Software · head to head
Zoom vs Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams
Software
Meet, chat, call, and collaborate in just one place
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features; Microsoft Teams resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
- They diverge on capability: Zoom covers HD video & audio, Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zoom and Microsoft Teams actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zoom | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2011 | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), 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 Zoom
- HD video & audio
- Recording & transcripts
- Virtual backgrounds
- Breakout rooms
- Polling & Q&A
- Chat
- Whiteboard
- Slack
Only in Microsoft Teams
- Chat & channels
- Video conferencing
- File collaboration
- Office integration
- Live events
- Phone system
- Apps & workflows
- Office 365
Both cover
- Screen sharing
- Outlook
- SOC2
- HIPAA
- FedRAMP
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zoom
- Team meetingsnot Microsoft Teams
- Webinars
- Virtual eventsnot Microsoft Teams
- Online trainingnot Microsoft Teams
- Telehealthnot Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams
- Remote meetingsnot Zoom
- Team collaborationnot Zoom
- Document sharingnot Zoom
- Project managementnot Zoom
- Webinars
Both are used for webinars, 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.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
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
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Zoom or Microsoft Teams better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zoom starts at Free and Microsoft Teams at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zoom or Microsoft Teams?
- Zoom starts at Free and Microsoft Teams at Free.
- Does Zoom or Microsoft Teams run on more platforms?
- Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Microsoft Teams runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Zoom for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Zoom best used for?
- Zoom is most often used for team meetings, webinars, virtual events, online training. Of those, team meetings and virtual events are not what Microsoft Teams is typically brought in for.
- What can Zoom do that Microsoft Teams cannot?
- Zoom covers HD video & audio, Recording & transcripts, Virtual backgrounds, Breakout rooms. Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Video conferencing, File collaboration, Office integration. Both handle Screen sharing, Outlook, SOC2, HIPAA.
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.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceZoom: 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.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceZoom: 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.
SourceMicrosoft 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.