Conference NOW vs Phonesty

Conference NOW creates telephone conference rooms that people join using a call-in number and PIN. Its free plan supports unlimited conferences and call duration for up to 10 callers, with no signup, personal information or credit card required. Organisers can see participants and speakers, mute callers and use moderator controls. Conference details can be shared through iMessage or SMS, email, third-party apps, or copy and paste. Call-in numbers are provided in the United States and Canada, and callers pay their carrier’s applicable charges. Free PINs expire after 30 days without use; making a call extends the expiry by another 30 days. Pro supports up to 100 callers, multiple moderators, and recording, playback and sharing. Recordings are kept on the provider’s network for 30 days. The Pro App Store listing offers a one-time free trial but gives no duration. The app is available for Android and iOS. The service terms say outages may occur and availability is not guaranteed.

Phonesty provides telephone conference calls and video conferencing, including sessions that combine telephone and web access. Its Free plan is free and is described for private use. Free lists dial-in numbers in the USA and Germany, unlimited participants under a fair-use policy, and an online call log covering up to three months. Dial-in conferencing costs 0 cents per minute, though participants pay their telephone provider’s normal fixed-line call charges. Premium costs $3.95 a month and is described for advanced private use. Professional costs $19.95 a month, billed monthly including VAT, and is intended for business use. Professional includes screen sharing, participant webphone access, scheduling, quick-dial entries, plenum mode and rights management. Local dial-in numbers are offered in 37 countries, but Free lists only the USA and Germany. Dial-out calls are billed per participant by the second, with rates varying by destination and network. Conference controls include voice menus; Professional adds a web interface, muting, disconnect controls and room locking. The FAQ says Premium includes MP3 recording, available to download for seven days.