Zoom
Review · Video Conferencing · Freemium
About Zoom
Zoom is the most widely recognized video conferencing platform, known for its reliability, ease of use, and feature-rich meetings. From quick team check-ins to large webinars with thousands of attendees, Zoom scales to meet virtually any video communication need.
The platform offers HD video and audio, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and recording capabilities. Zoom Apps allow third-party integrations directly within meetings, enhancing productivity without leaving the video call.
Zoom has continuously evolved with features like Zoom Team Chat, Zoom Whiteboard, and AI companion for meeting summaries. Its robust security features include end-to-end encryption, waiting rooms, and meeting passwords, making it suitable for sensitive business communications.
Our Take on Zoom
Verdict: Zoom is still the most reliable, universally familiar video meeting tool. Guests know how to join, quality holds up on weak connections, and webinar and phone add-ons scale with you. For an internal remote team already paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, though, Meet or Teams are often "free". Buy Zoom when meetings with outsiders, webinars, or call quality justify a separate line item.
Pricing
| Plan | Annual (per user/month) | Monthly | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | Free | 40-minute meetings, 100 participants, limited AI Companion |
| Pro | $14.16 | $16.99 | 30-hour meetings, 100 participants, 10GB cloud recording |
| Business | $18.33 | $21.99 | 300 participants, unlimited whiteboards, admin controls |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | 1,000+ participants, Zoom Phone, unlimited cloud recording |
AI Companion (meeting summaries and queries) is included on paid plans, with a small monthly cap on Basic.
Who actually needs a licence: only people who host meetings longer than 40 minutes. In a 30-person remote company, a handful of managers and client-facing staff with Pro licences is often enough.
Where Zoom shines
- Reliability and familiarity, especially with clients and candidates.
- Scales up to webinars, events and phone systems.
- Cloud recording and AI summaries on paid plans.
Where it falls short
- 40-minute free limit on group meetings.
- Duplicate cost if your suite already includes Meet or Teams.
- Another app compared with browser-first tools.
Choose Zoom if
- You meet often with external guests and want the most familiar experience
- You need webinars or large meetings
Avoid Zoom if
- You're on Google Workspace. Google Meet is included
- You're on Microsoft 365. Teams is included
- You mostly send updates. Replace meetings with Loom
Compare: Zoom vs Google Meet, Loom vs Zoom, Slack vs Zoom. See Zoom alternatives.
Sources (checked 2026-10-09)
Key Features
- ✓HD video and audio
- ✓Breakout rooms for group work
- ✓Virtual backgrounds and touch-ups
- ✓Screen sharing and annotations
- ✓Cloud and local recording
- ✓Zoom Apps for in-meeting integrations
Pricing
Basic
$0
- • 40-minute meetings
- • 100 participants
Pro
$14.16/user/mo (annual)
- • 30-hour meetings
- • 10GB cloud recording
Business
$18.33/user/mo (annual)
- • 300 participants
- • Admin controls
Other Video Conferencing Tools
Google Meet
Video conferencing integrated with Google Calendar and Workspace
Microsoft Teams
Chat, video calls, and file sharing integrated with Microsoft 365
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zoom still free?
Yes, Zoom offers a free plan with 100 participants and 40-minute limit on group meetings. 1-on-1 meetings have no time limit.
How many people can join a Zoom meeting?
Free and Pro plans support 100 participants. Business plans support up to 300, and Enterprise plans can accommodate up to 1,000 participants.
Is Zoom secure for business meetings?
Yes, Zoom now offers end-to-end encryption, waiting rooms, meeting passwords, and other security features. Early security issues have been addressed.
Quick Verdict
Video meetings, webinars, and virtual events platform
92/100 · Excellent
Pros
- ✓Most reliable video platform
- ✓Easy to join meetings
- ✓Feature-rich for all use cases
Cons
- ✗40-minute limit on free tier
- ✗Can be expensive for small teams
- ✗Security concerns in early versions
Compare With