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Zoom Meetings: Review, Pricing, and Alternatives

Zoom Meetings: Review, Pricing, and Alternatives

Online meeting platforms have become essential tools for remote communication especially during the pandemic, with several options available in the market. One name in this space is Zoom, which gained significant traction during the global pandemic.

Zoom Meetings, launched in 2013, is a platform for real-time communication and remote collaboration. Founded by Eric Yuan, a former Cisco executive.

As the world adapts to evolving work and communication norms, many users continue or feel stuck to utilize Zoom for their video conferencing needs. However, the market offers various alternatives, each with its own set of features and capabilities.

Well, let’s have a vivid view of Zoom Meetings, along with its features, limitations, pricing, and reviews.

Zoom Meetings

Come on. We all have at least once in our lives been on a Zoom meeting - thanks to pandemic, so we know what goes on in and around one.

Zoom Meetings is a video conferencing service for virtual connections through video and audio calls. It is used in personal, educational, and professional contexts, for communication and collaboration across distances. Users can access meetings on various devices. 

By allowing face-to-face interactions from different locations, Zoom Meetings tries to maintain connections in a digital world. Zoom Meetings integrates with some calendar apps to assist with scheduling and sending reminders. The platform includes a recording feature that allows meetings to be captured for future reference or shared with those who could not attend live. Zoom Meetings provides functionalities such as polling and Q&A sessions.

Features of Zoom Meetings:

  • Video & Audio: Clear video and audio communication for a sense of presence in virtual meetings.
  • Screen Sharing: Share presentations and demonstrations and collaborate in real-time.
  • Virtual Backgrounds: Create a professional setting during meetings.
  • Flexible Participant Numbers: Cater to small team huddles or office meetings where all have to interact.
  • Breakout Rooms: Helps in discussions within a meeting for brainstorming or subgroup tasks.
  • Chat Functionality: Communicate with participants through text chat.
  • Calendar Integration: Scheduling and reminders with integration to some calendar applications.
  • Recording Capabilities: Capture meetings for future reference or share with attendees who couldn't join live and it stays on cloud as long as you are a paid user.
  • Polling & Q&A: Provides presentations or workshops with features like polling and Q&A sessions (available in some plans).

Limitations of Zoom Meetings:

  • Technical Glitches: Users frequently encounter technical issues such as long idling times to open the app, difficulties in joining calls, and slow loading of background screens or videos.
  • Security Concerns: Zoom has been plagued by historical issues like "Zoom bombing" and data routing through China over the years. In September 2023, Zoom faced a massive backlash after it changed its policies to use users’ calls to train its AI model, breaching privacy. 
  • Forceful Upgrades: Many users feel pressured by Zoom’s constant prompts to upgrade to more expensive plans. Zoom's unexpected addition of VAT after payment confirmation has frustrated many users.
  • Issues with Mac: Mac users have experienced issues with Zoom, such as camera malfunctions and screen-sharing problems, which disrupt video conferences and collaborative sessions.
  • Integration Challenges: While Zoom integrates with few popular calendar apps, complex workflows or integrations with specific enterprise software require additional effort, as users have reported.
  • Resource Drain: Zoom is hard on system resources because it requires a high processing capacity. This means that it can quickly run down a battery if the computer or phone is not plugged in.
  • Poor Customer Support: A significant disadvantage of Zoom Meetings is the reportedly poor customer service. Users often find themselves in a labyrinth of automated responses.
  • Untimely Software Upgrades: One of the issues with which people have been most agitated was the untimely software updates which Zoom forces, giving people unnecessary delays to important meetings or calls.
  • Zoom Fatigue: Prolonged use can lead to "Zoom fatigue," a phenomenon where users feel drained and less productive when using Zoom.
  • Limited Features on Free Plan: Some advanced features are only available on paid plans, restricting functionality for free users.

Learn in detail about Zoom features and Zoom limitations.

Zoom Meetings Pricing:

Zoom offers several pricing tiers for its Meetings platform:

  1. Basic(Free)
  • Host up to 100 participants
  • 40-minute limit on group meetings
  • Unlimited 1:1 meetings
  • Basic features included
  1. Pro ($12.49/month/license)
  • All Basic features
  • Meeting duration up to 30 hours
  • Social media streaming
  • 5 GB cloud recording
  1. Business ($18.32/month/license):
  • All Pro features
  • Up to 300 participants
  • Single sign-on
  • Company branding
  • Cloud recording transcripts
  1. Enterprise (For Pricing, contact Sales):
  • All Business Features
  • Up to 1,000 participants
  • Unlimited cloud storage
  • Dedicated customer success manager

We have a detailed article on Zoom pricing.

