Zoom vs RingCentral (2024 Comparison)
Zoom offers a seamless video conferencing experience with high-quality video and audio. Its user-friendly interface and robust breakout rooms make it a top choice for businesses seeking reliable communication solutions.
- High-quality video and audio
- User-friendly interface
- Robust breakout rooms
- Limited messaging features
- Basic phone services
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$13.32 per month per user
RingCentral provides a comprehensive communication suite, integrating messaging, video, and phone services. Its advanced features and robust phone services make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to streamline communication.
- Comprehensive communication suite
- Advanced messaging features
- Robust phone services
- Slight learning curve
- Occasional video glitches
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$10 per month per userWhat is Zoom?
Zoom is a leading video conferencing tool that has revolutionized the way we communicate. It offers seamless video, audio, and screen-sharing experiences across various devices. Whether you're hosting a business meeting, a webinar, or a virtual family gathering, Zoom provides a reliable platform with high-quality video and audio. Its user-friendly interface and robust features like breakout rooms, virtual backgrounds, and recording options make it a favorite among users. Zoom helps its customers stay connected, productive, and engaged, no matter where they are.
What is RingCentral?
RingCentral is a comprehensive communication platform that integrates messaging, video conferencing, and phone services into one unified solution. It caters to businesses of all sizes, offering tools that enhance collaboration and streamline communication. With RingCentral, you can host video meetings, send messages, and make calls from any device, ensuring you're always connected. Its robust features, such as team messaging, file sharing, and task management, help businesses improve productivity and efficiency. RingCentral is designed to simplify communication, making it easier for teams to work together, regardless of their location.
Pros and Cons of Zoom vs RingCentral
Pros & Cons of Zoom
- Zoom offers exceptional video and audio quality, ensuring clear communication during meetings. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that rely on virtual meetings to connect with clients and team members.
- Zoom's intuitive design makes it easy for users of all skill levels to navigate the platform. This ease of use is a significant advantage for businesses looking to implement a seamless communication solution.
- Zoom's breakout rooms feature allows participants to split into smaller groups for focused discussions. This functionality is ideal for workshops, training sessions, and collaborative meetings.
- While Zoom offers basic messaging capabilities, they are not as comprehensive as other platforms. Businesses that require advanced messaging features may need to consider additional tools.
- Zoom's phone services are not as robust as those offered by other communication platforms. Businesses that rely heavily on phone communication may need to explore alternative solutions.
Pros & Cons of RingCentral
- RingCentral offers a complete communication solution, integrating messaging, video, and phone services into one platform. This all-in-one approach is ideal for businesses looking to streamline their communication processes.
- RingCentral's messaging capabilities are extensive, allowing users to send messages, share files, and collaborate on tasks. This feature is particularly beneficial for teams that rely on messaging for communication.
- RingCentral's phone services are a standout feature, providing businesses with a reliable and comprehensive communication solution. Users can make calls, send messages, and host video meetings, all from the same platform.
- RingCentral's extensive features may require a learning curve for new users. Businesses should be prepared to invest time in training to fully leverage the platform's capabilities.
- Some users have reported occasional video glitches during meetings. While these issues are not widespread, they can impact the overall meeting experience for participants.
Zoom vs RingCentral: At A Glance
Zoom vs RingCentral: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Video Quality
Zoom is renowned for its exceptional video quality, providing clear and crisp visuals that enhance the meeting experience. Whether you're hosting a webinar or a virtual meeting, Zoom ensures that participants can see each other clearly, making communication more effective. RingCentral also offers high-quality video, but some users have reported occasional glitches. If video quality is a top priority for you, Zoom is the better choice.
Audio Clarity
Both Zoom and RingCentral offer excellent audio clarity, ensuring that participants can hear each other without any disruptions. Zoom's advanced audio settings allow users to optimize sound quality, making it ideal for important meetings. RingCentral also provides clear audio, but some users have experienced minor issues with background noise. If you need crystal-clear audio, Zoom is the preferred option.
Screen Sharing
Screen sharing is a crucial feature for virtual meetings, and both Zoom and RingCentral excel in this area. Zoom allows users to share their screens effortlessly, making it easy to present documents, slides, or applications. RingCentral also offers seamless screen sharing, with additional features like annotation tools. If you require advanced screen sharing capabilities, RingCentral is the superior choice.
Virtual Backgrounds
Zoom's virtual backgrounds feature is a favorite among users, allowing them to customize their meeting environment. Whether you want to hide a messy room or add a professional touch, Zoom's virtual backgrounds are easy to use and highly effective. RingCentral also offers virtual backgrounds, but the options are more limited. If you enjoy personalizing your meeting space, Zoom is the better option.
