Summary: Zoom and Microsoft Teams are top-tier business video conferencing tools with in-meeting whiteboards, breakout rooms, polls and quizzes, screen sharing, participant chat, and more. Both providers also offer VoIP phone service, but only Zoom offers a full-fledged business phone system (Zoom Phone) as an add-on product. Teams, on the other hand, is designed to integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Outlook and Office 365.
I found Zoom best for remote/blended teams of any size needing a secure video calling solution with in-meeting collaboration tools like screen sharing and breakout rooms. Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, is best for global businesses familiar with the Microsoft365 interface.
Zoom’s unique ability to share videos with audio is its top feature, while Teams boasts unlimited whiteboards and live captioning in 30+ languages.
How We Compared Zoom and Teams
We used the below criteria to compare Zoom vs. Teams:
- Analytics and Reporting: We looked at available KPIs and advanced reporting features like real-time alerts and customizable templates
- Integrations: We compared the number and depth of available third-party integrations for each platform
- Video Conferencing: We evaluated how well the platform served its primary purpose, meeting participant and duration limits, in-meeting features, reliability, etc.
- Whiteboarding: We compared virtual whiteboards, looking at available tools, usability, guest access, etc.
- Collaboration Features: We evaluated additional collaboration features like team messaging, file sharing, document collaboration, task assignment, etc.
- Audio and Video Quality: We compared audio/video quality, network reliability, global points of presence, redundancy, uptimes, etc.
- Security: We evaluated the level of security for both Zoom and Teams, looking at compliance certifications, encryption, user permissions and controls, and more
- Compatibility: We looked hardware and device compatibility for each platform and if the providers offered hardware for sale/rent
- Ease of Use: We compared platform user-friendliness from a supervisor and team member perspective
- Customer Support: We determined how responsive and knowledgeable customer service reps were for each provider
- Price and Value: We looked at what features were available at each price point to determine which platform was a better value
Zoom vs Teams: At A Glance
Microsoft Teams and Zoom both have highly reliable video service with a 99.999% uptime guarantee. They also both offer several AI-powered features such as automated transcripts and noise suppression.
Zoom is more expensive for its paid plans, but it does offer better security and more integration options than Teams. Teams, however, offers more whiteboard options and better customer service.
This table provides a quick comparison of Zoom and Teams.
Zoom Workplace | Microsoft Teams | |
Pricing | $0-$18.32 per month/user | $0-$12.50 per month/user |
Key Features | Searchable transcripts
Post meeting summary Remote keyboard and mouse control |
Immersive spaces and avatars
Breakout rooms Team chat |
Integrations | Over 1,000 | Over 250 |
Video Participants | 100-300 for business plans | 300 on all paid plans |
Quality | HD video and audio | HD video and audio |
Security | E2EE on all video calls | E2EE on 1:1 calls (all other communication is TLS encrypted) |
Uptime SLA | 99.999% | 99.999% |
Customer Support Options | Live chat and phone support only available to some users | Phone and web support for all paid users |
Best For | SMBs that need AI-powered collaboration tools | Large businesses, enterprises, and global teams that need a full featured productivity solution |
Zoom vs Teams: Pricing and Plans
Microsoft Teams has more affordable pricing than Zoom, but Zoom has more video meeting features. Zoom also offers flexible add-ons like increased meeting participant limit, translated captions, and audio conferencing. The Microsoft Teams free plan has a longer meeting duration and more features than Zoom’s free app.
Zoom Pricing
Zoom offers one free plan with unlimited meetings for 100 participants, a 40-minute meeting duration, team chat, local meeting recording, and 3 whiteboards. Two paid plans are available from $13.32-$18.32/user per month and up.
The Pro Plan includes a 30-hour meeting duration, Zoom AI Companion, essential app integrations, 5GB cloud storage/user, and unlimited video clips. The Business Plan increases the meeting participant cap to 300 and adds meeting recording transcripts, SSO, unlimited whiteboards, branded meetings, managed domains, and access to phone support.
Zoom add-ons include Large Meeting (from $50/month) to meet with 1,000 participants, audio conferencing (from $100/month), and the Zoom Phone Power Pack ($25/month).
Teams Pricing
Teams also offers one free plan where users can host meetings of up to 100 participants for up to 60 minutes. Features include breakout rooms and file sharing. Three paid plans are available from $4 to $12.5 per user/month.
