• Zoom offers advanced features and customization options, making it suitable for larger organizations with complex video conferencing needs.
  • Google Meet provides simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and seamless integration with Google Workspace, which is ideal for small- to medium-sized businesses using Google tools.
  • Choose between Zoom vs Google Meet based on your organization’s specific requirements, budget, and existing software stack.

When comparing the two platforms, Zoom remains an ideal option for enterprise communications, offering advanced webinar features, breakout rooms, and a growing suite of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools like meeting summaries and real-time transcriptions. On the other hand, Google Meet continues to cater to teams that prioritize simplicity and collaboration within the Google Workspace. It has also expanded its platform to offer dynamic video layouts, upgraded security, and cost-effective plans. 

The choice between Zoom vs Google Meet depends on factors like company size, allocated funds, essential functionalities, and existing tools. This in-depth comparison helps organizations make an informed decision based on specific needs by breaking down the latest features, pricing, user experience, integrations, and AI capabilities of Zoom and Google Meet. Whether you’re scaling up, switching tools, or refining your hybrid work strategy, follow along to determine the best option for you.

Zoom vs Google Meet: A brief overview

Zoom: Best for advanced collaboration features

Overall Score

4.53/5

Pricing

4.06/5

Accessibility

4.58/5

Software features

4.86/5

Support and reliability

4.58/5

UX

4.5/5

Pros

  • Breakout rooms for enhanced collaboration
  • Zoom AI Companion for live meeting summaries
  • High participant limit on higher tiers
  • Easy and extensive integration
  • Granular meeting controls
  • Comprehensive webinar features

Cons

  • High bandwidth requirements
  • Limited functionality in free plans
  • Advanced AI features come at an additional cost

Zoom has emerged as a frontrunner in the video conferencing market, attributing its success to its comprehensive feature set and accessibility to businesses of all sizes.

One of Zoom’s key advantages over competitors like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet is its advanced features. These include breakout rooms, which allow participants to split into smaller groups for focused discussions, and the Zoom AI Companion collaboration functionalities (e.g., Zoom Docs for creating and co-editing documents and Zoom Whiteboard for brainstorming sessions).

Additionally, Zoom boasts extensive integration capabilities, supporting over 2,000 third-party applications. While Zoom’s pricing starts at $15.99 per user per month, which may be higher than some alternatives, the platform offers a scalable solution that can accommodate a wide range of needs. It is well-suited for businesses that require high-quality video and audio communication, as well as those that host large-scale webinars or events.

In 2025, Zoom introduced its subscription-based add-on service called Custom AI Companion, allowing users to create custom workflows and short video messages using an avatar.

Also read: 6 Best Zoom Alternatives of 2024

Zoom AI Companion: Automatically generates chapter markers, speaker labels, and searchable segments

Breakout rooms: Allows hosts to split participants into separate, smaller sessions for focused discussions during a larger meeting

Zoom apps: Integrates directly with popular business applications, enabling users to access tools like Trello, Dropbox, and Asana within the Zoom interface

Webinar platform: Supports up to 50,000 attendees with features like registration, Q&A, polls, and attendee analytics for professional event management

Waiting rooms: Provides extra layer of security and meeting control by allowing hosts to place participants in a virtual waiting area before admitting them into the main meeting

Custom live streaming: Offers the ability to livestream meetings and webinars to platforms like YouTube and Facebook, expanding the reach of events

Transcription and recording: Automatically generates searchable transcripts of recorded meetings, aiding in post-meeting documentation and review

Google Meet logo.

Google Meet: Best for Google Workspace users prioritizing security

Overall Score

4.48/5

Pricing

4.38/5

Accessibility

4.58/5

Software features

4.53/5

Support and reliability

4.58/5

UX

4.25/5

Pros

  • Seamless integration with Google Workspace
  • Real-time meeting summaries powered by Gemini AI 
  • No time limit for paid plans
  • Low-cost premium plans
  • Allows participants to join meetings without an account

Cons

  • Lacks some advanced features for large webinars
  • No breakout rooms in the basic plan
  • Participant capacity limitations

Google Meet is a video conferencing platform that seamlessly integrates with Google tools, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive, making it an attractive choice for businesses deeply entrenched in the Google ecosystem. As part of the Google Workspace, Google Meet users benefit from Gemini AI for taking notes, generating live meeting summaries, and implementing dynamic video layouts (portrait tiles, dynamic tiles, or speaker-focused view).

Additionally, the platform boasts real-time AI-powered captions in multiple languages, along with live translation and impressive noise cancellation. Google Meet prioritizes security, offering encryption and two-step verification to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access.

Compared to Zoom, Google Meet’s strength lies in its simplicity and ease of use. Moreover, its pricing is highly competitive, starting at just $6.30 per user per month as part of Google Workspace — an affordable option for organizations with limited budgets.

