Software · head to head
Zoom Webinar vs Cisco Webex
Zoom Webinar
Software
Professional video conferencing and webinar hosting
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Cisco Webex
Software
The leading enterprise video conferencing platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Zoom Webinar free tier capped at 40 minutes per meeting with up to 100 participants; Cisco Webex listed on UK G-Cloud at £6 per user per month for Cisco Webex, via reseller Conscia Group UK Ltd (ITGL)
- They diverge on capability: Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing, Cisco Webex covers HD video.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zoom Webinar and Cisco Webex actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zoom Webinar | Cisco Webex |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Desktop, Mobile, Tablet | Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android |
| Founded | 2011 | 1984 |
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 Zoom Webinar
- HD video conferencing
- Chat
- Breakout rooms
- Google Workspace
- Windows support
- Mac support
- IOS support
- Android support
Only in Cisco Webex
- HD video
- Transcription
- Virtual backgrounds
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Desktop Mac support
- Desktop Windows support
- Mobile iOS support
Both cover
- Screen sharing
- Recording
- Salesforce
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
Cisco Webex
- Video Conferencingnot Zoom Webinar
- Team Collaborationnot Zoom Webinar
- Project Managementnot Zoom Webinar
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
Cisco Webex
- Listed on UK G-Cloud at £6 per user per month for Cisco Webex, via reseller Conscia Group UK Ltd (ITGL)
Pricing, plan by plan
Zoom Webinar
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinar review.
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
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Zoom Webinar or Cisco Webex better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zoom Webinar starts at Free and Cisco Webex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zoom Webinar or Cisco Webex?
- Zoom Webinar starts at Free and Cisco Webex at Free.
- Does Zoom Webinar or Cisco Webex run on more platforms?
- Zoom Webinar runs on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet. Cisco Webex runs on Web, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android.
- Can I use Zoom Webinar for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Zoom Webinar best used for?
- Zoom Webinar is most often used for large-scale webinars up to 1,000 participants on enterprise tier, professional organisations needing end-to-end encryption and customer-managed keys, hybrid work environments with integrated pbx phone service. Of those, large-scale webinars up to 1,000 participants on enterprise tier and professional organisations needing end-to-end encryption and customer-managed keys are not what Cisco Webex is typically brought in for.
- What can Zoom Webinar do that Cisco Webex cannot?
- Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing, Chat, Breakout rooms, Google Workspace. Cisco Webex covers HD video, Transcription, Virtual backgrounds, Google Calendar. Both handle Screen sharing, Recording, Salesforce, Slack.