Webex by Cisco is an American subsidiary of Cisco Systems that develops and sells web conferencing, videoconferencing and contact center as a service applications. It was founded as WebEx in 1995 and acquired by Cisco Systems in May 2007. Its headquarters are in San Jose, California.
Its software products include Webex App, Webex Suite, Webex Meetings, Webex Messaging, Webex Calling, Webex Contact Center, and Webex Devices. All Webex products are part of the Cisco Systems collaboration portfolio.
| Website | www.webex.com |
|---|
Pros:
✅ Intuitive and user-friendly interface
✅ Highly accessible closed captions with customization options
✅ Built-in Vidcast tool for asynchronous video recordings
✅ AI-powered assistant for meeting summaries and real-time insights
✅ Gesture recognition for emoji reactions
Cons:
❌ Pricey subscription plans and add-ons
❌ Non-enterprise tiers offer limited cloud storage (10GB max for recordings)
Webex by Cisco: A Premium Video Conferencing Experience
Webex by Cisco remains one of the most powerful and feature-rich video conferencing platforms available today. Designed for businesses of all sizes, it combines an intuitive interface, AI-powered enhancements, and seamless collaboration tools. While its pricing is on the higher side compared to competitors like Zoom and Google Meet, the robust AI capabilities, superior accessibility features, and seamless meeting experience make it an Editors’ Choice award winner for video conferencing.
Pricing and Plans: How Much Does Webex Cost?
Webex offers three main pricing tiers:
| Plan | Cost (Billed Annually) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Webex Free | $0 /user/month | 40-min meetings, 100 participants, unlimited messaging & whiteboards |
| Webex Meet | $12 /user/month | 24-hour meetings, 200 participants, AI assistant, 10GB cloud storage, Slido for Q&A & polling |
| Webex Suite | $22.50 /user/month | All Meet features + business VoIP capabilities |
By comparison:
🔹 Zoom Workplace’s Pro plan ($13.33/user/month) allows 30-hour meetings with up to 100 participants and 5GB storage.
🔹 Google Meet’s Business Starter plan ($6/user/month) supports 24-hour meetings with 100 participants and 30GB of storage per user.
🔹 Google Meet’s Business Standard plan ($12/user/month) increases storage to 2TB and supports 150 participants.
Webex’s Real-Time Translation add-on is $300 per user per year, which is pricier than Google Meet’s Gemini AI captions ($240 per user per year).
Getting Started with Webex
Signing up for Webex is straightforward—you can register via Gmail, iCloud, or Facebook. The web interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to schedule meetings, chat with colleagues, and manage your meeting calendar.
However, you’ll need to download the desktop app (Windows/macOS) to access advanced features like:
✅ Meeting transcripts
✅ Cisco AI Assistant
✅ Real-time translation
🛠 Installation time: Just two minutes, making setup fast and hassle-free.
📞 Customer Support:
🔹 Webex Free users get access to a self-help center with written guides.
🔹 Webex Meet and Suite users can contact support via live chat, phone, or case forms.
Meeting Experience: Smooth and AI-Enhanced
Starting a meeting with Webex is seamless—just one click in the Meetings module. Inviting guests is equally effortless, with an Invite People button available for spontaneous meetings.
🔹 Noise Cancellation: AI-powered noise removal is on by default, eliminating background noise—even loud keyboard typing went unheard in tests.
🔹 Audio Quality: Exceptionally clear, with no cross-talk, feedback, or echoes.
🔹 Meeting Views: Three options—grid, stack, and side-by-side. The side-by-side mode allows tile resizing, though it can be slightly inconsistent.
✅ Moderator Controls:
✔️ Mute attendees with one click
✔️ Lock meetings to prevent uninvited guests
✔️ Control unmuting (guests remain muted until the host unmutes them)
Collaboration & AI-Powered Features
1. Screen Sharing & Whiteboards
📌 Webex offers full-resolution screen sharing (some competitors reduce quality).
📌 Default auto-optimization, but you can manually adjust for text & images or motion & video.
📌 Interactive whiteboards include sticky notes, free drawing, and shapes—Google Meet lacks native whiteboards.
2. AI-Powered Meeting Recaps
📝 Post-meeting recaps include:
✔️ AI-generated transcripts
✔️ Editable summaries (notes + action items)
✔️ Thumbs-up/down feedback for AI learning
3. Gesture-Based Reactions
👏 Simply give a thumbs-up on camera, and Webex will generate a thumbs-up emoji on your video tile—no need to click buttons.
4. Step Away from Meeting Feature
If you need to step away briefly, Webex’s AI can summarize discussions while you’re gone—a game-changer for busy professionals.
5. Closed Captioning & Translations
✔️ Customizable captions (font size, position, light/dark mode)
✔️ Supports English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
✔️ Paid add-on supports 120 languages (Google Meet supports 69 via Gemini AI)
Vidcast: Webex’s Built-in Video Recording Tool
Webex’s Vidcast tool works similarly to Loom, allowing users to:
📌 Record video messages with screen-sharing
📌 Store them in an easy-to-navigate Vidcast Library
📌 Create playlists and analyze engagement
🎥 Recording Quality: Crystal-clear audio and video
📂 Cloud Storage: 10GB for Meet users (Google Meet Business Standard offers 2TB per user)
Security & Compliance
🔒 Webex is one of the most secure video conferencing platforms:
✔️ End-to-end encryption for all meetings
✔️ AES-256-GCM media encryption
✔️ HIPAA & BAA compliance for healthcare users
Final Verdict: A Premium Video Conferencing Solution
Webex by Cisco justifies its premium price with best-in-class AI features, intuitive UI, and industry-leading accessibility tools. If you can afford it—including the Real-Time Translation add-on—it’s one of the best video conferencing platforms available.
✅ Best For:
✔️ Businesses that need AI-powered meeting summaries and transcription
✔️ Teams prioritizing security & compliance
✔️ Organizations that want a powerful all-in-one video collaboration tool
🏆 Rating: 4.5/5 (Editors’ Choice Winner)
How It Stacks Up Against Competitors
| Feature | Webex | Zoom Workplace | Google Meet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Yes (40-min, 100 participants) | Yes (40-min, 100 participants) | Yes (60-min, 100 participants) |
| AI Assistant | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ❌ Requires Gemini AI add-on ($240/year) |
| Storage | 10GB | 5GB | 2TB (Business Standard) |
| Translated Captions | 120 languages ($300/year) | 69 languages ($50/year) | 69 languages ($240/year via Gemini AI) |
| Noise Cancellation | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Whiteboards | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ❌ No native tool |
| Security | End-to-end encryption | End-to-end encryption | End-to-end encryption |
Bottom Line
Webex by Cisco is a powerhouse in video conferencing, offering superior AI tools, top-tier security, and an incredibly user-friendly experience. While pricier than competitors, its advanced features and seamless usability make it well worth the investment.
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