Zoom and Microsoft Teams have been in an age-long battle for the title of the best video conferencing software. Even though both solutions offer top-notch features, we understand that you want to be sure that you’re using the best option available. And, that’s why we’ve created this article.
This article aims to put an end to the contention between both software. We’ll be reviewing and comparing Zoom and Microsoft Teams to help you decide which platform to choose in 2023. Our review will focus on their key features, conferencing capabilities, pricing, security, and customer services.
Finally, we'll also be suggesting a great alternative to both tools—FreeConference video conferencing software. So ensure you read till the end.
Let's get started!
Zoom is a popular cloud-based video conferencing software that’s available as a mobile app and on computer desktops. This software is useful to individuals, organizations, and businesses for hosting online meetings, webinars, and live chats.
Eric Yuan, a Chinese-American businessman, and engineer, is the founder and CEO of Zoom Video Communications Inc — owns 22% of the company’s shares. The company has over 8000 employees.
According to Zoom’s S-1 Filing, more than half of the “Fortune 500” companies use its software which speaks volumes about its credibility.
Unlike Zoom, Microsoft Teams is an all-in-one collaboration and video conferencing software. Nevertheless, it’s not a standalone as it's offered completely free as with the Microsoft 365 suite package.
The software offers a variety of unified tools that can be used for team collaboration, meetings, and video calls, as well as document and app sharing. The app is available on several devices including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
After a thorough review of Zoom and Microsoft Teams, we found that both offer plenty of similar features. However, we also noticed that there are some key differences in their product offerings.
Here are some features that set both software apart from each other:
With Microsoft Teams, you can host a virtual meeting with up to 300 participants. On the other hand, Zoom only supports up to 100 participants in a single meeting.
Zoom has a "Gallery View" feature that allows users to simultaneously see all participants in a meeting. On the other hand, Microsoft Teams has a "Together mode" that allows users to see all participants in a shared virtual environment.
Even though the screen sharing feature is present in both software, Microsoft Teams offers additional collaboration features. For example, Microsoft Team also allows users to co-author and co-edit documents in real time which can be useful for collaboration.
Microsoft Teams is bigger than Zoom in terms of available collaboration tools. While Zoom offers the basic “built-in instant messaging features,” Microsoft Teams offers more task management, calendar, and file storage features.
Note: In the end, the best choice between Zoom and Microsoft Teams (or going for an alternative option, like FreeConference) will depend on your specific needs and requirements.
Next, let’s compare Zoom and Microsoft Teams and see how they stack against each other.
Based on our review, we found Zoom and Microsoft Team to be almost on par in terms of video and audio conferencing abilities. For one, they both offer high-definition audio and video quality. Also, noise suppression and echo cancellation features are present in both software to improve audio quality.
Audio conferencing is as best as it gets with Zoom and Microsoft Teams. For users who don’t have a camera or microphone, both software provides an alternative option for users joining a meeting via phone. However, while Microsoft Teams require users to join a meeting via dial-in numbers, Zoom users can call a meeting using a telephone.
When it comes to screen view and video layout, Zoom and Microsoft Teams offer users a good way to view all the attendees in a meeting. Zoom has a "Gallery View" feature that lets you see all the participants at once — like the photo gallery on your phone. On the other hand, Microsoft Teams provides a view of the participants in a shared virtual environment with their “Together mode” feature.
In terms of the number of participants supported, both software is suitable for hosting meetings with staff and teams. However, Microsoft Teams is the better choice for larger meetings since it can allow up to 300 participants. Zoom, on the other hand, can only accommodate up to 100 participants in a single meeting.
Recording is another key conference feature that we looked at when comparing both platforms. We found out that both programs let users record meetings. This feature is very helpful for sharing meetings with people who couldn't attend or for future reference. However, Zoom edges Microsoft Teams in this area because it provides more recording storage choices.
Conclusion: Users can hold effective video and audio conferences using either software. However, Zoom outperforms Microsoft Teams in terms of user experience, video layout, and flexible storage options. In terms of the supported number of attendees in a meeting, Microsoft Teams is way better than Zoom.
Integrating third-party software is not a priority for Zoom. The platform only supports integration with third-party applications like Salesforce and Slack as well as calendaring services like Google Calendar and Outlook. However, Zoom compensates for its few integration options by providing customers with an API feature that enables developers to create custom integrations.
Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, offers a wide range of integration options with other Microsoft products, including Office 365, SharePoint, OneDrive, and more. Additionally, you can integrate the software with other third-party programs like Trello, Asana, and Salesforce. In addition, Microsoft Teams provides a comprehensive collection of developer tools and APIs that enable automation and specialized integrations.
Conclusion: Microsoft Teams is the clear winner in the contest of integration capabilities. The software solution offers a wide range of integration options with other Microsoft tools and third-party apps. Additionally, tech-savvy users can take advantage of their robust APIs and developer tools to create custom integrations and automation.
