans come with 10GB of space for storage, but there are no options to customize the interface to show off your brand.

Why we chose it: Webex offers the ability to combine the best of video conferencing and calling into one stellar platform.

Free plan available
Can save recordings to desktop or cloud for future viewing
HD video meetings

No branding customization possible
Companies already with a call plan may not benefit as much
Can get cluttered with video and call software together

Pricing: Several pricing options are made available, depending on the features and access you need for video conferencing and calling.

The Basic plan is free to use but offers nothing in the way of calling. Meetings can last up to 50 minutes and host 100 users at a time. Chat, HD video, recording to desktop, sharing, and mobile support are all included.

Adding in more conferencing features, the Meet plan increases the meeting length to 24 hours and doubles the number of participants to 200. Webex Meet adds in 10GB of cloud storage and transcriptions for $13.50 per month.

If you do need call capability alongside video conferencing, the Business plan is where to look. At $25, Business doles out domestic and international calling with extensions, forwarding, and voicemail.

Webex’s Enterprise plan brings in even more functions like call recording and a call queue for those who need even more from calling out. A message to the sales team is necessary to determine pricing options for this tier.

Looking for something more robust for incoming and outgoing calls for a whole team? Consider our list of the best call center software.

Zoho Meeting: Best Video Conferencing Software for Webinars

Free to $300

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

If you’re looking to put on any number of webinars, Zoho Meeting may be the video conferencing app for you. It has a plan dedicated to presenting and steaming to the masses that scales in price depending on the number of attendees. Storage options are limited for recording, but meetings can go on for as long as you want.

Why we chose it: Zoho Meeting is the best video conferencing software for those who make use of webinars.

No meeting time limits
Company branding options available
14-day free trial

Pricing increases based on the number of participants
Limited storage, costly add-on to add more
Free plan participant size is very small

Pricing: Zoho Meeting’s three tiers each serve a particular purpose in video conferencing. There’s a 14-day free trial you can use to try out its paid features.

Although free, its Basic plan can only hold up to 10 viewers, making for a very small webinar. It is possible to share screens and data with the few people watching.

The Meeting plan introduces branding into conferencing to make your name really stand out. Pricing starts at $3 per month for up to 10 participants but jumps to $15 when maxed out at 250 people. The software will record 10 of your meetings, but you’ll have to pay a premium to record more.

With a focus solely on webinars, the Webinar plan lets you stream live and track where viewers are watching from. Branding is still available, and storage jumps to 25 presentations. Like the Meeting plan, pricing begins at $16 per month for 25 attendees but can go as high as $300 if you have 3,000 people watching.

RingCentral: Best Video Conferencing Software for Collaboration

Free or $11.99

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

RingCentral Video is one option alongside messaging and phone services to allow teams to engage with each other and clients. The video portion is ideal for users to collaborate on ideas and perform project work simultaneously through integrations with Google and Microsoft applications. Common hosting tools such as muting others are lacking.

Why we chose it: RingCentral’s video conferencing software is part of a larger package that helps teams bring out their full potential.

HD video and voice
Can make calls from a video meeting
Integrates well with Google and Microsoft applications

Lacks hosting tools
No company branding is available
Only seven days of file storage with the free plan

Pricing: All of RingCentral’s video conferencing services can be bundled with phone or messaging plans, and it tops our list of the best VoIP providers. The two tiers of service below are specific to video conferencing.

RingCentral Video Pro is a free service allowing up to 100 users to share files or work together on projects. Meetings can last an entire day, but the cloud will only hold onto your last seven days’ worth of meetings before deleting them.

Upgrading to the Pro+ plan doubles the maximum number of participants and allows recordings to stay on the cloud for up to a year. This top-tier service also includes several features such as advanced analytics and customer support, but will set you back $11.99 per month.

Methodology for the Best Video Conferencing Software

Some of the best video conferencing apps can also double as conference call services – you only need to turn off video. We focused on specific factors which contribute to making a video conferencing app rank high on our list. Below are the considerations we took into account when picking the best video conferencing software out there.

