Governments around the world are advising people to adopt remote work and software providers have responded by revising their offerings to help businesses during an uncertain time. Find software deals and packages specially offered to help small businesses go fully remote.
To be mentioned in this article:
- The product pricing or licensing change must be a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The product pricing or licensing change must be available to a broad population of users (e.g. all existing clients, all users, etc.).
Changes limited to specific industry or profession (e.g. healthcare professionals) were not considered for this piece.
We’ll be updating this page during the coming weeks to reflect any changes and new offers.
Web Conferencing Software
1. Cisco Webex Meetings
Cisco has expanded the capabilities of its Webex Meetings software. This now extends to all countries that have access to the platform, and not just to those impacted by the Coronavirus.
Previous offering
With prices starting at $13.95 per month (around £12), Cisco Webex Meetings offered a free version of its software and a free trial.
Updated offering
Cisco has updated its Webex capabilities for its free version and in the countries it serves. The additional features are:
- Unlimited use; no restrictions on time
- As many as 100 meeting participants
- Dial-in now available (in addition to the current VoIP provision).
Cisco is offering free 90-day licenses to companies that are new to sign up to Webex.
2. GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting connects people from far and wide and is responding to the Coronavirus challenge. The company is amending its offering to enable customers to use its tools more flexibly.
Previous offering
Subscriptions started from £9.50 a month.
Updated offering
Customers who currently subscribe to LogMeIn can now access collaboration tools, including GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar. Initially, this is for up to three months at no extra charge on a current subscription. GoToMeeting is also implementing extra support, help and guidance for users of its tools.
3. Google Hangouts
Hangouts is offering free access for its video conferencing platform, Hangout Meets, for all G Suite customers.
Previous offering
The G Suite version for businesses started at £8.28 per user, per month.
Updated offering
With a preliminary date of 1 July 2020, Google is providing its Hangouts premium features for free to all users. This includes up to 250 participants in a call, live streaming for 100,000 viewers within a domain, as well as a function to record meetings and save these to Google Drive.
4. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is offering a free six-month trial to its premium collaboration tool subscription.
Previous offering
Prices were set at £9.40 per user, per month. There was also a free version of Microsoft Teams and a free trial of the paid-for version.
Updated offering
Now, Microsoft teams is giving users a free six-month trial of its Premium Version to help individuals to collaborate with their colleagues and business partners.
Video editing/recording Software
5. Brightcove Video Platform
For a period of 90 days and to minimise the disruption businesses will face due to the Coronavirus, Brightcove is granting customers 50 hours of free HD Live Streaming.
Previous offering
Although pricing is not immediately available on the company’s website, Brightcove did charge a fee for its products and services.
Updated offering
Brightcove’s current free collaboration tools on offer will assist users and businesses as a temporary measure in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Its SME collaboration software is now available to users who sign up to Brightcove Live.
6. Loom
Loom is offering additional features and functionality during the world health crisis faced by individuals and businesses.
Previous offering
Loom’s offerings started at $10 (around £8.6) per user per month for the Pro plan, with a free Basic plan.
Updated offering
As a temporary measure up to 1 July 2020, Loom’s video messaging platform will now remove the recording limit for users on the Basic plan. As an additional step, Loom has halved the cost of its Pro version to $5 (around £4) per month. A free trial of Loom Pro will increase from 14 days to 30 days.
Collaboration Sofware
7. Zoho Remotely
Zoho Remotely is a new offering. Created because of the coronavirus.
Previous offering
None.
Updated offering
Zoho Remotely is a suite of web and mobile apps that will help you with communication, collaboration and productivity. Remotely will remain free till July 1, 2020.
8. Box
As a provider of collaboration tools, Box is now offering a free version of its software for SMEs to help users to tackle the work demands caused by the Coronavirus.
Previous offering
Box business plans started at €12.82 (around £12) per user, per month.
Updated offering
Box is offering a three-month free trial of its SME collaboration software platform.
Call centre software
9. CallHippo
Callhippo is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution.
Previous offering
Callhippo was $10 (£8.6) per user, per month.
Updated offering
The CallHippo Bronze Plan is being offered on a two-month free trial.
Remote support software
10. Instant Housecall
Instant Housecall is offering free sub-accounts in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Previous offering
Instant Housecall prices started at $29.00 (around £25.00) per user per month.
Updated offering
The company has said that this offer will run until the World Health Organization (WHO) declares that the pandemic is over. Thereafter, all plans return to their previous status.
CRM software
11. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is offering unlimited users in its free version of the company’s collaboration tools.
Previous offering
Bitrix imposed a restriction of 12 users on the free version and plans started from $19 (around £ 18) per month for 2 users.
Updated offering
Bitrix24 is now lifting the 12-user restriction on its free accounts and the number of users is unlimited. Any changes to this will be made with at least 30 days’ notice, so customers have enough time to save their data.
Network security
12. Cloudflare
Cloudflare offers security to small businesses and has updated its service to provide free enterprise-grade features to small businesses.
Previous offering
Cloudflare business plans were priced at $200 (around £174) per month.
Updated offering
Up until 1 September 2020, Cloudflare is waiving its monthly fee, with up to 500 free seats on Cloudflare for Teams. There is no commitment after this date. The company is also providing free 30-minute onboarding sessions with its technical team.
Password management
13. 1Password
1Password is lifting its trial period in response to the Coronavirus.
Previous offering
1Password did not offer a free plan. Plans for the business version started from $7.99 (around £6.99) per user, per month, and $3.99 (around £3.50) per user, per month for the teams version.
Updated offering
With immediate effect, 1Password Business is extending its 30-day free trial period to 6 months.
