Softwr

Software · head to head

Zoom Webinar vs Crowdcast

Zoom Webinar logo

Zoom Webinar

Software

Professional video conferencing and webinar hosting

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Crowdcast logo

Crowdcast

Software

Live video Q&As, interviews, and webinars

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoom Webinar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Zoom Webinar free tier capped at 40 minutes per meeting with up to 100 participants; Crowdcast exceeding the plan's attendee limit costs $0.15 per extra live attendee, so an unexpectedly popular session bills on the spot
  • They diverge on capability: Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing, Crowdcast covers Live streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zoom Webinar and Crowdcast actually diverge.

Attributes where Zoom Webinar and Crowdcast differ
AttributeZoom WebinarCrowdcast
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsDesktop, Mobile, TabletWeb
Founded20112015

Identical on both: 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
  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Chat
  • Breakout rooms
  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Crowdcast

  • Live streaming
  • Q&A sessions
  • Polls
  • Multi-speaker
  • Replay library
  • Zapier
  • ConvertKit
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • 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 Crowdcast
  • Professional organisations needing end-to-end encryption and customer-managed keysnot Crowdcast
  • Hybrid work environments with integrated PBX phone servicenot Crowdcast

Crowdcast

  • Hosting live webinars and interactive Q and A sessionsnot Zoom Webinar
  • Running paid online events with registrationnot 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)

Crowdcast

  • Exceeding the plan's attendee limit costs $0.15 per extra live attendee, so an unexpectedly popular session bills on the spot
  • Session length is capped by plan, at 2 hours on Lite, 4 on Pro and 6 on Business
  • Team seats are tightly limited, at 1 on Lite and 2 on Pro, with additional seats at $29 each
  • Studio storage is capped at 1 GB on Lite and 5 GB on Pro
  • The 14 day trial allows 10 live attendees and 60 minute sessions, which is short of any real event

Pricing, plan by plan

Zoom Webinar

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinar review.

Crowdcast

$49/month
  • Lite$49/month
    • 50 live attendees
    • 2-hour sessions
    • Basic features
  • Pro$89/month
    • 100 attendees
    • 4-hour sessions
    • Custom branding
  • Business$195/month
    • 500 attendees
    • Multi-day events
    • 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 screen sharing.
Zoom Webinar review

Choose Crowdcast if

  • You need live streaming.
  • You also want q&a sessions.
Crowdcast review

Questions people ask

Is Zoom Webinar or Crowdcast better?
Neither clearly leads. Zoom Webinar starts at Free and Crowdcast at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zoom Webinar or Crowdcast?
Zoom Webinar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Zoom Webinar and $49/month for Crowdcast.
Does Zoom Webinar or Crowdcast run on more platforms?
Zoom Webinar runs on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet. Crowdcast runs on Web.
Can I use Zoom Webinar for free?
Yes. Zoom Webinar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Crowdcast starts at $49/month.
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 Crowdcast is typically brought in for.
What can Zoom Webinar do that Crowdcast cannot?
Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing, Screen sharing, Recording, Chat. Crowdcast covers Live streaming, Q&A sessions, Polls, Multi-speaker. Both handle Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Zoom Webinar

More on Crowdcast

Keep looking

Other head to heads