Conference Call

Unlimited conference calling or pay-as-you-go plans: which is the best way to make a conference call?

Call more than one person at a time and you're making a conference call . Most conference calls are performed by businesses; and most businesses outsource conference calls to dedicated conference call providers - because conference calls save on travel costs and communication costs.

These conference call providers can offer more features for more participants for a much lower cost, in one of two types of plan: Pay-As-You-Go or a Monthly Unlimited Plan.

Pay-As-You-Go

You are charged per minute, per user.

Per minute charges can range from 3 to 18 cents per minute. Usually with a pay-as-you-go plan, the conference call service will provider you with a dial-in number and PIN for your meeting. Participants will call that number to join the conferencing session.

Some conference call providers offer toll-free numbers, even for international callers, while others charge extra for a toll-free number. A pay-as-you-go conference call plan is best for small businesses - or those who just need to do a few conference calls per month.

• Charged per minute
• Low cost and low usage
• Pay for what you need features
• Good for small business

Monthly Unlimited Plan

You are charged a monthly fee for unlimited or virtually unlimited conference calls, usually per user.

A monthly unlimited plan is cheaper than purchasing a conference call bridge (the equipment that allows a conference call). It also allows you to conference call on a fixed budget.

In addition to an unlimited calling threshold, most conference call providers will include many extra and useful features:

• Call recording
• Call transcription
• Operator assistance
• Moderator controls
• Integration with web/video conferencing

Compare Conference Call Providers.

We've compiled a list of conference call providers below, with differing plans below. Most providers also offer multiple types of plans - check their websites for details.