However, the trade-off for Google Meet’s ease of use is a lack of some of the advanced features offered by platforms like Zoom. For example, Google Meet’s webinar capabilities are more limited, and it offers fewer customization options for meeting settings. As a result, Google Meet is best suited for businesses that prioritize affordability and a seamless user experience within the Google ecosystem.

Gemini AI: Generates actionable meeting summaries including suggested next steps, due dates, and primary stakeholders

Real-time captions: Provides live captions during meetings, powered by Google AI

Google Calendar integration: Seamlessly integrates with Google Calendar for easy scheduling and joining of meetings

Noise cancellation: Features AI-driven noise cancellation to filter out background noise

Tiled layout: Displays up to 49 participants simultaneously in a tiled view

Advanced security: Includes strong security measures like two-step verification and encryption in transit

Companion mode: Allows joining meetings on multiple devices simultaneously for enhanced participation

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Features and inclusions

Zoom logo.
Google Meet logo.

Integrations

  • 1,500+ integrations
  • Zoom Workplace apps (Mail, Calendar, Docs)
  • Native with Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets)
  • Third-party add-ons via Google Workspace Marketplace

Participant capacity

Up to 1,000 with Enterprise

Up to 1,000 with Enterprise

Virtual backgrounds

  • Upload custom backgrounds
  • AI avatars and Zoom Clips
  • Upload or use AI-generated backgrounds
  • Background blur, studio lighting

Security features

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Role-based access control
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, System and Organization Controls 2, Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program compliance
  • Encryption in transit
  • Google Admin controls
  • Complies with General Data Protection Regulation, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, HIPAA (with BAA) & ISO/IEC 27001

Platform availability

  • Desktop (Windows, Mac)
  • Mobile (iOS, Android)
  • Web browser
  • Web-based (no installation needed)
  • Mobile (iOS, Android)

New features (2025)

  • Zoom AI Companion 2.0
  • Custom AI agents and avatars
  • Smart summaries, task capture
  • Zoom Docs and Whiteboard
  • Gemini AI
  • Automatic note-taking (Take Notes for Me)
  • Real-time summaries
  • Dynamic video layouts and portrait tiles

Similarities between Zoom and Google Meet

Zoom and Google Meet share many core functionalities that make them both strong contenders in the market. Here are some of the key similarities between the two:

Audio and video quality

Whether you choose Zoom or Google Meet, you can expect high-quality video and audio. Both platforms include essential features like screen sharing, and both offer the ability to record meetings for future reference so you can revisit important discussions when needed.

Security

Security is a top priority for both Zoom and Google Meet, so you can trust that your meetings will remain private and secure. Each platform offers end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication, giving you peace of mind when discussing sensitive information or collaborating with external partners.

Another similarity between these two platforms lies in their user interfaces, which are both easy to learn and use. If you’re already using Google Workspace tools like Gmail and Google Calendar, you’ll find that Google Meet integrates natively, making navigating and managing your meetings easy. Zoom, while it offers a desktop app, also emphasizes ease of use, with a simple interface that allows you to schedule or join meetings quickly without any hassle.

Accessibility

When it comes to accessibility, both Zoom and Google Meet have you covered. As web-based platforms, they allow you and your team to join meetings directly from your browsers without the need for additional software. This makes it convenient for participants across different devices and operating systems to connect easily and be part of the conversation.

Additionally, both platforms have evolved to meet modern demands by providing live captioning, improving accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments or those in loud environments, and ensuring that everyone can stay included.

Comparing plans and pricing

If you’re just starting out or have a smaller team, Google Meet’s Business Starter plan might be the way to go. At just $6.30 per user per month, it’s significantly more affordable than Zoom’s Pro plan ($13.33 per user per month). Look into the comparison table and determine the cost differences and the number of participants.

Plan tier

Zoom pricing

(per user per month)

Google Meet pricing

(per user per month)

Free plan

$0

  • 40-minute limit for group meetings
  • Up to 100 participants

$0

  • 60-minute limit for group meetings
  • Up to 100 participants

Pro / Business Starter

$13.33

Up to 100 participants

$6.30

Up to 100 participants

Business / Business Standard

$18.32

Up to 300 participants

$12.60

Up to 150 participants

Business Plus

$22.49

Up to 300 meeting participants

$22

Up to 500 participants

Enterprise

Custom pricing

Up to 1,000 participants

Custom pricing

Up to 1,000 participants

Entry-level plans for both platforms support up to 100 participants, but if you need features like social media streaming and cloud storage for recordings, Zoom’s higher price point might be justified.

As your business grows and your needs change, consider upgrading to the next tier. Google Meet’s Business Standard plan, at $12.60 per user per month, allows meetings with up to 150 participants and includes recording capabilities and a generous 2 TB of pooled storage per user. 

