Software · head to head
Cisco Webex vs Zoom Webinar
Cisco Webex
Software
The leading enterprise video conferencing platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Zoom Webinar
Software
Professional video conferencing and webinar hosting
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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 Webinar free tier capped at 40 minutes per meeting with up to 100 participants
- They diverge on capability: Cisco Webex covers HD video, Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cisco Webex and Zoom Webinar actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cisco Webex | Zoom Webinar |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android | Desktop, Mobile, Tablet |
| Founded | 1984 | 2011 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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
- Transcription
- Virtual backgrounds
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Desktop Mac support
- Desktop Windows support
- Mobile iOS support
Only in Zoom Webinar
- HD video conferencing
- Chat
- Breakout rooms
- Google Workspace
- Windows support
- Mac support
- IOS support
- Android support
Both cover
- Screen sharing
- Recording
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Salesforce
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cisco Webex
- Video Conferencingnot Zoom Webinar
- Team Collaborationnot Zoom Webinar
- Project Managementnot Zoom Webinar
Zoom Webinar
- Large-scale webinars up to 1,000 participants on Enterprise tiernot Cisco Webex
- Professional organisations needing end-to-end encryption and customer-managed keysnot Cisco Webex
- Hybrid work environments with integrated PBX phone servicenot 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 Webinar
- Free tier capped at 40 minutes per meeting with up to 100 participants
- Free tier lacks cloud storage and advanced AI Companion features
- Higher tiers require commitments to larger participant counts (Business: 300, Enterprise: 1000)
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 Webinar
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinar 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 transcription.
Choose Zoom Webinar if
- You need hd video conferencing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
- You also want chat.
Questions people ask
- Is Cisco Webex or Zoom Webinar better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cisco Webex starts at Free and Zoom Webinar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cisco Webex or Zoom Webinar?
- Cisco Webex starts at Free and Zoom Webinar at Free.
- Does Cisco Webex or Zoom Webinar run on more platforms?
- Cisco Webex runs on Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android. Zoom Webinar runs on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
- 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 Webinar is typically brought in for.
- What can Cisco Webex do that Zoom Webinar cannot?
- Cisco Webex covers HD video, Transcription, Virtual backgrounds, Google Calendar. Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing, Chat, Breakout rooms, Google Workspace. Both handle Screen sharing, Recording, Slack, Microsoft Teams.