Comparing Google Meet to Microsoft Teams and Zoom

Comparing Google Meet to Microsoft Teams and Zoom

Video calls have become the norm for businesses and individuals alike since the pandemic hit. The global video conferencing market stood at approximately $4.8 billion in 2019 and will reach $9.2 billion by 2026. Many service providers have entered the market, and the trend is likely to continue.

Video conferencing influences the functionality of companies. It has also helped keep schools afloat with their learning and teaching activities. People and businesses have various options to choose from to remain connected with business partners, friends, or colleagues.

The three most popular platforms in use right now are Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. While they all have the common capability of video calls and messaging, they differ in other features. As such, the differences may make one option better over the other. Keep reading for insights on what to look for when choosing among them.

Google Meet 

Google Meet is the recently rebranded Google Hangouts Meet. It is solely a video conferencing platform that attracts over 100 million daily participants, including corporate and G Suite enterprise clients. The platform can support large meetings with up to 250 participants per call. The platform is integrated with G Suite products like Google Drive and Gmail.

Google recently said that it will enable free access to different communication and video conferencing tools for businesses and schools. The primary features of the platform include:

• Live chats
• Screen sharing
• Optional hardware for conference room support
• Integration with Microsoft Office and Google calendars
• Custom layouts and screen settings
• Encryption and security features

The interface is light and super intuitive, and starting or joining a meeting is easy. It requires no software installation, but mobile users will have a better experience by downloading the corresponding app. It is also accessible via Mozilla, Chrome, or Safari web browsers.

Google Meet comes with various tires of G Suite. Pricing starts at $6 per user per month and provides 30 GB of cloud storage. The Business tire has unlimited cloud storage and goes for $12 per user per month. The Enterprise tier has unlimited cloud storage with enhanced management and security options.

Zoom Meetings 

Zoom Meetings is one of the most preferred conferencing options in many situations. The app attracts over 300 million daily participants. This upsurge in adoption and usage load of the app is despite the various security exploits like Zoom-bombing. Fortunately, the company responded by adding layers of verification and screening video participants.

Initially, Zoom was designed for businesses and not for consumer or casual use. Its focus on the business world has kept the app relatively simple to use compared to others in its range. It offers several products, including Zoom Room and Zoom Meetings. Zoom Meetings is usually adequate for the majority of users, but Zoom Room has more capabilities. It is a robust conference room system that has wireless audiovisual capabilities. It also provides access to the Zoom cloud platform.

The primary features of Zoom Meetings include:

• Live chat
• Screen sharing
• Calendar sync on Outlook, iCall, and Gmail
• Virtual waiting rooms
• Recording and transcripts
• High Definition (HD) video and audio
• Engagement tools like reactions, 'hand-raising,' and polls

The free tire provides for unlimited one-on-one meetings. However, it limits group sessions to 100 participants in 40 minutes. The premium version has unlimited meetings and social media streaming for approximately $150 annually. The platform is easy to use and is compatible with Mac and Windows. The Mobile app is available for iOS and android and can also run in a browser.

Microsoft Teams 

Microsoft Teams is aimed at business customers more than it is at casual users. If your team already has Microsoft 265 in use, Microsoft Teams is the most viable conferencing solution. It easily integrates with Outlook, Skype, and Office. As a chat-based collaboration tool, Microsoft Teams is an attractive tool that attracts 145 million users worldwide.

The platform is well integrated with all the Microsoft apps and combined collaboration, business VoIP, and video features into a single app. The threaded chats enable you to search for conversations later, making it possible to keep track of everything.

The Teams app is designed to help people work more effectively, relying on the integration of Microsoft 365 apps.  Its primary features include:

• Live captions
• Screen sharing
• Scheduling options
• Video recording
• Virtual waiting rooms
• Instant file sharing and real-time editing
• Custom backgrounds
• Easily incorporates business apps like Trello, Evernote
• Advanced security and privacy measures
• 'Together mode' with a shared background.

Microsoft Teams has an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to collaborate in large groups. It's easy to set up a channel with a few clicks and organize conversations in threads. Transitioning from chat to video or voice calls over the platform is seamless as all these functions are centralized in one tool.

The tool is compatible with iOS, Windows, macOS, and is also available on the web.

Microsoft Teams is a bundle within Microsoft 365. It also has a freemium version available that supports 300 people and provides unlimited video calls and chats. It also provides 10 GB of team file storage. The pro version comes at $5 a month for each user and includes 1 TB storage and high compliance and security levels.

Google Meet vs. Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom: Which is Best?

Choosing among the available video conferencing apps available is a matter of choice and depends on your needs. For example, if you want a video communication tool for your small business, Zoom will probably be the best platform. It is user-friendly and straightforward, and participants don't even have to sign up for an account.

For a tool that offers robust collaboration in a corporate setting, Microsoft Teams is your best bet. Its wide range of integrations outshines its competitors. When managing a large group, you can easily transition from chat to video. However, it's not ideal if your business uses other platforms other than Microsoft.

If you're looking for basic video calling functionality, Google Meet is an ideal choice. It's free and effortless to use. However, the requirement to have a Google account may be a limiting factor.

Final Thoughts

The world of communication is changing, thanks to the pandemic. Video communication has gained momentum, with many video tools entering the market. Zoom Meetings, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet have taken the lead. It can be an uphill task choosing from among them, but you can narrow down your options based on your needs.

It also helps to have the technical details of how each of these tools works. Remember that security and compliance are paramount, and these tools are prone to attack. If you'd like to have seamless integration that also assures you of business security, talk to an expert beforehand. Contact us today, and we will work with you towards meeting your small business IT needs.