On the other hand, Zoom’s Business plan, priced at $18.32 per user per month, supports up to 300 participants and includes features like single sign-on (SSO) and managed domains. It is more expensive; however, the higher price may be worth it if you really need those larger meeting capacities and advanced administrative controls.

For larger organizations with more complex needs, both platforms offer Enterprise plans that can accommodate up to 1,000 participants. Google Meet’s Business Plus plan, at $22 per user per month, includes a whopping 5 TB of storage and advanced security features, including Vault and advanced endpoint management. This could be a great fit if your organization has substantial storage and compliance requirements.

Although Zoom’s Enterprise plan requires custom pricing, it includes unlimited cloud storage and advanced webinar capabilities, making it a strong choice for organizations that regularly host large-scale events or require high-capacity meetings.

Winner for pricing: Google Meet

Google Meet is generally more cost-effective, especially for those with smaller teams. Zoom, while more expensive, offers a richer feature set and is better suited for larger organizations with more complex needs.

Comparing ease-of-use

If your team values simplicity and seamless integration, Google Meet might be a better fit. Its user interface is streamlined and intuitive, especially if you’re already familiar with other Google applications like Gmail and Google Calendar. When you’re working within the Google Workspace ecosystem, everything just feels connected — scheduling meetings, sharing documents, and collaborating in real time become a natural part of your workflow.

Zoom, on the other hand, offers a more feature-rich environment that can be both powerful and overwhelming, depending on your needs. If you’re looking for advanced capabilities like breakout rooms and extensive meeting controls, Zoom’s desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux provide a superior meeting experience. However, if you’re new to the platform, you might need time to explore and familiarize yourself.

That said, both are relatively easy to use compared to some of the other options on the market, like Cisco Webex with its plethora of customization options and administration controls.

Winner for ease of use: Google Meet

When it comes down to user experience, Google Meet generally comes out on top, thanks to its intuitive and straightforward interface. If you are already using Google Workspace tools like Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Meet will be a natural extension of your workflow. This means you can schedule meetings, share documents, and collaborate in real time without leaving the Google ecosystem.

Comparing webinar and event capabilities

Zoom and Google Meet have emerged as powerful platforms for hosting virtual events, each with strengths and capabilities. Zoom has long been a go-to choice for large-scale webinars and events, offering an impressive array of features designed to engage and manage sizable audiences.

Apart from its ability to accommodate up to one million attendees, Zoom also provides automated recording, in-depth analytics, and customizable registration pages — features that make it a top pick for professional, high-profile virtual gatherings. The platform’s interactive tools, such as live polling, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms, further enhance the attendee experience and foster active participation.

Zoom's meeting interface.
Zoom has expanded its webinar participant capacities to up to one million (Image: Zoom)

While Google Meet has traditionally been seen as a more straightforward video conferencing solution, its partnership with Brandlive has significantly expanded its event capabilities. This integration allows Google Meet to host webinars and events with an astonishing capacity of up to one million participants. 

Google Meet and Brandlive integration.
Google Meet users can leverage its Brandlive integration to expand participant capacity (Image: Google Workspace)

This integration includes features like branded event sites, sophisticated registration processes, and detailed analytics. Google Meet also offers extensive live-streaming options, enabling organizations to reach up to 100,000 internal viewers or stream directly to YouTube for a staggering eight million public viewers.

Winner for webinar and event capabilities: Zoom

Zoom is the clear winner with its native, feature-rich platform designed specifically for these purposes. With the ability to accommodate up to 50,000 attendees and advanced tools like breakout rooms, customizable registration, and detailed analytics, Zoom sets itself apart with the level of functionality and flexibility it provides.

While Google Meet has made significant strides in enhancing its event capabilities through a partnership with Brandlive, Zoom remains the more comprehensive and integrated solution for businesses needing robust webinar functionality.

Also read: How to Manage Zoom Fatigue in the Workplace 

Comparing customer support

Zoom provides 24/7 customer support, including live chat, phone, and email, across all its paid plans, starting from the Pro plan. Higher tiers like the Business and Enterprise plans offer additional perks, such as a dedicated customer success manager and prioritized response times. However, Zoom’s customer support has received mixed reviews, with users citing that some of them experienced significant delays in receiving resolutions to their concerns.

Google Meet, on the other hand, integrates its customer support within the broader Google Workspace offering. All Google Workspace tiers include standard support, but users can upgrade to enhanced support for quicker responses. Reviews suggest that Google Meet’s support is slightly better perceived among small- to medium-sized businesses. 

Winner for customer support: Zoom

While users have their gripes with both platforms, Zoom takes the lead with the 24/7 availability of its live chat, phone, and email support across all paid plans, starting from the Pro plan. In contrast, Google Meet integrates its support in the larger Google Workspace, meaning it lacks a dedicated support structure specifically for video conferencing. So if your business prioritizes comprehensive, accessible support, Zoom is the tool for you.

