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Communication · head to head

Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Webinars

Microsoft Teams logo

Microsoft Teams

Communication

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Webinars logo

Zoom Webinars

Webinars

Dedicated webinar platform by Zoom for large-scale events

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Teams has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Teams resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives; Zoom Webinars exact pricing amounts not published on pricing pages
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Teams and Zoom Webinars actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Teams and Zoom Webinars differ
AttributeMicrosoft TeamsZoom Webinars
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidCloud-based SaaS
CategoryCommunicationWebinars
Founded19752011

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Microsoft Teams

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

Only in Zoom Webinars

  • Attendee registration
  • HD video
  • Polls and surveys
  • Q&A
  • Breakout rooms
  • Recording
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • Screen sharing

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Teams

  • Remote meetingsnot Zoom Webinars
  • Team collaborationnot Zoom Webinars
  • Document sharingnot Zoom Webinars
  • Project managementnot Zoom Webinars
  • Webinarsnot Zoom Webinars

Zoom Webinars

  • Interactive webinarsnot Microsoft Teams
  • Virtual events with multiple sessionsnot Microsoft Teams
  • Ticketed eventsnot Microsoft Teams
  • Hybrid event hostingnot Microsoft Teams
  • Networking eventsnot Microsoft Teams

Where each one falls short

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

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

Zoom Webinars

  • Exact pricing amounts not published on pricing pages
  • Multiple webinar tiers exist but costs not specified online
  • Requires direct sales contact for pricing quotes

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zoom Webinars

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinars review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Zoom Webinars if

  • You need attendee registration.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want hd video.
Zoom Webinars review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Teams or Zoom Webinars better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Teams starts at Free and Zoom Webinars at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams or Zoom Webinars?
Microsoft Teams has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Teams and On request for Zoom Webinars.
Does Microsoft Teams or Zoom Webinars run on more platforms?
Microsoft Teams runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Zoom Webinars runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
Can I use Microsoft Teams for free?
Yes. Microsoft Teams has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zoom Webinars starts at On request.
What is Microsoft Teams best used for?
Microsoft Teams is most often used for remote meetings, team collaboration, document sharing, project management. Of those, remote meetings and team collaboration are not what Zoom Webinars is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Teams do that Zoom Webinars cannot?
Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Video conferencing, File collaboration, Office integration. Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration, HD video, Polls and surveys, Q&A. Both handle Screen sharing.

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
Zoom Webinars: What are Zoom Webinars pricing tiers?

Zoom's webinar pricing is not publicly displayed on the pricing page. Customers must contact Zoom sales directly or log into their account to view available plans and rates.

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
Zoom Webinars: Does Zoom offer a free webinar plan?

No pricing or trial information is visible on Zoom's public pricing page. Contact Zoom sales to learn about trial options and starter plans for webinars.

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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