Softwr

Software · head to head

8x8 vs Microsoft Teams Live Events

8x8 logo

8x8

Software

Enterprise-grade unified communications

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Teams Live Events logo

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Software

Enterprise live event and webinar platform by Microsoft

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Teams Live Events has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 8x8 listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited; Microsoft Teams Live Events teams live events retired on June 30, 2026, and only events scheduled before that date remain supported through February 28, 2027
  • They diverge on capability: 8x8 covers Voice calling, Microsoft Teams Live Events covers Live Q&A.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 8x8 and Microsoft Teams Live Events actually diverge.

Attributes where 8x8 and Microsoft Teams Live Events differ
Attribute8x8Microsoft Teams Live Events
Starting price$29.99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web
Founded19871975

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 8x8

  • Voice calling
  • Video meetings
  • Team messaging
  • Call recording
  • Voicemail
  • Call routing
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce

Only in Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • Live Q&A
  • Attendee engagement
  • RTMP support
  • Recording
  • Microsoft 365 integration
  • Microsoft 365
  • Azure
  • SharePoint

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Windows support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

8x8

  • Business communicationnot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Customer contactnot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Remote worknot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Continuitynot Microsoft Teams Live Events

Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • One to many broadcast of company town halls to large internal audiencesnot 8x8
  • Streaming an externally produced RTMP feed from a hardware encoder to Teams viewersnot 8x8

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

8x8

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited

Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • Teams live events retired on June 30, 2026, and only events scheduled before that date remain supported through February 28, 2027
  • Microsoft directs users to the separate unified Teams events experience instead
  • Organizers must use the Teams web client to schedule a live event; scheduling is not available in the desktop client
  • Users cannot schedule meetings or live events when offline or running with limited bandwidth
  • Keeping internal broadcast traffic off the corporate network requires an eCDN, either Microsoft's own or a certified partner such as Hive, Kollective or Ramp

Pricing, plan by plan

8x8

$29.99/month
  • Pro$29.99/month
    • Calling and meetings
    • Video conferencing
    • Team messaging
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Free
  • Microsoft Teams FreeFree
    • Up to 300 participants
    • Live events
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
    • Enhanced live events
    • 10000 attendees
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
    • Advanced features
    • Unlimited events

Which should you pick?

Choose 8x8 if

  • You need voice calling.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video meetings.
8x8 review

Choose Microsoft Teams Live Events if

  • You need live q&a.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want attendee engagement.
Microsoft Teams Live Events review

Questions people ask

Is 8x8 or Microsoft Teams Live Events better?
Neither clearly leads. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month and Microsoft Teams Live Events at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8x8 or Microsoft Teams Live Events?
Microsoft Teams Live Events has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/month for 8x8 and Free for Microsoft Teams Live Events.
Does 8x8 or Microsoft Teams Live Events run on more platforms?
8x8 runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Microsoft Teams Live Events runs on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Microsoft Teams Live Events for free?
Yes. Microsoft Teams Live Events has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month.
What is 8x8 best used for?
8x8 is most often used for business communication, customer contact, remote work, continuity. Of those, business communication and customer contact are not what Microsoft Teams Live Events is typically brought in for.
What can 8x8 do that Microsoft Teams Live Events cannot?
8x8 covers Voice calling, Video meetings, Team messaging, Call recording. Microsoft Teams Live Events covers Live Q&A, Attendee engagement, RTMP support, Recording. Both handle Web support, Windows support, Android support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on 8x8

More on Microsoft Teams Live Events

Keep looking

Other head to heads