Our verdict
If you already pay for Microsoft 365, use Teams — it is effectively free and integrates with your files. Choose Zoom Workplace if you host many external meetings, prefer Google Workspace, or want Zoom Phone and webinars.
Zoom and Microsoft Teams are the two dominant meeting platforms. Teams is bundled into most Microsoft 365 business plans, which makes it the default for Microsoft shops. Zoom remains the reference for meeting quality and ease of joining, and has grown into Zoom Workplace with chat, phone, whiteboards and AI Companion.
ZW Choose Zoom Workplace if…
- External meetings with clients and guests are frequent
- You want the simplest join experience and strong meeting quality
- You want a cloud phone system alongside meetings
- Your team uses Google Workspace rather than Microsoft 365
Choose Microsoft Teams if…
- You already pay for Microsoft 365 Business Basic or Standard
- You want chat, meetings and files in one Microsoft workspace
- Collaboration happens in Word, Excel and SharePoint
- You want to avoid paying for a separate meeting tool
Side by side
| Criterion | Zoom Workplace | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 8.2 | 8.8 |
| Ease of use | 9.0 | 7.6 |
| Value for money | 8.4 | 8.8 |
| Support & reliability | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Security & privacy | 8.4 | 9.0 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Starting price (indicative) | Free; Pro from around $13 / user / month | Free; Teams Essentials from around $4 / user / month |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Best for | Teams that meet externally a lot | Microsoft 365 organisations |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Zoom Workplace | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — 40-minute meetings | Yes — limited |
| Paid price (indicative) | Zoom Pro ~ $13.30 / user / month | Teams Essentials ~ $4; M365 Basic ~ $6 |
| Persistent chat and channels | Team Chat | Yes, core |
| File collaboration | Docs; integrates with Google/Microsoft | SharePoint / OneDrive built in |
| Webinars and events | Strong (add-on) | Webinars and town halls (tiered) |
| Cloud phone | Zoom Phone (add-on) | Teams Phone (add-on) |
| AI assistant | AI Companion included on paid plans | Copilot (paid add-on) |
| Best fit | External meetings, Google shops | Microsoft 365 organisations |
Pricing compared
ZW Zoom Workplace
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | 40-minute meetings |
| Pro | ≈ $13.30 / user / mo | Monthly |
| Business | ≈ $18.30 / user / mo | Monthly |
| Business Plus | ≈ $22.50 / user / mo | Monthly |
Microsoft Teams
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Limited |
| Teams Essentials | ≈ $4 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | ≈ $6 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | ≈ $12.50 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Team size | Zoom Workplace | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seats | $67 (Pro) | $20 (Teams Essentials) |
| 10 seats | $133 (Pro) | $40 (Teams Essentials) |
| 25 seats | $333 (Pro) | $100 (Teams Essentials) |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Bundling
Teams is included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic (around $6 per user per month) and Standard (around $12.50), so many businesses already own it. Zoom Workplace Pro is around $13.30 per user per month on top of whatever productivity suite you use.
Meeting experience
Zoom is known for reliable quality, simple joining and strong webinar options. Teams meetings are solid and improving, with deep integration into Outlook and Microsoft 365 files.
Chat and collaboration
Teams is a full collaboration hub — channels, chat, files and apps — built on SharePoint. Zoom Team Chat is capable but fewer organisations use it as their primary workspace.
Phone
Zoom Phone is a popular, straightforward cloud phone system. Teams Phone is available as an add-on or in some bundles and suits Microsoft-centric companies.
Free plans
Zoom Basic limits meetings to 40 minutes. Microsoft Teams (free) also has limits on meeting length and features. Both work for occasional use but not for businesses.
Pros & cons
ZW Zoom Workplace
- Very reliable meetings
- AI Companion included on paid plans
- Easy for guests to join
- Chat and docs less mature
- Add-ons for phone and webinars
Microsoft Teams
- Included with many Microsoft 365 plans
- Meetings, chat and files in one
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Can feel heavy and complex
- Search less loved than Slack
Key features of each
ZW Zoom Workplace
- Meetings. HD video, recording and breakout rooms.
- AI Companion. Summaries and next steps.
- Team Chat. Persistent chat.
- Whiteboard & Docs. Collaborative canvases and documents.
Integrates with: Google Calendar, Outlook, Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot.
Microsoft Teams
- Chat & channels. Team conversations with threads.
- Meetings. Video meetings and webinars.
- Files. SharePoint-backed file collaboration.
- Copilot. AI assistance with an add-on licence.
Integrates with: Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Planner, Salesforce, Asana.
Who should avoid each
ZW Skip Zoom Workplace if…
- Teams wanting one suite for email and docs
- Microsoft-standardised firms
Best for: Teams that meet externally a lot; Webinars and client calls; Businesses wanting AI meeting summaries.
Skip Microsoft Teams if…
- Google Workspace teams
- Teams wanting a lightweight chat app
Best for: Microsoft 365 organisations; Teams needing chat plus meetings; Businesses with compliance needs.
Switching between Zoom Workplace and Microsoft Teams
Migration difficulty: Easy
Meeting tools are easy to swap; chat history and phone numbers take more care. Port phone numbers before cancelling any phone service.
- Decide where chat and files will live after the switch.
- Install the new client and calendar add-ins for everyone.
- Update recurring meeting links and booking pages.
- Port phone numbers if moving phone systems.
- Export chat history you need for records, then cancel the old plan.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Zoom Workplace | 8.2 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 8.44 |
| 2. Microsoft Teams | 8.8 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 8.42 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is Teams free with Microsoft 365?
Teams is included in most Microsoft 365 business plans. In some regions Microsoft also sells suites without Teams, so check the plan you buy.
Is Zoom better quality than Teams?
Zoom has a reputation for consistent meeting quality and easy joining. Teams has closed much of the gap, so the bigger difference is ecosystem.
Can Zoom and Teams interoperate?
Both can join each other's meetings through browsers or interoperability features, but the experience is best within each platform.
Which is better for webinars?
Zoom's webinar and events products are more established, though Teams offers webinars and town halls for Microsoft customers.
Does Zoom Workplace or Microsoft Teams have a free plan?
Zoom Workplace has a free plan; Microsoft Teams has a free plan. Indicative starting prices: Zoom Workplace — Free; Pro from around $13 / user / month; Microsoft Teams — Free; Teams Essentials from around $4 / user / month.
Which is cheaper for a team of 10, Zoom Workplace or Microsoft Teams?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users costs about $133 per month on Zoom Workplace (Pro) and about $40 on Microsoft Teams (Teams Essentials), so Microsoft Teams is cheaper at that size. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded — and the plan you actually need may be higher.
Which scores higher in our review, Zoom Workplace or Microsoft Teams?
Zoom Workplace scores 8.4/10 and Microsoft Teams 8.4/10 on our weighted rubric. Zoom Workplace leads on 2 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
