GoTo Meeting
Long-running web conferencing tool for business meetings.
Alternatives · 2026
Alternatives to Around
Compact, camera-forward video calls designed for focus.
7 hand-curated alternatives from MintedSaaS's directory. See the Around listing →
Around is a video conferencing app built specifically for shorter, focused calls with an emphasis on camera-forward interaction and minimal friction. It's designed for teams that want to avoid the setup overhead and call-management features of platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, focusing instead on quick face-to-face sessions. The product targets small teams, freelancers, and organizations that run frequent short standup meetings rather than hour-long seminars.
Most users reach for Around when they're tired of waiting for someone to unmute themselves or scrolling through a grid of participants. It's used for quick check-ins, pair programming handoffs, and impromptu video chats where a compact interface matters more than breakout rooms or virtual backgrounds. The buyer for Around is typically someone who values simplicity and speed over configuration depth, and who's already running other specialized tools for longer presentations or structured webinars.
What we offer that competes
Jitsi Meet
Open-source video conferencing you can self-host.
Cisco Webex
Enterprise video conferencing and webinar platform.
Whereby
Browser-based video meetings with no downloads needed.
Google Meet
Browser-based video meetings inside Google Workspace.
Microsoft Teams
Chat, meetings, and files unified inside Microsoft 365.
What to look for
- Whether the platform charges per participant or allows unlimited participants in free and paid tiers.
- Whether recordings are stored in your own cloud account or only accessible through the vendor's dashboard.
- Whether the platform requires login credentials or allows join-by-link for casual drop-in calls.
- Whether the tool offers a desktop app, browser-only, or mobile app with feature parity to web.
- Whether the platform provides a published SLA for uptime and data residency options (EU, US, etc.).
- Whether the product includes built-in screen annotation or whiteboarding without third-party integrations.
FAQ
What's the difference between Around and Zoom?
Zoom is a full-featured video conferencing platform with breakout rooms, recording, waiting rooms, and enterprise security controls. Around strips those out and prioritizes a compact window and quick access for short calls without setup friction.
Are there free alternatives to Around?
Yes. Jitsi Meet is open-source and free with no participant limits. Google Meet offers free group calls up to 60 minutes. Microsoft Teams includes free 60-minute group calls and unlimited one-on-ones. Whereby and Cisco Webex both offer free tiers with some feature or participant restrictions.
Which video conferencing tool works best for quick team standups?
Around and Google Meet are both optimized for minimal setup and fast connection. If you need more control over recording, security, or screen-sharing workflows, Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams scale better for repeated use.
Can I self-host an alternative to Around?
Jitsi Meet is the only fully self-hostable option in this group. It's open-source and can run on your own infrastructure with no participant limits or recurring fees.
What's the best video conferencing alternative to Around for remote teams?
Microsoft Teams and Slack-integrated options like Whereby work better for distributed teams because they embed calls inside your collaboration platform. If you prioritize simplicity over integration, Google Meet and Jitsi Meet both handle remote standups without vendor lock-in.
Do these alternatives support calendar integration?
All of them integrate with Outlook or Google Calendar. GoTo Meeting, Cisco Webex, and Microsoft Teams offer the deepest calendar sync. Jitsi Meet and Google Meet require manual link sharing or browser bookmarks.
Which platform lets me record calls without restrictions?
Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and Zoom all include recording in their free or paid tiers. Google Meet records to Google Drive on paid plans only. Jitsi Meet recording is handled by self-hosted instances.
Can I white-label a video conferencing platform?
Jitsi Meet supports full white-labeling on self-hosted deployments. Whereby, Cisco Webex, and Zoom offer white-label options on enterprise plans. Google Meet and Microsoft Teams don't offer white-labeling.