Softwr

Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head

ON24 vs Zoom

ON24 logo

ON24

Webinar & Virtual Events

The digital engagement platform

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Zoom logo

Zoom

All industries

Video conferencing that's easy, reliable, and secure

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Zoom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ON24 the Internet Archive's capture of ON24's homepage on 1 January 2021 named five distinct platform tiers, Webcast Elite, Engagement Hub, Target, Intelligence, and Connect, but pointed visitors to a 'Find your pricing fit' quiz rather than publishing figures.; Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • They diverge on capability: ON24 covers Live webinars, Zoom covers HD video & audio.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ON24 and Zoom actually diverge.

Attributes where ON24 and Zoom differ
AttributeON24Zoom
Starting price$2000/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
CategoryWebinar & Virtual EventsAll industries
Founded19982011

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 ON24

  • Live webinars
  • Virtual events
  • Engagement hub
  • AI-powered analytics
  • Content hubs
  • Marketo
  • Eloqua
  • Adobe

Only in Zoom

  • HD video & audio
  • Screen sharing
  • Recording & transcripts
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Breakout rooms
  • Polling & Q&A
  • Chat
  • Whiteboard

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

What people use each for

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

ON24

  • Event planningnot Zoom
  • Ticket salesnot Zoom
  • Attendee managementnot Zoom
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketingnot Zoom

Zoom

  • Team meetingsnot ON24
  • Webinarsnot ON24
  • Virtual events
  • Online trainingnot ON24
  • Telehealthnot ON24

Both are used for virtual events, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

ON24

  • The Internet Archive's capture of ON24's homepage on 1 January 2021 named five distinct platform tiers, Webcast Elite, Engagement Hub, Target, Intelligence, and Connect, but pointed visitors to a 'Find your pricing fit' quiz rather than publishing figures.

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

ON24

$2000/month
  • Core$2000/month
    • Webinars
    • Engagement tools
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$4000/month
    • Virtual events
    • Advanced analytics
    • Integrations
  • Enterprise$8000/month
    • Full platform
    • AI insights
    • Dedicated success manager

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 ON24 if

  • You need live webinars.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want virtual events.

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 screen sharing.

Questions people ask

Is ON24 or Zoom better?
Neither clearly leads. ON24 starts at $2000/month and Zoom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ON24 or Zoom?
Zoom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2000/month for ON24 and Free for Zoom.
Does ON24 or Zoom run on more platforms?
ON24 runs on Web, Ios, Android. Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Zoom for free?
Yes. Zoom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ON24 starts at $2000/month.
What is ON24 best used for?
ON24 is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Zoom is typically brought in for.
What can ON24 do that Zoom cannot?
ON24 covers Live webinars, Virtual events, Engagement hub, AI-powered analytics. Zoom covers HD video & audio, Screen sharing, Recording & transcripts, Virtual backgrounds. Both handle Salesforce, HubSpot.

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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