Let's face it: Meetings can be a real snoozefest. You zone out while slides whiz by, and the only participation involves strategically stifling yawns. And it’s not really a secret — more than half of North American business leaders report that a lack of attendee participation is their biggest meeting woe.
That’s where interactive meeting tools come in. These boredom busters are the ultimate weapon against this engagement epidemic, and we're here to show you the best ones to keep in your digital arsenal.
Table of Contents:
TL:DR? Here’s a quick look at our top choices for interactive meeting tools that’ll keep your audience on their toes.
Tool | Great for | Top features | Free version | Price (paid plans) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mentimeter | Real-time engagement | Real-time polls, surveys, Q&A sessions | Yes | Starts at $11.99 /presenter/month |
Zoom | Video conferencing | Screen sharing, breakout rooms, waiting rooms | Yes | Starts at $13.32 /user/month |
Miro | Creative brainstorming | Infinite canvas, sticky notes, real-time collaboration | Yes | Starts at $8/user/month |
Spatial Chat | Virtual networking | Spatial audio, separate "rooms," integrations | Yes | Starts at $3/user/day |
Google Meet | Informal meetings | Simple interface, screen sharing, chat functionality | Yes | Free |
Kumospace | Remote teams | Customizable workspaces, whiteboard and document sharing | Yes | Starts at $16/user/month |
Notion | Collaborative meeting notes | Flexible workspace, real-time collaboration, team pages | Yes | Starts at $8 /user/month |
SessionLab | Structured trainings and workshops | Polls and quizzes, live feedback and data collection, LMS integration | Yes | Starts at $9/user/month |
Pigeonhole Live | Q&A sessions | Real-time audience Q&A, moderation tools | Yes | Starts at $8/user/month |
Hypercontext | Shared meeting agendas | Automatic setting transcriptions, calendar and project management integrations | Yes | Starts at $5.60/user/month |
Great for: Real-time engagement
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $11.99/presenter/month
Struggling to keep your meetings dynamic and engaging? Look no further than Mentimeter, our (shameless) top pick for interactive meeting tools. But we’re not just tooting our own horn here: This web-based platform lets you ditch the one-way presentation format and inject real-time audience participation into your meetings.
With fun interactive features like live polls, quizzes, and Q&As, Mentimeter is perfect for brainstorming sessions, knowledge checks, gathering feedback, or simply boosting energy levels during long meetings. It's a godsend for anyone who wants to move beyond the passive lecture style and foster a collaborative atmosphere.
Top features:
Great for: Video conferencing
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $13.32/user/month
Zoom needs little introduction — it's become synonymous with video conferencing. But beyond the ability to see and chat with colleagues virtually, Zoom packs a punch when it comes to interactive meetings. This cloud-based platform fosters a more engaging conferencing experience compared to traditional phone calls.
Zoom solves the problem of feeling disconnected during remote meetings with features like screen sharing and co-annotation, allowing for real-time collaboration on documents and presentations. Breakout rooms enable smaller group discussions within the larger meeting, perfect for brainstorming sessions or project work.
Top features:
Great for: Creative brainstorming
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $8/user/month
Ever feel like your brainstorming sessions are stuck in a creativity black hole? Banish boring meetings with Miro, the ultimate virtual canvas for unleashing your team's inner Picasso.
Miro breaks the boundaries of physical space and lets your team ideate, mind map, and collaborate visually in real time. No more waiting your turn to scribble on a whiteboard — with Miro, everyone can throw down their digital sticky notes, sketches, and ideas simultaneously. It's great for marketing teams generating campaign ideas, product designers brainstorming features, or any team looking to spark innovation.
Top features:
Great for: Virtual networking
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $3/user/day
Mingle like it’s 2024 with Spatial Chat, the online engagement tool that allows attendees to move around, network, and connect more naturally. This is a game-changer for anyone who wants to make virtual meetings and conferences less, well, virtual — from event organizers looking to boost attendee engagement to coworkers who want to build stronger bonds.
Imagine attending an online conference where you can walk up to different "rooms" to chat with colleagues, check out presentations, or just bump into new connections serendipitously. Spatial Chat recreates a sense of physical space, encouraging organic conversations that foster a more relaxed atmosphere for building relationships.
Top features:
Great for: Informal meetings
Price: Free
Need a quick catch-up with a colleague or a casual team huddle without the hassle? Google Meet is your free video conferencing BFF for keeping things casual. This online meeting tool from the Google fam is perfect for those times when a full-blown meeting with fancy features feels like overkill.
Forget wrestling with downloads or creating accounts — Google Meet lets you jump into a video call with just a link. It's ideal for quick check-ins, brainstorming sessions with a small team, or catching up with a remote work buddy. Google Meet solves the problem of unnecessary formality and clunky interfaces for those casual interactions that keep teams connected.
Top features:
Great for: Remote teams
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $16/user/month
Juggling a remote team can feel like wrangling cats across different time zones. Introducing Kumospace, your virtual office lifeline for keeping your distributed crew connected and engaged. This virtual engagement tool goes beyond basic video chat by creating a persistent online workspace where your team can collaborate and socialize, all in one place.
