When to use Microsoft Teams or Zoom
Product Overview:
Microsoft Teams is your online chat-based hub for teamwork integrated with your Microsoft 365 email account. It is an app that helps you and your team have real-time conversations using chat or video chat, securely share and collaborate on files, and plan meetings or projects with others at the University of Iowa. It is also a web conferencing solution used to meet with other people at Iowa, or people external to the university. Teams will also replace Skype for Business as the telephony solution for the University of Iowa in late 2024.
Zoom is a web conferencing solution offered by the University of Iowa. Zoom can be used to meet with other people at Iowa, or people external to the university. Zoom integrates with ICON, allows users to meet in online meetings, share audio and video information, schedule webinars, use questionnaires in meetings, and much more.
Security:
For information regarding data compliance for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, please refer to the Data Classification Guide to IT Services support article provided by the Information Security & Policy Office.
Meeting Scenarios:
| Meeting Scenario | Recommended Product |
| Academic (Online Classes and Teaching) | Zoom (Microsoft Teams in pilot testing) |
| Office Hours | Microsoft Teams |
| Large Departmental Meetings (10+ participants) | Microsoft Teams or Zoom |
| Small Departmental Meetings (1-10 participants) | Microsoft Teams or Zoom |
| One to One Conversations | Microsoft Teams |
Product Comparison:
| Features | Microsoft Teams | Zoom |
| Availability | ||
| Available To | Students, Faculty, Staff | Students, Faculty, Staff |
| Compatibility | ||
| Desktop App | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile App | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Browser Support | Yes | Yes |
| Supported Browsers | Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox | Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox |
| Capacity | ||
| Default Number of Meeting Attendees | 1000 | 300 (up to 1,000 with purchased license) |
| Audio and Video | ||
| HD Video Capable | Yes | Yes |
| Join Meeting with Audio Only | Yes | Yes |
| Join Meeting with Web Browser Only | Yes | Yes |
| Join Meeting by Phone (Domestic) | Yes | Yes |
| Join Meeting by Toll-Free Number | No | No |
| Meeting Captioning | Yes; Live Captioning and CART | Yes; Live and Manual Captioning |
| Telephony | ||
| Make and Receive Telephone Calls | No (coming soon) | No |
| Chat | ||
| Chat Within Meetings | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Outside of Meetings | Yes | Yes |
| Content Sharing | ||
| Screen Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Application Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Annotate Shared Content | Yes | Yes |
| Whiteboard | Yes | Yes |
| Enhanced M365 Options | Yes | No |
| Meeting Capabilities | ||
| Breakout Rooms | Yes | Yes |
| Polling | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Recording | Yes | Yes |
| Local Recording | No | Yes |
| Allow Join Before Host | Yes | Yes |
| Allow External/Guest Attendees | Yes | Yes |
| Restrict to HawkID Attendees | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes (requires additional license purchase) |
| Town Halls | Yes | Yes (requires additional license purchase) |
| Integration | ||
| Outlook Calendar Integration | Yes | Yes; with the Zoom for Outlook plugin |
| ICON | No (coming soon) | Yes |