ConferenceCall.co.uk vs Phonesty

ConferenceCall.co.uk connects participants by telephone: callers dial a number and enter a PIN. Users can request a free PIN and start immediately without reserving a meeting; calls are available 24/7. Local dial-in numbers are offered in more than 60 countries, alongside a worldwide number. Standard conference calls support up to 100 participants. Participants can press #1 to hear the current count and #6 to mute or unmute their microphone. The service provides free invitation templates for UK-only and overseas callers. The standard option is free to set up, while participants pay through their telephone bills; the listed UK rate is 5.8p/min plus VAT and provider access charge. A host solution lets an organiser pay participant costs, charging 20.83 pence per minute excluding VAT for the UK organiser. Calls can be recorded, and scheduled calls are supported. The site says data is held in Europe and protected by HTTPS/SSL.

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.