Note: Microsoft Teams is the ideal all-in-one program for you if you use other Office Suite applications. Before choosing, you should consider the compatibility and ease of integration with Zoom or Microsoft Teams if you have particular requirements or use non-Microsoft solutions.
Zoom and Microsoft Teams offer different pricing and subscription options to meet the needs of various organizations.
It's worth noting that all of these plans come with a 14-day free trial, which allows you to test out the features and capabilities of the platform before committing to a subscription.
Below are some of the Office 365 plans that come with Microsoft Teams:
Conclusion: Which is worth the money depends on the unique needs and requirements of your firm. For instance, Microsoft Teams would be a better choice if your company already uses Office 365 and needs a more complete collaboration solution. Zoom would be a more affordable option, though, if you only need basic video conferencing and the free subscription is sufficient.
Note: Consider your organization's unique demands and requirements together with the costs and features that each platform has to offer before making a choice. Utilize the free trials they provide to check out the functions and features of each site before deciding to subscribe.
While still discussing financial commitment, do you know meeting your basic audio and video conferencing needs can be free? Check our pricing page for more info. For as little as $9.99, you can get access to advanced video conferencing features!
Here are some of the areas where Zoom outshines its competitors:
Microsoft Teams outperforms other similar software in the following areas:
We discover only two major drawbacks to using Zoom:
Here are some of the cons that come with using Microsoft Teams:
FreeConference.com is an online video conferencing tool that caters to the conferencing needs of individuals and small businesses. Some of the key features of FreeConference.com include:
Here are some of FreeConference.com's shining points:
Here are some drawbacks we found with FreeConference.com:
Both Zoom and Microsoft Teams place a high priority on security and assert that they have taken numerous precautions to safeguard the data and privacy of their users.
Industry-standard security capabilities are made available to Zoom customers, including end-to-end encryption for paid subscriptions, the capacity to password-protect meetings, and the capacity to lock meetings to bar illegal admission.
It's crucial to remember that Zoom has previously experienced security concerns, such as the "Zoom-bombing" situations when unauthorized individuals may enter meetings and cause disruptions.
They successfully addressed these problems by introducing additional security measures, such as making waiting rooms available by default, banning the distribution of meeting links on social media, and allowing the host to manage screen sharing.
Additionally, they have consistently worked to enhance their security measures and place a strong emphasis on being more open about their data protection procedures.
A few security integrations that makeup Microsoft Teams' defense system include end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and conditional access controls.
Additionally, because this software is an integral component of the Office 365 suite, users will definitely benefit from all the additional features. Specifically, Microsoft Teams receives extra security features from the Office 365 and Azure platforms, including eDiscovery, compliance, and data loss prevention tools.
On a final note, another thing worthy of mention is that Microsoft Teams, unlike Zoom, has never experienced any known security breach or major security difficulties.
Both Zoom and Microsoft Teams provide customer support services that are on par with industry standards. They both give their consumers a thorough knowledge base, a community forum, and a variety of ways for users to receive assistance. Be aware that while customer assistance is available 24/7 for subscription plans, it is not always available for free programs.
Conclusion: In terms of customer support services, your choice between the two software would depend on your personal preference. However, before you make a decision, we recommend you check the customer support service of each company to see if it matches your organization's specific needs and requirements.
We Value our Customers
Here at FreeConference.com, our clients come first. In today's hectic business world, reliable and secure communication is crucial, thus we are committed to giving our customers the greatest video and audio conferencing experience.
Our platform is simple to use and allows anyone to arrange calls, take part in them, share their screen, and record sessions. You can begin utilizing our service without making any commitments thanks to our free plan.
We are dedicated to offering excellent customer service, and we offer a variety of ways for users to get assistance, including email, phone, and online chat. Users can also access our extensive knowledge base and community forum to get answers to frequently asked topics and to exchange advice and solutions with other users.
After reading through a large number of customer reviews for Zoom, we found that the majority of them highlight the software's user-friendly design as their favorite aspect. Users have expressed their appreciation for the platform's high-definition video and audio capabilities as well as its capacity to manage sizable gatherings.
One of the platform's key advantages was also mentioned in some of the reviews as being its scalability and adaptability. Most people, small businesses, and major organizations use the platform for this reason.
However, there have reportedly been some security concerns with the platform in the past, particularly with "Zoom-bombing" situations when unauthorized attendees entered meetings and caused disruptions.
Even if Zoom has resolved these problems, they nonetheless give the company a terrible reputation.
The majority of the customer reviews we found for Microsoft Teams are favorable. Almost all of its consumers praised its extensive range of virtual meeting features. Its ability to integrate with other Microsoft tools and third-party applications, as well as its developer tools and APIs that enable customized integrations and automation, were also highlighted as essential characteristics.
The platform's security and compliance aspects have also been cited by several users as strengths. Some users, however, claimed that the platform is overly complicated and confusing. According to some of its customers, the limited compatibility for non-Microsoft file types may also be limited.
