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Communication · head to head

RingCentral Video vs Zoom

RingCentral Video logo

RingCentral Video

Communication

Connected cloud communications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom logo

Zoom

Communication

Video conferencing that's easy, reliable, and secure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: RingCentral Video unlimited calling is limited to the US and Canada markets; other international calls are charged per minute at the published international rates table; Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • They diverge on capability: RingCentral Video covers HD video conferencing, Zoom covers HD video & audio.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RingCentral Video and Zoom actually diverge.

Attributes where RingCentral Video and Zoom differ
AttributeRingCentral VideoZoom
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Founded19992011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication).

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 RingCentral Video

  • HD video conferencing
  • Voice and video calling
  • Recording and transcription
  • Chat and messaging
  • Calendar integration
  • Meeting attendee controls
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

Only in Zoom

  • HD video & audio
  • Recording & transcripts
  • Breakout rooms
  • Polling & Q&A
  • Chat
  • Whiteboard
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Calendar

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Outlook
  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • End-to-end encryption
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

RingCentral Video

  • Cloud business phone system with video meetings and team messagingnot Zoom
  • Replacing on-premise PBX hardware for distributed teamsnot Zoom

Zoom

  • Team meetingsnot RingCentral Video
  • Webinarsnot RingCentral Video
  • Virtual eventsnot RingCentral Video
  • Online trainingnot RingCentral Video
  • Telehealthnot RingCentral Video

Where each one falls short

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

RingCentral Video

  • Unlimited calling is limited to the US and Canada markets; other international calls are charged per minute at the published international rates table
  • The free trial is only for new subscribers and is capped at five users and two desktop phones, with SMS unavailable during the trial
  • Trial hardware must be returned within 21 days of trial cancellation to avoid hardware charges
  • Phone rental is available only with a multi-year contract
  • Automated, high volume or marketing SMS costs extra as RingCentral High Volume SMS, and TCR registration is required for SMS and MMS
  • A Mobile User extension is free to add but is billed at the same monthly rate as a Digital Line in any month it is used to make or receive a call
  • The Webinar 500 discount lasts one year on a one year commitment, after which pricing reverts to $75 per host per month or the then current retail price
  • Taxes and recovery fees including the Federal Universal Service Recovery Fee, E911 Service Fee and Compliance and Administrative Cost Recovery Fee are added on top
  • The advertised savings of up to 33% require paying annually

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

RingCentral Video

Free
  • AI Receptionist$39/month
    • Starts at $39
  • Conversational Intelligence$60/month
    • Starts at $60
  • Call Queues Booster$35/month
    • $35 per month
  • Business SMS Booster$25/month
    • $25 per month

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 RingCentral Video if

  • You need hd video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want voice and video calling.
RingCentral Video 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 RingCentral Video or Zoom better?
Neither clearly leads. RingCentral Video 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, RingCentral Video or Zoom?
RingCentral Video starts at Free and Zoom at Free.
Does RingCentral Video or Zoom run on more platforms?
RingCentral Video runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use RingCentral Video for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is RingCentral Video best used for?
RingCentral Video is most often used for cloud business phone system with video meetings and team messaging, replacing on-premise pbx hardware for distributed teams. Of those, cloud business phone system with video meetings and team messaging and replacing on-premise pbx hardware for distributed teams are not what Zoom is typically brought in for.
What can RingCentral Video do that Zoom cannot?
RingCentral Video covers HD video conferencing, Voice and video calling, Recording and transcription, Chat and messaging. Zoom covers HD video & audio, Recording & transcripts, Breakout rooms, Polling & Q&A. Both handle Screen sharing, Virtual backgrounds, Outlook, Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RingCentral Video: How much does RingCentral Video cost?

AI Receptionist starts at $39 per month, Conversational Intelligence starts at $60 per month. Main video plan pricing requires entering your user count on the website for personalized quotes.

Source
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
RingCentral Video: Does RingCentral offer discounts?

Yes, save up to 33% by paying annually instead of monthly. A 14-day free trial is available for new subscribers with up to 20 phone lines.

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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