Skype vs Zoom: The Better Video Conferencing Application

This pandemic has completely changed the way we communicate, work, and attend college. Some of it was for the better, while others, not so much. Work from home has become the new norm, and online classes have taken over the traditional classroom teaching. Even meeting friends and distant family has been reduced to video calling them, at best. Video conferencing in online classes, as well as professional meetings has served as a viable replacement for traditional meetings.

While there are many platforms for online video conferencing, some more popular than others, Skype and Zoom definitely bag the title of 'two of the most recognized video conferencing applications'. There have been a lot of debates and arguments regarding which is the better conferencing application among them. Here we present to you a comprehensive analysis to compare each of their aspects, features, and pricing plans, to find the one more suited to you.

Skype

Skype is one of the more powerful and popular Video Conferencing Applications, and allows you to video call your friends and family even if you haven't signed up. With a plethora of features, you can either download Skype directly from the official website, or you can use it directly on your browser as SaaS. In the wake of this pandemic, use cases of Skype have skyrocketed, and it is the preferred platform for Online interviews for professionals, as well as virtual family reunions.

Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing application, mostly known for conducting online classes and conference rooms. It allows for online meeting rooms and chat, virtual webinars for marketing events, conference rooms, and even managing a marketplace with the help of some required integrations. Zoom is more popular for conducting online classes, as major institutions use it for the purpose, while Microsoft has come up with another platform for virtual classes.

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Skype vs Zoom: Solutions and Products

Skype

• Meet Now is a features offered by Skype which allows you to schedule a meeting without any sign ins or even installing the application. You can invite up to 99 people, and all you need is just a browser.
• Skype Manager helps users manage groups. It comes in quite handy when allocating credits and managing features business and family groups.
• Alexa calling via Skype is also made available for users, where all you need to do is say, 'Alexa, call... on Skype'; and the call is forwarded via Skype to the concerned person or group.
• Content Creators can integrate Skype calls to their podcasts, live streams, and vlogs by going to the advanced settings and allowing 'NDI usage'.
• Skype for Business can also be used as a communication tool with the professional meeting solution. Microsoft also offers Teams platform for more formal meetings and even online classes.

Zoom

• Meetings and Chat can be initiated and partaken any where on any platform and from any device. It lets you experience HD video call, audio call, collaboration, and chat.
• Rooms and Workspaces such as conference rooms make it easy for users with a one touch joining option. Wireless shares and meeting security are other features of Zoom workspaces, which make it all the more viable.
• The Cloud Phone Solution offers users premium features by streamlining communication, enhanced centralized management, along with secure and reliable calls.

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• Webinars allow you to host online events with up to 100 active participants with custom branding, easy set up, and CRM integrations.
• App Marketplace can be used to find applications which help make your Zoom meetings and calls even more efficient. The applications can be found via category, and easily downloaded and integrated.

Skype vs Zoom: Pricing comparison

Skype

Skype has most of its services free of cost and users can benefit from these free services. This also gives Skype an edge over Zoom. However, Skype does offer subscription based calling plan for direct Skype calling.

Other than this, users can enjoy premium Skype features with Microsoft 365 plans which offers a suite of tools and services including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, and other Microsoft services. The personal suite of features in Microsoft 365 comes at a cost of Rs 4199, while the Family suite costs around Rs 5299 with user limit of 6 members.

Zoom

Zoom comes with a range of products and services and varying costs and plans. This includes Zoom Meetings, Phone, Video Webinars, and Zoom Rooms. While the purpose is pretty much the same, features vary according to the use cases. Here we discuss the pricing plans of Zoom Meetings.

Skype vs Zoom: Features Offered

Skype

• Skype offers its users Audio and HD video calling experience with both group calls as well as individual calls along with call reactions.
• On call features include smart messages and mentions, call recording and live subtitles along with screen sharing and end to end data encryption.
• One click meeting creation without the need to sign in make it really easy and productive. You can interview anyone, from anywhere in the world.
• You can use Skype Credit to call any landline phone at low call costs, and you can also choose a subscription based program for the same.
• Skype numbers, available in 25 countries can be used for unlimited calling with a subscription based plan including SMS.

Zoom

• Zoom offers Video communication services for hybrid classrooms and has temporarily suspended the 40 minute limit on video conferencing as a need of the hour.
• Zoom offers HIPAA/FERPA compliance to meet the security standards, and also offers a 256 bit encryption for data security.
• Offers integration with various software and services such as Moodle, Canvas, and Blackboard for seamless usage.
• Zoom also offers Cloud Conference Room Connectors, along with Emergency Preparedness and system notifications for important announcements.
• You can also incorporate hardware for a better teaching and learning experience along with any technical needs.

Skype vs Zoom: Languages Used

Skype

Skype is one of the best online video communication tools when it comes to remote working with a plethora of supported languages. Among the languages that it supports are French, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Arabic, Chinese, Turkish and others. You can choose any of them as the default language and enjoy working with your native language. The list of languages supported by Skype can be viewed on the official website.

Zoom

Zoom has a relatively smaller bandwidth when it comes to supported languages, but a diverse range nevertheless. These languages include English, German, French, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish among other. Other languages supported by Zoom are available on the official website.

Skype vs Zoom: Pros and Cons

Skype Pros

• Skype offers an easy to use interface with single click meetings, without the 40 minute meeting limitations.
• The video calling is great, specially the one-on-one calls.
• The international calling feature is quite affordable compared to standard rates.
• Skype offers excellent team collaboration features including Q&A, polls and others.

Skype Cons

• A high speed internet connection is required to make video calls, specially high quality calls.
• Owing to its popularity, Skype can be a target for hackers to steal private information.
• Some users claim that the support is not up to the mark.

Zoom Pros

• Offers solutions and products ranging from education and healthcare to government and finance.
• User experience is simple, intuitive, and efficient.
• Customer support is quite decent with email and phone call.
• Supports various third party integrations including Google services such as Drive, Dropbox, and Salesforce.

Zoom Cons

• Zoom group video calls are sometimes blurry and of poor quality, hence not up to the standards.
• Security and user privacy are some other concerns for Zoom users.
• Zoom can be a bit expensive for larger teams, and since most Skype features are free of cost, it has an edge over Zoom in this area.