Many of our consumers have expressed appreciation for our platform's user-friendliness, simplicity of setup, and availability of a free plan in their favorable feedback. The majority of customers value the fact that anyone can join and take part in calls from their mobile devices thanks to our mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android smartphones.
Additionally, some users mentioned our security function as one of the aspects of our services that they enjoy. They value how the calls' confidentiality and the participants' personal information are protected by a secure connection (HTTPS).
Zoom and Microsoft Teams lived up to their names as powerful collaboration tools in our review. Both software offers amazing features that can help organizations and businesses stay connected and increase productivity. But, which one is the best?
We found out in our review that the best online conferencing software would depend on your needs and preferences. For example, Zoom is a great option if you prefer a more streamlined, user-friendly platform for your online conferencing needs. On the other hand, Microsoft Teams would be an ideal option if you want robust features and integrations with other Microsoft products.
However, we recommend you stay open to other options in 2023. Re-evaluate your needs and try out other platforms like FreeConference.com. You might be surprised to find a video conferencing tool that gets the job done at a lesser price.
If you’re still not convinced, try out the free version by clicking here.
Globalization is a process driven by international trade between numerous nations and cultures, and the cultural exchange that occurs in this process has had a significant impact on the last few decades of commerce and politics. For example, imagine playing The Beatles’ Abbey Road on your smartphone—you are playing music from 1960s England on a modern device engineered in the United States and manufactured in China! A more mobile professional workforce makes this possible, and part of this mobility comes from globalization, whether we like it or not.
What does this have to say about the way companies hire in the 21st century? Think about the sheer size of the talent pool that can be reached from video interviews, as opposed to companies sticking to their own country or locale. Bringing in talent from around the world offers more interesting ideas, processes, and experiences to companies, making for a more diverse and engaging workplace.
Many companies hire from all over the world through video calling services because they allow for a more natural interviewing experience than simply by email or phone call.
Thanks to technology, many workers and entrepreneurs can do their jobs from home or anywhere else they have internet access and phone reception. This freedom to work remotely offers both convenience as well as savings on transportation costs and workspace overhead. For this reason, many small businesses and entrepreneurs opt to employ remote workers to perform roles such as marketing, sales, accounting, web development, and others. Operating autonomously, remote team members keepi in contact by phone, email, chat, and even the occasional video conference call.
We as a population have undertaken many studies lately, in the efforts to find out why meetings work - or don’t.
Often, we've been labeling them an inefficient tradition; usually seen as a waste of time (unless people actually came prepared) and it’s safe to assume we have all come to at least one meeting unprepared. So what gives? Why are meetings so hard to care about? Why are they so difficult to manage? Why do we keep having them?
Web-based video conferencing has quickly become a preferred method for virtual meetings between friends, families, and business professionals in the 21st century. As technology enables more and more actions to be performed virtually, it's no surprise video conferencing has also become a widely-used medium for online education. In today’s blog, we’ll be going over some of the ways that teachers of all kinds can utilize video conferencing to make their courses more accessible, more interactive, and more engaging.
In the old days, students had to be physically present in a classroom in order to receive the teacher’s lecture or lesson. Now, thanks to video conferencing and online education, teachers and students are no longer bound the confines of an actual classroom. Not only does this make educational courses accessible to students anywhere in the world, it eliminates any overhead expenses associated with having a classroom of students under one roof. This savings can be used to make classes more affordable and thereby accessible to more students.
In addition to making education accessible from anywhere, video conferencing is also being used to help bridge geographic gaps between students in different parts of the world. Until fairly recently, it would not have been feasible for students in the U.S. and China to meet each other without one group having to take a lengthy and expensive transcontinental flight. Now, teachers around the globe are connecting their classrooms—and their students—through video conferencing. Video conferencing technology enables teachers to expose their students to their peers in other parts of the world and create a global classroom environment.
Another benefit of online video conferencing for teachers is that it allows for remote participation in class meetings when circumstances prevent physical attendance. Through illness, injury, or extreme weather, as long as you have access to the internet, you and your students can still connect to class—even if you cannot come to class.
With a download-free, browser-based video conferencing and a variety of other useful tools, the FreeConference online meeting room is the perfect platform for teachers and students to hold webinars. Easily accessible from the Google Chrome browser or the FreeConference app, the online meeting room allows participants to share screens and present documents for real-time collaboration anywhere!
The new year is a time when we set goals for ourselves to help us look better, feel better, and be more successful. If you are involved with a business or nonprofit, the start of 2018 is the perfect time to rethink the way your organization conducts meetings. In today’s new year blog post, we’d like to share with you some ideas that can make your group or company meetings better and more productive in 2018.
Hopefully, by now I have already sold you on the idea of video conferencing ice breakers. Like I said in the last blog post, they aren’t just for schoolchildren; every remote team in the world could use an icebreaker from time to time. (more…)
I know what you're thinking: "come on, we're all adults now. Do we really still need icebreakers to conduct a few meetings by video conference? The only icebreakers that I need are the ones that cruise through Arctic waters in the North-East to save trapped fishing boats... Am I right?" (more…)
