Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet?

Use of video conferencing and other work collaboration tools struck record highs in recent weeks, owing to the remote-working and social-distancing procedures necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are, without a doubt, the three most popular platforms being used, allowing you to remain in touch with your colleagues, co-workers and boss. It is also a wonderful way of connecting with friends and family and loved ones for regular and much needed communication.

While they share typical capabilities such as video calls and uncomplicated messaging, they each have unique features and functions which make one of Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet the preferred option for your needs.

To be clear, and contrary to perception, BOTH Microsoft Teams and Google Meet ARE AVAILABLE AS FREE VERSIONS; For those without an Office 365 subscription, Microsoft has a free version of Teams that can be downloaded as a standalone service - users can sign up using their email address.

And, from this month, Google Meet availability has been being expanded to anybody with a Google Account (previously only Google G-Suite users had access) and users can simply sign into the service from their web browser using their Gmail address.

Below, for quick comparison purposes for matching the best option for your needs are the free versions' features in a nutshell:

ZOOM

Participants: 100

Duration: 40 minutes (but  once-off workaround exists -  see here: https://www.theandroidsoul.com/zoom-free/

Screen sharing: Yes

File sharing:  Yes

Recording:  Yes but not Cloud, only local (to a computer)

Access: Desktop PC, Android/ Apple devices.

Scheduling: Email and calendar applications like Microsoft Office 365, Outlook, Gmail and iCal via an easy link.

Security: Improved in April after incidents of meeting hacking: Password and Waiting Room introduced. NB: Update to ZOOM 5.0 now for improved security features.

Unique features: HD quality

Support:  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us

MICROSOFT TEAMS

Participants:  Up to 300

Duration: Unlimited chat messages, video and audio calls

Screen sharing: Yes

File sharing: Yes

Recording: No

Access: Web, desktop (best) and Android and iOS device apps. Phone call/audio conferencing not available in free version.

Scheduling: Email and calendar applications like Microsoft Office 365, Outlook, Gmail and iCal.

Security: Microsoft’s secure, global infrastructure.

Unique features: Chat within chat feature (for private side chats). Guest invite feature. 10GB of team file storage plus 2GB per person for personal storage. App integrations with Adobe, Evernote, and Trello

Integration: Ability to collaborate on Office documents.

Plus points: Microsoft is offering businesses a free, six-month free trial of Office 365 E1, which includes access to Teams

Support: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-use-microsoft-teams-for-free and https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/i-d-like-to-sign-up-for-teams-free-but-i-can-t-why-b77286e2-b875-4e9b-8b94-540269ddccd2?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

GOOGLE MEET

Participants: 100

Duration: 60 minutes (but unlimited till end Sep)

Screen sharing: Yes

File sharing: Yes

Recording: Yes

Access: Web and Android and iOS device apps. MEET is supported on various browsers – including Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.

Scheduling: Users can join meetings directly from Google's Calendar app or via email invite.

Security: MEET includes host controls enabling users to deny/admit/mute participants, encrypt chats intricate meeting IDs, resistant} to hacking efforts. MEET complies with IETF security standards for Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP)

Unique features: Expanded tile view for 16 people on-screen display. Various layout options.

Integration: Integration with Google apps like Docs, Drive, Sheets and Notes (if G-Suite user).

Plus points: Background noise filtering. Automatic adjust video in low-light conditions. Captions for English speech.

Support: https://meet.google.com

MORE VIDEO CONFERENCING OPTIONS:

Skype: https://support.skype.com/en/faq

GoToMeetings: https://www.gotomeeting.com

Join.me: https://www.join.me/

BlueJeans: https://www.bluejeans.com

AnyMeeting: https://www.anymeeting.com/signup

EZtalks: https://www.eztalks.com/

Sococo: https://www.sococo.com/

Mikogo: https://www.mikogo.com/

Voxeet: https://www.voxeet.com/

Cisco Webex: https://cart.webex.com/sign-up

Zoho Meetings: https://www.zoho.com/meeting