Microsoft Teams vs Zoom
Microsoft Teams and Zoom are both team communication tools. Microsoft Teams is aimed at enterprise and small businesses, while Zoom is aimed at small businesses and enterprise. Microsoft Teams costs less, from $4/mo versus $16.99/mo for Zoom. Both have a free plan.
Microsoft's chat, meetings and calling hub inside Microsoft 365
Video meetings that became a verb
| Pricing | Freemium · $4 | Freemium · $17 |
| Starting price | $4/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Enterprise, Small businesses | Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, ios, android | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2017 | US · 2011 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Microsoft Teams if
Organisations already standardised on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings and files in one governed platform.
- Included in most Microsoft 365 business plans at no extra cost
- Deep integration with Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive and Office
- Strong security, compliance and identity management via Entra ID
Look elsewhere if: Startups and developer teams that prefer fast chat and a large third-party app ecosystem, or Google Workspace users (Slack, Google Meet).
Choose Zoom if
Organizations that need reliable external video meetings and are not fully on Google or Microsoft suites.
- Most reliable video quality and familiarity
- AI Companion included on paid plans
- Expanding suite for chat, phone and docs
Look elsewhere if: Teams already on Workspace or Microsoft 365 for whom Meet or Teams is included.
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom pricing
Microsoft Teams
- Teams (free)$0Personal use; 60-minute group calls, up to 100 people
- Teams Essentials$4/user/moAnnual commitment; standalone meetings and chat
- M365 Business Basic$7/user/moAnnual commitment; Teams plus web Office, email, 1 TB
- M365 Business Standard$14/user/moAnnual commitment; adds desktop Office apps, webinars
- M365 Business Premium$22/user/moAnnual commitment; adds Intune and advanced security
Zoom
- Basic$040-minute meetings, 100 participants
- Pro$16.99/user/mo$14.16/mo billed annually; 30-hour meetings, 100 participants
- Business$21.99/user/mo$18.33/mo billed annually; 300 participants
- EnterpriseCustomUp to 1,000 participants
Microsoft Teams · Key features
- Persistent channels, group chats and threaded conversations
- Video meetings with recording, transcription and live captions
- Webinars and town halls for large internal and external audiences
- Microsoft 365 Copilot recaps, chat summaries and drafting
- Real-time co-editing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in chats
- Teams Phone add-on for cloud PBX calling
Cons
- Heavier and slower than Slack for fast chat
- File and permission model follows SharePoint and can confuse users
- Best features such as Copilot and Premium cost extra
Zoom · Key features
- HD meetings with breakout rooms, polls and reactions
- AI Companion: meeting summaries, smart recordings, drafting
- Team Chat, Phone, Whiteboard, Docs and Clips
- Webinars, Events and Rooms
- Scheduler and calendar integrations
- Marketplace with 2,500+ apps
Cons
- Free plan 40-minute limit
- Suite features less mature than Slack or Google
- Multiple add-ons for webinars, phone, rooms
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams or Zoom?
Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo and Zoom at $16.99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Microsoft Teams and Zoom have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft Teams and Zoom have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.