It’s safe to say that Zoom has become one of the hottest software options on the market today thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. If you didn’t know what it was three or four months ago, you definitely know now!
But Zoom can be a complicated beast when it comes to subscription options. Since everyone can access the basic software for free, few people seem to know whether or not it’s worth getting a zoom subscription.
That’s why we’ve outlined the pros and cons of a Zoom subscription so that you can make an educated decision yourself!
Zoom Subscription: Why Zoom?
Before deciding on a subscription, you need to decide whether to go with Zoom or a different provider, to begin with. Zoom has grown exceptionally popular over the past few months, but there are different options on the market. Though many like Skype don’t allow for huge video conferences as Zoom does, some other options do have this essential feature.
Take for instance Microsoft Teams, which was launched in 2017. Teams provide the same essential service that Zoom does, in terms of group video meetings and file sharing between users.
Since it’s a Microsoft product, Teams also collaborates well with other Office Suite software such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and more! There are even Office 365 subscription models that include Teams as well as other Microsoft software products together in one package.
So, when it comes to Zoom vs Microsoft Teams, what’s the best choice? Take a look through this detailed comparison to decide which is the best option for you. As you make your choice, make sure you take a look through the remainder of this post as we go into Zoom’s pros and cons when it comes to subscription. Getting Teams under Office 365 subscription is much premium compared to Zoom. Learn more about Tenant to Tenant Migration Office 365 and SharePoint Migration Services.
Zoom Subscription: The Pros
The first main pro of a Zoom subscription is that you don’t have to subscribe and pay for the product immediately. The basic model of Zoom is completely free to download, create an account, and use it.
Because of this, you’re able to see all the things that the basic model of Zoom has to offer before you commit to paying for a subscription. This includes features like screen sharing, group video meeting capacity for up to 100 people, and muting options. We’d recommend using Zoom for two or three voice call meetings to see whether you enjoy their interface.
Once you’ve given it a try and found that you enjoy using it, there are other pros to going for a full Zoom subscription.
One positive aspect of Zoom’s model is that it is fully scalable. It works largely on an add-on/extension model, meaning you can add specific features at an additional cost. This comes in the form of specific packages, such as an Education package that is catered to university professors and teachers.
These scalable options go extremely high as well. When it comes to their webinar options, you can pay to host webinars that can hold up to 10,000 participants at any one time!
This means that Zoom is a good option to upgrade and improve alongside your business’s progression. If you’re finding the basic option is no longer working for you, you can upgrade and try new options in a step-by-step upgrading process.
Another great part of Zoom is that there’s no limit to the number of videos you can host. This means that you don’t need to worry about going over a certain number of hosted videos each month. This is perfect for businesses that have to regularly hold different meetings with different team members.
Zoom Subscription: The Cons
But as with everything, there are cons as well as pros to Zoom subscriptions.
Though their scalable model can be great to add a few additional features to your subscription, the truth is that it can become a costly investment. Though the basic Zoom package is free, the more additions you add the more you’re going to be paying out to Zoom.
For example, if you want to be able to have access to webinar features for just 100 total video participants you’re looking at an additional $400 a year. This is on top of the package model you choose to subscribe to.
This scales even higher for more video participants and can make Zoom a hugely expensive software investment even though it works well. Luckily, you can tailor your subscription to what you need, but this add-on model means that Zoom isn’t the cheapest on the market when it comes to subscriptions.
Another aspect to note is the sheer amount of different packages on offer for Zoom. Zoom attempts to specialize in everything, from Education and Webinars to Telehealth professionals. In doing so, it can be intimidating to find which package is best for you initially.
Finally, Zoom’s subscriptions also mean that everyone you’re hoping to call must have also installed Zoom and made an account. Though they don’t have to also be subscribers, it can be a hassle making sure everyone you’re calling has already set up an account. This is particularly true when you’re trying to contact people who aren’t very tech literate and are struggling with installing Zoom and creating an account on the platform.
Should I Get a Zoom Subscription?
So, as you can see above, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to Zoom subscription. Whether you think you’ll need one or not, we suggest using the basic version of Zoom first, to get to know Zoom and its interface.
If you are looking to get a subscription, it might be worthwhile for you but you must research exactly what features you need. This is so you can properly navigate Zoom’s huge amount of different packages and add-ons. If you don’t do this research you could be paying a lot of money for features you don’t need.
If you want to find out more about Zoom or any other tech today, make sure to take a look through the previous posts here on our website.
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