Kumospace tackles the challenges of isolation and communication gaps that often plague remote teams. By fostering a sense of shared space and casual interaction, it keeps your team feeling connected and in sync, no matter where they're located.
Top features:
Great for: Collaborative meeting notes
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $8/user/month
Struggling to keep your project plans and meeting notes organized in a million different places? Notion is a great pick for conquering collaborative project management and meeting madness. This isn't your grandma's note-taking app — Notion lets you ditch the paper trail and create dynamic, interactive workspaces for your team.
Notion acts as a central hub where you can brainstorm project ideas, assign tasks, track progress, and document meeting notes — all in one beautifully organized space. It tackles the woes of scattered information and communication breakdowns by providing a collaborative platform that keeps everyone on the same page.
Top features:
Great for: Structured training sessions and workshops
Price: Free to join, with plans starting at $9/month for individual users
Let’s face it: Corporate training doesn’t always make for an exciting day at the office. But SessionLab can help inject a much-needed dose of interactivity into your presentations, keeping your trainees engaged and learning.
SessionLab lets you create dynamic presentations with interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and live Q&A sessions with a focus on knowledge retention. This is a great way for trainers, educators, and human resource reps to add some fun to their structured sessions while promoting learning and engagement.
Top features:
Great for: Live Q&A sessions
Price: Free to join, with plans starting at $8/user/month
Dread the Q&A sessions where crickets chirp louder than the audience? Pigeonhole Live is here to break the awkward silence with engaging Q&A sessions that are anything but boring.
This online platform lets you engage your audience with real-time questions, upvotes, and discussions. It tackles the problem of low audience participation by creating a safe space for questions that promote active discussion. This is a great online meeting tool for hosting dynamic Q&A sessions that keep everyone on their toes.
Top features:
Great for: Shared meeting agendas
Price: Free to join, with paid plans starting at $5.60/user/month
You know the drill — important details get lost in the pre-meeting email vortex, and nobody remembers what they signed up for by the time the meeting rolls around. Enter Hypercontext, the AI-powered assistant that's here to cure agenda amnesia.
This nifty online meeting tool goes beyond basic calendar invites, creating collaborative, interactive meeting agendas that keep everyone on the same page. With built-in features like polls and discussion prompts, it tackles the problem of unclear expectations and wasted meeting time by keeping everyone aligned and focused on the topics at hand.
Top features:
We know that was a lot to take in. Now the question remains: Which interactive tool is right for you?
From meeting size to budget, here’s a breakdown of things to look for when choosing the app that best suits your needs.
Avoid the one-size-fits-all mentality for your meetings! The right virtual engagement tool depends on who you're wrangling and what you're wrangling them for.
Have a massive audience? Polling tools like Mentimeter will keep them from zoning out. Smaller crew? Dive deeper with breakout rooms in Zoom.
The purpose matters, too. Employee workshops might benefit from interactive training tools like SessionLab, while client meetings need clear agendas and real-time notes like Hypercontext offers. By understanding your meeting's size and purpose, you can pick the perfect software to keep everyone engaged — no matter the format.
An interactive meeting shouldn't become an exclusion zone! Accessibility is key when choosing the right tool. Platforms that offer features like mobile compatibility, closed captions for audio elements, and keyboard navigation ensure everyone can participate fully.
Ease of use is another important factor to keep in mind. Complex interfaces can create a barrier to participation, especially for less tech-savvy team members. Look for tools with intuitive interfaces and clear instructions to guarantee a smooth and frustration-free experience. After all, the goal is to boost engagement, not host a technical hurdle race.
Not all virtual meeting tools are created equal. Some are jacks of all trades, packed with features for every scenario. Others are laser-focused, excelling at one specific task.
Craving a brainstorming bonanza? Look for tools with virtual whiteboards and real-time collaboration features. Need to present like a pro? Interactive presentations and gamification elements might be your jam. The key is to identify what features will make your meetings sing.
Nobody wants to live in a tech silo, switching between a million apps just to run a meeting. When choosing your interactive meeting tool, consider how it works with your existing tech squad. Prioritize tools that integrate with your favorite platforms and avoid the app-switching headaches.
Does your team swear by Slack for communication? Look for a tool that integrates seamlessly, letting you fire off quick questions or reminders without ever leaving the flow. Project management gurus on your team? Integrations with tools like Asana or Trello can keep tasks and action items flowing smoothly after the meeting ends.
Budgets aren’t infinite, but there’s an interactive tool out there for every wallet size. Plenty of fantastic options offer free plans or freemium models with basic features to get you started. These can be perfect for small teams or occasional use.
As your meeting needs grow, you can upgrade to paid plans with more bells and whistles. Remember, you don't need a bazillion-dollar budget to create an engaging meeting. It's all about finding the tool that packs the biggest punch for your price point.
Interactive meeting tools are awesome, but they’re only as good as you make them. Here are a few of our top tips to help maximize their impact:
Gone are the days of boring text slides and one-sided conversations. Interactive meeting tools transform presentations from passive lectures to engaging experiences, boosting participation and knowledge retention.
Want to get started with an all-in-one tool? Mentimeter offers a wide range of interactive features, from live polls and quizzes to word clouds and Q&As, all designed to keep your audience engaged and on the ball.