GoToMeeting

What is GoToMeeting?

GoToMeeting is a professional web conferencing and video meeting platform developed by GoTo (formerly LogMeIn), designed to facilitate seamless online meetings, webinars, and virtual collaboration. Launched in 2004, GoToMeeting was one of the pioneering solutions that helped define the web conferencing industry, establishing many conventions that modern video calling platforms still follow. With nearly two decades of development, the platform has evolved into a robust, enterprise-ready solution trusted by millions of users worldwide.

What sets GoToMeeting apart is its focus on reliability and ease of use, particularly for business professionals who need meetings to simply work without technical complications. The platform offers a streamlined experience that prioritizes audio and video quality, with intelligent features like automatic bandwidth adjustment, commuter mode for mobile users, and one-click meeting joins that minimize friction when connecting with colleagues and clients.

GoToMeeting is part of the broader GoTo product family, which includes GoToWebinar for large-scale presentations, GoToTraining for interactive training sessions, and GoToConnect for unified communications. This ecosystem approach allows organizations to scale their communication capabilities as needs grow while maintaining a consistent user experience across different meeting types and sizes.

Key Features

• HD Video Conferencing: High-definition video quality with smart compression technology that maintains clarity even on limited bandwidth connections.
• Screen Sharing: Share your entire desktop, specific applications, or individual browser tabs with participants for effective presentations and demonstrations.
• Meeting Recording: Record meetings locally or to the cloud with automatic transcription services for creating searchable meeting archives.
• Drawing Tools: Annotation and drawing capabilities during screen sharing allow presenters to highlight important information in real-time.
• Meeting Transcription: AI-powered transcription automatically creates text records of meetings for accessibility and documentation purposes.
• Personal Meeting Rooms: Unique, persistent meeting URLs that allow others to join your personal meeting space at any time without scheduling.
• Commuter Mode: Audio-optimized mobile experience that reduces data usage while maintaining call quality for users on the go.
• Calendar Integration: Seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar for easy meeting scheduling and one-click joins.
• Dial-In Conferencing: Toll-free and local dial-in numbers for participants who prefer or need to join via phone rather than computer audio.
• Meeting Lock: Security feature that allows hosts to lock meetings after all participants have joined to prevent unauthorized access.

What’s New

GoTo has continued enhancing GoToMeeting throughout 2024 with focus on AI capabilities and hybrid work support:

• AI Meeting Summaries: Automatic generation of meeting highlights, action items, and key discussion points after each meeting.
• Smart Assistant Integration: Enhanced voice commands and meeting automation for hands-free meeting control.
• Improved Noise Suppression: Next-generation AI noise cancellation that better isolates voice from background sounds.
• Virtual Background Updates: New professional background options and improved background blur performance.
• Enhanced Mobile App: Redesigned mobile experience with better gesture controls and landscape mode improvements.
• Breakout Rooms Enhancement: Improved breakout room management with timer features and easier participant redistribution.
• Recording Analytics: Detailed analytics on recording views, engagement, and viewer behavior for shared recordings.
• SSO Improvements: Expanded single sign-on support for more identity providers and simplified enterprise deployment.

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Processor: Intel Core i3 or equivalent (i5 recommended)
• RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
• Storage: 1 GB available space
• Internet: 1 Mbps minimum (3 Mbps recommended)
• Webcam and microphone for video conferencing

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.14 Mojave or later
• Processor: Intel Core i3 or Apple Silicon
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Storage: 500 MB available space
• Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser

Linux

• Distribution: Ubuntu 18.04+, Fedora, CentOS
• Web-based access through Chrome or Firefox
• Desktop client not officially supported

Mobile

• iOS: Version 13.0 or later
• Android: Version 7.0 or later
• Storage: 150 MB
• Active internet connection required

How to Install GoToMeeting

Windows Installation

1. Visit gotomeeting.com and click “Download”
2. Run the GoToMeeting installer
3. Follow installation prompts
4. Sign in with your GoTo account
5. Configure audio and video devices

# Download from official website
# Direct download link:
https://www.gotomeeting.com/meeting/resources/download

# After installation, launch from:
# Start Menu > GoToMeeting

# Command line launch (if needed):
"C:\Program Files\GoToMeeting\current\g2mstart.exe"

macOS Installation

1. Download the installer from gotomeeting.com
2. Open the downloaded .dmg file
3. Drag GoToMeeting to Applications folder
4. Launch and grant necessary permissions
5. Sign in to your account

# Using Homebrew (unofficial)
brew install --cask gotomeeting

# Verify installation
ls /Applications/GoToMeeting.app

# Launch GoToMeeting
open -a "GoToMeeting"

# Grant permissions in:
# System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Camera/Microphone

Linux Installation

# GoToMeeting on Linux is primarily web-based
# Access through supported browsers:
google-chrome https://app.goto.com/meeting

# For joining meetings from terminal with meeting ID:
xdg-open "https://app.goto.com/meeting/123456789"

# Ensure WebRTC is enabled in your browser for best experience

Mobile Installation

1. Open App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Search for “GoToMeeting”
3. Tap Install/Get
4. Open the app after installation
5. Sign in or join meetings as a guest

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional Reliability: Known for consistent, stable connections with minimal dropped calls or technical issues during meetings.
• Easy to Use: Intuitive interface requires minimal training, allowing users to join and host meetings with minimal technical knowledge.
• Strong Audio Quality: Superior audio processing and VoIP technology deliver clear communications even on challenging network connections.
• Mobile-Friendly: Commuter mode and robust mobile apps make it excellent for professionals frequently on the move.
• Calendar Integration: Seamless Outlook and Google Calendar integration streamlines scheduling and meeting management.
• Built-In Dial-In: Toll-free numbers and international dial-in options accommodate participants without internet access.
• Professional Focus: Designed specifically for business use rather than social calls, with appropriate features and security.

