Secure Video Calling App: Zoom Vs Skype Vs Teams Vs Webex Comparison

Video collaboration has become the way of life post the lockdown. Whether you have to host a business meeting, an educational or training session or connect with your clients, video conferencing app are in demand everywhere. So, which one are you using – Zoom vs Skype vs Teams vs Webex? Let’s find out which one of these will serve your collaboration needs.

About Zoom

Zoom VC or Zoom video communications is being used by businesses and educational institutes since 2011. Along with Zoom video conferencing, this platform is also popular for Zoom chat, meeting, video webinars, etc. through desktops, mobile devices and meeting rooms. However, its popularity increased significantly since the lockdown.

Zoom Features

• Zoom Conferencing: Zoom video conferencing is quite popular forvideo collaboration with real-time content sharing and messaging. You can join Zoom meetings from anywhere and through any device with just a link.
• Zoom Chat & Zoom Meeting: With Zoom online, you cansend files and share content through chat. All Zoom chat messages can be recorded in a TXT file. You can also control the access to chat and allow or restrict attendees from in-meeting chat.
• Zoom Classroom: Zoom is helping improve student learning outcomes with features like HD video and audio, session recording and transcription and the integration with all major learning management systems.
• Zoom Video Recordings: With Zoom Pro, you can store up to 1GB of cloud recordings.
• Zoom Webinars: Zoom video webinars support up to 100 participants. And some of the Zoom webinar plans are eligible for up to 10,000 view only attendees.
• Maximum Number of Participants: Even with Zoom Free plan, you can host up to 100 participants. While Zoom Enterprise plan supports up to 500 participants.

Zoom Pros

• The on-screen whiteboard feature helps conduct brainstorming sessions with your remote teams.
• Allows screen sharing while you are on a video call.
• Even its free plan supports up to 100 participants for video conferencing.
• Further, it supports co-annotation on shared screens.

Zoom Cons

• The chat feature acts slow sometimes during the meeting
• The enterprise plan is a bit expensive as your team size increases.

Zoom Pricing

While the Basic plan is free, the Zoom Pro plan starts at Rs 1143/month/host. However, its Business and Enterprise plans with many exclusive features cost around Rs 1523/month/host.

Zoom Privacy

Well, there has been news about the compromising privacy policies of Zoom, and people are looking for Zoom alternatives. However, Zoom has recently introduced many new security features with the latest 5.0 updates to prevent Zoombombing.

Zoom App Integrations

Zoom supports third-party integration with many popular third-party sites like Google Drive, Slack, HubSpot, DropBox, Hipchat, etc.

Zoom Supporting OS

• Zoom for macOS 10.7 or later
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Zoom for Windows 10, 8 or 8.1, 7
• Ubuntu 12.04 or higher
• Red Hat, Linux 6.4 and above
• Oracle Linux 6.4 or higher
• ArchLinux (64-bit only)
• Zoom for Android

MS Teams vs Zoom vs Skype vs Webex

Let’s dive into the comparisons now with Zoom Alternatives.

Zoom Pro Vs Teams Essentials for Education, Webinars & More

Zoom Pro Vs Teams Essentials	Microsoft Teams Essentials	Zoom Pro
Exclusive Features	Unlimited 1:1 and group meetings, unlimited private & group chats, Live transcription, together mode	Zoom conferencing with HD audio & video, private & group chat, Zoom Whiteboards, Video Recordings, Social media streaming
Best For	Small businesses for secure internal & external communications remotely	Small teams who can navigate security settings to enjoy its interactive & simple user interface
Maximum Participants	300 participants per meeting	100 participants per meeting
Group Meetings	30 Hours	24 Hours
Cloud	10 GB/ user storage	1 GB/ license recording
Pricing	Get Microsoft Teams Essentials at ₹100/user/month for annual subscription.	Zoom Pro plan starts at ₹1100/month/license when billed annually.
Security	Microsoft Teams Essentials is ISO 270001 and SSAE16 SOC certified to protect data in meetings, calls, chats, and files	Zoom Pro has many security features like encryption for real time content to protect meetings, data, and privacy

About Microsoft Teams Essentials

Microsoft Teams Essentials is a standalone video and chat-based collaboration tool for remote and dispersed teams globally. You can have unlimited 1:1 calls and group meetings with up to 300 participants for as long as 30 hours.

Your teams and external parties can collaborate and work together through a common online platform. Other features include custom virtual backgrounds, live transcription and reaction, noise suppression, etc.