Number of Users: The best video conferencing software isn’t worth anything if it can’t contain the number of participants you work with on a regular basis. Most services will scale with you as you grow, but don’t paint yourself into a corner by capping your capacity.
Meeting Duration: Paid plans have no trouble offering a minimum of 24 straight hours of video conferencing if you ever need that much time. Free services can be severely limiting, so be sure to find one that won’t constantly end your meeting prematurely.
Collaborative Tools: Video conferencing apps can be used to connect with clients outside your company. That being said, you’ll likely use the software to bring your team together, especially if people work from home or multiple offices. Collaborative tools including chat, file sharing, and integrations with popular office tools can make teamwork that much easier.
Video Quality: More services are switching to high-definition video quality with conferencing, but they are not all there yet. If you want to limit stutters, stops, and grainy images, consider choosing a plan that’s ready for HD.
Recording: Being able to record your video conferences gives those who missed the meeting an opportunity to watch after the fact. These recordings can also serve as a point of reference for project notes or brainstorming ideas.
Branding: When you use your video conferencing software to communicate with individuals outside your business, it’s nice to put a personal spin on things. Incorporating your own branding adds a sense of professionalism that may land you the sale.
Price: Some video conferencing apps have free versions with limited functionality that your business will someday scale beyond (if it hasn’t already). Once you switch to a paid plan, it’s crucial to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Video Conferencing Software

This FAQ serves to tackle some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding the best video conferencing software. Read on to see answers to the burning questions you may have about these services.

Why is Everyone Using Zoom?

Zoom has the best feature set in its free plan, making it very appealing to businesses and personal users alike. The company was quick to rise to the challenge of keeping the world connected during the onset of the 2020 pandemic, and many users have not looked back. Zoom’s paid features take the platform to a whole new level which is why we chose it to be the best video conferencing software available right now.

Is Zoom a Chinese Owned Company?

Zoom was founded in the United States and retains a headquarters in San Jose, California. Its founder Eric Yuan is an American citizen who originally immigrated from China.

Who Owns Webex?

Tech company Cisco Systems owns Webex.

Does Anyone Still Use Skype?

Skype still exists for making calls and video chats to just about anywhere in the world. Its feature set simply no longer holds a candle to the companies on this list. Microsoft owns Skype, but the tech giant is devoting its resources to its other video conferencing software Microsoft Teams.

Bottom Line on Best Video Conferencing Software

Video conferencing software programs helped get us through the worst of the global pandemic a few years back and still stand to keep people connected in the business world. They are more popular than ever in the workplace to help staff collaborate from anywhere they may be.

These applications similarly help businesses reach new clients, increase sales, and grow in ways never thought imaginable. With free and paid options tailoring to companies of all different sizes, no organization should be without some form of video conferencing.

Pricing

Team Management

Project Delivery Management

Risk/Issue Management

Reporting

Finance Management

Collaboration and Communication

Integration With Other Apps

Artificial Intelligence

Usability

Support

Privacy

Methodology Suitability

Wrike Alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Wrike Review

Final Thoughts on Wrike Review

Our Verdict

Gusto at a Glance

Who Gusto is Best For

Pricing

Plan

Core

Complete

Concierge

Gusto Features

Unlimited Payrolls

Automated Payroll Processing

Auto-file Payroll Taxes

Next-day Direct Deposit

Time Tracking

HR Resource Center

Alternatives to Gusto

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Gusto Review

Bottom Line on Gusto Review

Quick View

Software

Price

Call Recording

Voicemail/ Call Forwarding

Conferencing

Auto Attendant

Quick Verdict

The Best VoIP Providers for Businesses

Choosing the Best VoIP Provider For Your Business

Hardware

Local/Toll-free Numbers

Desktop and Mobile Apps

Call Routing

Customer Support

Usability

Price

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best VoIP Providers

Conclusion: Best VOIP Providers

Step 1: Choose Your Concept/Product

Step 2: Create a Business Plan

Register Your Business

Count the Costs

Step 3: Come Up With a Name

Step 4: Choose Your Online Platform

Shopify

WordPress + WooCommerce

Wix

Step 5: Build Your Site

Keep Mobile Users in Mind

Add Products and Set Pricing

Step 6: Set Up Payment Methods

Step 7: Think About How To Ship Products

Dropshipping

Ship It Yourself

Step 8: Ready for Launch

Step 9: Create Online Marketing Strategies

Social Media Marketing

Offer Incentives

Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Step 10: Allow for Customer Feedback

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on How to Start an Online Store

Our Verdict

SurePayroll at a Glance

Who SurePayroll is Best For