Cons

• Dated Interface: User interface looks less modern compared to competitors like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
• Limited Free Tier: Free plan is more restrictive than competitors, pushing users toward paid subscriptions quickly.
• Fewer Integrations: Third-party app ecosystem is smaller compared to Zoom or Microsoft Teams marketplaces.
• No Built-In Chat Platform: Unlike Teams or Slack integration, lacks persistent team messaging outside of meetings.
• Participant Limits: Maximum participant counts are lower than some enterprise competitors for large events.

GoToMeeting vs Alternatives

Who Should Use GoToMeeting?

GoToMeeting is ideal for:

• Small to Medium Businesses: Companies needing reliable, professional video conferencing without enterprise complexity or pricing.
• Sales Teams: Professionals conducting client presentations and demos who need dependable connections and professional features.
• Remote Teams: Distributed teams requiring consistent, high-quality daily standup meetings and collaboration sessions.
• Consultants and Freelancers: Independent professionals meeting with multiple clients who value simplicity and reliability.
• Training Organizations: Companies using GoToTraining integration for interactive training and certification programs.
• Phone-Centric Users: Organizations where many participants prefer dialing in via phone rather than computer audio.

GoToMeeting may not be ideal for:

• Large Enterprises: Organizations needing extensive third-party integrations and massive participant capacity.
• Microsoft 365 Organizations: Companies deeply invested in Microsoft ecosystem may prefer Teams integration.
• Budget-Conscious Users: Those seeking feature-rich free tiers will find competitors more generous.
• Social or Casual Use: Personal users hosting family calls or social gatherings have better free alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does GoToMeeting cost?

GoToMeeting offers tiered pricing starting with the Professional plan at $12 per organizer per month (billed annually) supporting up to 150 participants. The Business plan at $16 per organizer per month increases capacity to 250 participants and adds features like transcription and drawing tools. Enterprise pricing is custom-quoted based on organizational needs. A 14-day free trial is available for new users to test the platform before committing.

Can I use GoToMeeting without downloading software?

Yes, GoToMeeting offers a web-based experience that allows participants to join meetings directly from their browser without downloading the desktop application. The web app supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, providing core meeting functionality including video, audio, screen viewing, and chat. However, some advanced features like screen sharing may work better with the desktop application installed.

How many people can join a GoToMeeting?

Participant capacity depends on your subscription plan. The Professional plan supports up to 150 participants, the Business plan allows up to 250 participants, and Enterprise plans can be customized for larger capacities. For events requiring more attendees, GoToWebinar supports up to 3,000 participants for webinar-style presentations where most attendees are viewers rather than active participants.

Does GoToMeeting offer meeting recording?

Yes, GoToMeeting includes meeting recording capabilities on all paid plans. Hosts can record meetings locally to their computer or to the cloud for easy sharing and access. Cloud recordings include automatic transcription services that create searchable text records of the meeting. Recordings capture video, audio, screen shares, and can be downloaded or shared via link with participants who missed the meeting.

Is GoToMeeting secure for business communications?

GoToMeeting employs robust security measures including TLS 1.2+ encryption for data in transit, AES-256 encryption for recordings, and SOC 2 Type II compliance. Additional security features include meeting passwords, lobby waiting rooms, meeting locks, and the ability to remove disruptive participants. Enterprise plans offer single sign-on (SSO) integration and additional admin controls for organizational security policies.

Final Verdict

GoToMeeting has earned its reputation as a workhorse of business video conferencing through nearly two decades of reliable service. While it may not generate the buzz of newer platforms, its consistent performance, professional feature set, and focus on what matters most—clear, reliable communication—make it a solid choice for organizations prioritizing substance over style.

The platform particularly shines for small to medium businesses and distributed teams who need meetings to simply work without constant troubleshooting. The exceptional audio quality, robust mobile experience with commuter mode, and comprehensive dial-in options accommodate diverse work styles and connectivity situations. Calendar integration and personal meeting rooms add convenience for heavy meeting users.

GoToMeeting is recommended for business professionals and organizations seeking a mature, reliable video conferencing solution without the need for extensive ecosystem integrations. While competitors may offer flashier interfaces or more aggressive free tiers, GoToMeeting delivers consistent, professional-grade meetings that let you focus on your actual work rather than the technology. For those already using other GoTo products like GoToWebinar or GoToConnect, the unified ecosystem provides additional value through seamless integration.