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Cisco Webex vs Microsoft Teams

Cisco Webex logo

Cisco Webex

Software

The leading enterprise video conferencing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Teams logo

Microsoft Teams

Software

Meet, chat, call, and collaborate in just one place

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cisco Webex listed on UK G-Cloud at £6 per user per month for Cisco Webex, via reseller Conscia Group UK Ltd (ITGL); Microsoft Teams resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
  • They diverge on capability: Cisco Webex covers HD video, Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams actually diverge.

Attributes where Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams differ
AttributeCisco WebexMicrosoft Teams
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile AndroidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Founded19841975

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Cisco Webex

  • HD video
  • Recording
  • Transcription
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Calendar
  • Salesforce

Only in Microsoft Teams

  • Chat & channels
  • Video conferencing
  • File collaboration
  • Office integration
  • Live events
  • Phone system
  • Apps & workflows
  • Office 365

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Outlook

What people use each for

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

Cisco Webex

  • Video Conferencingnot Microsoft Teams
  • Team Collaborationnot Microsoft Teams
  • Project Managementnot Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams

  • Remote meetingsnot Cisco Webex
  • Team collaborationnot Cisco Webex
  • Document sharingnot Cisco Webex
  • Project managementnot Cisco Webex
  • Webinarsnot Cisco Webex

Where each one falls short

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

Cisco Webex

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £6 per user per month for Cisco Webex, via reseller Conscia Group UK Ltd (ITGL)

Microsoft Teams

  • Resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
  • Limited channel structure; maximum of 200 public and 30 private channels per team
  • Cannot invite guest users to specific channels; guest access grants full team visibility
  • Unable to chat during screen sharing; limits real-time collaborative communication
  • Limited customization options for branding and interface; cluttered UX compared to Slack
  • Channels cannot be moved between teams; requires manual replication for reorganization

Pricing, plan by plan

Cisco Webex

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 40-min group meetings
    • Unlimited 1:1 calls
    • HD video
  • Starter$13.5/month
    • Unlimited meetings
    • 100 participants
    • Recording
  • Pro$26.99/month
    • 300 participants
    • Advanced security
    • Priority support

Microsoft Teams

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited chat
    • 100 participants in meetings
    • 5GB file storage
  • Microsoft Teams Essentials$4/month
    • 300 participants in meetings
    • 10GB cloud storage
    • Phone & web support
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
    • Everything in Essentials
    • 1TB OneDrive storage
    • Web & mobile Office apps
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Desktop Office apps
    • Webinar hosting

Which should you pick?

Choose Cisco Webex if

  • You need hd video.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android.
  • You also want recording.
Cisco Webex review

Choose Microsoft Teams if

  • You need chat & channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want video conferencing.
Microsoft Teams review

Questions people ask

Is Cisco Webex or Microsoft Teams better?
Neither clearly leads. Cisco Webex starts at Free and Microsoft Teams at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cisco Webex or Microsoft Teams?
Cisco Webex starts at Free and Microsoft Teams at Free.
Does Cisco Webex or Microsoft Teams run on more platforms?
Cisco Webex runs on Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android. Microsoft Teams runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Can I use Cisco Webex for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cisco Webex best used for?
Cisco Webex is most often used for video conferencing, team collaboration, project management. Of those, video conferencing and team collaboration are not what Microsoft Teams is typically brought in for.
What can Cisco Webex do that Microsoft Teams cannot?
Cisco Webex covers HD video, Recording, Transcription, Virtual backgrounds. Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Video conferencing, File collaboration, Office integration. Both handle Screen sharing, Outlook.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Teams: Does Microsoft Teams have a free tier?

Yes. Microsoft Teams offers a free Home tier with unlimited chat, 60-minute group meetings for up to 100 people, 5GB cloud storage, and basic file sharing, though limits are restrictive for growing teams.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' paid plans?

Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month (chat, calling, meetings, 10GB storage). Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $7/user/month (includes desktop Office apps, 1TB storage). Premium plans with Copilot start at $23.50/user/month.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' primary features?

Teams provides real-time chat, video and voice calling, meetings with up to 300 participants, file sharing and storage integration with OneDrive, recording and transcripts, and deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Microsoft Teams: What integrations does Teams support?

Microsoft Teams integrates with calendar apps (Outlook, Google Calendar), project management tools (Trello), and works with Zapier for custom workflow automation. Teams also has native connectors to many Microsoft 365 apps and third-party services.

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Related pages

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