Comparison Guide
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom
Microsoft Teams and Zoom are the two leading video conferencing platforms. Teams is included with Microsoft 365 and provides broader collaboration, while Zoom focuses primarily on video meetings.
Quick Answer
Zoom wins for most buyers.
Included in M365 with broader collaboration features.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Teams | Zoom |
|---|---|---|
| Included In | Microsoft 365 subscriptions | Separate subscription |
| Chat & Messaging | Full persistent chat | In-meeting chat only |
| File Collaboration | SharePoint + OneDrive integrated | Limited file sharing |
| Phone System | Teams Phone add-on | Zoom Phone add-on |
| Meeting Quality | Excellent | Excellent |
| Third-Party Integration | Extensive M365 ecosystem | Broad integration marketplace |
Our Verdict
For Microsoft 365 environments, Teams is the better choice because it's included in the subscription and provides chat, calling, file sharing, and meetings in one platform. Zoom excels at pure video conferencing quality but adds another subscription cost.
Quick Picks
Which one should you pick?
Three buyer profiles, three answers. Pick the row that fits.
Microsoft 365 shops (most Arizona SMBs)
Pick: Microsoft Teams
You already pay for it. Business Basic at $7/user/month includes Teams chat, calling, and 300-participant meetings, plus the SharePoint and OneDrive file collaboration your team touches every day.
Get a Teams rollout quoteVideo-first or mixed-stack orgs
Pick: Zoom
Heavy external meetings, webinars, or a Google Workspace backbone? Zoom Workplace Pro adds 30-hour meetings, AI Companion at no extra cost, and a join flow outside guests already know.
Talk to a strategistLicensing-only / in-house IT
Pick: Either, licensed through Unio
We price and provision your M365 or Zoom Workplace licensing, configure Teams Phone or Zoom Phone, then hand the keys to your internal IT. No managed contract required.
Price out licensingWhy Work With Unio Digital?
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Specifications, pricing, and product capabilities cited on this page are sourced from public vendor documentation as of the dates shown below. Vendor product lines change quickly; verify current specs and pricing directly with each vendor before purchasing.
- Microsoft Teams chat, calling, and meetings are bundled in Microsoft 365 Business plans; Business Basic is $7.00 per user per month (paid yearly) with Teams included, and Microsoft also sells lower-priced no-Teams variants (Business Basic without Teams is $5.40). [source] · verified 2026-07-01
- Microsoft 365 Business plans host Teams meetings with up to 300 participants, enterprise E3/E5 plans raise that cap to 1,000, and Teams meetings, webinars, and town halls carry a 30-hour time limit. [source] · verified 2026-07-01
- Zoom's free Basic plan caps meetings at 40 minutes and 100 participants; paid Zoom Workplace Pro extends meetings to 30 hours at 100 participants, and the Business tier raises capacity to 300 participants. [source] · verified 2026-07-01
- Zoom Workplace Pro includes Zoom AI Companion at no additional cost, 10 GB of cloud recording storage per license, and 30-hour meeting duration, all on a subscription separate from Microsoft 365. [source] · verified 2026-07-01
- Zoom offers optional end-to-end encryption on both free and paid accounts, but enabling E2EE disables cloud recording, AI features, live transcription, and telephone/SIP dial-in; standard Zoom meetings use 256-bit AES-GCM encryption with keys managed by Zoom's servers. [source] · verified 2026-07-01
- NIST guidance on securing virtual meetings recommends waiting rooms, one-time PINs instead of reused access codes, limiting who can share their screen, and locking the meeting once all attendees are identified, regardless of which conferencing platform you run. [source] · verified 2026-07-01