Zoom vs Microsoft Teams
Communication pricing comparison · 2026
Zoom pricing ranges from $0–$18.33/user/month, while Microsoft Teams ranges from $0–$22/user/month. Microsoft Teams is typically 55% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
Zoom and Microsoft Teams are the two dominant video conferencing and business communication platforms, each serving hundreds of millions of users worldwide. Zoom built its reputation on best-in-class video quality and simplicity, while Microsoft Teams offers deep integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem including Office apps, Exchange email, and SharePoint. Zoom Pro starts at $13.33/user/month, while Teams Essentials costs just $4/user/month standalone, and Teams is included free with any Microsoft 365 subscription starting at $6/user/month, making it the significantly more affordable option for organizations already invested in Microsoft's ecosystem.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Zoom | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free /month | Free /user/month |
| Pro | $13.33 /user/month | $4 /user/month |
| Business | $18.33 /user/month | $6 /user/month |
| Enterprise | Custom | $12.50 /user/month |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | — | $22 /user/month |
| Microsoft Teams Enterprise (E3/E5) | — | Custom |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
Zoom
3 scenariosMicrosoft Teams
3 scenariosMarket Intelligence
Zoom
- Median annual cost
- $11,551
- Average negotiated discount
- 17%
- Based on
- 1335 deals
Microsoft Teams
- Median annual cost
- $399
- Based on
- 344 deals
Our Verdict
Choose Zoom if video quality and simplicity are your top priorities, you frequently host meetings with external participants who expect the Zoom experience, you need advanced webinar and events capabilities, or your organization is not tied to the Microsoft ecosystem and wants a best-of-breed video conferencing solution.
Choose Microsoft Teams if your organization already uses Microsoft 365 (where Teams is included at no extra cost), you want persistent team chat channels alongside video meetings, you need a unified platform for chat, meetings, files, and email, or budget is a primary concern since Teams Essentials at $4/user/month is 70% cheaper than Zoom Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Microsoft Teams cheaper than Zoom?
Yes, significantly. Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month versus Zoom Pro at $13.33/user/month. For organizations already paying for Microsoft 365 ($6+/user/month), Teams is included at no additional cost. For a 50-person team, Teams Essentials costs $200/month versus $667/month for Zoom Pro, saving over $5,600 annually.
02 Is Zoom better for video quality than Teams?
Zoom has historically been regarded as having superior video and audio quality, particularly for larger meetings and webinars. Microsoft Teams has closed the gap significantly and now offers comparable quality for most use cases. Zoom still has advantages in external meeting simplicity (no app download required for web client), breakout room management, and webinar features.
03 Can Microsoft Teams replace Zoom?
For most internal meeting needs, yes. Teams provides video conferencing, screen sharing, recording, and chat that covers the same core use cases as Zoom. Where Teams falls short is external-facing webinars, large virtual events, and situations where meeting participants outside your organization expect the simplicity of a Zoom link. Many organizations use Teams internally and Zoom for external meetings.
04 Which free plan is better: Zoom or Microsoft Teams?
Zoom Basic (free) allows 40-minute group meetings with up to 100 participants. Microsoft Teams Free allows 60-minute group meetings with up to 100 participants. Teams Free is slightly more generous on meeting duration.
05 How much does Zoom cost per month for a business?
Zoom Pro costs $15.99/user/month and Zoom Business costs $21.99/user/month. Business Plus and Enterprise require custom pricing. For comparison, Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month and Microsoft 365 Business Standard costs $12.50/user/month.
06 What does a 50-user Zoom deployment cost vs Microsoft Teams?
For 50 users on mid-tier plans: Zoom Business costs $1,099.50/month ($21.99 x 50). Microsoft 365 Business Basic with Teams costs $300/month ($6 x 50). Even comparing Zoom Pro ($799.50/month) to Microsoft 365 Business Standard ($625/month), Teams is consistently cheaper.