If you have been working online for some time, you have probably heard of Microsoft Teams.

One of the many alternatives to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, offers a bevy of features to solve all your online team communication challenges.

As a business development manager for a small business, I know how vital timely communication and collaboration can be to the success of any project.

That’s why I’m here to break down all the features of Microsoft Teams for you.

We’ll discuss what Microsoft Teams can offer by way of communication and collaboration tools for your team, how Microsoft’s pricing structure works, and what other Microsoft Teams users have to say about the product.

Read on and learn more about Microsoft Teams features, pricing, and user reviews.

What Is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a software product, available as an application or through your web browser, that aids work teams in managing communications, collaborating on documents and products, and facilitating online meetings.

What Is Microsoft Teams Used For?

Microsoft Teams helps provide a one-stop-shop for team conversations and collective task completion.

The purpose of Microsoft Teams is to help those who work together connect and keep all communications current, organized, and tracked.

How Microsoft Teams Works

Microsoft Teams works by offering multiple modes of communication for work teams, from synchronous video meetings to live chat to company announcements.

In addition, Microsoft Teams keeps records of these communications, helping teams track and organize conversations around various topics or specifically designated work teams.

With synchronous (in real-time) and asynchronous (at different times) communication and collaboration options, Microsoft Teams allows you to work at your own pace or in real-time with others in a company or work team.

Users can take advantage of the software’s ability to group people into teams, maintain communication channels on specific topics, and coordinate meetings in real-time.

What’s more, Microsoft Teams integrates with many apps, making connecting communications with project progress and advancement on work products easier.

Notable Features of Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams has several notable features.

They are:

1. Online Video and Audio Conferencing

Microsoft Teams is one of many video conferencing platforms that allow individuals to connect in real-time for phone or video meetings.

When using video conferencing, users can share screens, interact through chat, provide real-time feedback via reactions, take polls, and collaborate live on documents.

Microsoft Teams can accommodate video and audio meetings of up to 10,000 attendees.

2. Teams and Channels

With Microsoft Teams, users can organize conversations in many ways.

Users can group other individuals into teams.

These might be project-based teams or distinct work departments.

Additionally, users can organize conversations by channel (similar to Slack) around specific topics like a project, upcoming work retreat, or learning collaborative.

Microsoft Teams keeps a record of all communication in teams and channels, making it optimally easy to keep conversations tracked and organized.

3. Chat

Microsoft Teams offers a chat function you can use synchronously or asynchronously.

With chat, users can communicate via text, image, or even gif.

Chat also allows users to react to one another’s messages with a like, love, laugh, surprise, sad, or angry reaction.

Microsoft Teams keeps records of all chats, from in-meeting chats to one-on-one conversations between coworkers.

4. Telephony

This software offers a full suite of telephony services, including live calling, call forwarding, conferencing, and voicemail.

Users who wish to join any meeting may call into the meeting without having to interact with the Microsoft Teams app or web interface, requiring no internet for phone communication.

5. Synchronization With SharePoint and Outlook

If you want to work collaboratively on a SharePoint document or product, you can do so through the Microsoft Teams app.

When coupled with live video conferencing, teammates can work together in real-time as if they are in the same space.

What’s more, Microsoft Teams automatically synchs with your Outlook calendar.

So you can access your calendar through teams or schedule meetings with or without video conferencing right inside the app.

Are There Any Minimum Requirements Necessary To Use Microsoft Teams?

There are several minimum requirements users must meet to use Microsoft Teams.

These differ by the type of device through which you are accessing Teams.

Minimum Requirements for Windows PC

• 1.1 GHz processor or faster
• 4.0 GB of RAM
• 3.0 GB of available hard disk space
• 1024 x 768 screen resolution or higher
• OS of Windows 11, 10, 8.1, Server 2019, Server 2016, or Server 2012 R2
• Standard speakers, microphone, and camera (or USB 2.0 camera or better)
• .NET 4.5 CLR or later

Minimum Requirements for Mac

• Intel Core Duo processor
• 4.0 GB of RAM
• 1.6 GB of available hard disk space
• 1280 x 800 screen resolution or higher
• OS of one of Apple’s three most recent releases
• Built-in speakers, microphone, and camera (or equivalent compatible device)

Minimum Requirements for Mobile Devices

• Any Android device with one of the last four major versions of Android installed
• Any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with one of the previous two versions of iOS installed

How Much Does Microsoft Teams Cost?

