Zoom is a popular video conferencing app commonly used for virtual work meetings, classes, and social events. For telecommuters, it is a workplace staple. For others, it’s a way to share special moments with friends and family who live far away.
Zoom has many great features such as screen-sharing, chat, breakout rooms for small group collaboration, and of course video conferencing. But what many people want to know first is: do you have to pay for these features?
Is Zoom Free to Use?
The basic version of Zoom is free, but it does come with some limitations. The free version of Zoom allows you to host up to 100 users at once and supports group meetings for up to 40 minutes at a time.
If you are using Zoom to catch up with long-distance relatives or friends, work on group projects with classmates, or for one-on-one work meetings, you should be able to get by with the free version.
Meanwhile, the paid versions of Zoom are geared towards business use.
If you are new to using Zoom, check out our guide on how to use Zoom for online meetings.
How Much Does Zoom Cost?
If the offerings of the basic Zoom plan do not meet your needs, you have several paid plans to choose from. Remember, Zoom is offered internationally, so pricing may vary by region.
Zoom Pro Plan Price
Zoom’s Pro plan costs $149 per year per license. It is targeted towards small team collaboration. You are still limited to hosting 100 participants maximum, but group meetings can last for up to 30 hours.
There is a large meeting add-on option starting at $600 if you’re eyeing the Pro plan but need to host meetings with more than 100 attendees. Zoom’s Pro plan also offers social media streaming and 1 GB of cloud recording per license.
However, this plan only allows for up to nine licenses. Attendees do not need a Pro license to attend meetings, and only the host needs to have a Pro license for the meeting to continue past the 40-minute mark.
Zoom Business Plan Pricing
If your business needs more than nine licenses you’ll need to upgrade to the Business plan.
Zoom’s Business plan costs $199 per year per license. The Business plan is designed as a solution for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers all of the benefits of the Pro plan along with some extras.
The hosting maximum is increased to 300 attendees. In addition, Zoom Business plan subscribers have access to single sign-on, company branding within Zoom and meetings, recording transcripts, and managed domains.
To qualify for the Business plan, a company or organization must purchase a minimum of 10 licenses. If you need over 100 licenses, you will need to move up to the last tier.
Zoom Enterprise Plan Price
For the largest businesses, Zoom offers the Enterprise plan. The Enterprise plan costs $240 per year per license. Enterprise users can host up to 500 participants at once in meetings.
The plan also comes with unlimited cloud storage and a dedicated Customer Success Manager for your team. A minimum of 50 licenses is required to become an enterprise customer.
Should You Pay For Zoom?
If you plan to use Zoom primarily for one-on-one meetings or short check-ins, then the free Zoom plan will likely be enough for you.
Upgrading to a premium plan is a good idea if you plan to frequently utilize Zoom for team meetings. The 40 minute cut-off time is limiting, as hour-long meetings are standard for a lot of workplaces.
While you can simply start a new meeting when your Zoom call is dropped at the 40-minute mark, it does disrupt the flow of the meetings and would be unprofessional for client meetings.