12 Best Webinar Software To Use In 2021 (Free & Paid)

Webinars are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to teach an online audience.

With the right tools, you can share an amazing webinar that will look incredibly professional. More importantly, you can captivate and engage your audience.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech expert to make use of some of these wonderful systems.

In this article, I will look at the best webinar software in my opinion and address what to look for when choosing a platform.

• Related: 7 Best Evergreen Webinar Software To Use In 2021 (Free & Paid)

With this list, you should be able to get started on sharing your exciting webinar in no time!

What is webinar software?

In order to understand which software will work best for you, it is important to understand what webinar software is.

Simply, webinar software is a platform that has been designed to make it easy for you to present to an online audience.

Every webinar looks a little different, but the general idea is that these platforms make it possible for you to present, record, and distribute your webinar. Sometimes they even give you the power to interact with your audience.

Their sole purpose is to expedite the process for you with a simple tool, but some of them come with some pretty nifty additional features!

Why should you use webinar software?

Webinar software is an absolutely invaluable tool if you are hosting a webinar. Not only do they make it easy for you to present your webinar, but they are also designed specifically for this purpose.

Rather than navigating a wide range of video sharing options, these systems make it easy to present to a live audience. Some even come with the ability to talk with your audience directly so you can keep them engaged.

Since webinars have a unique structure compared to most video options, using a specific system to bring them to life can really help out. It is nice to be able to count on consistent tools that will help you provide your webinar with the perfect interface.

Recording, branding options, and complete video control can help your webinar to absolutely shine!

What features to look for in webinar software?

Though all webinar software has the same goal, they are not all created equally. In fact, some have limitations that might make them an ineffective fit for your needs. The good news is that some have extra tools that can make your webinar better than ever.

There are a few common features to be aware of when you are choosing software to suit your needs, including:

• Audience size limitations
• Custom branding options
• Recording capabilities
• Audience interactions

Audience size limitations

The first thing to consider is what kind of support the software offers for different audience sizes. Depending on how big your audience is, this one can really be a deal-breaker. Make sure you review the limitations of the system.

Chances are you are hoping to scale your webinar audience up in size. Make sure that you choose a software that will support you as your audience grows!

Custom branding options

Some webinar software makes it easy for you to implement your branding within the system. This means that your audience can clearly see that the webinar is yours and not just a generic presentation.

Branding is huge for establishing credibility. Make sure that your audience remembers your name when they leave!

Recording capabilities

An important feature for a lot of presenters is the ability to record. Recording your webinar makes it easy for you to use your presentations to learn from later. It also opens you up to the possibility of sharing your best courses online instead of presenting live.

Depending on how the system works, it might simply create a recording for you to download. Other systems give you the ability to immediately upload your recordings to popular websites like YouTube in real-time as well.

Audience interactions

Without audience interaction, a webinar is simply a one-sided lecture. Certain webinar tools make it easier than ever for you to interact directly with your audience. These kinds of features can breathe so much life into your webinar.

Audience interactions can look different from one system to the next. Some systems enable a simple chat, while others are able to provide active pop-ups or even interactive real-time polls. It is always best to do your research to determine what will work best for your style.

Remember, the more that you involve your audience, the more likely it is that they will pay attention!

List of best webinar software

There are many popular webinar software types available. Depending on your individual needs, you might find that one fits your teaching style better than another.

At the end of the day, it is understanding your needs, your goals, and your process that will help you to make the best possible choice.

The below list of best webinar software should give you some food for thought.

WebinarJam (#1 recommended)

WebinarJam is one of the more popular, browser-based webinar hosting systems around.

WebinarJam supports up to 5,000 audiences attendees, with the ability to have 6 presenters.

All webinars are captures in high-definition at 30 frames per second, meaning your videos and content are super smooth.

It also gives you complete control of your content and your audience in a way that makes presenting easier than ever. Live chat options and polls let you interact with your audience in real-time.

WebinarJam also has automated recording support, so you will never miss your best presentation. With their Replica Replay, you can schedule and replay your webinar recordings along with everything that happened, including any chat conversations.

On the marketing side of things, WebinarJam comes with a page builder so you can customize the contents of your registration page. You can easily charge a fee for attending your webinar or have it completely free to sign up.

The cheapest WebinarJam plan is $499 per year, which works out at just under $42 per month. If you’re interested, I seriously urge you to take advantage of their trial, which at the cost of a single dollar, you can take WebinarJam for a test drive for 14 days.

WebinarNinja

WebinarNinja is used by some big brands such as Podia and AppSumo.

WebinarNinja is very similar to my recommended WebinarJam choice. You can have up to 1,000 live attendees to webinars, but recorded webinars can be viewed by an unlimited audience.

Everything is accessed directly in the cloud within your web browser, so there is no need to download third-party software.

The company boast that you can even set up a webinar in just 10 seconds so that you can crack on getting those attendee sign-ups.

