During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, video calling services have become increasingly important to connect us to friends, family and work.
But how do they compare for accessibility features that benefit deaf people and those with hearing loss?
Jesal Vishnuram, our Head of Technology, reviewed 8 video conferencing apps, looking at:
- audio and video calling quality
- live captions (also known as subtitles or live subtitles)
- transcription
- ease of use
- cost
- maximum number of users on a call.
About live captions
Live captions are automatically generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and appear on the screen as people talk. They are closed captions, which means you can turn them on and off.
Live captions are not as accurate as those created by a real person and don’t allow you to correct any mistakes as you go along, but some apps do allow someone in the call to add captions.
The speed and accuracy of live captions, and the quality of audio and video, can vary depending on:
- your internet connection
- the device you’re using
- the number of people talking
- the amount of background noise
The accuracy of live captions can also depend on speakers’ accents.
The following apps were tested across different devices, on a stable Wi-Fi connection.
Microsoft Teams
Launched in 2017, the number of daily users has surged to 44 million during the coronavirus outbreak. Teams is available to organisations who use Office 365, though Microsoft plans to launch a consumer version of Teams later in the year. Microsoft Teams will soon replace Skype for Business.
Microsoft can now reduce background noise in calls. Common noises like cars, drilling, café noises can be recognised and removed making calls quieter and clearer.
Suitable for: business use (Microsoft has announced plans to launch a consumer version).
Audio and video calling quality
Good – but works best on Microsoft laptops and PCs
Live captions
Live captions available on desktop app/mobile app. Only available in English. Not available to all companies
Transcription
Yes
Ease of use
Easy
Cost
You must have a business account – but guests can join
Maximum number of users on a call
250
Zoom
A free video calling service that’s particularly good for larger group meetings. It’s popular with people who require interpreters and speech-to-text reporters.
Zoom can now reduce background noise in calls. Common noises like cars, drilling, café noises can be recognised and removed making calls quieter and clearer.
Suitable for: private and business use
Audio and video calling quality
Good
Live captions
Zoom allows someone on the call to type live captions during a meeting. You can also choose to use another service to do this for you if you prefer. The captions can be streamed into the meeting or you can choose to view them on a separate screen. Read Zoom’s guidance on live captions.
Transcription
Available through an external provider
Ease of use
Easy
Cost
Free basic package (50 minutes maximum if more than two users on the call. Subscription £11.99–£15.99 a month)
Maximum number of users on a call
100 on basic plans (1,000 if you pay for an add-on)
Google Hangouts
A free solution for smaller group meetings. To create a video call, you need to be signed into a Google Workplace account (formerly known as G Suite). To join a video call as a guest, you need the Meet mobile app or you can join through your web browser. You don’t need a Google Workplace account to join a call, but you must be invited by someone who does (having a Gmail account is not the same as being a Google Workplace customer, which is a paid-for service).
In response to lockdown, Google announced in May 2020 that they would be making premium features of Google Hangout free to individuals – including live captions.
Google can now reduce background noise in calls. Common noises like cars, drilling, café noises can be recognised and removed making calls quieter and clearer.
Suitable for: private and business use.
Audio and video calling quality
Good. Noise minimisation function to focus on speaker’s audio and reduce noise
Live captions
Yes – on mobile and desktop
Transcription
Available through an external provider
Ease of use
Easy
Cost and maximum number of users on a call
It’s free to have a video call with up to 25 participants, or a voice call with up to 150 people. There is a paid service for calls with more participants.
Hangouts Meet by Google
The business version of Google Hangouts, this platform requires at least one meeting member to sign up to Google Workplace. Hangouts Meet offers the highest quality live captions of all the providers. Google has recently made Hangouts Meet available to all Google Workplace customers for free (having a Gmail account is not the same as being a Google Workplace customer, which is a paid-for service).
Google can now reduce background noise in calls. Common noises like cars, drilling, café noises can be recognised and removed making calls quieter and clearer.
Suitable for: business use.
Audio and video calling
Good. Noise minimisation function to focus on speaker’s audio and reduce noise
Live captions
Yes – high quality, but only in English
Transcription
Available through an external provider
Ease of use
Easy
Cost
Free but 1 person must have paid for Google Workplace (£4.14-£8.28 a month)
Maximum number of users on a call
250
Skype
A free service which specialises in video chat and voice calls. It can be downloaded across a range of devices.
You can also make a call from Skype to someone on their mobile or landline with a subscription or Skype Credit.
Suitable for: private and business use
Audio and video calling
Good
Live captions
Yes – on mobile and desktop. Live captions are available in Skype version 8 or higher for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. Read Skype’s guidance on live captions.
Transcription
No
Ease of use
Easy – but captions need to be enabled
Cost
Free. There’s also a paid-for premium version which has features such as voice mail, SMS texts or calls to a landline or mobile outside of Skype.
Maximum number of users on a call
50
Skype for Business
Skype for Business integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Office 365 products. Closed captions can be viewed in Skype meeting broadcasts, but must first be enabled by the meeting organiser. Skype for Business will soon be replaced by Microsoft Teams.
Suitable for: business use
Audio and video calling quality
Good
Live captions
Yes
Transcription
Available through an external provider
Ease of use
Difficult and fiddly
Cost
Free to user – organisation has to pay per user
Maximum number of users on a call
250
WebEx Meetings
A full video and content-sharing cloud solution that you can join through desktop, mobile, web browser, and video devices. WebEx allows users to host or participate in video conferencing, online meetings and screen sharing, with up to 1,000 participants in a virtual meeting room.
Suitable for: business use
Audio and video calling
Excellent. Can detect background noise and remove distractions
Live captions
No
Transcription
Available from external provider
Ease of use
Mostly easy – some fiddly functions
Cost
Paid for service (free trial available)
Maximum number of users on a call
1,000
Other information about video conferencing
The Big Hack has reviewed the best video conferencing apps and software for accessibility
The Limping Chicken has a blog with useful tips for working remotely
AbilityNet can assist with IT support at home, digital accessibility and workplace services.
Hearing Ambassadors has produced a video with video conferencing tips for deaf people and those with hearing loss and tinnitus. Watch Hearing Ambassadors’ video on YouTube
Speech-to-text apps
Find out how speech-to-text apps can help deaf people and those with hearing loss and tinnitus.