If you are struggling to decide which video conferencing system to standardize on, we can help. Right now, the two most prominent video conferencing solutions are Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and you are guaranteed to have different opinions among staff on which reigns supreme. So how do you decide which system is best for your company?
What Both Zoom and Teams Can Do
First, let’s focus on the similar features each program offers. Both programs provide video conferencing services with tools to help teams collaborate. On the conferencing side, they each offer meeting rooms, record sessions, and provide transcripts. Each meeting host can share these recordings with invitees and save them to Google Drive.
Zoom and Teams each offer whiteboarding capabilities for meetings and chat features. However, Team’s offerings are much more robust, allowing you to use gifs, stickers, and more from its taskbar. The two platforms have excellent sharing functions that enable remote screen control when someone struggles with tech issues. Both programs also integrate exceptionally well with other video conferencing device technologies like camera bars.
Differences Between Zoom and Teams
Now, let’s move on to some of the significant differences. To begin, Zoom was created first and foremost as a video conferencing tool. It excels at hosting online events and webinars, streaming to social media, and hosting large amounts of people even when their internet connection is poor. It provides sharp video and audio for hundreds of people in real time.
In contrast, Microsoft Teams is an all-in-one tool that offers video conferencing, meeting tools, and a robust chat feature.
Integrating With Other Products
While both programs have similar functionalities, each stands out in different areas. For starters, Teams integrates seamlessly with other online Microsoft products and is already available if you have Microsoft 365. This integration allows meeting collaborators to work on the same document and have it updated automatically.
In contrast, Zoom pairs with over a thousand different apps and has similar collaboration functionality with Google Sheets and other products. However, it updates slowly for shared documents.
International Collaboration
Both programs offer translation functionality if your company works with teams internationally. With Teams, you can get live translation in over 40 languages. You can select a message in the chat and translate it into your preferred language. With Zoom, there are only 12 language translations currently supported.
Internal vs. External Meetings
Regarding connecting to the meeting, Teams is excellent for in-office meetings with staff who have the app. Outside meetings can be challenging to join if the meeting participant still needs to get the Teams app or access to Microsoft Edge or Chrome. Meanwhile, Zoom sends guests one link that quickly and easily logs them into a meeting.
Price Point Comparison
The price point is another essential consideration when comparing the two systems. Each has a base-level free version available. These versions give around an hour of free meeting time and can hold up to one-hundred participants. Moving up the levels, however, Teams is more budget-friendly per user and offers a fair amount of storage.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
As you can see, Zoom and Teams each have their perks and drawbacks. So, when choosing which video conferencing software is best for your organization, you must decide what is most important. Microsoft Teams has many fantastic options if your goal is better productivity and employee collaboration. If you want to make your external meetings and events great, Zoom may be your best choice.
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