Google Meet VS. Zoom: Which Video Conferencing Platform is Superior? [2023]

In the realm of video conferencing, Zoom has undeniably dominated the landscape. However, Google Meet (formerly Google Hangouts) presents itself as a compelling alternative with practical features tailored to the Google ecosystem. Moreover, considering the reputation and stability of Google as a company, it’s safe to say it’s here to stay.

So, when deciding between these two video conferencing platforms, which one should you choose? Drawing from my personal experience using both extensively, including exploring their advanced functionalities, I will outline the strengths and weaknesses of each. Read on to discover the breakdown of Google Meet vs. Zoom.

Google Meet vs. Zoom: A Quick Overview In general terms:

Google Meet is most suitable for small organizations and individuals seeking a user-friendly video conferencing solution that seamlessly integrates with Google Drive.

Zoom is better suited for larger organizations with strict security requirements, accommodating a greater number of participants, and offering advanced controls for hosts.

Both Google Meet and Zoom provide a wide array of sought-after video conferencing tools, such as screen and app sharing, meeting recordings, meeting transcripts, chat functionality, participant spotlight, and virtual backgrounds.

When it comes to meeting capacity, Zoom supports up to 1,000 participants, while Google Meet caps at 250. However, both platforms impose relatively tight time limits for group meetings in their free plans. Zoom allows up to 40 minutes for free users, whereas Google Meet offers up to one hour.

While breakout rooms and meeting recordings are available across all Zoom plans, they are only accessible on paid plans with Google Meet. Additionally, polling features require a paid plan on both platforms.

For accessibility purposes, Google Meet incorporates built-in tools for live closed captions, whereas Zoom provides a similar feature and also allows integration with third-party captioning solutions. Moreover, intelligent noise cancellation is offered by Google Meet on all its paid plans, while Zoom exclusively provides this feature through its desktop client for Windows and macOS.

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Zoom includes built-in appearance and lighting filters across all plans, while Google Meet users can access these features via a downloadable Google Chrome extension. Whiteboards and waiting rooms come as standard with all Zoom plans, but Google Meet requires Chrome extensions for these functionalities.

Regarding cloud storage for recordings, Google Meet outshines Zoom. Paid Google Meet users receive 30 GB to unlimited storage on Google Drive, while even free users enjoy 15 GB of storage. On the other hand, free Zoom users do not have access to cloud storage, and paid users are limited to 1 GB per user on Zoom’s Pro and Business plans. Zoom Enterprise clients, however, benefit from unlimited cloud storage.

In conclusion, the choice between Google Meet and Zoom depends on your specific needs and preferences. Google Meet caters well to small organizations and individuals, prioritizing user-friendliness and seamless integration with Google Drive. Conversely, Zoom excels for larger organizations seeking heightened security measures and advanced control options. Consider these factors, along with the features outlined, to determine which video conferencing platform aligns best with your requirements.

Zoom vs. Google Meet Table Comparison.

Google Meet vs. Zoom: A Comparison

This table provides a comparison of the key features offered by Google Meet and Zoom. It highlights the differences in target audience, integration with Google Drive, meeting capacity, time limits for free plans, availability of breakout rooms, meeting recordings, polling, live closed captions, intelligent noise cancellation, appearance and lighting filters, whiteboards, waiting rooms, and cloud storage.

Features	Google Meet	Zoom
Target Audience	Small organizations and individuals	Larger organizations with stricter security expectations
Integration with Google Drive	Integrated	Not integrated
Meeting Capacity	Up to 250 participants	Up to 1,000 participants
Free Plan Time Limit	Up to one hour for group meetings	Up to 40 minutes for group meetings
Breakout Rooms	Paid plans only	Available on all plans
Meeting Recordings	Paid plans only	Available on all plans
Polling	Paid plans only	Paid plans only
Live Closed Captions	Built-in	Built-in (can also use third-party integration)
Intelligent Noise Cancellation	Available on paid plans	Available through desktop client for Windows and macOS
Appearance and Lighting Filters	Available through Google Chrome extension	Built-in
Whiteboards	Requires Google Chrome extension	Standard
Waiting Rooms	Requires Google Chrome extension	Standard
Cloud Storage	15 GB for free users, 30 GB to unlimited for paid users	1 GB per user for Pro and Business plans, unlimited for Enterprise clients