This year especially, having a high-quality business communication platform with built-in video conferencing software is crucial to keeping remote work forces productive. Due to the coronavirus, the remote work trend is becoming more common and is anticipated to stay that way for some time. As a result, businesses are opting to switch their older business phone systems to unified communication systems so they can stay connected with their teams.
Unified communication solutions provide remote teams robust features and benefits such as video conferencing, team chat, screen sharing functionality, and much more. Two of the most widely used unified communication providers who offer these much needed communication features are RingCentral and Zoom. If you are looking into switching over to either RingCentral or Zoom, we are here to help! Take a look at this side-by-side comparison of RingCentral vs. Zoom so you can make the best decision on a communication platform for your business.
RingCentral vs. Zoom: Overview
RingCentral has been a leader in the business phone system space for over 20 years. It is an easy-to-use, cloud-based phone system that allows its users to connect with their team from anywhere using a variety of communication features. While RingCentral can be used on residential or personal basis, it’s widely used as a business phone system solution. As a cloud-based phone system, RingCentral is a go-to platform for remote work forces or any business that wants to utilize an internet-based phone system with a robust list of features.
Zoom may be the most well-known and popular web-based video conferencing tool used for both personal and commercial purposes. As a result of the coronavirus, tons of businesses flocked to Zoom instantly to connect their remote workforce. With that being said, Zoom is primarily known and used for its video meeting functionality. Note that it does include other features, but Zoom’s brand name is commonly associated with its video meeting feature.
All in all, both RingCentral and Zoom are high-quality options if you are looking for web-based video conferencing software. However, each offers different additional features, pricing and plans, and more. Make sure to read on to see which platform is a better fit for your business.
RingCentral vs. Zoom Features
One of the first things you should consider when comparing RingCentral vs. Zoom is their list of features. While both platforms offer video conferencing, they also offer a list of additional features that you will want to consider before buying. Additionally, the way their video conferencing tools work are slightly different. Take a look at RingCentral vs. Zoom’s list of built-in communication features.
| RingCentral | Zoom |
| Audio calls (to 40+ countries) Video calls Call management tools SMS messaging Instant messaging Analytics and reports Mobile app Call and video recording Screen sharing Voice to email transcription CRM integrations Internet faxing And more | Audio calls (in 17 countries) Video calls Instant messaging Mobile app Webinars Customizable “Meeting rooms” Meeting analytics and reports “Hand raising” tool for video Developer platform |
As you can see, RingCentral and Zoom offer similar features when it comes to video conferencing functionality. However, RingCentral’s features are designed around a more multi-functional phone system, whereas Zoom’s features are catered more towards businesses who need video, audio, and live messaging functionality.
RingCentral vs. Zoom: Video Conferencing
Though both platforms offer video conferencing functionality, this tool works a bit differently for each. For instance, Zoom requires both the host and meeting attendees to download Zoom software in order to join a meeting. Additionally, under Zoom’s “free” plan, a limited number of users are allowed to join and if you have more than 2 attendees, your meeting time limit is 40 minutes long. On the other hand, RingCentral does not require attendees to download RingCentral software – only the host needs to have the software. Additionally, invited attendees are allowed to join meetings for free.
Another thing to note is that although both RingCentral and Zoom report to offer HD video, Zoom has temporarily disabled HD 1090p video for group meetings. As a result, Zoom users lately have been reporting low quality videos, latency, and other issues. On the other hand, RingCentral users don’t typically have the same complaints and instead report good video quality.
RingCentral vs. Zoom Pricing and Plans
It’s also important to consider the differences between the pricing and plans offered by RingCentral vs. Zoom. Although both RingCentral and Zoom offer free video calling plans, if you are using the communication platform for business purposes you will benefit the most if you choose with a paid plan. This will give you the most communication benefits overall. Plus, paid plans for both RingCentral and Zoom are very cost-efficient on a monthly basis.
RingCentral vs. Zoom: Free Plan
RingCentral and Zoom both offer free plans with basic video conference functionality. Note that with both of these free plans, you will only get the very basic features and will be limited in how you can use the platforms to communicate. Compare RingCentral vs. Zoom in terms of their free version offerings below.
| RingCentral | Zoom |
| Host up to 100 participants 40-minute limit Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings Computer or phone audio options Calendar integrations Whiteboard feature Screen sharing Live chat Video recording Unlimited storage | Host up to 100 participants 40-minute limit Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings Computer or phone audio options Calendar integrations Whiteboard feature Screen sharing Live chat Video recording |
As you can see, the free plans for RingCentral vs. Zoom are almost identical. The only notable difference is that RingCentral offers unlimited storage under its free plan, whereas Zoom does not (paid additional storage only). If you are interested in a free version and don’t have a storage concern, using either service will work.