Microsoft offers various pricing plans allowing you access to Teams, from a free version up to a paid business version.

Microsoft Teams (Free)

This plan allows an unlimited number of one-on-one and group meetings and unlimited chat.

Meeting time is capped at 30 hours for one-on-ones and one hour for group meetings, with up to 100 attendees per group meeting.

Additionally, you get 5 GB of cloud storage, data encryption, live English captions, file sharing, tasks, and polling.

This plan has no annual or monthly cost.

Microsoft Teams Essentials

With this plan, you get everything in the free package and increased group meeting time up to 30 hours, increased meeting attendance to up to 300 participants, increased cloud storage up to 10 GB, and 24/7 web and phone support.

This plan costs $4.00 per month and requires an annual subscription.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

When you upgrade to this business plan, you get everything in the Essentials plan plus.

You also get additional collaboration features like whiteboard and annotations, integration with hundreds of apps, live captions in up to 30 languages, meeting recordings and transcripts, mobile and web versions of Microsoft Office applications, increased cloud storage up to 1 TB per user, business email, and standard security.

This plan will run you $6.00 per user per month with a required annual subscription, although a 1-month free trial is available.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

At the highest level, Microsoft Teams offers everything in the Business Basic plan and the ability to host webinars (including webinar reporting and registration), manage customer appointments, and access Office apps with premium features through your desktop.

This plan also offers a free one-month trial, after which your bill will be $12.50 per user per month.

Who Are Microsoft Teams’ Main Alternatives?

Microsoft Teams isn’t the only meeting management software on the market.

So let’s consider how Microsoft Teams stacks up against the alternatives.

1. Zoom

While Zoom has many meeting features similar to Microsoft Teams, like chat, screen sharing, and real-time captions, Microsoft Teams beats Zoom in its ability to foster collaboration and track communication.

Zoom is primarily a video conferencing platform, while Microsoft Teams offers much more for cooperative task completion and communication management.

2. Google Meet

Like Zoom, Google Meet is mainly a platform for chatting and video calling, either one-on-one or in groups of up to 100.

On the other hand, Microsoft Teams functions primarily as a collaboration and communication tracking tool with a video conferencing feature.

3. Twitch

Unlike Microsoft Teams, Twitch is a streaming service used mostly by video gamers and pop culture streamers.

So if you’re looking to live stream content, Twitch is the place for you.

If, however, you’re looking to collaborate with your work team, opt for Microsoft Teams.

How Does Microsoft Teams Differentiate Itself From Competitors?

Microsoft Teams stands out among video calling and streaming services for its ability to foster collaborative work and project management and organize and manage communications between coworkers.

Who Is Microsoft Teams Best For?

Based on its design and features, Microsoft Teams is best for smaller teams completing project-based work.

While larger groups and companies can use many of Microsoft Teams’ features effectively and efficiently, users will get the most from these features when completing project-based work in a smaller group.

Why Is Microsoft Teams Best for Smaller Teams?

The organization of teams and channels, communication tracking features, integration with project management apps, and collaborative document creation and editing make Microsoft Teams ideal for this group.

Is Microsoft Teams Easy to Use?

Those already familiar with Microsoft Office Applications will likely find Microsoft Teams very easy to use.

Teams should prove pretty intuitive if you are accustomed to the layout, nomenclature, and organization of Microsoft apps.

What Features Do Some Users Love?

Many users love Microsoft Teams’ chat communication tracking and organization features.

When every chat conversation saves according to its team, channel, or meeting, you no longer need to worry about losing track of tasks or vital information discussed with teammates.

Many users also love Microsoft Teams’ ability to integrate with several other applications.