The Essentials Plan increases the participant limit to 300 and the duration limit to 30 hours. Additional features include webinar functionality and live captions in English. The Business Basics Plan includes 1TB of file storage per organization plus 10 GB per license. It adds on Additional Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint in Microsoft 365. The highest tier adds on Desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Publisher.
Teams add-ons include Microsoft 365 Business Premium (advanced security, access and data control) and Microsoft CoPilot (genAI chatbot).
Zoom vs Teams: Feature Comparison
Summary: Both Zoom and Teams offer all the essential video conferencing features such as breakout rooms, screen sharing, in-meeting chat, waiting room, and breakout rooms Both providers also include a robust team messaging platform with file and image sharing, chat logs, and public and private chats.
Microsoft Teams includes AI-powered writing assistance with some plans and offers Microsoft Co-Pilot (a generative AI chat bot) as an add on, while Zoom’s AI Companion is able to summarize meetings, review recordings and create thematic chapters, answer questions from participants, and assist with writing chats and emails.
Here, I will break down the quality and usability of Zoom and Teams collaboration features, declaring a winner for each section.
Zoom vs Teams: Video Conferencing
Zoom and Microsoft Teams both offer enterprise-grade HD video and audio conferencing that let up to 300 participants meet for a maximum of 30 hours. Zoom users, however, can host larger meetings with the purchase of an Enterprise subscription or Large Meeting add-on. Both providers also offer webinar hosting functionality with multiple roles (host, cohost, panelist, attendee) plus registration tools and analytics.
Both platforms are feature-rich, with tools like breakout rooms, meeting recording, AI-generated meeting summaries, noise cancellation, and video enhancements (touch ups, brightness filters). Both Zoom and Teams provide live closed captioning, but Teams can translate 30 languages compared to Zoom’s 21.
While I was happy to see that both solutions include a wide array of team engagement features such as in-meeting chat, polling, Q & A, emojis, custom avatars, shared virtual scenes, and custom virtual backgrounds, I was most impressed with Zoom’s simultaneous screen sharing feature.
Winner: Draw
Both Teams and Zoom offer a high quality video conferencing solution with enterprise grade security and innovative features
Zoom vs Teams: Team Chat
Microsoft Teams includes robust collaboration features like 1:1 and group chat, emojis, and task management,while Zoom users can create dedicated, meeting-based chat groups ideal for reminders and post-meeting discussions.
Zoom and Teams both offer persistent and in-meeting chat, file sharing, co-editing, searchable chat logs, and the ability to invite external guests to a team chat or private channel (Teams invitees must create a free Teams account).
The main difference between Teams and Zoom is the amount of included file storage and the ability to send clips. Zoom includes 5GB, 10GB, or unlimited cloud storage depending on which pricing plan is purchased. Teams, however, includes up to 1TB storage per organization plus 10 GB/license. Teams allows users to send a video or audio clip that is up to one minute long on team chat, while Zoom users can send a video clip of up to three minutes in length and a 1-minute audio clip.
Winner: Teams
It’s a close call in this category, but Microsoft Teams wins due to its more generous file storage offering.
Zoom vs Teams: Whiteboards
All Zoom and Teams plans include in-meeting and persistent whiteboards. Zoom whiteboards supports up to 100 simultaneous users, while Teams includes unlimited whiteboarding for up to 300 simultaneous users.
Both platforms include basic whiteboard tools and features such as type, images, sticky notes, drawing and highlighting, pre-designed templates, and asynchronous usage, however, Zoom limits the number of whiteboards to three on Free and Pro Plans, while Teams includes unlimited whiteboards for all users.
Winner: Teams
Both whiteboard platforms are packed with features, but Teams includes a higher participant limit and unlimited whiteboards for all users.
Zoom vs Teams: Reporting and Analytics
In Microsoft Teams, admins can view usage patterns, team activity, and current active users, posts, and replies for teams and channels they are a part of. Zoom’s analytics dashboard monitors meeting, webinar, and screen sharing quality alongside other KPIs. Zoom users also have the option to purchase the Power Pack add-on to track call queue data in real-time.
Both providers allow admins to drill down meeting, audio, video, and screen share quality, plus see modalities used and any health issues. Zoom and Teams supervisors can also view usage data by meetings, minutes, participants, groups, participant information, audio type, or department.
