Video conference software has been helping offices connect with each other and customers virtually for several years. But now with over 95% of the U.S. under “stay at home” orders, those online meetings have taken on a whole new level of importance.
Companies that used to have a morning meeting in the conference room are now using video conferencing as a way to stay connected while everyone is working from home.
Employees are being encouraged to video conference with their colleagues while working remotely to reduce the feeling of isolation. Video meetings also improve communication and efficiency because employees aren’t left guessing what they need to do.
95% of businesses surveyed say that video conferencing increases efficiency and productivity.
The software you choose for those video calls has a big impact on your overall efficiency. We often provide I.T. consulting for companies in Denton county and beyond to help them choose the right solutions so they don’t end up wasting money.
When it comes to video meeting software two of the most popular apps are Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Which one is better for you? Read on for a comparison of both platforms.
MS Teams vs Zoom for Remote Video Conferences
Both Teams and Zoom are big names in the team collaboration and video conference arena, but they both have distinct differences. Those differences can make one better for your needs than another.
Here’s an overview and comparison of each platform.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is part of the Office 365 universe and is fully integrated with all the Microsoft applications on the platform. However, you don’t have to have an Office 365 subscription to use Teams, they offer a free version, it just makes it more powerful (by far) if you do.
Teams is first and foremost a team collaboration platform and is somewhat of a cross between Zoom, a file storage program, and a team chat like Slack.
The video conference capability is just one of many of the platform’s features. So, if you’re looking for a robust team collaboration platform, then Teams is going to give you more features than Zoom will.
Key features of Microsoft Teams:
- Channeled Team Chat
- Full integration with Office 365 and many third-party programs
- Video and audio conferencing
- Live event broadcasting
- File sharing and collaboration
- “Tabs,” which is a central work hub feature of Teams
Free Version of Teams:
- Unlimited users on the platform
- Unlimited chat and search
- Group and one-on-one video calling
- Limit of 50 users for a group video call
- 10GB of team file storage + 2GB of personal file storage per person
- Screen sharing & background blur
- Data encryption at rest and in transit
Paid Version Features:
- Scheduled meetings
- Meeting recordings
- Hosting meetings up to 250 users and online events for up to 10,000 users
- Additional security and administrative features
Zoom
Zoom is designed to be a video conferencing software first and foremost and adds other collaborative features. It does not have the same multi-function interface as Teams, which is a benefit to those who are looking strictly for video conferencing and nothing else.
Where Teams wins in the feature area, Zoom wins for simplicity and ease of use. Since it’s designed to do video, there aren’t other features that get in the way.
An important warning to those thinking of using Zoom. It’s been in the news recently for a phenomenon named “Zoom bombing.” This is where a malicious user joins someone else’s Zoom meeting for the express reason of causing disruption (like shouting expletives.)
This has caused several school districts and other organizations to stop using Zoom due to security concerns. To their credit, Zoom responded quickly with security updates to the platform, explaining they were caught off guard with the spike in consumer users due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like Teams, Zoom also offers free and paid versions.
Key features of Zoom:
- Simple video conferencing
- Messaging
- Screensharing
- Whiteboarding
Free Version of Zoom:
- Host up to 100 uses on a video call
- Unlimited 1-to-1 meetings
- There is a 40-minute limit on group video calls
- Virtual background
- Unlimited number of meetings
- AES 256 bits encryption
Paid Version Features:
- Host meetings up to 500
- Increased meeting duration
- Cloud recording storage space
- Additional administrative features
Which is Right for Me?
Both platforms deliver quality video conferencing features. The one you choose comes down to how many features you want and whether or not you use Office 365.
Office 365 users gain additional collaboration with Teams, like provisioned SharePoint Team sites and co-authoring connections with the Office applications.
If you’re looking for more than just video chat and instead want a full team collaboration solution, Microsoft Teams will give you that.
If you just want an easy to use video conference software that makes it simple to start a meeting with anyone, then Zoom is going to be a better choice. It’s built specifically for online meetings without anything else getting in the way.
Need Help with Online Meeting Security?
Avoid “Zoom bombing” or interlopers in any of your video calls by applying the right security settings. Texas I.T. Pros can show you just what to do to ensure your calls are secure and protected.
Contact us today to schedule an I.T. consultation! Call 940-239-6500 or reach out online.