Microsoft Teams integrations include Power BI, YouTube, Trello, and Monday.com, among others.

What Features Do Some Users Find Frustrating?

While Microsoft Teams is a reasonably effective tool for video conferencing, sometimes the application can lag, and users can experience connectivity problems during meetings.

When an internet connection is a little slow or unstable, users sometimes must turn off the video and use audio conferencing only to communicate.

Another feature some users find frustrating is toggling between accounts on Teams.

While you can toggle between accounts on Teams if you have more than one Microsoft account, it’s not always clear which account you’re accessing Teams through, and sometimes the toggle feature doesn’t work when you click into another account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that we’ve discussed the features, pricing, and pros and cons of Microsoft Teams, let’s sort through some of the most common questions Teams users have.

Wrapping Up

Microsoft Teams is an excellent application for communicating and collaborating with members of your work team.

As a business development manager, I have used Teams extensively and found its features to be highly effective at managing communications, fostering collaborative work, and ensuring work teams can move projects forward.

With Microsoft Teams, you will get a comprehensive work application chock full of features that will keep your team informed, active, and connected.

Have more thoughts on Microsoft Teams?

Leave a review in the review section below.

Day-to-day communications between people are made simple through advancing technology.

Smartphones, text messaging, and video conferencing are things we once deemed as “futuristic.”

Video calls are one of the most popular ways to keep in touch with others.

Virtual meeting platforms are moving to the forefront of society’s workforce as companies and businesses shift toward a more virtual working structure.

One such software is Google Meet, and countless users have found it to be an enjoyable experience.

What Is Google Meet?

Google Meet is Google Workspace’s application that provides instant video conferencing between individuals.

People use Google Meet for a variety of reasons.

Businesses can host daily meetings, while teachers can use it to teach virtual classes.

People can use it to connect with those they can’t meet in person.

In the world of social distancing, people have turned to Google Meet more than ever.

What was once software only specific people found useful has become an integral component of everyday life for many individuals.

What Is Google Meet Used For?

Google Meet helps people connect when meeting in person is not the ideal option.

The software provides people with ease of communication from just about anywhere.

People can create, start, or join virtual meetings from anywhere and on various devices.

Google Meet makes connection a little easier and safer for everyone involved.

How Google Meet Works

Google Meet works about as simply as any video conferencing software could.

It is one of the best options for software to help manage meetings.

Depending on your role (host or attendee), the experience may differ slightly.

Hosts create a meeting by opening their Google Calendar to create/schedule a call.

They may also head to the Google Meet main page and start a new meet from scratch.

Once a host starts a meeting, anyone invited may join.

People begin communicating as soon as they enter the meeting interface.

Hosts reserve all control over participants in the call and can end the meeting at any time.

While participants cannot access as many features as hosts, they will find the Google Meet interface user-friendly.

All those who use Google Meet will enjoy fast communication in a business-forward virtual environment.

Despite Google Meet giving businesses fantastic meeting spaces, people have found all types of purposes for virtual meeting software.

Notable Features of Google Meet

People trust the Google name for many things.

Google Meet adds to that trust by providing several key features in their meeting interface that users love.

1. Breakout Rooms

Meeting hosts or moderators can split their meeting attendees into small groups and send them into a private sidebar meeting to discuss topics and work together.

Attendees have all the same features in breakout rooms that they would if they were in the original meeting space.

Hosts enjoy the ability to pop in and out of any breakout room at any time.

Hosts may also set a timer for breakout rooms which effectively closes all rooms and brings all participants back to the original meeting space at their conclusion.

This feature is helpful for teachers who wish to provide group work time or businesses that split their employees into private committees.

2. Polls

Meeting moderators can host a poll for meeting attendees to vote on a particular topic.

The quick data gathered from these polls can provide the host with the information and data they need.

Participants may cast votes anonymously, or they can share their information, depending on settings put forth by the host.

Poll information gets deleted upon the meeting ending, but Google emails polling data to the host afterward.

3. Hand Raise

Sometimes, it’s good to know that participants have something to add to the discussion without the undesirable interruption of cutting conversation.

