Zoom vs Skype: Which is Better for Video Conferences?

The development of all kinds of programs and technologies have made people's life to be more convenient. Can you imagine a decade ago that there will be a time all the things can be completely just using an electronic product? Today, not only for entertainment, electronic products becomes a basic capacity for people to all kinds of things remotely, including maintaining the business.

Especially during the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19, remote working has been a trend in all countries to constrain the economy from sloping with a fast speed. The most popular platforms, Zoom and Skype, are absolutely many companies' first choice to have video conferences online. But you will meet a dilemma of choosing which one to have online meetings. So in this blog, I will compare these two platforms, give you a reference to choose the right one that is exactly you need.

Part 1. Introducing Zoom and Skype

Ahead of all, let's look at the overview information of both Zoom and Skype as maybe some of you are the first time hearing them. 

Zoom

Zoom, which is a software developed by Zoom Video Communications Inc., is widely used as a great platform to have video conferences or online lessons. Zoom provides videotelephony and all-round online chatting services through a cloud-based peer-to-peer software platform, which means that people who have installed this software on their device, they can easily initiate a video call with others for chatting online, or participating in the video chats held by others. 

With such powerful functions, Zoom became a popular software during the hard period because of COVID-19. Not only companies use it to have online meetings, but also universities rely on it to give students online lessons.

Skype

Having similarities to Zoom, Skype is also a telecommunications software to provide the most convenient video chatting services to connect people who are not staying together. Skype can be used on many different devices, including computers, tablets, mobile devices, the Xbox One console, and smartwatches. By accessing the Internet, the Skype functions will perform in a smooth way and then you can have a video call with your friends inside the app very conveniently.

Part 2. Zoom vs Skype: Features on Video Meetings

Both Zoom and Skype can be used to hold online video meetings and bring high efficiency for the company to run regularly online. But what are the exact features of them separately? In this part, I will break down for you.

Zoom

Zoom tries its best to help the cooperation between people in a team to be more efficient. There, it provides many different collaboration tools for people to have a high efficiency online meeting. Inside a meeting room, every participants will show his/her own webcam, and the HD video conferences just make the meeting to be more high-quality.

Other Features of Zoom

• Enter conference room with one click
• Allow to have audio-only meeting or video meeting according to needs
• Show instant marks and blank board to highlight important messages in real time
• Minimize the conference window to enhance team collaboration
• Share screens and files instantly
• Built-in recorder to record Zoom meetings

Skype

Skype prompts to provide the most convenient features for people to be efficient during the video conference. It can work with Office 365, so you can edit the meeting files at anytime like marking down some points on the PPT presentation file, or save the notes to the file in real-time. It can make your meeting attendance to be more efficient.

Other Features of Skype

• Access Microsoft Teams
• Cooperate with Office 365 to make the meeting more efficient
• Hold instant video/audio calls at anytime
• Share blank board, screen, and files with other meeting participants
• Exchange hardware with business partners through Poly, Logitech, and Yealink

Part 3. Zoom vs Skype: Privacy Safety

The privacy disclosure affair of HouseParty arose people's awareness to the security of the platforms' services. For Zoom and Skype, both of them utilize the end-to-end encryption for ensuring the security of all the communications held inside the platform.

However, a recent event - Zoombombing, which is an act that utilize Zoom's screen-sharing function to show some violent or pornographic content during the online lessons or meetings. It turned out to the fact that this act the shared screen can also be accessed by other participants if without the permission from the host. 

This results in that many schools have prevented schools to give an online lesson through Zoom. However, there are still many companies are willing to take Zoom as their mean to hold online meetings, for the fact that it is convenient to use, and its accompanied features are helpful.

Part 4. Zoom vs Skype: Plans and Pricing

Both Zoom and Skype offer a basic free plans for people to utilize and experience the video calling functions provided by the platforms. For others who need more advanced online video call features, Zoom and Skype also provides subscription plan to help. Let's view them in details.

Zoom

Skype

Zoom vs Skype: Which One Do Your choose?

By comparison through the above four aspects, do you have an ideal choice of choosing which one to have video conferences online, Zoom or Skype? This basically depends on what features your company are focusing on, and what you want to gain from the online meetings. To earn profit? Or just simply by connecting the employees? So just base on your needs and choose the suitable one for your business!