Top 10 Alternatives for Zoom Meetings

These are the top alternatives for Zoom Meetings: Feta, Cisco Webex Meetings, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meeting, Discord, Pumble, Lark, Skype, Jitsi Meet.

  1. Feta
  2. Cisco Webex Meetings
  3. Google Meet
  4. Microsoft Teams
  5. GoTo Meeting
  6. Discord
  7. Pumble
  8. Lark
  9. Skype
  10. Jitsi Meet

Let’s go through each alternative one by one.

Feta

Feta is an AI-native video conferencing tool that automates the end-to-end meeting workflow and maintains relevant context. Unlike Zoom, which operates in silos, Feta takes care of the pre-and post-meeting workflows from MoM, updates on project management tools, building a knowledge library and more so you can free up your headspace and sharpen your perspective.

Key Features:

  • AI-Powered Summaries: Capture essential points and action items for quick review and better team alignment.
  • Real-Time Translation and Transcription: Overcome language barriers and promote inclusivity in global teams.
  • Integrated Calendars and Agenda Planners: Simplify scheduling and keep meetings focused and on track.
  • Deeper Integrations: If you use Google Workspace, Linear, Slack, and a video conferencing app a couple of times a day, Feta is for you; it lets you integrate with them seamlessly for a better workflow.
  • Interactive Collaboration Tools: Utilize a digital whiteboard and document viewers for dynamic brainstorming and idea sharing.

With Feta, every meeting becomes a productive step toward achieving your team's goals.

Shifting to an unfamiliar communication tool can be daunting, but Feta strives to make the switch seamless. Feta is offering a trial period of up to 90 days at no cost, mirroring users' current Zoom subscriptions. To access this offer, users simply need to fill out this online form.

We have drafted a very fair comparison of Zoom vs.Feta.

Pricing

Feta is currently running an exclusive Alpha program with limited availability. This program offers select users the opportunity to experience Feta's advanced collaboration tools firsthand. Participants may receive individualized support, tailored solutions, and assistance in integrating Feta with their existing workflows. Those interested in this limited access opportunity are encouraged to submit an application.

Cisco Webex Meetings

Cisco Webex is a virtual communication platform used for meetings, webinars, and team collaboration. The service offers features including customizable layouts, screen sharing, meeting recording, and broadcasting capabilities.

Key functionalities of Cisco Webex are video conferencing, messaging, and file sharing.

Cisco Webex also has limitations which includes a maximum of six video streams in both directions, which does not suffice for larger meetings. Users have reported experiencing longer load times after significant platform upgrades.

Pricing for Cisco Webex starts at $14.50 per host per month.

Here's a very honest and fair comparison on how Feta leads over Webex in Cisco Webex vs. Feta.

We have created a handy list of top Cisco Webex alternatives.

Zoom vs. Webex entails how these two applications compares.

Google Meet

Google Meet is also a video conferencing platform that facilitates virtual meetings and collaboration. It comes with features such as high-definition video and audio, screen sharing capabilities, and integration with Google Workspace applications. The platform is accessible through web browsers and mobile devices.

Google Meet has several limitations like including restricted grid view options in large meetings and time limits on meeting duration for free accounts. Users encounter compatibility issues with certain web browsers.

Google Meet offers a free version with basic features. Paid plans, starting at $6 per user per month.

If Google Meet is not satisfying your needs anymore, you should look for top Google Meet alternatives.

Check out this fair comparison of Google Meet vs. Feta.

Also check out these honest and truthful comparisons - Zoom vs. Google Meet and Google Meet vs. Microsoft Teams.

See how Google Meet's pricing compares to that of Zoom's in Zoom vs. Google Meet pricing.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a platform for team communication and collaboration. It brings together chat, video calls, and file sharing in one place. Users can use real-time messaging, video meetings, and easy access to Microsoft 365 apps.

However, some users find Teams a bit tricky to learn at first. There are frequent hiccups in video calls, and you can't customize everything to your liking. 

Teams offers a free version with basic features. If you need more, paid plans start at $4 per user monthly. For larger businesses, there are enterprise options from $12.50 per user monthly.

If you interested, here's a handy list of top Microsoft Teams alternatives.

We have created a very honest comparison of Microsoft Teams vs. Feta.

Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams is a fair and honest comparison of the two.

Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams pricing, compares the pricing plan of the two applications.

GoTo Meeting

GoTo Meeting is a video conferencing solution used for online meetings and collaboration. GoTo Meeting offers high-quality video and audio conferencing, screen sharing, mobile compatibility, and calendar app integration.

It has certain limitations which include limited features in the free plan, high bandwidth requirements, and a complex user interface for new users.

Pricing starts at $12 per monthly organizer, with custom enterprise plans available for larger organizations.

You should look for top GoToMeeting alternatives, if it does not satisfy your needs anymore.

‍Zoom vs. GoToMeeting showcases how these two app compares to each other.