Google created the “hand raise” feature to allow participants to signify that they wish to speak.

Google Meet sends a small notification to the host without interrupting the flow of the meeting.

The host can “lower” everyone’s hands whenever they wish.

4. Attendance Tracking

Hosts can track who attended their meetings thanks to a new feature.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, Google sends the host an email with a link to a Google Sheet.

The sheet contains the name, emails, and timestamps of everyone who attended the meeting.

It lists the time attendees joined the call and the time in which they left for good.

Attendees who leave and rejoin multiple times won’t be marked any differently than those who were at the meeting consistently.

However, Google will include the duration of time a particular attendee logged into the call.

5. Live Streaming

Depending on the price plan purchased, hosts can live stream their Google Meet so people can watch a meeting without being active participants.

Moderators can control who has access to view the live stream during its broadcast.

Google allows recording of the live stream event, which means people can view the video later and as many times as they would like.

Are There Any Minimum Requirements Necessary to Use Google Meet?

The most basic requirement to use Google Meet as a participant is a device connected to the internet.

Users may join a meeting from their phone, laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.

Hosts must have a Google Workspace account before they can create a meeting.

How Much Does Google Meet Cost?

Depending on customer needs, Google Workspace offers a few plans to suit the needs of any potential user.

• Business Starter: The Business Starter package is Google Workspace’s basic plan. This package allows users to host meetings with a maximum of 100 participants. This plan also includes several other features of Google Workspace and costs $6 monthly per user.
• Business Standard: The Business Standard package slightly improves upon the Starter pack. This plan offers an additional 50 participants to host meetings and considerable extra cloud storage. Video recording is also available to people at this level, and the plan costs $12 monthly per user.
• Business Plus: The Business Plus plan is ideal for large corporations or companies. These subscribers can host a maximum of 500 participants in a single Google Meet. At this level, Google provides attendance tracking to hosts, and the plan costs $18 monthly per user.

Does Google Meet Have an Enterprise Version Available?

Yes, Google Workspace offers an Enterprise package to customers.

This package includes top-notch features of Google Meet, including noise-cancellation, live-streaming, and endless cloud storage.

Google doesn’t openly list prices for this plan.

Instead, they urge those interested to contact their sales department.

Who Are Google Meet’s Main Alternatives?

No company is without its competition.

Luckily, Google Meet has been proactive and stayed competitive in its market.

Here are the top competitors for Google Meet.

1. YouTube

YouTube has been a top competitor for any video application or software for over a decade.

The video streaming service is one of the most visited websites in history, and users can get lost for hours in endless content.

YouTube provides more than just binge-watching opportunities for users.

Live streaming is a key draw for the service, which can directly compete with one of Google Meet’s features.

However, YouTube does not offer any virtual meeting space, giving Google Meet an advantage.

2. Microsoft Teams

A competitor more on-level with Google Meet’s services is Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft launched its virtual meeting software in 2017 and paved the way for users with brand loyalty to host and attend meetings.

Microsoft Teams has many of the same features as Google Meet.

Meeting hosts can share screens and open chat rooms for participants to add input.

Microsoft Teams focuses on creating an environment where everyone has a voice.

This focus pays off well, but some of their features may turn potential clients away.

All participants can access certain features they do not have in Google Meet.

Host control is a feature Google Meet boasts more than Microsoft Teams.

3. Zoom

Perhaps the best-known name to emerge from the pandemic, Zoom has become a staple in many households in the 2020s.

Zoom is easily Google Meet’s biggest competitor.

Offering many of the same features as Google Meet, Zoom allows users to create, host, and attend virtual meetings from anywhere and on (almost) any device.

Despite this, Google Meet is among top-rated Zoom alternatives.

This is because many people already subscribe to Google Workspace or consistently use one (or many) other Google products daily.

How Does Google Meet Differentiate Itself From Competitors?

Google Meet is a subsidiary of Google Workspace.

When someone signs up for Google Workspace, they get more than just virtual meetings.

Customers of Google Workspace have instant access to word processing, spreadsheets, form creation, calendar organization, and so much more.

