Gather Place Reviews

Editor's Star Ratings:

Reliability:
Security:
Features:
Ease of Use / Navigation:
Ease of Joining / Registration:
Customer Support:
Value for Money:
Overall Star Rating:

Membership Costs:

• Each plan allows you to host unlimited meetings for the given number of participants
• Individual plans provide one user name for hosting meetings, shared accounts allow unlimited user names

• Basic Plans (dial in using a telephone)

• Individual
  • 5 participants: $29 per month
  • 20 participants: $39 per month
  • 100 participants: $49 per month
  • 500 participants: $157 per month
  • 2,000 participants: $404 per month

• Shared
  • 5 participants: N/A
  • 20 participants: N/A
  • 100 participants: $63 per month
  • 500 participants: $204 per month
  • 2,000 participants: $525 per month

• Premium Plans (VOIP, session recording, toll free conferencing)

• Individual
  • 5 participants: $43 per month
  • 20 participants: $58 per month
  • 100 participants: $73 per month
  • 500 participants: $235 per month
  • 2,000 participants: $606 per month

• Shared
  • 5 participants: N/A
  • 20 participants: N/A
  • 100 participants: $94 per month
  • 500 participants: $306 per month
  • 2,000 participants: $787 per month

• Save two months' subscription fees if paying annually

• Toll free conferencing: $0.10 per minute per caller

Features:

• Effective remote communications tool
• Show and share your desktop with participants in the meeting
• Basic teleconferencing service provided free of charge
• Invite up to 2,000 guests
• Choose to share one application or the whole desktop
• No installation required for participants
• Whiteboarding features for highlighting important information
• Toll free teleconferencing available
• Join meetings from your iPhone
• Integrated VOIP support
• Record full sessions
• Private branding and integration options available
• Generate usage reports
• Extensive online support
• Free trial available
• Hosts can be Windows or Mac, guests can be Windows, Mac or Linux

Editor's Verdict:

GatherPlace is a useful and effective web conferencing tool, but lacks a few features that other applications provide as standard. However, it scales well to large events of up to 2,000 people and the range of pricing plans mean that you only pay for what you need. The prices are fairly average for this type of service although are obviously only cost effective if you are getting the features you require.

GatherPlace allows you to share your desktop with up to 2,000 participants - if you go for the most expensive plan. It is possible to choose whether to share the whole desktop or just specific applications so that you can keep some things private. It is also easy for the host to switch presenters and there are plenty of other options for controlling the meeting. The interface isn't quite as pleasing to use as some other products that we have tested, although the quality of the meeting was fine.

For communication GatherPlace offers a few different options for guests to participate in the meeting. If you opt for the premium service integrated VOIP support is included so it is easy to join in from a computer and microphone. For guests who don't have a microphone on their computer, or if you opt for the basic service, a basic teleconferencing facility is provided for guests to dial into. The standard teleconferencing service provides guests with a toll number to dial in on, but it is possible to obtain a toll-free number for a small charge per guest. One notable omission from the communications options is support for videoconferencing. It doesn't seem to be possible for anyone to broadcast from their webcam with GatherPlace.

While GatherPlace appeared to offer a fairly reliable level of service in our tests, security is not as well catered for. While many of these types of applications encrypt meeting communications, GatherPlace does not offer such a feature and so is inherently less secure. However, guests do need an access code to join a meeting and the host can lock the meeting room to stop anyone else getting in once the meeting has started.

GatherPlace is a reasonably good service and for many people will provide enough functionality for their requirements. However, the lack of webcam support and the fact that there is no encryption on meeting communications will put many people off. While the prices are OK, they don't really make up for the lack of these features and so we recommend checking out the competition before committing to a GatherPlace subscription.

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