As well as having the option to run a live or automated webinar, you can also run a series webinar, which is useful for running online courses or workshops. Hybrid webinars are also possible with WebinarNinja, these combine the convenience of a recorded webinar with the features of a live webinar.

Plans start at $39 per month (annual billing). The good news is there is a completely free 14-day trial, so there are no excuses for not giving WebinarNinja a try. They also run regular live walkthrough demos of the platform, which are useful for those who are not ready to do the trial just yet.

Livestorm

Livestorm has a completely free plan so you can start a small-scale webinar without getting the credit card out.

If you’ve got no money and want to run a webinar with up to 10 attendees for up to 20 minutes, then you can use Livestorm without paying a penny!

After that, their premium plans can support up to 1,000 live attendees.

Unlimited live, automated and on-demand webinars come as standard in all Livestorm plans. Other notable features included are custom branding options, detailed analytics and various third-party marketing support.

The webinar interface is separated into distinct areas for chat, questions, polls and people. Attendees can also upvote popular questions.

Paid webinar plans start at rather steep $99 per month (annual billing) for just 100 live attendees. Additional attendees can be added at extra costs. But, all of the features are included.

Everytale

Everytale is an innovative webinar platform that offers 4K video streaming!

The Everytale webinar platform is a one-stop solution for businesses, educators, content creators, as well as closed communities. Users can easily monetize their content or use the platform for marketing purposes. Everytale can also be used for a casual get-together with a few friends.

With regards to features, Everytale offers live chat, polls, break-out room facilities, screen sharing, and post-event marketing analytics to name a few.

If you want to make money from your webinars, then you can set up an event fee. You’re then able to market the event on the Everytale platform, as well as other preferred websites. 

Once registered, participants have a chance to organize their profile information (e.g. skills, strenghts and interests) to encourage networking during the event.

Following events delivered on Everytale, participants have further access to variety of educational content, and hosts get to look over their post-event analytics.

LiveWebinar

LiveWebinar is another platform that has a completely free plan, which is perfect to test small-scale webinars.

If you want to test and experience a webinar software without spending a dime, then take advantage of LiveWebinar’s completely free plan or take out a 14-day free trial of their premium plans.

Their free plan let’s you test LiveWebinar’s capabilities for up to 5 attendees. You also get 2 hours worth of video storage.

If you want a little more from your account, you can upgrade to their Pro account, which can handle up to 100 live attendees and gives you 6 hours of recording capacity. At just $14.99 per month (annual billing), this is considerably cheaper than Livestorm’s equivalent plan.

For those that need to reach a large audience, their Custom plan can host events for up to 1,000 attendees.

LiveWebinar is packed with all the features you need to run live webinars. Webinars have live chat and poll functionality to engage with your audience. There is an excellent whiteboard feature, which is perfect for explaining difficult concepts to your audience.

There is also webinar high-quality recording support, so you can create evergreen webinars from your favorite sessions.

Custom branding options and various marketing tools will ensure your webinar looks professional.

There are no payment details required to sign up for LiveWebinar’s free plan, so I urge you to take advantage of this.

EverWebinar

EverWebinar is a perfect option for those wanting to create evergreen webinars.

EverWebinar is WebinarJam’s sister software, with a focus on automated webinars. So, if you’re after a webinar software that can deliver live webinars, then EverWebinar is not for you.

All webinars are pre-recorded to make them seem like they are live. There is even a simulated live chat feature where you can import your own chat history to create a live webinar effect. Hosts can jump in to answer any follow-up questions in real time.

Now, you’re probably wondering what is the benefit of creating an automated webinar that looks like a live webinar?

Automated webinars are truly powerful for a range of hosts, including educators and marketers. Since everything is automated, there is no limit on the reach you can have. All of this, without the compromise of a live webinar feel.

Prices start at $42 per month (annual billing). Just like WebinarJam, you can give EverWebinar a try for 14 days for just $1.

Demio

Demio is a user-friendly system designed to make webinar sharing easy.

The maximum number of attendees Demio’s webinars can handle is 1,000. There is also a cap on the session limit, ranging from 3 to 8 hours.

Demio has a reputation for having one of the best customer supports around. Their 24/7 support team boast an average Capterra review score of 4.9/5 from over 100 customer reviews.

Webinars can be live, series, hybrid, automated or on-demand. Attendees on a range of browsers and devices can join with just one click.

Demio pride themselves on their clean and modern webinar interfaces. Custom branding can be added to webinar rooms and marketing emails on their Growth plan ($69 per month).

Interactions with attendees include live chat, emoji gestures and polls. You can even bring an attendee to the stage by giving them permission to activate their microphone and camera.

Prices for Demio start at just $34 per month (annual billing). Want to try Demio out? Well, you can with their free 14-day free trial.

JetWebinar

JetWebinar is a webinar platform making speed optimization a priority.

On their standard plans, JetWebinar can support up to 2,000 live attendees. Their platform has no upper limits as to how many attendees they can host, so no matter how big your webinars get, JetWebinar is ready to grow with you as your audience size increases.