By signing up for Google, getting work done becomes simple and practical.

Who Is Google Meet Best For?

Google Meet is best for anyone who needs to host a virtual meeting.

No matter the meeting type or purpose, users will find the ease of access to an array of tools and features that aim to make connection easy.

Why Is Google Meet Best for Virtual Meetings?

With the trusted and familiar name of Google attached to the title, customers know they are in good hands.

Google is a pioneer in the realm of technology.

The company dedicates itself to progressive, proactive technology that works with and for the customer.

Google Meet is no exception to this.

Is Google Meet Easy To Use?

Anyone who has ever used Google Meet can attest to its simplicity.

Though its features may be vast, Google Meet is very easy to use.

Navigating the meeting interface is easy, and Google offers support to customers around the clock.

What Features Do Some Users Love?

While Google Meet offers many favorite features, here are two that truly stand out.

• Background Blur: While working from home can be nice, worrying about what is in the background can be annoying and time-consuming. Google Meet allows participants to blur their backgrounds so only the person in the camera is visible.
• Tiled Layout: It’s always nice to see who you are meeting! Google Meet allows a participant to see up to 49 people on their meeting screen at once. This feature allows participants to see each other, leading to more collaboration in meetings.

What Features Do Some Users Find Frustrating?

Even the best fall down sometimes.

Here are two things Google Meet users find frustrating.

• Screen Sharing: Sometimes, sharing part of your screen with others is necessary. While Google Meet offers this feature, it can lead to lagging and computer freezes. It can also be hard to discern between the options of sharing just one tab or the entirety of your screen.
• Limitations: When someone is not in the “trusted organization” of a meeting host, they must receive permission to enter the meeting. Hosts must approve every person who requests to join or needs access granted. This task can cause confusion and frustration for participants and hosts alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions about Google Meet and its features?

Here are the most typical questions asked about Google Meet.

Wrapping Up

As the world continues to find ways to communicate more effectively, we can be sure that virtual meetings are here to stay.

Google Meet has given the world an impressive treat in its ability to connect people near and far.

Users find joy in seeing their loved ones on their screens and also in being able to bring the office home.

Google Meet works to bring the world a little closer together from afar.

Please be sure to leave a review in the review section below.

Zoom might be the video conferencing tool for you.

Zoom is a powerful online meeting platform that makes it easy to connect with colleagues, clients, and customers.

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about Zoom.

We will discuss what Zoom is, how it works, its best features, and who can benefit from it the most.

What Is Zoom?

Zoom is a video conferencing tool that allows users to communicate with each other via audio and video.

You can download the Zoom app on any device, including laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

What Is Zoom Used For?

You can use Zoom for business meetings, online learning, webinars, and more.

Zoom is the perfect tool for long-distance communication.

How Zoom Works

The Zoom app is user-friendly.

Create a Zoom account and download the app on your device.

Once you have logged in, you can create a meeting.

You will then see and hear the other participants in the meeting.

You can also share your screen with others, which is perfect for presentations or webinars.

If you’re an attendee only, you don’t need to download anything.

You can click the link provided by the meeting’s creator to attend.

On a mobile device, however, downloading the Zoom app can improve the overall experience.

Notable Features of Zoom

Several features make Zoom stand out from other video conferencing tools.

Some of Zoom’s best features include the following.

1. High-quality Audio and Video

You’ll benefit from high-quality audio and video when using Zoom.

The platform uses HD video cameras to provide clear visuals, even in low lighting.

Zoom also includes noise-canceling microphones.

You can hear others clearly, even if there is background noise.

2. Screen Sharing

Zoom’s screen sharing feature lets you share your screen with other participants.

It is perfect for presentations or webinars.

Zoom also allows you share specific windows or applications, so others can see what you’re working on in real-time.

3. Record Meetings

Zoom offers the ability to record your meetings.

It is a way to save important information or review the meeting later.

You can also share the recordings with others who could not attend the meeting.

4. Breakout Rooms

Zoom’s breakout rooms let you divide participants into smaller groups.

