In the dynamic world of virtual meetings and online education, choosing the right conferencing app can significantly impact productivity and engagement. Today, we dive into two powerful platforms: Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton. Both tools are packed with features that cater to different needs, making them standout choices for various users.
Cisco Webex is renowned for its robust security, seamless integration with other tools, and high-quality video and audio. It’s a favorite among businesses for its reliability and extensive features like breakout rooms, screen sharing, and real-time transcription.
On the other hand, BigBlueButton shines in the educational sector. Designed specifically for online learning, it offers unique features such as virtual classrooms, whiteboards, and polls, making it a fantastic tool for interactive teaching and student engagement.
Whether you’re a business professional seeking a secure and versatile meeting platform or an educator looking for an interactive teaching tool, this comparison will help you
General Information
Cisco Webex, developed by Cisco, was released in 1995. It supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web. This makes it versatile for users across different devices.
BigBlueButton, created by Blindside Networks, came out in 2007. It also supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web platforms, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users.
Both apps offer comprehensive platform support, making them suitable for diverse user needs. Cisco Webex has a longer history in the market, while BigBlueButton is a newer entrant.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to its longer presence in the market since 1995 compared to 2007 for BigBlueButton.
| Attribute |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer/Company | Cisco | Blindside Networks |
| Release Date | 1995 | 2007 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web |
Core Features
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton both offer robust core features for conferencing needs.
Video Quality: Both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton provide HD video quality. This ensures clear and sharp visuals during meetings, enhancing the overall experience for participants.
Audio Quality: The audio quality in both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton is high. This means users can expect clear and crisp sound, which is crucial for effective communication during conferences.
In summary, Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton are comparable in terms of core features, offering HD video and high audio quality.
Verdict:
Both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton are equal in core features: HD video quality and high audio quality.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | HD | HD |
| Audio Quality | High | High |
Interactive demos of Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton
Cisco Webex Demo
BigBlueButton Demo
Collaboration Tools
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton offer distinct features for collaboration tools.
Cisco Webex allows up to 100 participants in its free version, while BigBlueButton supports unlimited participants. For paid plans, Webex accommodates up to 1,000 participants, whereas BigBlueButton continues to offer unlimited capacity.
Meeting duration on Webex’s free plan is limited to 50 minutes, but BigBlueButton provides unlimited meeting time. Both platforms support screen sharing, making it easy to present information during meetings.
Recording capabilities differ significantly. Cisco Webex offers both local and cloud recording options, while BigBlueButton does not support recording. Additionally, Webex includes virtual backgrounds, a feature not available in BigBlueButton.
In summary:
– Participants (Free): 100 vs Unlimited
– Participants (Paid): Up to 1,000 vs Unlimited
– Meeting Duration (Free): 50 minutes vs Unlimited
– Screen Sharing: Yes vs Yes
– Recording: Yes vs No
– Virtual Backgrounds: Yes vs No
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to recording capabilities and virtual backgrounds.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Participants (Free) | 100 | Unlimited |
| Participants (Paid) | Up to 1,000 | Unlimited |
| Meeting Duration (Free) | 50 minutes | Unlimited |
| Screen Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Recording | ✅ Yes (Local and cloud recording) | ❌ No |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Integration and Compatibility
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton are both robust conferencing apps with several common features. Both platforms support in-meeting chat, file sharing, breakout rooms, polls and Q&A, whiteboarding, and meeting notes, making them versatile for various meeting needs.
Cisco Webex stands out with its integration capabilities. It supports Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, providing seamless collaboration for users of these popular productivity suites. Additionally, Webex offers integration with a wide range of third-party apps, enhancing its functionality and adaptability to different workflows. API availability in Webex allows for further customization and integration with other systems.
BigBlueButton, while also offering in-meeting chat, file sharing, breakout rooms, polls and Q&A, whiteboarding, and meeting notes, does not support Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 integration. However, it does support third-party apps integration and provides API availability, allowing for some level of customization and extended functionality.
In summary, while both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton offer a comprehensive set of in-meeting features, Cisco Webex provides superior integration options with major productivity tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, along with extensive third-party app support and API availability. BigBlueButton, on the other hand, offers similar core features
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to its integration with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| In-meeting Chat | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| File Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Breakout Rooms | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Polls and Q&A | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Whiteboarding | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Meeting Notes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Google Workspace Integration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Microsoft 365 Integration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Third-party Apps Integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| API Availability | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Security and Privacy
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton both offer robust security and privacy features, making them reliable choices for secure conferencing.
End-to-End Encryption: Both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton provide end-to-end encryption, ensuring that communications are secure and private.
Password Protection: Both platforms support password protection, adding an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access to meetings.
Waiting Room: Both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton include a waiting room feature, allowing hosts to control who enters the meeting and when.
Participant Authentication: Both services offer participant authentication, ensuring that only verified users can join the conference.
Data Compliance: Cisco Webex meets several data compliance standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, and HITRUST, making it suitable for a wide range of industries with stringent data protection requirements. BigBlueButton, on the other hand, complies with GDPR, which is essential for protecting personal data within the European Union.
In summary, both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton provide comprehensive security and privacy features, with Cisco Webex offering broader data compliance certifications.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to broader data compliance: GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, HITRUST vs GDPR.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| End-to-End Encryption | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Password Protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Waiting Room | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Participant Authentication | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Data Compliance | GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, HITRUST | GDPR |
User Experience
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton both offer a high ease of use, making them accessible for users of all skill levels. Cisco Webex features an intuitive UI design, while BigBlueButton opts for a simpler interface. Both apps support mobile functionality, ensuring users can join meetings on the go.
