Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Workplace: Meetings and Collaboration Compared (2026)
Microsoft Teams and Zoom Workplace both combine meetings, chat and calling, but they come from different directions.
- Verified 27 Oct 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 8 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Workplace: the short answer
Microsoft Teams and Zoom Workplace both combine meetings, chat and calling, but they come from different directions. Teams is part of the Microsoft 365 suite and is offered free, as a standalone Essentials plan, or bundled into Microsoft 365 business and enterprise plans. Zoom Workplace bundles Zoom Meetings, Team Chat, Docs, Whiteboard and the AI Companion assistant, sold per user from a free Basic plan.
The sources reviewed describe a trade-off between ecosystem and openness. Teams costs less per seat and fits organisations already on Microsoft 365, but its AI assistant, Copilot, is a separate $30 add-on. Zoom costs more per seat, but its AI Companion is included in paid plans and reported to summarise Teams and Google Meet meetings as well. Microsoft also raised Microsoft 365 prices on 1 July 2026.
We compare what independent 2026 sources support and mark the rest Unknown. One source is Zoom's own comparison page, so we treat its claims as vendor-authored. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your existing licences and how much AI you expect to use.
Choose Microsoft Teams if you- Organisations already licensed for Microsoft 365 that want chat and meetings at little extra cost
- Teams that want deep integration with SharePoint, OneDrive and Office
- Budget-conscious teams that do not plan to buy Copilot for everyone
Choose Zoom Workplace if you- Teams that run many external meetings and want a platform-neutral meeting tool
- Teams that want AI summaries included in the plan price
- Organisations that want phone bundled with meetings on a higher plan
Microsoft Teams and Zoom Workplace at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Corporation · Collaboration Software
Microsoft Teams is a chat, video meeting, calling and collaboration app from Microsoft that works with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, OneDrive and Loop, offered as a free version, a standalone Teams Essentials plan and as part of Microsoft 365 plans.
- Pricing
- Free version; standalone Essentials at $4 and Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $7 per user per month billed annually.
- Best for
- Organisations already using Microsoft 365
Zoom Workplace
Zoom Communications · Collaboration Software
Zoom Workplace is Zoom's AI-first work platform that bundles Zoom Meetings, Team Chat, Docs, Whiteboard, cloud storage and the AI Companion assistant, sold per user per month.
- Pricing
- Basic is free; Pro about $13.33, Business about $18.33 and Business Plus about $22.49 per user per month billed annually.
- Best for
- Teams that rely heavily on video meetings
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Workplace: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Microsoft Teams |  Zoom Workplace |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Core approach | YesChat, channels, meetings and calling inside Microsoft 365. | YesMeetings-led platform with Team Chat, Docs, Whiteboard, Phone and the AI Companion assistant. |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | YesFree version with meetings up to 60 minutes and 100 participants. | YesBasic plan with a 40-minute limit on group meetings, no cloud recording and up to three whiteboards. |
| Entry paid price (annual) | YesTeams Essentials at $4 per user per month; Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $7 since July 2026. | YesPro at $13.33 per user per month billed annually; $16.99 billed monthly. |
| Mid-tier price (annual) | YesMicrosoft 365 Business Standard at $14, raised from $12.50 in July 2026. | YesBusiness at $18.33 and Business Plus at $22.49 per user per month billed annually. |
| Meetings | ||
| Meeting limits on paid plansDiffers | YesUp to 300 participants and 30 hours from Essentials. | PartialMeetings up to 30 hours on Pro; participant caps by plan were not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| AI | ||
| AI assistant costDiffers | PartialMicrosoft 365 Copilot is a separate add-on at $30 per user per month. | YesAI Companion is reported as included at no extra cost on paid plans; a standalone version reported at $10 per user per month for Basic-only accounts. |
| Works across platforms | PartialCopilot is described as working inside the Microsoft ecosystem. | PartialOne guide reports AI Companion also summarises Google Meet and Teams meetings; confirm current support. |
| Calling | ||
| Phone system | PartialTeams Phone is an add-on reported at about $8 to $10 per user per month, with calling plans extra. | PartialBusiness Plus is reported to bundle Zoom Phone; Phone is otherwise a separate add-on. |
| Webinars | ||
| Webinars and events | PartialWebinars reported from Business Standard. | PartialWebinars and Rooms are separate add-ons. |
| Files | ||
| StorageDiffers | Yes10 GB per user on Essentials and 1 TB per user on Business Basic and Standard. | PartialPro includes cloud storage reported at 10 GB; limits by plan were not fully documented. |
| Chat | ||
| Chat and collaborationDiffers | YesStrongest inside Microsoft 365 with SharePoint, OneDrive and Planner. | PartialTeam Chat with bundled Docs and Whiteboard; Zoom's own comparison page says its chat is simpler to navigate, which is a vendor claim. |
| Enterprise | ||
| Security and complianceDiffers | YesBusiness Premium at $22 adds advanced security; E3 and E5 add enterprise compliance. | PartialBusiness adds SSO and managed domains; Enterprise adds compliance, quote-based. |
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Workplace pricing.
