Zoom vs Google Meet: which webinar software is right for you?

Zoom is primarily intended to be used via a desktop application. However, it can still be accessed in the browser or via a mobile device. Google Meet can be accessed in the browser or on mobile.

The primary promotional tools within Zoom are a customizable registration page, as well as email sequences. Google Meet also lets hosts create event registration pages with Google Forms, but these are not built into the Google Meet platform.

Zoom users can activate attendees with chats, polls, Q&As, and whiteboards. However, hosts cannot send out CTAs during the webinars. In Google Meet, hosts can take advantage of a public chat section and built-in Q&As, but attendees can't upvote questions.

Zoom also helps its users track data with an in-depth analytics dashboard. However, there are very few automation capabilities. Google Meet also provides a registrant activity dashboard, but has no automation or on-demand streaming.

Zoom offers a wide array of integrations for both Zoom Meetings and Zoom Webinars. Some popular Zoom integrations include Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Hubspot. Integrations available for Google Meet include Clickshare Conference, Google Workspace, TurboHire, and more.

Zoom also allows developers to build their own unique integrations for the platform with a Zoom API. There is no API option for Google Meet, however, meaning that Zoom is a bit more flexible in this respect.

With Zoom Meeting SDKs, developers can create fun and creative widgets or features. Popular examples include virtual backgrounds, timers, and productivity trackers. However, Google Meet does not offer a public SDK, meaning that Zoom is the more flexible option.

All of Zoom’s applications can be viewed in the Zoom App Marketplace, along with Zoom’s native integrations. There is no specific app hub for Google Meet, but integrations for it can be viewed in Google Workspace’s marketplace.

Zoom's free plan allows unlimited meetings of up to 100 participants, capped at 40 minutes. Google Meet also has a free plan, which will support up to three participants.

The most affordable Zoom plan is its Pro plan. This supports up to 100 guests per meeting for about $15 a month. Google offers the Google Workspace Individual, which supports up to 100 participants for about $8 a month.

Zoom's plan for small businesses, called Business, starts at about $20 per month and supports up to 300 attendees per event. Google Meet does not offer any solutions in the "medium" price tier.

Zoom's final plan is its Enterprise plan, which costs the same as the Business plan at $20 per month. However, it is tailored for large businesses and will support up to 500 participants. Google Meet has a similar plan, Google Workspace Enterprise, which allows up to 250 attendees and 100,000 viewers. The price for this plan is not listed. Interested buyers are advised to contact Google's sales department.