Zoom vs Webex: which webinar software is right for you?

While Zoom is primarily designed to be accessed through a desktop app, it can still be used with mobile apps or in browsers. As for Webex, it can be accessed via desktop, Apple, and Android applications.

Zoom’s key promotional tools include email sequences and customizable registration pages. Webex also provides users with customizable registration pages but lacks social sharing buttons.

As far as engagement goes, Zoom provides polls, Q&As, chats, and more. On the downside, Zoom users cannot launch CTAs during webinars. Webex provides chats and polls as well, but popular questions cannot be upvoted.

Zoom helps its users identify opportunities with an in-depth reporting dashboard. However, they cannot streamline events with automation. Webex offers an analytics dashboard, as well, but it is not built into the platform, which may frustrate some users.

Zoom allows many third-party platforms to integrate directly with its solution. Popular Zoom integrations include Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Hubspot. Webex offers many direct integration options, as well, including Salesforce, Facebook Workplace, and more.

Those who would like to integrate their favorite tool with Zoom can do so with Zoom's API. Detailed documentation for this is available on the Zoom website and a dedicated portal for developers. Webex offers just as much flexibility with its API.

Zoom users can also use Zoom Apps to enhance the in-room experience or help their webinars run more efficiently. Popular Zoom Apps include Wooclap, Kahoot, and Mural. Webex users can access a variety of apps and also create their own custom widgets and plugins with Webex's public SDK tool.

Those curious about Zoom's integrations and applications can view them in the Zoom App Marketplace. Webex apps and integrations are also organized in its public-facing App Hub.

Basic Zoom meetings are free as long as they do not exceed a 40-minute threshold or have more than 100 participants. Webex’s free plan, Webex Suite Basic, also supports up to 100 participants.

The least costly Zoom Meeting plan is its Pro plan, which starts at about $15 per month. The Pro plan supports up to 100 attendees and provides 1 GB of cloud recording. Webex does not offer a similarly priced product.

Webex does, however, offer a Business plan, which gives users essential meeting and calling capabilities for $25 a month. Zoom’s Business plan starts at about $20 per month and supports up to 300 attendees per event.

The final Zoom plan for Zoom Meeting subscribers, Enterprise, also starts at $20 per month. It is optimized for corporations and supports up to 500 event participants per webinar. Webex’s corporate option, Enterprise, promises to give subscribers access to custom, premium features but does not list a price and advises interested buyers to contact its sales team.