For a small remote team that needs recordings and calendar integration on a free plan, these are usually the best options:

1. Google Meet

Best if your team already uses Google Workspace / Gmail / Google Calendar

Pros

• Easy calendar integration with Google Calendar
• Works well in-browser, no install required for most users
• Reliable for small team meetings
• Screen sharing, chat, captions

Free plan notes

• Meeting recording is generally not included on the free tier; recordings are usually tied to paid Google Workspace plans.

Best for

• Teams already living in Google Calendar
• Simple, low-friction meetings

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2. Zoom

Best overall familiarity and ease of use

Pros

• Very common and easy for external guests
• Calendar integrations with Google Calendar and Outlook
• Strong meeting controls
• Good recording features on paid plans

Free plan notes

• Free plan includes meetings, but recording is usually limited to local recording, and meeting duration is capped (commonly 40 minutes for group meetings).
• Cloud recording requires a paid plan.

Best for

• Teams that need a widely recognized tool
• Mixed internal/external meetings

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3. Microsoft Teams

Best if your team uses Microsoft 365 / Outlook

Pros

• Strong Outlook and Microsoft Calendar integration
• Good for chat + meetings in one place
• Built-in collaboration features

Free plan notes

• Meeting recording is generally not available on the free plan; it’s usually a paid feature.
• Free plan functionality can be more limited than the paid Microsoft ecosystem.

Best for

• Teams already on Outlook/Office tools

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4. Jitsi Meet

Best free/open-source option if you want no-account meetings

Pros

• Free and open source
• No account required for basic use
• Browser-based
• Simple sharing and joining

Free plan notes

• Recording and calendar integration are not as polished as Zoom/Google/Microsoft.
• Some integrations may require third-party setup or self-hosting.

Best for

• Teams wanting privacy and simplicity
• Occasional meetings where advanced admin features matter less

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5. Cisco Webex

Best for stronger enterprise-style meeting features on a free tier

Pros

• Calendar integration
• Good meeting controls
• Familiar for some business environments

Free plan notes

• Recording and meeting limits may be restrictive on free plans.
• Free tier typically has duration/feature limits.

Best for

• Teams that want a more business-oriented tool

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Best picks by scenario

If you need the easiest setup with calendar integration:

• Google Meet if you use Google Calendar
• Microsoft Teams if you use Outlook

If you need recordings and broad compatibility:

• Zoom is usually the most practical, but note that recording is limited on the free tier

If you want fully free/open-source:

• Jitsi Meet, but it’s weaker on built-in recording/calendar features

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Important note about recordings on free plans

A lot of the best-known tools do not include cloud recording for free. In many cases:

• Zoom: local recording may be available; cloud recording usually paid
• Google Meet: recording usually paid
• Teams: recording usually paid
• Jitsi: depends on hosting/setup

So if recording is a must-have, you may need to accept one of these:

1. Local recording on a free plan
2. A paid upgrade
3. A workaround like screen recording software

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My practical recommendation

For a small remote team, I’d shortlist:

1. Zoom — best all-around free starter option, but check recording limits
2. Google Meet — best if your workflow is already Google Calendar-based
3. Microsoft Teams — best if you’re in the Microsoft ecosystem
4. Jitsi Meet — best fully free/privacy-friendly option

If you want, I can also give you:

• a feature comparison table
• the best option specifically for Google Calendar or Outlook
• or free tools that support recording with the fewest restrictions