Use this feature for team-building exercises or group projects.

Zoom will assign each person to a random room.

You can also manually choose which participants go into which room.

5. Group Chat

The group chat feature lets you communicate with participants during the meeting.

With group chat, you can share files or ask questions in real-time.

Zoom also offers private chats, so you can message specific participants without everyone seeing the conversation.

6. Scheduling Plugin

Zoom also offers a plugin for Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar.

The plugin lets you start or join Zoom meetings with one click.

You can also schedule Zoom meetings directly from your calendar.

7. End-to-End Encryption

End-to-end encryption is a security feature that encrypts Zoom meetings.

With end-to-end encryption, only participants have access to the meeting.

No one else can find and join the meeting.

8. Password Protection

Password protection is another security feature that Zoom offers.

With password protection, you can set a password for your Zoom meeting.

Only participants with the password can join the meeting.

For account logins, you can sign in securely using Facebook, Google, or single sign-on (SSO).

With the single sign-on feature, you’ll set up a second layer of protection.

For example, you can limit sign-in access only to those who can receive a text-messaged code.

9. Waiting Rooms

The Zoom waiting room is a way to control who joins your meeting.

So when you enable the waiting room feature, participants go into a holding area.

You can then admit them into the meeting one by one or all at once.

It’s a feature that works well for client calls you schedule back to back.

If one meeting runs over, you won’t see the new client suddenly appear, interrupt the call, and make the client you’re speaking to feel uncomfortable due to the new attendee.

You can also message people in the waiting room that you’re finishing a call and will be right with them.

Are There Any Minimum Requirements Necessary To Use Zoom?

Zoom is compatible with most devices.

You can use Zoom on your laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

All you need is a camera and microphone.

However, you do need to keep the following minimum requirements in mind for optimal performance:

• Single-core 1Ghz processor or higher
• 4 GB RAM isn’t required but recommended
• 600kbps or better bandwidth for 1:1 calls
• 2.6Mbps or better bandwidth for group video calls
• 50-75kbps or better bandwidth for screen sharing

Here are the browsers supported by Zoom:

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Microsoft Edge

How Much Does Zoom Cost?

Let’s review the Zoom pricing plans in more detail.

Basic Plan

You’ll get the following features when using the Basic plan:

• 40-minute time limit per call
• Up to 100 meeting attendees
• Three whiteboards
• Group chat
• File sharing

Cost: Free

Pro Plan

With the Pro plan, Zoom gives you everything from the Basic plan.

It also adds five GB of cloud storage.

The three editable boards come with 25MB of additional cloud storage.

The plan also removes the 40-minute time limit on calls.

With the Pro plan, you can run meetings for as long as needed.

Cost: $149.90/year/user

Business Plan

The Business plan adds the following features to everything that comes in the Pro plan:

• Host up to 300 meeting attendees
• Unlimited whiteboards
• Single sign-on capability
• Company branding
• Managed domains

Cost: $199.90/year/user

Business Plus Plan

Zoom gives you everything from the Business plan inside the Business Plan.

It also adds in these features:

• 10 GB of cloud recording storage
• Automated and translated captions
• Domestic SMS and MMS features
• Unlimited phone calling
• Automatic call queueing for call distribution groups

Cost: $250/year/user

Does Zoom Have an Enterprise Version Available?

Yes, Zoom offers an Enterprise plan.

You’ll need to contact the sales department for pricing information.

The plan opens up more features for larger businesses:

• Up to 1000 meeting attendees
• Outbound phone calls
• Webinar-style presentations
• Unlimited cloud storage

Zoom Promotions & Savings

Let’s review if Zoom offers any additional savings or promotions.

Does Zoom Have a Free Trial?

Yes, you can use the Basic plan as a forever-free trial period.

Does Zoom Offer Coupon Codes?

No, Zoom doesn’t offer coupon codes.

You will need to choose from one of its paid plans and adhere to its listed pricing options.

Does Zoom Have a Lifetime Deal?

No, Zoom doesn’t offer a lifetime deal.