RingCentral vs. Zoom: Paid Plans
Most businesses will choose paid plans for both RingCentral Meetings and Zoom in order to take advantage of more communication features. As mentioned, both RingCentral and Zoom offer very affordable plans that can be paid on a monthly basis. Both services offer a few different prices and plans to choose from so you can fit the service to your budget.
| RingCentral | Zoom |
| Essentials $14.99 per user per month Up to 100 attendees Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings Unlimited group meetings Desktop and application sharing Basic reporting 24/7 phone support 1,000 call minutes | Pro $14.99 per month per user Up to 100 attendees Unlimited group meetings Social media streaming 24 hour meeting limit 1 GB cloud storage/recording |
| Advanced $19.99 per user per month All Essentials features plus: 2,500 call minutes Real-time usage dashboard Available SLA | Business $19.99 per user per month Up to 300 attendees Single sign-on Recording transcripts Managed domains Company branding |
| Enterprise $19.99 per user per month Up to 500 attendees Up to 1,000 attendees Unlimited cloud storage Customer success manager Transcription |
As you can see, Zoom offers a slightly fuller package of features when it comes to paid video conferencing plans compared to RingCentral Meetings. For a fuller list of features offered under each plan, take a look at RingCentral’s plans and Zoom’s plans in more depth.
Note: RingCentral offers two sets of plans: RingCentral Meetings and RingCentral Office. Above we list the different options for RingCentral Meetings, as it is the most similar to Zoom in terms of offerings. Take a look at RingCentral’s Office plan options here, which offers more features compared to RingCentral Meetings.
RingCentral vs. Zoom Integrations
Both RingCentral and Zoom offer a list of convenient integrations with your business’s backend softwares and applications, such as a CRM. Integrating RingCentral or Zoom with your business applications can boost your user experience as well as your day-to-day workflow. Consider the various integration options between RingCentral vs. Zoom:
| RingCentral | Zoom |
| Slack Salesforce Microsoft Outlook Office 365 Zendesk GSuite Glip Microsoft Teams Mailchimp Trello Asana And more | Skype Salesforce Slack GSuite Glip Microsoft Outlook Office 365 Google Drive Dropbox OneDrive And more |
Note that Zoom also has developer tools, so if you have a tech-savvy team member you can have them integrate a CPaaS solution with your Zoom platform.
RingCentral vs. Zoom Privacy and Security
Privacy and security are big concerns for businesses for several reasons. As a business leader, you will want to be confident that your communication platform has safeguards against cyber-hacking and other data threats to your organization.
RingCentral and Zoom both have security measures in place to protect user accounts. For instance, both platforms use two-factor authentication, HIPAA compliance for healthcare, and GDPR compliance. Both platforms also use “Meeting IDs” that are required to enter private meetings, as well as a “waiting room” where the host can grant only authorized users access to join.
The main difference between security measures with RingCentral vs. Zoom is that RingCentral’s platform includes end-to-end encryption, whereas Zoom does not. Zoom has also been criticized lately for strangers hacking into business meetings and causing disruptions. This may indicate that in addition to their lack of end-to-end encryption, there may be other security issues with Zoom’s platform.
When to use RingCentral vs. Zoom
All in all, both RingCentral and Zoom are great options if you are looking for a web-based system allowing for audio calls, video meetings, and team chat. When it comes down to it, there are slight variations between the two systems but overall, we recommend considering the following as a high-level comparison between RingCentral vs. Zoom:
RingCentral is best for:
- Security concerns
- Robust phone system features
- Unlimited storage
Zoom is best for:
- Larger video meetings (offers larger video caps)
- Simple communication platform
One of the biggest downfalls of RingCentral is that they have limitations on the amount of users that can join per meeting, whereas Zoom’s biggest downfall is their security concerns.
Compare Additional Providers
If your business is in need of a communication platform to facilitate remote work, know that there are tons of providers on the market! You are not limited to just RingCentral and Zoom. Compare some additional VoIP providers who also provide audio, video, and live chat functions:
Here at 360Connect, we specialize in helping businesses find the perfect VoIP solution for their business needs. We can match you with providers that fit your specific needs and give you free price quotes - get started here.