Choosing a video conferencing tool is a decision that modern businesses will face at some point.After all, they’re an effective way to improve communication, collaboration andworkflow efficiency.

By far, two ofthe most popular providers in the market are Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Each comes with functionalities suited to common business needs. At the same time,both also bring more specific features and benefits that may make them moresuitable for certain types of businesses.

If you’rechoosing between Microsoft Teams vs Zoom, we’ve created a guide to help youcompare the two. We’ll look into their pricing, conferencing features, securityand ease of use, among others. That way, you can make the best choice for yourbusiness – and of course, if you need further advice, we’re here to help.

Let’s getstarted.

An overview ofMicrosoft Teams and Zoom

Before comparing specific features, benefits, and limitations, it’s a good idea to get a high-level overview of both. The key, need-to-know information is that:

• Both MS Teams and Zoom are used for video conferencing, virtual meetings, and team chats.
• Microsoft Teams is embedded within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, integrating easily with popular tools like Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
• Zoom has an equally high-quality video and user-friendly interface, making it a strong choice for video meetings, webinars, and large-scale events.

For that reason, it’s helpful to think of Zoom as a more standalone video conferencing software and Teams as a collaboration platform. However, both can be used for many different use cases. To help you make the right choice, let’s look at separate factors individually.

Comparing Microsoft Teams vs Zoom for your business

Pricing

Both platforms offer free plans and paid plans. However, the features included in these free versions vary.

• On the Microsoft Teams free plan, you can make a 60-minute call for up to 100 participants. The Zoom free version is limited to 40 minutes for 100 participants.
• Microsoft Teams paid plans are available for between £3.10 and £16.90 per month. You receive longer call times and a range of in-call features at the lower price tiers. The more expensive tiers also come with Microsoft 365 apps, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Zoom Pro and Zoom Business paid versions extend your maximum call time to 30 hours, the same as Microsoft Teams paid versions.

Both free plans are great, allowing high-quality meetings within time limits. However, the extra 20 minutes that Teams allows for free users may give it the edge over the Zoom platform. At paid tiers, both are highly intuitive and provide excellent value for money.

Video conferencing

Both platforms provide high-quality video calls with essential features like screen sharing. But there are some key differences:

• Zoom meetings provide additional options like a waiting room, virtual backgrounds, and noise suppression.
• Microsoft Teams meetings integrate with OneDrive and SharePoint for easy file sharing, transcription, and meeting recordings.
• Breakout rooms and whiteboards are available on both platforms.
• Teams meetings allow integration with Microsoft Copilot (costed add-on), which provides AI-powered live captions, summaries, and task automation.

As a pure video conference platform, both work extremely well.

Functionality

Microsoft Teams is designed as a unified communications tool, offering unique features like:

• Integrated task management with Planner and To Do.
• Cloud storage via OneDrive and SharePoint.
• Workflow automation.

Zoom, on the other hand, is a more specialist video conferencing tool. It provides:

• Webinars for larger virtual events.
• Integrated phone system (Zoom Phone) as an optional add-on.
• Customisable in-meeting controls.

As a pure video calling platform, both perform equally well. However, Zoom may have the edge for the largest-scale meetings.

Collaborationfeatures

Microsoft Teams is built for team collaboration with tools like:

• Group chat with message history.
• File collaboration with real-time editing in Microsoft Office apps in higher paid tiers.
• Bookings tool for easy appointment scheduling.

In terms of being a full-featured collaboration and communication platform, MS Teams has the edge.

Security features

Both platforms have end-to-end encryption and enterprise-grade security, including authentication steps. However, at the enterprise plan level, Microsoft Teams benefits from the additional security features within the Microsoft ecosystem.

User Interface

Fundamentally, both are a pleasure to use. Specifically:

• The Zoom user interface is simple and user-friendly. As well as teammates, it’s also easy for external guests to join a meeting without requiring an account.
• The Microsoft Teams user interface will instantly feel familiar to anyone using Microsoft’s apps.

In general, both use sleek, clean, user-friendly interfaces ideal for modern users.

Which is better, Microsoft Teams or Zoom?

Overall, the best choice depends on how you plan to use your video conferencing tool.

Microsoft Teams may be the best choice if you:

• Use Microsoft 365 apps for daily business already (or plan to).
• Need persistent chat functionality, file collaboration, and task management on top of video meetings.
• Are looking for enterprise-level security features and compliance tools.

Alternatively, Zoom may be the better choice if you:

• Need pure video conferencing instead of full collaboration features.
• Work with external partners who prefer a simple user experience.

If you only plan to use the free version, both are an excellent choice.

Choosing the Right Video Conferencing Software for Your Business

At Bridgehampton, we’ve helped many businesses identify the best collaboration tool for their unique needs. If you’re deciding between Microsoft Teams vs Zoom, we can help you make the right choice for your team, workspace, and budget.

Contact us to discuss your video conferencing needs.