Teams uniquely allows global administrators to hide identifiable information like display/group names, email, and ID on reports, and includes a virtual appointments feature with metrics like the number of bookings and average appointment duration. On the other hand, only Zoom reports on team chat usage and sent message types (text only, files, images, code snippets, GIFs, audio, video, etc.). Zoom also offers an AI-powered conversation intelligence tool that lets users track words, expressions, and customer sentiment. It also offers proactive alerts, engagement scores, and forecasting trends.
Winner: Zoom
Zoom offers more flexibility in pricing with the Power Pack add-on as well as more unique reporting features
Zoom vs Teams: Customer Support and Security
Microsoft Teams is built on the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 hyper-scale, enterprise-grade cloud and includes two factor authentication, single sign on, and data encryption. However, only Zoom offers end-end encrypted video meetings.
Both Zoom and Teams offer a 99.999% uptime guarantee,SOC 2 TYPE 2, HIPAA & HITRUST, and GDPR compliance, and a range of authentication methods like two factor authentication, Oauth (SAML), and password-based authentication for individual accounts.
As far as customer service, both platforms have an extensive knowledge base and 24/7 user community forums. Microsoft Teams also includes live phone and 24/7 chat support. Zoom offers three premium support plans that include live phone and chat support, while Teams does not offer premium support options.
Winner: Teams
Teams includes more support channels and more live support without having to purchase an expensive support package.
Zoom vs Teams: Scalability
Both Zoom and Teams can be scaled by integrating additional native products into the platform. Below is a summary of other products offered by Zoom and Teams:
Zoom Products:
- Zoom Webinar: Zoom Webinar allows users to host webinars with over 100 panelists and over 500 attendees with advanced features such as session branding, video previews and customizable pre and post email reminders
- Zoom Rooms: Zoom Rooms enables users to create an integrated physical conference room for audio conferencing, wireless screen sharing, and video conferencing remote and in-person participants. It supports up to 3 displays, 10 room controllers, and unlimited cameras
- Zoom Scheduler: Affordable scheduling tool that allows companies to share meeting slots for office hours, interviews, and more
- Zoom Phone: Zoom Phone is a business VoIP solution offering a U.S. or Canadian phone numbers, SMS/MMS texting, unlimited inbound calling, and unlimited or metered outbound calling
Microsoft Products:
- Microsoft 365: Microsoft 365 is a flagship product and a suite of Microsoft apps that includes web, desktop and mobile versions of Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more
- Microsoft Co-pilot: Microsoft Co-pilot works alongside other Microsoft 365 apps (especially Word, Excel, and Outlook) to provide AI-powered suggestions and assistance in real-time
- Microsoft Outlook: Microsoft Outlook is an email and calendaring tool with intelligent search, availability sharing, and task management
- Microsoft PowerPoint: Microsoft PowerPoint is a slide presentation software that enables users to design slides from scratch or templates with the ability to add 3D objects, embedded animations, and more using voice commands, touch, and converted handwritten notes
Winner: Draw
The winner will depend on what features and tools the business needs to reach its goal
Zoom vs Teams: Mobile App
Both Zoom and Teams let users join meetings via mobile device and use call flip to switch between devices on active calls. Teams users joining larger conferences are muted. Both mobile apps also offer threaded conversations, dark mode, one on one texts, escalation, live captions and virtual backgrounds.
The main difference I found between the two apps was whiteboarding, as Zoom users can access whiteboards from the mobile app, while Teams whiteboards are only accessible on the desktop app. On the other hand, Teams mobile users can create a new team, pause screen sharing, and launch polling directly from the app while Zoom mobile users cannot.
Winner: Zoom
Both mobile apps are powerful, but Zoom wins for allowing mobile users to access whiteboarding
Zoom vs Teams: Integrations
Zoom has one of the largest app ecosystems, with 1000+ total integrations including 50 in-meeting app integrations. Teams has 250+ integrations, but is designed to be used within the Microsoft product universe.
Both providers integrate with popular CRM and messaging tools like Salesforce and Hubspot as well as helpdesk apps such as HappyFox and ServiceNow, and marketing integrations such as Zoho, Freshdesk, and Jira. Both platforms also offer live stream SDKs for embedding in custom domains, apps, and websites.