MS Team Essentials Features

• Meetings: Conduct company-wide meetings with the option to host up to 300 participants which anyone can join directly via browser.
• Calendar integration: It integrates with Outlook calendar for easier scheduling of meetings.
• Together Mode: View all members as live avatars with friendly backgrounds in a virtual space during meetings.
• Cloud Storage: Allows 10GB cloud storage per user to store and collaborate on Office 365 files easily.
• Chat: You can have private and group chats with up to 300 participants. All the shared content and feedback can be easily accessed anytime.
• Set up and support: Set up Teams Essentials without IT expertise and get 24*7 web and phone support for queries.

• Live Collaboration: You can work with your team on files and projects together for real-time collaboration.

Microsoft Teams Essentials Pros 

• Easy setup
• Increased company-wide productivity
• Reduced dependency on emails

• Real-time collaboration in Office apps
• Access MS Teams app or software across all devices

Microsoft Teams Essentials Cons 

• Lacks enough integration options with third-party applications.
• No PowerShell support or access to Teams Admin Center

Zoom Pro Vs Microsoft Teams Essentials Pricing 

You can get the license for Microsoft Teams Essentials at a price as low as Rs 100/user/month for an annual subscription. This way, Microsoft Teams Essentials is much more cost-effective than Zoom Pro vs Webex vs Skype for business use. 

Zoom Pro Vs Microsoft Teams Essentials Security 

If you are looking for Zoom alternatives because of the security issues, Microsoft Teams can be a great option with security features like two-factor authentication and data encryption both in transit and in rest. Also, it’s ISO 270001 and SSAE16 SOC certified. 

Zoom Vs Microsoft Teams Supporting Devices 

You can use Microsoft Teams apps and software across all devices, such as: 

• Microsoft Teams Linux
• Microsoft Teams for mobile (Android & iOS)
• Microsoft Teams for Mac
• Microsoft Teams desktop app

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Zoom vs Skype for Business & Teaching

Zoom Vs Skype	Skype	Zoom
Recordings	Videos are stored for 30 days	Up to 1 GB of cloud reporting
USPs	Skype Chat Skype Phone Skype Video Conference Skype Classroom Skype Call Recordings	Zoom conferencing with HD audio & video Zoom Chat Zoom Classroom Zoom Video Recordings Zoom Webinars
Maximum Number of Participants	Up to 50 participants with the free version	Up to 100 participants with the free version
Supported OS	Skype for Windows XP, Vista & Windows 7 & 8 Skype for Mac Linux Skype for Android & iOS.	Zoom for macOS 10.7 or later Windows Vista Windows XP Zoom for Windows 10, 8 or 8.1, 7 Ubuntu 12.04 or higher Red Hat, Linux 6.4 and above Oracle Linux 6.4 or higher ArchLinux (64-bit only) Zoom for Android
Pricing	You can use Skype with Skype credits & subscriptions	Zoom Pro plan starts at Rs 1143/month/host
Privacy	Only Skype to Skype chats, calls and videos are encrypted	Zoom has recently introduced many new security features with the latest 5.0
Free Plans	Available	Available

About Skype Online

Skype web has been used quite popularly for one-on-one conversations and group video calls. You can manage your Skype account through any device, be it your Xbox, Alexa, mobile or PC. While the Skype web online is free, you can initiate audio and video calls with as many as 50 people easily.

For your organizational needs, you can use Skype for Business online and enjoy features like video conferencing, instant messaging, video call and document collaboration.

Skype Features

• Skype Phone: Using Skype for the calling feature is quite popular. You can make Skype calls through any wireless mobile device and get features like the on-screen menu to see who is online and available.
• Skype Video Conference: During Skype for Business web conference or free Skype conference calls, you can enjoy features for call recording, making background blur and screen sharing.
• Skype Chat: You can involve in instant messaging and group video chat with Skype web conferencing software.
• Skype Classroom: With Skype in the Classroom, you can take your students on virtual field trips and arrange guest speaker sessions.Also, your students can work on collaborative projects to learn new things.
• Skype Call Recordings: Video recordings can be saved for up to 30 days with the free plan.
• Skype Number of Participants: The free version supports up to 50 participants on a video call.

Skype Pros

• An important platform for document and screen sharing
• Smaller teams can work conveniently with Skype free version
• Skype is incorporated with Office 365 and provides access to Microsoft Word, Excel and PPT
• Its features are quite user friendly.

Skype Cons

• Skype often has glitches with multi-party calling
• The audio quality deteriorates when multiple parties are involved.

Zoom Vs Skype Pricing

You can use Skype technologies for free for any Skype to Skype video call, voice call or chat. However, when you are calling someone on landline or mobile number, you need to get Skype for Business pricing subscription or buy Skype credit. The credit for Skype web online is available on the call minutes basis.

