Webinar software is incredibly powerful, allowing users to broadcast live or on demand events to thousands of attendees with audience-grabbing features to keep viewers engaged. However, no webinar software is completely alike, and here we have two very different examples of how a service can be done. First, we have BigMarker, an entirely browser-based platform that still boasts an incredible range of features. Up against BigMarker is GoToWebinar, a famous name in the industry that has a more traditional downloadable client boasting plenty of power. Although both do many of the same things, their contrasting platforms mean only one will suit your needs best.
| Main Features | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| Logo |  |  |
| Rating |  |  |
| Reviews | Reviews | Reviews |
| Visit | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
| Coupons | Coupons | Coupons |
| Maximum Attendees | 1000 | 3000 |
| Maximum Hosts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Maximum Active Webcams | 9 | 6 |
| Maximum Active Mics | 9 | Unlimited |
| Chat Support |  | |
| Video Quality | HD | HD |
| Maximum Resolution | 1080p | 960p |
| Encryption | SSL | SSL, AES-128 |
| Meetings | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| Whiteboard | | |
| Polls | | |
| Q&A | | |
| File Sharing | | |
| Screen Sharing | | |
| Remote Control | | |
| Webinar Recording | | |
| Maximum Recording Length | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Webinar Sharing | | |
| Recurring Webinars | | |
| On-Demand Webinars | | |
| Paid Webinars | | |
| Analytics Dashboard | | |
| Devices | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| Windows |  | |
| macOS | | |
| Linux | | |
| iOS | | |
| Android | | |
| Browser | | |
| Pricing | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| Cheapest Price | $79/mo | $49/mo |
| Free Trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Money-Back Guarantee | | |
| Available Payment Methods | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| Visa | | |
| Mastercard | | |
| American Express | | |
| PayPal | | |
| Wire Transfer | | |
| Bitcoin | | |
| Customer Support | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| 24/7 Support | | |
| | |
| Live Chat | | |
| Phone | | |
| | |
| | |
| Community | | |
| About | BigMarker | GoToWebinar |
| Headquarters | U.S. | U.S. |
| Founded | 2010 | 2006 |
| Languages | EN, ES, DE, RU, AR, CH | EN, ES, DE, IT, JP, CH |
BigMarker
One of the leaders of browser-based webinar platforms, Chicago’s BigMarker has been rapidly evolving since its humble beginnings in 2010. The first thing you’ll notice about BigMarker is the basic user interface but don’t judge a book by its cover. Behind the simplistic look is one of the most comprehensive webinar services around with a capacity of up to 1,000 attendees. Whether you want to host a live, on demand, recurring, 24/7, or just about any other webinar you can think of, BigMarker has you covered. It’s also possible to stream live through Facebook and YouTube. All of your webinars can then be grouped together as part of your own branded channel.
The webinars themselves aren’t held back by being browser-based as all the features you need are there like live chats (public and private), FAQs, Q&As, and 1TB of storage for media files. Everything is customizable to how you want it, so you’re able to put your own stamp on things. Indeed, as the name suggests BigMarker is ideal for marketing so you can create special pop-up offers throughout your presentation.
You can save up to 16% off your GoToMeeting subscription by choosing to be billed annually instead of monthly.
BigMarker Dashboard
BigMarker New Webinar
BigMarker Test Room
BigMarker Integrations
Not just any browser will do for BigMarker. Although Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera all work fine, you may encounter issues with others. Some Android browsers will also work well but iOS users have a dedicated app. Prices for BigMarker are more than reasonable, with different pricing tiers depending on your needs. If you want to test out the service first, then BigMarker offers potential users a 7-day free trial.
GoToWebinar
Developed by Boston-based LogMeIn, GoToWebinar is a veteran of webinar software having been released in 2006. If you’ve ever used GoToWebinar’s sister application GoToMeeting, you’ll have a pretty good grasp of how it works already. GoToWebinar sacrifices some of GoToMeeting’s user-friendly interface for increased functionality, so you may want to take advantage of the free online lessons to help you learn the ropes. Once you’ve come to grips with the control panel, you’ll be able to host highly interactive webinars. Polls, questions, chat, and handouts are all grouped together to make presenting as efficient as possible. Surprisingly, GoToWebinar really shines after your webinar is over. The software provides a built-in video editor so you can polish off your webinar for repeated viewings. Webinars can then be shared through LogMeIn’s GoToStage application.
GoToWebinar Control Panel
GoToWebinar Video Library
GoToWebinar Mobile Interface
GoToWebinar has desktop apps for macOS and Windows users, and they’re essential to hosting webinars. It’s possible to watch webinars through the Android and iOS apps or simply using a browser. When it comes to cost, GoToWebinar is very reasonable. Although the Pro version is expensive, the Lite version is one of the cheapest around so it’s well worth considering for anyone doing smaller webinars. If you want to broadcast to up to 3,000 attendees, then you will have to fork out for the far more expensive Enterprise plan. Like BigMarker, GoToWebinar offers a free 7-day trial for users to thoroughly test out the system first.
Conclusion
In truth, it doesn’t matter whether a webinar is browser-based or has a dedicated client — what’s most important is that it works best for you. BigMarker is the easiest of the two to use and when it comes to sales-driven webinars and branding it’s the clear winner. However, if you want to have your webinars look polished then GoToWebinar is the one you want. This is especially true if you prefer to host on-demand webinars as GoToWebinar’s video editor means your finished product will be as professional as possible. When it comes to capacity, GoToWebinar wins out with the potential of 3,000 attendees, although at a much larger cost. Fortunately, both webinar services provide a 7-day free trial so you can try them out yourself.
Best Webinar Software of 2022
| Rank | Provider | Info | Visit |
1 | Editor's Choice 2022 |
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2 |  |
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3 |  |
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