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Comparing Product Demo Platforms: Which is Right For You?

Written by Livia Burbulea | November 14, 2023

Product demos are an invaluable tool for attracting, engaging, and converting potential customers. But choosing the right platform is a crucial decision, as it can make or break your success.

 

When it comes to product demo platforms, the market is full of options, each boasting a variety of features and capabilities. Let's dive into the pros and cons of some of the most popular platforms to help you find your perfect fit. 

 

Zoom

Zoom, a household name in video conferencing and online meetings, offers a wide array of features and an intuitive, user-friendly interface. It's an excellent choice for businesses, especially those looking for a straightforward way to connect with clients and prospects. Zoom offers a variety of features that are useful for product demos, such as screen sharing, chat, recording, and transcription.

While a solid option, it has its limitations. Zoom has faced security issues in the past, including incidents of unauthorized access (commonly referred to as "Zoombombing"). While they have taken steps to improve security, these concerns may deter businesses dealing with sensitive data.

Additionally, while Zoom offers affordable plans, some advanced features may require a higher pricing tier, potentially making it more expensive for businesses seeking comprehensive functionality.

Key Features Pricing Pros Cons
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen Sharing
  • Chat
  • Recording
  • Transcription
  • Free plan available
  • Paid plans start at $14.99/month/user

  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Reliable
  • Wide range of features

  • Limited features for free plan
  • Can be expensive for large teams
  • Security concerns

 

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is another video conferencing platform that can be used for product demos. It is known for its reliability and rich set of features. GoToMeeting offers all of the same key features as Zoom, as well as a few additional features, such as drawing tools and remote control.

While GoToMeeting offers excellent features, it's often perceived as a relatively expensive option. This may not be ideal for small businesses or startups with budget constraints. Some users have found that GoToMeeting's interface can be more complex to navigate, which might require additional time for new users to adapt.

Key Features Pricing Pros Cons
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • Chat
  • Recording
  • Transcription
  • Polling
  • Free trial available
  • Paid plans start at $16/month/host
  • Rich features
  • Reliable
  • Good customer support
  • Can be expensive for large teams

 

Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex is a secure and reliable video conferencing platform that can be used for product demos. It is known for its wide range of features and integration with other Cisco products. Webex offers all of the same key features as Zoom and GoToMeeting, as well as a few additional features, such as noise cancellation and background blur.

Cisco Webex also offers a number of other features that can be useful for product demos, such as polling, whiteboarding, and integration with other Cisco products, such as Cisco Spark and Cisco Jabber.

However, the richness of Cisco Webex's features can overwhelm new users, potentially requiring time to get accustomed to the platform. Webex is often viewed as a higher-priced option, which may deter smaller businesses or startups with budget constraints.

Key Features Pricing Pros Cons
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • Chat
  • Recording
  • Transcription
  • Whiteboarding
  • Integration with other Cisco products
  • Free plan available
  • Paid plans start at $13.95/month/user
  • Secure and reliable
  • Wide range of features
  • Well-integrated with other Cisco products
  • Can be complex to use
  • Expensive for large teams

 

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that can be used for various purposes, including product demos. It is known for its comprehensive features and integration with other Microsoft products. Teams offers all of the same key features as Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Cisco Webex, as well as a few additional features, such as document collaboration and task management.

Microsoft Teams also offers a number of other features that can be useful for product demos, such as polling, whiteboarding, and integration with other Microsoft products, such as Office 365 and SharePoint.

Some new users may find Microsoft Teams' extensive features to be overwhelming, requiring time for adaptation. This learning curve can impact the efficiency of product demos for those who are not yet familiar with the platform.

To utilize Microsoft Teams for product demos, users must have a Microsoft license. While this is an advantage for organizations already using Microsoft Teams, it may be a limitation for those who do not have an existing subscription, as it involves an additional cost and commitment. 

Key Features Pricing Pros Cons
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • Chat
  • Recording
  • Transcription
  • Document collaboration
  • Task management
  • Integration with other Microsoft products
  • Free plan available
  • Paid plans start at $4/month/user
  • Comprehensive features
  • Integrated with other Microsoft products
  • Affordable
  • Can be complex to use
  • Not as reliable as other platforms
  • Requires Microsoft license

 

 

Sessions

Sessions is a product demo platform that offers a variety of built-in tools and integrations to help you create and deliver effective product demos. With features designed to enhance the product demo experience, Sessions is a valuable tool for businesses looking to create, manage, and share custom demos effortlessly.

Key Features

  • AI Copilot: One of the standout features of Sessions is AI Copilot, an AI-powered assistant that helps you build structured agendas for your product demos. This feature ensures that your demos are organized, engaging, and deliver all the necessary information to your audience. By providing suggestions and insights, the AI Copilot helps you create a seamless and impactful agenda for your demo.

  • My Product tool: Another amazing tool is My Product tool. This is a co-browsing feature that allows you to showcase your app, website, or any other browser-based platform directly in your meeting. With this co-browsing functionality, you can guide participants through your app and even let them interact with it in real-time. This hands-on experience enhances engagement and gives potential customers a firsthand understanding of your product's capabilities.

  • Integration capabilities: Sessions also offers seamless integration capabilities with popular platforms like Miro, Mentimeter, Slido, Figma, Canva, YouTube, and Vimeo. These integrations allow you to enhance your product demo with visually appealing slides, embedded videos, interactive whiteboards, and more. By incorporating these engaging elements, you can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.

  • Interactive features: Sessions also includes interactive features such as chat, live polls, hand-raising, and Q&A. These features encourage audience participation and interaction, making your product demos more engaging and informative. By giving your audience a voice and addressing their questions and concerns in real-time, you can build trust and rapport with potential customers.

  • Automatic follow-up: Takeaways that you can send live or after the session/event ends, from Memory. You can use the transcript to create a summary based on it and easily send it via email from Takeaways.
  • Memory and Analytics: Sessions' recording feature can be automatically turned on to ensure that your product demos are saved for future reference or sharing with participants. The Memory feature allows you to access previous demos, making it easy to revisit, improve, and follow-up. Additionally, with analytics, you can review data such as participants’ lists, their total amount of time spent in the session, poll results, and more, giving you valuable insights to refine your demo strategy.

Key Features Pricing Pros Cons
  • AI Copilot
  • My Product tool
  • Integration capabilities
  • Backstage
  • Interactive features
  • Memory and Analytics
  • Free trial available
  • Paid plans start at $15/month/user
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Offers a wealth of features specific to product demos
  • Smaller team than competitors, but 100% hands-on

 

Sessions' platform is comprehensive and affordable, offering a range of features specifically designed to create engaging and informative demos. Whether you're a small business or a startup, Sessions provides the necessary tools to showcase your product effectively and leave a lasting impression on potential customers.

If you are looking for a platform that combines ease of use, affordability, and impactful features, Sessions is an excellent option to consider for your product demos.