As well as live webinars, there is the option to have up to 3 on-demand webinars shown, which have unlimited seats.

Their company prides itself on hosting low latency, super fast webinars (300 ms delivery); after all, nobody likes a lagging experience!

Notable features of JetWebinar include instant live chat, page builders (eg, registration and thank you pages), custom branding and email marketing capabilities.

JetWebinar prices are on the higher end ($63 per month), compared with other alternatives in this list; but, there is a massive 30-day free trial to take advantage of.

GoToWebinar

GoToWebinar is the webinar platform delivered by the same guys behind GoToMeeting.

GoToWebinar has a huge user base, with over 2.7 million webinars hosted every year with their platform.

It’s possible to host up to 3,000 attendees on live webinars. Recording webinars is possible, but it isn’t a standard feature and requires their Pro plan and above.

What does come as standard is a free licence of GoToMeeting worth $300!

Planning webinars is super easy with the event management system and flexible scheduling options available.

A fully customizable registration page can be created, alongside your chosen branding.

Audience interactions include live chat, polls and invite to stage. There is also drawing tools available to illustrate points on the screen with either a pen or highlighter.

If you’re interested in GoToWebinar, their prices start at $89 per month (annual billing). There is also a relatively short 7-day trial available.

EasyWebinar

EasyWebinar is a webinar service that is aimed to help yield conversions and increase revenue.

EasyWebinar has some seriously powerful capabilities. You can host up to 2,000 live attendees per webinar on their most expensive Enterprise plan.

Need more room? Well, EasyWebinar’s live system has been tested stable to over 6 million attendees – I’m not sure how they tested it, but it just shows the strength of their infrastructure.

Live webinars can have up to 4 simultaneous hosts sharing their screens. Additionally, with their EasyCast feature, you can beam your webinars to multiple social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

Automated webinars come as standard so you can repurpose your live webinars to make evergreen content. There is a range of marketing features that complement these such as built-in email notifications for before the webinar and third-party pixel support.

Live chat with emoji support is available to stay connected with your audience.

If you’re struggling to succeed with webinars, EasyWebinar throws in their EliteWebinarMastery online course (value of $297) when you purchase an annual price plan.

EasyWebinar plans start at $59 per month (annual billing). They have a 14-day free trial so you can give it a proper test. Be sure to check out their demo workshop and take part in their free EasyWebinar Quick Course to learn more.

ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting is a competitively priced webinar software that can be scaled to suit your needs.

If you’re on a tight budget, then seriously consider ClickMeeting to host your webinars.

Their plans start at just $25 per month (annual billing). This allows up to 25 attendees and 4 video feeds.

What’s nice about ClickMeeting is that they have flexible plans and add-ons, this ensures you only pay for what you need.

Live webinars can reach up to 1,000 attendees on their most expensive plan, with streaming to Facebook and YouTube an option to boost attendee numbers outside the platform.

Promotion and marketing features come as standard on all ClickMeeting plans. This includes custom branding and email marketing.

Automated webinars are also possible on their Automated plans and above. There is the option to auto-publish recorded webinars on YouTube.

Live chat, interactive whiteboard, question and answer and polls and surveys features are all included to keep your audience engaged.

Interested? Be sure to take advantage of their 30-day completely free trial to see what ClickMeeting can do for you.

Zoom Webinar

Zoom is becoming a household name these days; but did you know that you can use it for running webinars?

Zoom Webinars is an add-on available to those with a Pro Zoom account. Webinars can handle up to a whopping 10,000 attendees on the most expensive plan with 100 interactive video panellists.

There is the option to customize and brand your marketing emails and registration forms.

Webinars can also be live-streamed to social media channels to reach greater audiences.

Basic live chat and a poll feature come as standard. Additional attendee controls include a raising a virtual hand button for greater engagement.

Webinars can be monetized through integrations with PayPal, Eventbrite and CVent. However, there is no option to automatically record and replay webinars.

Pricing is on the pricey side. To start with, you will require a Zoom Pro licence, costing $12.49 per month. Their Webinar add-on starts at an additional $33.33 per month, which grants room for 100 attendees. This then increases substantially with increasing requirements.

Best webinar software comparison table

So many choices to choose from? I have included a handy comparison table below to show how each webinar software differs with their prices, maximum number of attendees on standard plans and their trial details.

Wrapping up: Best webinar software

Webinars are becoming increasingly popular for online educators, marketers and entrepreneurs to deliver quality presentations.

As you can see in the list of best webinar software, there are some seriously powerful contenders to consider.

Be sure to take advantage of their free trials to really understand if the software is right for you and your requirements.

Let me know in the comments below if you have used a webinar software. Or, maybe you have a software that is not featured here, please let me know. I’m always looking to learn more :).

Further reading on SideHustleTeach.com

If you’re only interested in creating automated or on-demand – otherwise known as evergreen – webinars, rather than live events, then be sure to check out my list of the best evergreen webinar software.