You might be using a video chat app like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Snapchat to communicate with your friends or families on a day-to-day basis.

But when it comes to communicating at work, your requirements are probably going to be very different than that of a family WhatsApp group video chat.

For example, you need a video conferencing tool that allows you to accommodate (at least) two or three people in a meeting at once. You probably also need video conferencing software that allows you to record your meetings, share your screen with others, or automatically back up your recording once the session is over.

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And although WhatsApp and Messenger are great consumer video calling apps, you can’t expect them to offer the above-mentioned advanced features.

Since we’ve built a video conferencing platform ourselves, we know a thing or two about what makes a video software click for businesses.

For starters, we know that not all video conferencing software are created equal—especially when it comes to video tools for Mac computers.

If your company uses Macs for work, your choices have to be even more specific to match the productivity and performance levels of Mac computers.

In this post, we’re going to show you:

Shopping for a video conferencing tool? (Or just curious about what to look for?) Grab the free checklist to help you choose the right one for your team or business.

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What specifically to look for in a video conferencing software for a Mac

Mac computers are very different from PCs and mobile devices in terms of performance and security. If your company exclusively uses Macs for work, it’s likely because you value speed, design, and productivity as must-have features.

The same rule applies when you’re looking to invest in a video conferencing software for your Mac. You want a video chat tool that works on par with Mac’s performance level.

Mac is primarily known for three things: solid hardware design, faster data processing, and better security against viruses and malware.

Hardware isn’t an issue when narrowing down your choice of video conferencing software. But you should certainly prioritize speed and security when choosing a Mac video conferencing app.

Apart from that, here are a few more things that you should keep in mind if you’re thinking, “How do I video conference on my iMac?”

1. A Mac-compatible app

Almost all the major video conferencing software options out there have an app on Apple’s App Store. But it’s not always the case, especially when you come across a new video chat solution that’s free or less costly.

For example, Zoho Meeting has an app for iPhone and iPad, but it doesn’t offer an app for Mac computers.

(So, always check the App Store!)

In these cases, one of your options is to find a video conferencing app that doesn’t require an app download. But even if you can just have a virtual meeting in your internet browser, that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to go—you’re missing out on a lot of functionality when you don’t have a good app.

A better option is to choose with an app that has a dedicated app on Mac, such as the RingCentral app with video conferencing. Apple has a very high bar for featuring apps in its App Store, which means most video conferencing apps in Mac are—by design—user-friendly, reliable, and secure.

2. Does it do more with less?

As a small business owner, you want to choose a video conferencing tool that offers useful capabilities—without compromising on performance.

So, try to find a video conferencing tool that does other things well too—there are apps, for example, that let you make video calls and phone calls and send your team messages, in one place:

The more things your video conferencing platform can do, the fewer apps you’ll need to download onto your Mac. Which, ultimately, frees up more space, keeps it running faster, and so on…

3. Does it have HD capability?

This is a no-brainer, especially if you’re working at a remote-friendly company that uses videos to collaborate regularly within your team or clients.

The last thing you would want in the middle of an engaging video chat session is for your participants to see pixelated pop art versions of each other and choppy audio bites echoing in the background.

So, make sure your video conferencing tool offers high-definition (HD) videos and audio capability. Depending on how many people you regularly meet with, you might want to set your expectations to hosting at least 20 (or 50, or even 100) participants at a time without compromising on your audio and video quality.

If you’re a growing company, it’s much better to identify a video chat tool that offers these features right out of the gate. This will prepare you and give you room to grow as you scale, as opposed to leaving you to scramble for a better tool later on.

5 best video conferencing software for Mac

The tools that we’ve shortlisted below do more than just one thing. (If you want just a standalone basic video conferencing software, then Apple’s own FaceTime pretty much covers it all.)

But as a startup owner, you know better. You want tools that let you record your videos, annotate files together while on meetings, store backups, and do a lot more than just have a video call.

We’re also going to leave out tools that operate on dubious grounds of data breach and user privacy. Better to just steer clear of those.

Let’s get down to the list.

1. RingCentral Video

RingCentral’s app is a truly cross-functional platform that packs the power of video conferencing, team collaboration, and a business phone—all into one.

Whether you’re using a Mac or an iPhone (or both), you can use RingCentral Video to host video meetings in a few different ways.

You can start a meeting in the desktop or mobile app designed for iOS:

And if your attendees aren’t on Macs or don’t have the Android app, they can still join your meeting from a web browser without downloading anything:

Ringcentral Meetings Mac

Anyone can join a RingCentral Video with just one click on the link in the invite.

The base plan still lets you have a maximum of 100 participants (designed for if your customers or clients have many stakeholders involved in projects, or if you’re planning to grow your team).

Record your meetings and save them in the cloud or on your computer—and oh, there’s the chat box that lets you add another conversational aspect to a video meeting…

Plus the real-time annotations that you and your teammates can add while collaborating:

From call scheduling to video recording to screen sharing to messaging, RingCentral Video gives you literally everything you need—and more—to make the most out of your video meetings.

Using RingCentral for your video conferencing needs makes a lot of sense if your startup teams are already using Slack, Google Workspace, or Microsoft 365 to collaborate and communicate effectively.

Best for: Close-knit teams who want to be able to collaborate tightly with each other in different ways including over the phone, video calls, and chat. RingCentral is also a great fit for your team if you use videos to host webinars or offer

Ring Central For Mac