Discord

Discord is a communication platform for gamers, communities, and businesses, offering voice chat, video conferencing, and text messaging on scalable servers. Discord supports collaboration, social networking, and community engagement.

Key features include real-time communication, multimedia sharing in customizable servers, and integrations with gaming platforms and productivity tools.

Discord has a very steep learning curve, privacy concerns have been raised by its users, and limited customer support for free users.

Discord's core features are free, while Discord Nitro, a premium subscription at $9.99 per month, provides additional perks like high-quality screen sharing and animated emojis.

Pumble

Pumble, a team communication application is a Zoom Meetings alternative used for collaboration and productivity through instant messaging, file sharing, task management, and integration with productivity tools. Pumble offers real-time communication, file-sharing capabilities, task management, and a centralized hub for teamwork.

Pumble has a very limited customization, a learning curve for new users, and reliance on a high-bandwidth internet connection.

Pumble provides a free plan with essential features, while the Pro plan, at $2.49 per user per month, offers advanced features like guest access, integrations, and unlimited message history.

Lark

Lark is a digital collaboration tool which teams use for communication with features like messaging, video conferencing, collaborative documentation, and project management. Lark offers real-time messaging, virtual meetings, team editing tools, and progress tracking.

Lark has limited customization options and frequent connectivity issues during video calls.

Lark offers a free plan with essential tools, while the paid plan at $12 per user per month provides advanced features like increased cloud storage and longer video meeting durations.

Skype

Skype, a communication platform, is also a Zoom Meetings alternative that provides video calling, messaging, and voice chat for individuals and businesses. Skype includes face-to-face video calls, voice chat, screen sharing, and group calls.

Apart from repeated connectivity issues, limited customization options, security concerns, and high bandwidth usage it has been now out of the limelight because Microsoft's addition of excessive features diluted Skype's core strengths and brand.

Skype offers free basic services, while features like international calling and SMS are available through subscriptions starting at $2.99 per month.

Check out top Skype alternatives for top Skype alternatives.

Skype vs. Feta, showcases in an honest way how Feta takes the lead.

Jitsi Meet

Jitsi Meet is an open-source video conferencing platform that provides secure communication, customizable meeting rooms, screen sharing, and document editing.

Jitsi Meet needs a really good internet connectivity. It has very less advanced features than other paid platforms, interface complexities for new users, and scaling challenges for large meetings.

Jitsi Meet is free, providing its range of features at no cost.

Zoom Meetings Reviews

Zoom is a functional tool designed to facilitate basic video communication needs. It integrates adequately with standard office tools like calendars and collaborative platforms, providing a reliable solution for straightforward meetings and discussions.

Zoom is not the standard, we all know it in our hearts, and so do Zoom users. Users have experienced several issues with Zoom, including leaving and re-entering meetings to resolve screen-sharing problems and being randomly dropped from calls due to poor internet compatibility. Additionally, service disruptions have occurred despite timely payments, resulting in lost income and frustration. Poor customer support has exacerbated these issues, with unresolved problems such as cancelled subscriptions due to system errors. Furthermore, frequent freezes during important meetings and limited options for resolving these issues have added to user dissatisfaction.

So, it will not be wrong to say it now - ”Zoom is Out of Style”.

Also refer to That's what you said, it's a collection of issues, Zoom users had and ended up posting it on platforms like - Reddit, X (Twitter), G2, etc.

Host Better Meetings with Feta

Virtual meetings have become a staple of our daily work routine, yet they remain one of the most draining activities. Beyond the obvious shortcomings—uninspiring interfaces, inconvenient updates, difficult integrations, and lackluster AI capabilities—there's a more significant issue at play: meeting tools often function in isolation. This disconnect from our other essential work tools creates a fragmented and frustrating user experience.

That's why we're developing Feta—an AI-native video conferencing tool designed to automate the entire meeting workflow while preserving relevant context. Plus, it boasts a sleek, modern UI/UX that you'd expect in 2024.

This app includes features such as precise AI-generated smart summaries, action items, real-time transcripts, translations, auto-tagged discussions, task management, a searchable knowledge library, and more.

We are now rolling out early access to Feta every day to limited users, so in case you are interested - just let us know :)

Migrating from Zoom to Feta

We understand adopting an unfamiliar communication platform may seem daunting, but Feta strives to smooth the transition. They provide a complimentary 90-day trial that matches your existing Zoom subscription. To access this offer, users need to complete this brief online form.

Wondering about how Feta compares to Zoom? A comprehensive, objective analysis breaks down both services side by side. This detailed Zoom vs. Feta comparison entails key features of each platform, helping you determine which option best aligns with your requirements.

We're now offering early access to a select group of users. Join our pioneer program to experience Feta free for three months.

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