Microsoft Teams pricing
Per user per month by plan: free, a standalone Teams Essentials plan, or Teams as part of Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise suites. Add-ons for Phone, Premium and Copilot are separate.
- Teams (free)$0
- Microsoft Teams Essentials$4 per user per month billed annually
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic$7 per user per month billed annually
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard$14 per user per month billed annually
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium$22 per user per month billed annually
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 17 Oct 2026.
All Microsoft Teams plans and sources
Zoom Workplace pricing
Per user per month by plan, billed annually or monthly, with a free Basic plan and custom Enterprise pricing. Add-ons such as Phone, Webinars and Rooms are separate.
- Basic$0
- Pro$13.33 per user per month billed annually; $16.99 billed monthly
- Business$18.33 per user per month billed annually; $21.99 billed monthly
- Business Plus$22.49 per user per month billed annually; about $29 billed monthly
- EnterpriseCustom pricing
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 17 Oct 2026.
All Zoom Workplace plans and sourcesTeams is cheaper at every comparable entry point. Our arithmetic on reported annual prices for 25 users gives about $1,200 a year on Teams Essentials ($4 x 25 x 12), $2,100 on Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($7 x 25 x 12) and $4,200 on Business Standard ($14 x 25 x 12), against $3,999 on Zoom Pro ($13.33 x 25 x 12), $5,499 on Zoom Business ($18.33 x 25 x 12) and $6,747 on Business Plus ($22.49 x 25 x 12).
AI changes the total. Copilot at $30 per user per month adds $9,000 a year for 25 users ($30 x 25 x 12), which would take Business Standard to about $13,200 a year against $5,499 for Zoom Business with AI Companion included. Many teams will not buy Copilot for everyone, so decide who needs it before comparing totals. If you do not use AI, the gap runs in Teams' favour.
Check what else the bundle includes. Business Basic and Standard include business email, OneDrive storage and Office apps, which Zoom does not replace, so a Microsoft 365 shop pays little extra for Teams. Zoom's phone and webinars cost extra unless bundled, as does Teams Phone. Microsoft raised several Microsoft 365 prices on 1 July 2026, so older guides show lower prices. Confirm current terms with each vendor.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Workplace: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and usability
We did not test setup or migration for either product. Teams is easiest where Microsoft 365 identity and licensing already exist, though sources note Microsoft has unbundled Teams from some suites. Zoom is a standalone app that works across calendars and devices. Pilot both with one team that runs frequent external meetings.
Integrations and ecosystem
Teams integrates tightly with SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Loop and Planner. Zoom positions itself as a platform-agnostic layer that connects to tools such as Google Workspace, Salesforce and Jira, per its own comparison page. Marketplace breadth was not independently verified, so check the specific apps you use.
AI capabilities
Copilot in Teams provides meeting summaries, action items and question answering across Microsoft 365 data, and requires a $30 per user licence. Zoom AI Companion provides meeting summaries, chat composition and smart recording, reported as included on paid plans, and a guide reports it can also summarise Teams and Google Meet meetings. We did not test output quality for either.
Security, deployment and administration
Microsoft offers advanced security on Business Premium at $22 and enterprise compliance on E3 and E5. Zoom lists SSO and managed domains on Business and compliance features on Enterprise. We did not review certifications or data residency, and Zoom's AI privacy statements come from vendor material, so request current security documentation.
Microsoft Teams and Zoom Workplace: each option, in balance.
Microsoft Teams
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- A free version and a $4 standalone plan make it easy to start with chat and meetings.
