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Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head

Cisco Webex vs Zoom

Cisco Webex logo

Cisco Webex

Webinar & Virtual Events

The leading enterprise video conferencing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom logo

Zoom

All industries

Video conferencing that's easy, reliable, and secure

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); Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • They diverge on capability: Cisco Webex covers HD video, Zoom covers HD video & audio.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cisco Webex and Zoom actually diverge.

Attributes where Cisco Webex and Zoom differ
AttributeCisco WebexZoom
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
CategoryWebinar & Virtual EventsAll industries
Founded19842011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Web support
  • Desktop Mac support
  • Desktop Windows support
  • Mobile iOS support
  • Mobile Android support

Only in Zoom

  • HD video & audio
  • Recording & transcripts
  • Breakout rooms
  • Polling & Q&A
  • Chat
  • Whiteboard
  • HubSpot
  • Dropbox

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Salesforce

What people use each for

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

Cisco Webex

  • Video Conferencingnot Zoom
  • Team Collaborationnot Zoom
  • Project Managementnot Zoom

Zoom

  • Team meetingsnot Cisco Webex
  • Webinarsnot Cisco Webex
  • Virtual eventsnot Cisco Webex
  • Online trainingnot Cisco Webex
  • Telehealthnot 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)

Zoom

  • Cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • Feature set is overwhelming with complex navigation and too many options
  • Limited analytics and coaching features compared to dedicated contact center platforms
  • Call recording and admin oversight lack strict governance needed for regulated industries

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

Zoom

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 100 participants
    • 40-minute group meetings
    • Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings
  • Pro$14.99/month
    • 100 participants
    • 30-hour group meetings
    • Cloud recording (5GB)
  • Business$19.99/month
    • 300 participants
    • Single sign-on
    • Recording transcripts
  • Enterprise$25/month
    • 500 participants
    • Advanced admin features
    • Executive business review

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 Zoom if

  • You need hd video & audio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want recording & transcripts.
Zoom review

Questions people ask

Is Cisco Webex or Zoom better?
Neither clearly leads. Cisco Webex starts at Free and Zoom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cisco Webex or Zoom?
Cisco Webex starts at Free and Zoom at Free.
Does Cisco Webex or Zoom run on more platforms?
Cisco Webex runs on Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android. Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
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 Zoom is typically brought in for.
What can Cisco Webex do that Zoom cannot?
Cisco Webex covers HD video, Recording, Transcription, Web support. Zoom covers HD video & audio, Recording & transcripts, Breakout rooms, Polling & Q&A. Both handle Screen sharing, Virtual backgrounds, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zoom: What are Zoom's main pricing tiers?

Zoom offers a free Basic plan with 40-minute limits for group meetings, Pro at $14.16/user/month, Business at $15.58/user/month with 300 participant capacity, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Additional costs apply for Phone ($10.50/user/month), Webinars, and Rooms.

Source
Zoom: What integrations does Zoom support?

Zoom integrates with Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Zendesk, and many other business applications, though integration depth varies by partner.

Source
Zoom: Can Zoom be used for webinars?

Yes, Zoom Webinars is available as a separate product starting at $66.67 per month, providing larger audience capabilities and specialized webinar features.

Source
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Related pages

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