When comparing Google Meet and Zoom, both have powerful video conferencing features, but they also have fundamental differences that cater to a variety of user needs. Understanding these fundamental differences will help you decide which platform is best for your individual needs.
Video conferencing options
Google Meet: Google Meet is a great option for large organizations that frequently host large meetings or webinars, as it allows Enterprise plan users to host up to 500 participants in a single meeting. Even on the free plan, users can host up to 100 participants, which is enough for most small to medium-sized meetings.
Zoom: Zoom’s free plan also accommodates up to 100 attendees per meeting. However, Zoom’s most advanced plan can accommodate up to 1,000 participants, making it the best choice for webinars, conferences, and events of significant size. Zoom’s scalability makes it ideal for large-scale virtual meetings.
Screen View Options
Google Meet: The “Tiled View” feature is available in Google Meet, which allows users to view up to 49 participants at a time. This view is customizable, allowing users to change the configuration according to the number of participants or their personal preferences. Google Meet’s interface is relatively minimalistic. While some users may find it appealing because of its simplicity, others may find it less dynamic than Zoom.
Zoom: “Gallery View” is a unique feature of Zoom that allows you to display up to 49 attendees on a single screen, similar to Google Meet. Zoom also has a “Speaker View” feature that highlights the current speaker and makes it easier to focus on them. Zoom’s interface is generally considered more feature-rich than Google Meet, with additional options such as video filters and virtual backgrounds.
Screen Sharing and Collaboration
Google Meet: Screen sharing in Google Meet is simple and convenient. Users can share either a full screen or a single window during a meeting. However, when Google Meet is combined with other Google Workspace applications, its collaborative capabilities shine brightest. Users can collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations directly in a meeting, which is very useful for teams that are already utilizing the Google ecosystem.
Zoom: Zoom also has powerful screen sharing features that allow users to share their full screen or select programs. Zoom stands out for its advanced annotation tools that allow participants to highlight and mark up shared content in real time. This is especially effective for study sessions, brainstorming sessions, and other collaborative tasks where visual contact is critical.