In terms of accessibility, both platforms are well-equipped, providing features that cater to various needs. Cisco Webex offers multiple customer support options, including live chat, email, and phone support, though availability may vary depending on the plan. BigBlueButton, on the other hand, relies on community support, which can be beneficial for users who prefer peer assistance and open-source solutions.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to its comprehensive customer support options.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | High | High |
| UI Design | Intuitive | Simple |
| Mobile Functionality | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Accessibility | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customer Support | Live Chat, Email, Phone (varies by plan) | Community support |
Pricing
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton both offer free tiers, making them accessible for users who need basic conferencing features without any cost.
Cisco Webex provides a range of paid plans to cater to different business needs. The Starter plan costs $13.50 per user per month, the Plus plan is priced at $17.95 per user per month, the Business plan costs $26.95 per user per month, and the Enterprise plan is available for $32.95 per user per month. Additionally, Cisco Webex offers a free trial, allowing users to test the premium features before committing to a subscription.
On the other hand, BigBlueButton stands out by being completely free and open-source. This means there are no paid plans, and users can access all features without any cost. However, BigBlueButton does not offer a free trial, as all its features are already available for free.
In summary:
– Free Tier Availability: Yes vs Yes
– Paid Plans: $13.50/user/month, $17.95/user/month, $26.95/user/month, $32.95/user/month vs Free (Open Source)
– Free Trial Availability: Yes vs No
Verdict:
BigBlueButton is better due to its free, open-source model compared to Cisco Webex’s paid plans.
Performance
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton both excel in performance.
Reliability for both platforms is high, ensuring consistent and dependable service. Users can trust that their meetings will run smoothly without unexpected interruptions.
Latency is low for both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton, providing a seamless experience with minimal delays. This is crucial for real-time communication, ensuring that conversations flow naturally.
Resource usage is also low for both applications. This means they are efficient and do not heavily tax system resources, making them suitable for a wide range of devices and network conditions.
Feedback during high traffic is positive for both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton. Users report satisfactory performance even when the platforms are under heavy load, indicating robust infrastructure and scalability.
In summary, Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton are closely matched in terms of performance, with high reliability, low latency, low resource usage, and positive feedback during high traffic.
Verdict:
Both Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton are equally good in terms of performance.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | High | High |
| Latency | Low | Low |
| Resource Usage | Low | Low |
| High Traffic Feedback | Positive | Positive |
Unique Selling Points
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton each have unique selling points that cater to different user needs.
Cisco Webex stands out with its seamless integration capabilities. It integrates smoothly with Microsoft 365, Slack, Google Calendar, Box, SharePoint, and Salesforce, making it a versatile choice for businesses that rely on these tools. Additionally, Webex offers an AI-powered Webex Assistant, which enhances productivity by automating tasks and providing real-time transcription. Users can also expect high-quality audio and video, ensuring clear communication during meetings. Security is another strong point for Webex, offering robust measures to protect user data.
BigBlueButton, on the other hand, is an open-source platform, which makes it highly customizable and cost-effective. It is particularly strong in the educational sector, offering extensive tools designed for online learning. Features like breakout rooms, polling, and whiteboard capabilities make it a comprehensive solution for virtual classrooms. While it may not have the same level of integration with third-party apps as Webex, its focus on education-specific features sets it apart.
In summary:
– Cisco Webex: Integration with Microsoft 365, Slack, Google Calendar, Box, SharePoint, Salesforce; AI-powered Webex Assistant, high-quality audio and video, strong
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better for business integration and AI features, while BigBlueButton excels in educational tools and open-source flexibility.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Key Features and Differentiators | Integration with Microsoft 365, Slack, Google Calendar, Box, SharePoint, Salesforce; AI-powered Webex Assistant, high-quality audio and video, strong security | Open-source, extensive educational tools |
User Feedback and Reviews
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton are two popular conferencing apps, each with distinct strengths based on user feedback and reviews.
Cisco Webex is highly rated for its security, seamless integration, and high-quality user experience. Users appreciate its strong security features, which ensure safe and secure meetings. The seamless workflow integration allows for a smooth user experience, and the high-quality audio and video enhance communication. However, some users find limitations on the number of meeting participants for lower-tier subscriptions and occasional complexity in the user interface.
BigBlueButton, on the other hand, is highly rated for educational use and customization. It is free and open-source, making it an attractive option for educational institutions. Users value its customizability, which allows for tailored experiences to meet specific needs. However, to gain full control, self-hosting is required, which can be a drawback for some users.
Overall Ratings:
Cisco Webex: Highly rated for security, seamless integration, and high-quality user experience.
BigBlueButton: Highly rated for educational use and customization.
Pros:
Cisco Webex: Strong security features, seamless workflow integration, high-quality audio and video.
BigBlueButton: Free, open-source, customizable.
Cons:
Cisco Webex: Limitations on the number
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better for security and integration, while BigBlueButton excels in educational use and customization.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Ratings | Highly rated for security, seamless integration, and high-quality user experience | Highly rated for educational use and customization |
| Pros | Strong security features, seamless workflow integration, high-quality audio and video | Free, open-source, customizable |
| Cons | Limitations on the number of meeting participants for lower tier subscriptions, occasional user interface complexity | Requires self-hosting for full control |
Final Verdict
Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton both excel in core features, offering HD video and high audio quality. In terms of security and privacy, Cisco Webex has an edge with broader data compliance certifications. For user experience, Cisco Webex is superior due to its comprehensive customer support options. However, BigBlueButton stands out in pricing as it is completely free and open-source. Overall, Cisco Webex is better for businesses needing extensive support and compliance, while BigBlueButton is ideal for users seeking a