Who Are Zoom’s Main Alternatives?

Zoom’s main alternatives are Cisco Webex, Google Meet, and Skype.

1. Webex

Webex is a web conferencing tool that offers many of the same features as Zoom.

It also includes a few unique features, like video messaging and breakout rooms on the free plan.

You can use Webex for live polling, recording team meetings, distributing post-meeting transcripts, and phone calls.

Zoom differentiates itself from Webex by offering more features for free.

For example, you can get the editable whiteboards on the free Zoom plan.

2. Google Meet

Google Meet is Zoom’s main competitor.

It offers many of the same features as Zoom, like HD video and audio, real-time captions, and screen sharing.

You can join a Google Meet meeting from your Gmail account or the Google Calendar app.

Similar to Zoom, you can also record meetings by upgrading to a paid plan.

As well, you can use breakout rooms and integrate Google Meet with various third-party apps.

Unlike Zoom, you can’t 300 to 1,000 people on your calls.

Google Meet caps out at 250 attendees on the paid plan.

3. Skype

Skype is a video conferencing tool that predates the launch of Zoom.

It offers many of the same features, like video and audio calling, screen sharing, and group chat.

You can use Skype on devices not supported by Zoom.

For example, Skype works on devices that support Alexa.

You can host Skype calls and meetings even without downloading the app.

You can use the web interface instead.

Skype integrates with all software offered by Microsoft.

It provides end-to-end encryption.

Zoom works better for larger organizations because it allows for more people to attend meetings.

You can only gather up to 50 people on a Skype call.

How Does Zoom Differentiate Itself From Competitors?

Zoom’s main differentiating factor is its attendee allowance.

Zoom allows anywhere from 100 to 1000 attendees, depending on your selected plan.

Who Is Zoom Best For?

Zoom works well for small businesses, remote teams, and educational institutions.

However, it’s best for larger organizations.

Why Is Zoom Best for Large Organizations?

Zoom allows for a larger number of attendees.

Consider using Zoom even if you don’t need 300 or more attendees on your calls.

If you plan to substantially grow your business, Zoom can grow with you.

Is Zoom Easy To Use?

Zoom is one of the easiest video conferencing tools to use.

The interface is straightforward, and you can join meetings with just a few clicks.

Zoom offers a mobile app that’s just as easy to use as the desktop app.

It also doesn’t require any downloads for participants.

What Features Do Some Users Love?

The top two features that most Zoom users love are ease of use and Zoom’s reliability.

Zoom is a tool that rarely goes down.

It’s this reliability that businesses count on to conduct team meetings, sales calls, and client meetings.

Business owners want remote calls to go off without a hitch and Zoom delivers well in this area.

In the past, some meeting apps created user concerns due to complicated downloads.

For example, GoToWebinar required people to download software to attend meetings.

That’s fine for the business owner or team member running the meeting.

However, it prevented some attendees from getting on calls when they got stuck inside download tech issues.

What Features Do Some Users Find Frustrating?

The top two features that some users find frustrating are the time limits on free calls and Zoom’s recording notice.

Zoom offers a 40-minute time limit on its free plan.

Once the 40 minutes run out, everyone gets kicked out of the meeting and must rejoin if they want to continue the conversation.

As a business, it looks unprofessional to restart meetings that must go longer.

Small businesses on a budget try to use Zoom for free and then become frustrated when they realize they must start paying for a plan.

When you’re at a Zoom meeting that you want to record, the software pops up a notice to all users.

While this benefits attendees for privacy reasons, it often frustrates Zoom call administrators because it interrupts the meeting when they select the “record” button.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may still have questions about Zoom.

Here are the answers to two commonly asked questions about the platform.

Wrapping Up

Zoom is a video conferencing tool that allows participants to join a meeting by clicking on a link.

You can record meetings for future reference.

Zoom also offers screen sharing, chat, and conference calling capabilities.

The best thing about Zoom is its simplicity.

If you’re ready to start using Zoom, we encourage you to try it for free.

After you use Zoom, please come back to leave a review in the comments below.