Zoom Vs Skype Privacy

Skype encrypts all calls, videos, file transfers and chat messages from one Skype user to another. However, your calls from Skype to an ordinary phone number is not usually encrypted. Also, all your content is open for Microsoft to administer.

Zoom Vs Skype App Integrations

Along with the integration with Microsoft, Skype also functions well with Agile CRM, Grasshopper, WordPress, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, etc.

Zoom Vs Skype Supporting Devices

• Skype for Windows XP, Vista & Windows 7 & 8
• Skype for Mac Linux
• Skype for Android & iOS.

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Zoom Vs Webex for Video Conferencing

Zoom Vs Webex	Webex	Zoom
Number of Participants	Up to 200 participants in the 30-day free trial	Unlimited free plan with up to 100 participants
Conferencing Features	HD video & audio, screen & document sharing, whiteboards, in-meeting & recording notifications	Zoom conferencing with HD audio & video, Zoom Chat, Zoom Classroom, Zoom, Video Recordings, Zoom Webinars
Supported App Integrations	Microsoft Office, Google Calendar, Salesforce, Jira, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, etc.	Google Drive, Hipchat, Dropbox, Slack, HubSpot, Infusionsoft, etc.
Web Features	Multimedia content sharing Chat & brainstorming sessions Webinars Meeting Join Link In-meeting audio prompts Pre-meeting high frame rate wireless sharing	Virtual background Calendar integrations Chrome & Outlook plug-ins  Multi-share Personal meeting room Appearance touch-up
Pricing	Business plan available at the price of Rs 2056/month/host	Zoom Pro plan starts at Rs 1143/month/host
Security	End-to-end encrypted cloud collaboration	Zoom has recently introduced many new security features with the latest 5.0

About Cisco WebEx

Cisco Webex Meetings has a lot to offer at the time of lockdown. Webex offers a completely cloud-based content and video sharing cloud solution. Webex Meetings is a great tool for meeting and collaboration as it also provides access to Cisco Webex Teams (earlier known as Cisco Spark).

Cisco Webex Meetings Features

• Webex Call: With Cisco Webex calling, you can receive and make calls and turn them into meetings from any device.
• Webex Share Screen & Document Sharing: You can share the screen, files or any specific applications with Webex Meetings.
• Webex Board Whiteboards: Cisco Webex Meetings desktop app provideswhiteboards to share your ideas visually with other participants.
• In-Meeting Notifications: Cisco Webex sends notifications before a meeting is about to start. You can even customize the notification feature.
• Meeting Recording Notifications: Cisco Webex Meetings notifies as and when your recordings are available for sharing.

Webex Online Pros

• Provides exhaustive metrics about the performance of any web conference or webinar
• Instead of typing the long meeting passcode, you can join a meeting with the ‘Call Me’ feature
• A powerful admin interface to enhance the participants’ meeting experience.

Cisco Webex Cons

• The call quality is not that good in low-bandwidth network
• Cannot use multiple rooms at once.

Zoom Vs Webex Security

Cisco Webex ensures end-to-end encrypted cloud collaboration. Also, it provides many advanced integrations and control to ensure information security. Users get complete control and can manage their encryption keys and data confidentiality. 

Zoom Vs Webex Pricing

In Zoom vs Webex comparison, you would find that Webex’s business plan at a price of Rs 2056 approximately for up to two-hundred participants is a bit costly. While Zoom supports up to 500 participants at Rs 1523/month/host.

Zoom Vs Webex App Integrations

Cisco Webex can be integrated with any ongoing app to ensure that your projects are on track. It can be integrated with Salesforce, Jira, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, etc. Further, you can build your own app integrations on Cisco Webex software platform.

Zoom Vs Webex Supporting Devices

For joining a Webex meeting, you can use any device, be it:

• Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 & 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10
• Mac OS 10.7, 10.10, 10.8, 10.9, 10.11
• Ubuntu 14.x (Gnome) and 12.x
• Red Hat 5, 6
• Open SuSE 13.1 and 13.2
• Fedora 19, 20 (all 32-bit).

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Wrapping Up

The best Zoom alternatives provide for a smooth video conferencing experience, group chats and webinars. The given comparison chart Zoom vs Skype vs Teams vs Webex would help you decide the best application for you or your business. Compare the following- Zoom vs Skype or Zoom vs Teams for better experience. Some of you will also opt for Zoom vs Webex comparison chart. After all, the more options you have, the better decision you can make.