GRUDGE MATCH 4: GOTOMEETING VS. ZOOM

5 Minute Read

It’s fight night once again! This evening we’re featuring a first in Grudge Match history. Our combatants are not in the building. You’ll be witnessing a holographic, fully-remote bout with all of the virtual blood, but none of the sub-six foot contact. This will be a fight from home of epic proportions! By the end, one will be celebrated by remote workers and out-of-school children around the world, and the other will have its connection lost in a confusing scramble of digital noise. Make sure that your webcam is off or put on some pants because the battle is about to start!

Let’s meet our contenders!

In this corner, we have our current champion. It was the “go-to” choice for business teleconferencing before it picked up some competition. Does it still have the muscle to lure remote workers, or will its competitor shut down its feed? It has “meeting” in its title, so you’re sure to know what it does…it’s GoToMeeting!

And in this corner, an app with a powerful name and the bona fides to back it up. With its denser feature set, will it crowd out its competitor, or will GoToMeeting’s reputation serve to pull its plug? You use it because you think having a “Zoom Room” sounds cool…it’s Zoom!

Let’s get ready to rumble!

ROUND ONE: VIDEO CONFERENCING

And there’s the first round bell! Both competitor’s virtual holograms leap from their respective corners, confident in their abilities. The flickering apparitions circle each other, waiting for an opening.

They both offer quality connections, support full HD video, multiple display options, and many webcams on-screen simultaneously. However, Zoom supports 49 on-screen feeds to GoToMeeting’s 25. Zoom takes advantage and lands a series of short jabs.

Pressing its advantage, Zoom continues its barrage with Enterprise Plus level support for up to 1000 participants. But then suddenly GTM recovers its footing, going on the offensive with an upgrade to its Enterprise-level, which supports up to 3,000 participants!

Zoom takes a few good blows to the face. The two fighters grapple over in-meeting chat features that are generally comparable for both services. But wait! Zoom lands a surprise uppercut that staggers its opponent’s hologram!

The service offers users the ability to create “breakout rooms” within larger meetings, where participants can talk away from the main group before returning to the larger meeting. This is useful functionality that GTM doesn’t have. Its hologram goes on the defensive as Zoom rains down blows.

GTM tries to parry with its less expensive, more robust call-in features, like toll-free support and Call Me features that are included in every package, but it’s not enough. Zoom’s hologram continues to put pressure on its opponent, taking the round at the bell.

ROUND TWO: COLLABORATION

At the start of round two, Zoom is looking fresh compared to its slightly battered rival. Zoom attempts to take an early lead with its screen sharing features, but GTM more than holds its own, matching Zoom on basic functionality, ease of use, and display options. 

Both let users share any of the applications or windows currently open. Both allow any participant to control the keyboard and mouse for the shared screen, assuming they’re given permission. And with both, anyone can share their screens, not just the host.

The two competitors seem locked in a stalemate when Zoom catches an opening with a series of body blows. Zoom then overtakes its opponent with advanced features it can’t defend against. 

Unlike GTM, Zoom allows multiple users to share their screen and display them simultaneously. Users can optionally share only a portion of the screen, to help pull focus. They can also include their device’s audio with the share. 

Caught off guard, GTM whithers under this unrelenting attack. It tries to fight back, but Zoom continues the onslaught with support for a virtual whiteboard that GTM can’t match. GTM does allow screen annotation, but the supported features come up lacking compared to Zoom’s more full-featured implementation.

By the end of round two, Zoom has GTM on the ropes. Battered and bruised, GTM is happy to break free at the bell.

ROUND THREE: EXTRA FEATURES

It’s not looking good, GoToMeeting. The service came up short in the first two critical rounds. Can it make up some ground in round three? We’ll find out as the bell brings us in.

GTM’s hologram is virtually bloodied. It stumbles out of its corner, unsure of its footing. Zoom takes advantage of its opponent’s weakened condition and goes on the offensive. Zoom presses its meeting recording and transcript features but is surprised when GTM fends off the blows.

Both services allow users to record their meetings as video or audio files and export chat content as text files. And both feature cloud storage. However, Zoom’s cloud storage is limited to 1GB unless you pay for extra space. GTM offers unlimited cloud storage from its mid-tier on.

GTM catches a second wind and begins putting up a fight. Both services offer cloud transcription services, but in general, GTMs implementation is more powerful, as is its recording and storage options. GTM is back in this!

The two holograms circle each other again, looking for an advantage. Host controls are straightforward and robust for both services. Hosts can mute and unmute participants, turn off participants’ webcams if needed, and restrict communication. They can also limit access to meetings and require participants to be allowed in by the host.

As round three comes to a close, GTM has made up some of its lost ground. If it does well in round four, it may still have a shot at taking the bout. Both holograms retreat to their corners at the bell.

ROUND FOUR: PRICE

At the start of the final round, Zoom still has a bit of an advantage. But pricing could certainly push either fighter over the top. There’s the bell!

Zoom’s hologram charges toward its opponent, swinging a feature that is universally loved by customers everywhere — free service! Zoom connects a staggering blow, and GTM hits the mat. While certain features are disabled, businesses can host an unlimited number of 40-minute meetings, including 100 participants and full video conferencing and screen sharing functionality for free. Because only one host is allowed, they can only run one meeting at a time, but for many small businesses, the free account is more than adequate.

Is this it? Is GTM down for the count?

No! GTM’s hologram pushes itself on to its feet and continues to fight. Its base-level Professional package is $14.00 per organizer per month. To unlock advanced features like cloud storage, annotation, transcription, and keyboard, and mouse sharing, users have to step up to the mid-tier Business level for $19.00 per organizer per month.

By comparison, nearly all of these features are included with Zoom’s free service. Stepping up to Zoom’s first paid tier, the Pro level, adds useful admin functionality and the ability to add multiple hosts and multiple, simultaneous meetings. This runs $14.99 per host per month. At this level, Zoom is still a better value. Zoom pummels its staggered opponent.

To add more than 100 participants, Zoom users have to move up to the third tier, the Business level. This increases the participant count to 300 and adds various features that won’t be necessary for most users. 

GTM suddenly catches a break. Zoom’s third tier is $19.99 per host per month, but it requires a minimum of 10 hosts. If businesses are unlikely ever to need that many, they’ll end up paying for features they don’t use. This tier is comparable to GTM’s mid-tier in price, but GTM has no organizer minimum. Zoom’s Enterprise-level is the same $19.99 price but has a 50 host minimum. The more expensive tiers might not be quite as good a deal.

Amazingly GTM managed to hold on after a near knockout. But will it be enough?

JUDGES DECISION

After tabulating the results, the judges hand the bout to…

Zoom!

Performance-wise both services are equivalent, but in nearly every category, Zoom offers a more robust feature set. And its nearly full-featured free service makes it the logical choice for small businesses. Mid-size businesses will find Zoom’s Pro level more than adequate at a lower monthly price. Enterprise-level companies may find GoToMeeting to be a better value, but because the service prices these packages on a custom basis, it’s impossible to make a direct comparison. 

So small to mid-size businesses, get Zoom. It does everything you need at a price you can afford.

Thank you, and good night!