Comparing meeting durations

As a free user, you’ll find that Google Meet offers a longer meeting duration than Zoom. You can host meetings for up to 60 minutes on Google Meet, compared to Zoom’s 40-minute limit for group meetings. This extra time can be valuable if you need slightly longer sessions without upgrading to a paid plan. Both platforms allow you to include up to 100 participants in free meetings, which should be sufficient for your small team meetings or casual virtual gatherings.

If you opt for paid tiers, you’ll notice a significant increase in meeting duration on both platforms. With Zoom, you can host meetings for as long as 30 hours. This inclusion is available on all paid plans, starting from the Pro plan. 

Google Meet, on one hand, allows you to host meetings for up to 24 hours. This 24-hour limit applies to all tiers, from Business Starter to Enterprise, and though it is shorter than Zoom, it is still an ample time for extended meetings.

Winner for meeting duration: Tie

If you need longer, uninterrupted meeting durations, Zoom provides more flexibility, especially with its generous 30-hour limit on paid plans. However, for most standard business meetings, you’ll likely find Google Meet’s 24-hour cap more than adequate. It is also a more cost-effective option for you, given its integration with Google Workspace tools.

Comparing AI functionalities

Both Zoom and Google Meet offer AI capabilities, enhancing collaboration and productivity. Zoom’s AI Companion can automatically summarize meeting discussions, complete with a list of the meeting’s key points. It can also generate a list of next steps and to-dos based on the conversations. Other capabilities of Zoom AI Companion include real-time chat assistance, email drafting, and voicemail summaries. However, users have to note that this AI functionality isn’t available on the free plan.

Google Meet relies on Gemini to provide AI features like smart text suggestions in Gmail and Docs. It can also summarize calendar events and meeting notes, which are available in select Workspace plans. Moreover, users can benefit from live transcriptions and enhanced camera visuals.

Winner for AI features: Zoom

When it comes to AI features, Zoom emerges as the winner. Zoom AI Companion, in particular, shines not only for its ability to capture live meetings but also with how it can automate post-meeting tasks. Not only that, Zoom offers more robust AI collaboration tools, particularly an AI chat assistant that can answer questions mid-meeting. 

Customer reviews

Zoom has garnered mixed reviews from users, with many pointing out the long response time of its customer support. On Trustpilot, a user mentioned, “…of late, it took multiple email follow-ups and reminders from us to ask why we’ve had a significant rise in our price. Our account manager didn’t respond, and we had an email from a renewals manager weeks later.”​ Others mentioned the cost. A user on Capterra shared, “The cost is high and the customization ability is way too much.”​ 

Despite the unfavorable reviews, many users appreciate Zoom’s extensive features, with one reviewer stating, “Big plus for HD video and audio meetings, seamless screen sharing, background effects, separate rooms, digital avatars, whiteboard…”​

Google Meet, on the other hand, receives praise for its simplicity and integration with Google Workspace. One user commented, “Google Meet is by far my go-to meeting app, mainly because of its simplicity and speed. Without downloading any external software, I am up and running with my meetings, and it works brilliantly with Calendly.”

But like Zoom, Google Meet isn’t without critics. A user on Capterra noted, “It doesn’t offer as many advanced features as Zoom does.” Despite some limitations, users generally appreciate the platform’s ease of use and seamless integration with other Google services.

Choosing the best solution for your business

If comprehensive, customizable video conferencing capabilities are a top priority and you have the budget for it, Zoom is the better option. Its advanced features and flexibility can elevate your virtual meetings and events — a worthwhile investment for businesses with complex video conferencing requirements.

If ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and integration with Google Workspace are more important to your team, Google Meet is the tool for you. Its simplicity and affordability make it an attractive choice for businesses that want to enhance collaboration and communication without breaking the bank or overwhelming users with complex features.

As you evaluate your options, take the time to carefully assess your business’s needs, existing tools, and budget constraints. Consider the specific features that are most critical to your team’s success, and weigh them against the costs and learning curves associated with each platform.

The video conferencing landscape continues to evolve with the rise of AI, enhancing productivity tools, hybrid work models, and integration with cloud ecosystems. By taking a thoughtful, strategic approach, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the solution that best aligns with your goals and sets your business up for success.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

It depends on your specific business needs and priorities. Zoom offers more advanced meeting features, while Google Meet integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace.

Zoom is often considered the best platform for online meetings due to its extensive collaboration features, AI capabilities, and scalability.

Google Meet is free for personal use, with paid plans starting at $6.30 per user per month as part of Google Workspace.

The time limit for free Zoom meetings is 40 minutes for group meetings.

People often choose Zoom over Google Meet for its advanced features, such as breakout rooms, higher participant capacity, and robust integrations.

Google Meet is considered one of the best free online meeting platforms due to its easy access and integration with Google services.