WebinarJam vs. GoToWebinar: Best Platform for High-Ticket Sales?
Quick Verdict (TL;DR):
- 🏆 Overall Winner: WebinarJam (Best All-in-One)
- 💰 Best Alternative: GoToWebinar (Great value)
Webinars are the highest-converting sales channel for high-ticket offers. Period. But if your platform crashes mid-pitch, you lose thousands of dollars instantly.
GoToWebinar is the corporate standard. It's been around forever. It's reliable, boring, and expensive. WebinarJam is the marketer's favorite. It's built for sales, with pop-up offers, scarcity timers, and massive attendee limits.
Are you running a corporate town hall or a high-pressure sales event? Your choice depends entirely on that answer.
The Technology: Browser vs. App
GoToWebinar: The Downloadable App
GoToWebinar traditionally requires attendees to download a small desktop application. This adds friction. Some people (especially on corporate firewalls) can't download it. However, the app ensures a very stable connection because it's not relying purely on the browser.
WebinarJam: Browser-Based (WebRTC)
WebinarJam runs entirely in the browser. Attendees just click a link. This maximizes attendance rates because there is zero friction. However, browser-based streaming is more susceptible to internet fluctuations. If your viewer has bad WiFi, the stream might buffer.
Round 1: Sales Features
This is where WebinarJam destroys the competition.
WebinarJam
It allows you to pop up a "Buy Now" button on the attendees' screens at the exact moment you make your pitch. You can display a countdown timer ("Offer expires in 10 minutes"). You can show "social proof" alerts ("John just bought!"). These features are designed to drive impulse purchases.
GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar lets you share links, but it's passive. You put a link in the chat. That's it. It's designed for information delivery, not conversion.
Round 2: Latency (The Delay)
Latency matters if you are doing Q&A.
GoToWebinar
Near-zero latency. When you speak, they hear it instantly. This is great for real-time interaction.
WebinarJam
WebinarJam has a "Live" mode with low latency, but it can sometimes drift to 10-15 seconds depending on the broadcast engine used. This means if you ask a question, you have to wait awkwardly for 15 seconds before you see answers in the chat.
Round 3: Pricing
| Feature | WebinarJam (Basic) | GoToWebinar (Standard) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $499/year (~$41/mo) | $1,200/year ($100/mo) |
| Attendee Limit | 500 | 250 |
| Sales Offers | Yes (Popups) | No |
| Replays | Automated | Manual |
| Presenters | 2 | 1 |
The Verdict: WebinarJam is significantly cheaper and allows for double the attendees. GoToWebinar charges a massive premium for its brand name and stability.
Detailed Pros & Cons
WebinarJam Pros
- Sales Tools: Built-in scarcity timers, "Active Offer" popups, and live sales alerts.
- Capacity: Cost-effective for huge audiences (up to 5,000 attendees).
- Panic Button: Instantly boots up a new live room if your connection freezes (lifesaver).
- Browser-Based: 100% cloud-based; no software download required for attendees.
WebinarJam Cons
- Latency: 10-15 second delay (due to broadcast tech) can make Q&A laggy.
- Stability: Heavier on browser resources; can freeze on older attendee devices.
- Support: Chat support is rarely "instant"; email tickets can take time.
GoToWebinar Pros
- Reliability: The industry gold standard for uptime and connection stability.
- Corporate Trust: Trusted by IT departments (firewall friendly) and Fortune 500s.
- Audio Quality: Crystal clear phone dial-in options + VoIP.
- Reporting: Granular analytics on who paid attention and who minimized the window.
GoToWebinar Cons
- Cost: One of the most expensive platforms per attendee.
- Friction: Often forces a desktop app download, reducing show-up rates.
- Dated UI: Interface feels like legacy corporate software (Windows 95 vibes).
- No Marketing: Zero sales features (no popups, offers, or scarcity tools).
User Experience & Interface Deep Dive
The attendee experience is critical. If they can't figure out how to join, you lose them.
WebinarJam is modern and slick. The registration pages are high-converting templates. The webinar room looks like a TV broadcast. It has a "Panic Button" for presenters if the stream goes down, which instantly boots up a backup room. It feels designed for high-energy marketing events.
GoToWebinar is corporate gray. It looks like Windows 95. It is functional, but uninspiring. However, because it is so widely used in the corporate world, many professionals trust it implicitly. It feels "safe" and "official," which can be a plus for B2B sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do attendees need to download an app?
GoToWebinar usually requires a small desktop app download. WebinarJam is 100% browser-based (WebRTC).
Can I do automated webinars?
WebinarJam integrates with its sister tool, EverWebinar, for powerful automation. GoToWebinar has a basic "Simulated Live" feature.
Is the video quality good?
Both support HD video. GoToWebinar is generally more stable on poor internet connections due to its desktop app architecture.
Can I sell products?
WebinarJam allows you to display pop-up product offers with countdown timers. GoToWebinar does not have native sales features.
How many presenters?
WebinarJam allows up to 6 presenters on screen at once. GoToWebinar's limit depends on your specific plan tier.
Need to email your attendees? Check out our Email Marketing Comparison .
The Final Verdict
Choose WebinarJam if:
Choose WebinarJam if you want a sales-focused platform with built-in scarcity tools, massive attendee capacity, and no software downloads for your audience.
Choose GoToWebinar if:
Choose GoToWebinar if you need the most reliable, rock-solid streaming for high-stakes corporate presentations where quality cannot be compromised.