- Teams is included in Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans, so organisations on Microsoft 365 can use it without a separate collaboration tool.
- Meetings of up to 300 participants and 30 hours are available from Essentials upward.
- Business Premium at $22 held its price in July 2026 and adds security and device management.
- Microsoft added mailbox storage, link protection and Copilot Chat enhancements to Business plans in 2026.
- Business Basic and Standard prices rose 16% and 12% on 1 July 2026, and older guides still show the old prices.
- Microsoft has unbundled Teams from some suites, so licensing can be confusing and may need an add-on.
- Add-ons are costly: Copilot at $30, Teams Phone at about $8 to $10, and Teams Premium around $10 per user per month.
- The free version limits meetings to 60 minutes and 100 participants and does not allow recording.
- A 5% premium applies to annual subscriptions billed monthly since April 2026.
Zoom Workplace
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- AI Companion is reported as included at no extra cost with all paid plans.
- A free Basic plan lets teams start with meetings at no charge.
- Meetings, chat, docs and whiteboards are bundled, reducing the number of vendors.
- Business Plus bundles phone calling with meetings for teams that want unified communications.
- Basic caps group meetings at 40 minutes and omits cloud recording and the full AI Companion.
- Zoom Phone, Webinars and Rooms are sold separately, raising total cost.
- Monthly billing is noticeably more expensive than annual billing.
- Exact annual figures vary slightly between sources, such as $18.32 versus $18.33 for Business.
Microsoft Teams or Zoom Workplace: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Microsoft Teams if you…
- Organisations already licensed for Microsoft 365 that want chat and meetings at little extra cost
- Teams that want deep integration with SharePoint, OneDrive and Office
- Budget-conscious teams that do not plan to buy Copilot for everyone
Choose Zoom Workplace if you…
- Teams that run many external meetings and want a platform-neutral meeting tool
- Teams that want AI summaries included in the plan price
- Organisations that want phone bundled with meetings on a higher plan
Switching between Microsoft Teams and Zoom Workplace.
Moving meetings between Teams and Zoom is mostly a scheduling and calendar exercise, but moving chat history, files and channels needs a planned migration and often third-party tools. Many organisations run both, with Zoom for external meetings and Teams internally. Agree which tool is the system of record and set a cut-off date.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Microsoft Teams vs Zoom Workplace: questions and answers
Is Microsoft Teams cheaper than Zoom?
Yes at the entry tier: Teams Essentials is $4 per user per month against $13.33 for Zoom Pro, billed annually. Organisations on Microsoft 365 pay little extra for Teams, but Copilot is $30 per user per month.
Does Zoom include AI?
AI Companion is reported as included at no extra cost on paid Zoom Workplace plans. Microsoft 365 Copilot is a separate $30 add-on.
Which has the better free plan?
Teams' free version allows meetings up to 60 minutes and 100 participants. Zoom Basic limits group meetings to 40 minutes and omits cloud recording.
Did Microsoft Teams prices go up in 2026?
Business Basic rose from $6 to $7 and Business Standard from $12.50 to $14 on 1 July 2026, per independent reports, while Teams Essentials stayed at $4.
Which is better for large meetings?
Teams supports up to 300 participants on paid plans. Zoom's participant limits by plan were not documented in the sources reviewed, so confirm your required size.
Which has a better phone system?
Both sell phone as an add-on, with Zoom Business Plus reported to bundle Zoom Phone. Compare calling plans and per-user costs for your locations.
Can I use Zoom with Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Many organisations run both, and one guide reports AI Companion can summarise Teams meetings.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Microsoft Teams or Zoom: which is the better video conferencing tool for 2026? Pumble Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Zoom vs Microsoft Teams Lovable Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- What is Zoom AI Companion? Rework Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams (vendor comparison page) Zoom Official Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- The Complete Guide to Zoom Pricing Plans in 2026 MeetGeek Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
- Microsoft 365 Prices Rise on 1 July: What IT Teams Need to Do Before the Deadline UC Today Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
- Microsoft Teams pricing Jotform Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
- Microsoft Licensing: Teams Pillar Guide 2026 Redress Compliance Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product. One or both profiles are secondary-source profiles: vendor pages were not reviewed directly, so verify figures with the vendors.
Ready to test Microsoft Teams and Zoom Workplace?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
Logos provided by Logo.dev. Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and appear for identification only; they do not imply endorsement.