Zoom offers far more integrations than Teams, however, including 50 live in-meeting integrations with engaging polling/games apps like Kahoot and Mentimeter. As of this writing, Teams does not offer any in-meeting app access.
On the other hand, Microsoft Teams has recently added several AI integrations including an integration with Viva Connections which allows users to create targeted campaigns, get suggested personalized messages and adjust messages for tone and length.
Winner: Zoom
With over 1,000 integrations, Zoom is the clear winner here.
Zoom vs Teams: Pros & Cons
Both Zoom and Teams offer a high level of security and an intuitive, feature packed platform, however, Zoom has limited storage and analytics, while Teams lacks customization.
Here are some more pros and cons for Zoom and Teams:
What Users Like About Zoom
- Participant cap: High participant limit (1,000 with Enterprise), compared with competitors
- Security: Highly secure with end-to-end encryption, host controls, SSO, etc.
- User experience: Ubiquitous, easy, and intuitive platform
What Users Dislike About Zoom
- Lack of phone features: VoIP phone system capabilities are only available as an add-on subscription and lack advanced features
- Storage: Cloud storage is limited with the exception of the Enterprise Plan
- Analytics: Basic reporting and analytics only, no live reporting
What Users Like About Teams
- Secure: Highly secure and reliable with data encryption and uptime guarantee
- Ease of use: Intuitive platform that works seamlessly with other Microsoft products
- Long time limit: 60-minute meeting duration in the free version is high compared to competitors
What Users Dislike About Teams
- Lack of integrations: Does not integrate well with non-Microsoft apps
- Permissions and roles: Difficult to change permission settings, everyone on a team has access to all files
- Lack of customization: Cannot move channels or replicate teams, reducing platform flexibility
Zoom vs Teams: Which Should You Choose?
Zoom is Best For
- SMBs experiencing growth: Zoom is a highly scalable communications platform that lets users scale from a free video calling app to an innovative webinar and digital events solution
- Healthcare industry: Zoom’s platform is specifically designed for telehealth or online education with HIPAA compliance, real-time mass emergency alerts, medical device integration, and interactive whiteboarding/collaboration tools for students
- Companies looking for conversation intelligence: Zoom offers AI-powered meeting summaries, content assistance, and analytics to boost revenue and CSAT rates, optimize available employees, and identify workflow and customer journey bottlenecks
Zoom is Not Right For
- Startups that need regular video meeting functionality: Zoom’s free version has a low duration limit and limited features, but paid versions are pricey compared to competitors
- Companies needing extensive customer support: In order to obtain live phone support, Zoom users must purchase an Enterprise Plan or a premier support add-on package
- Businesses looking for a complete UCaaS or CCaaS solution: Zoom no longer offers its contact center platform and its phone system is lacking many of the advanced features that competitors offer
Teams is Best For
- Companies already using Microsoft Office: Teams is designed to work with other Microsoft products (Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Word, Excel) and enables direct, real-time coworker collaboration in the Teams interface
- Businesses looking to increase employee engagement: Teams offers personal interactive avatars, customized virtual scenes, animated GIFs, stickers, and 1800+ emojis
- Teams on a budget: Microsoft Teams is an affordable and reliable communication solution with plans from $4/user/month that include high-level security, data encryption, and a 99.999% uptime guarantee
Teams is Not Right For
- Those unfamiliar with Microsoft Office: Teams carries a steep learning curve for companies that are unfamiliar with other Microsoft products
- Companies that need the highest level of security: The Teams platform is highly secure, but unlike Zoom, doesn’t t offer E2EE on all video calls
- Teams that need permission levels: It is difficult to customize permission settings in Microsoft Teams because the platform gives everyone on a team access to all files
Alternatives to Zoom and Teams
Provider | Pricing | Main Features | Best For |
Dialpad Meetings | $0-$15 per user per month |
|
SMBs and remote teams that need built-in AI |
GoTo Meeting | $12-$16+ per organizer per month |
|
Large businesses that need to host regular meetings with over 100 participants |
RingCentral | $20-$35 per user per month |
|
Large companies and healthcare organizations |
Slack | $7.25-$12.50+ per user per month |
|
Remote global teams and freelancers |
Cisco Webex | $0-$25+ per user per month |
|
Enterprises that need a robust video conferencing and webinar platform |