Breakout Rooms
Zoom's breakout rooms feature is a game-changer for collaborative meetings, allowing participants to split into smaller groups for focused discussions. This feature is particularly useful for workshops and training sessions. RingCentral also offers breakout rooms, but the setup process is slightly more complex. If you frequently host interactive meetings, Zoom's breakout rooms are the ideal choice.
Recording Options
Recording meetings is essential for future reference, and both Zoom and RingCentral provide robust recording options. Zoom allows users to record meetings locally or in the cloud, with easy access to playback. RingCentral also offers recording capabilities, with additional features like transcription services. If you need advanced recording options, RingCentral is the superior choice.
Messaging
RingCentral excels in messaging, offering a comprehensive platform for team communication. Users can send messages, share files, and collaborate on tasks, all within the same interface. Zoom also provides messaging features, but they are more limited in scope. If messaging is a key component of your communication strategy, RingCentral is the preferred choice.
Phone Services
RingCentral's phone services are a standout feature, providing a complete communication solution for businesses. Users can make calls, send messages, and host video meetings, all from the same platform. Zoom also offers phone services, but they are not as comprehensive as RingCentral's offerings. If you need a unified communication solution, RingCentral is the superior choice.
Pricing Comparison of Zoom and RingCentral
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Zoom and RingCentral. This comparison will highlight the best option for your communication needs.
Zoom Pricing Plans
- Team chat feature for seamless communication.
- Clips Basic allows 5 two-minute videos.
- Mail and Calendar client integration for better scheduling.
- Whiteboard Basic with 3 editable boards for collaboration.
- AI Companion for drafting messages and summarizing meetings.
- 5GB of cloud storage for storing meeting recordings.
- Unlimited Docs for sharing and collaboration.
- Clips Plus with unlimited video recording and sharing.
- Unlimited whiteboards for enhanced collaboration.
- Scheduler for efficient meeting management.
- Extras like SSO and managed domains for security.
- Local and 5GB cloud recording per license.
- Global Select phone service for international calls.
- Translated captions for multilingual meetings.
- Workspace reservations for efficient space management.
- Visitor management for enhanced security.
RingCentral Pricing Plans
- Whiteboard, content sharing, and annotations for collaboration.
- AI-powered meeting insights and transcriptions for better understanding.
- Collaborative notes to keep everyone on the same page.
- Full-featured mobile and browser experience for flexibility.
- Single sign-on for easy access and security.
- Advanced analytics for better decision making.
- End-to-end encryption (E2EE) for enhanced security.
- CRM and business app integrations for seamless workflow.
- AI-powered setup and execution for efficiency.
- Effortless guided setup for quick start.
- Private backstage for prep and debrief to ensure readiness.
- Interactive polling and Q&A for engagement.
- Wireless proximity share for seamless content sharing.
- Rooms as a phone system for integrated communication.
- Join 3rd party meetings for flexibility.
- Switch from mobile to room for continuity.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each communication tool, focusing on key factors like ease of use, functionality, and scalability. By analyzing user reviews and conducting extensive testing, we ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each factor is weighted by importance to deliver a reliable final rating, helping you make informed decisions.
Zoom or RingCentral: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Zoom If You Need ...
- User-friendly video conferencing
If you are a beginner or small business owner looking for an easy-to-use video conferencing tool, Zoom is the ideal choice. Its intuitive interface and high-quality video make it accessible to users of all skill levels.
- High-quality video and audio
If you prioritize exceptional video and audio quality for your meetings, Zoom is the better option. Its advanced settings ensure clear communication, making it perfect for important business meetings.
Choose RingCentral If You Need ...
- Comprehensive communication suite
If you need a unified communication solution that integrates messaging, video, and phone services, RingCentral is the superior choice. Its all-in-one platform streamlines communication processes for businesses.
- Advanced messaging features
If your business relies heavily on messaging for team communication, RingCentral is the preferred option. Its extensive messaging capabilities allow for seamless collaboration and task management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool offers better video quality, Zoom or RingCentral?
Is RingCentral's messaging feature more advanced than Zoom's?
Which tool is more user-friendly, Zoom or RingCentral?
Does RingCentral offer better phone services than Zoom?
Which tool offers better customer support, Zoom or RingCentral?
Is Zoom's breakout rooms feature better than RingCentral's?
Martin Lunendonk
Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.
