Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet now dominate business video calling — and choosing between them isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. Each has caught up significantly with the others in recent years. The right choice depends on what software your business already uses, how large your team is, and what matters most to you beyond basic video calling.
The Short Answer
- Already using Microsoft 365? Use Teams. It’s included and the integration with Outlook, SharePoint, and OneDrive is genuinely useful.
- Already using Google Workspace? Use Google Meet. It’s built into Gmail and Calendar, and it works well.
- No preference or mixed setup? Zoom is the most universally compatible option — guests don’t need an account, the client is fast, and it works well on all devices.
Microsoft Teams
What it’s good at
Teams is far more than a video calling tool — it’s a full collaboration platform. Persistent chat channels, file storage via SharePoint, shared calendars, and direct integration with the Microsoft 365 apps you probably use daily. If your team is in Outlook and Word all day, Teams reduces the friction of getting everyone on a call or sharing a document significantly.
For businesses with 5–500 staff all on Microsoft 365, Teams is usually the right choice — not because the video quality is better (it isn’t, noticeably), but because the integration removes friction in daily work.
Downsides
Teams is heavier than Zoom or Meet. The client uses more RAM, updates frequently, and can feel slow on older hardware. External guests need to either have a Teams account or join via browser (which works, but is a slightly clunkier experience). The UI is also genuinely complex — many Teams users only use a fraction of what it offers.
Cost
Included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic (£4.90/user/month) upwards. There’s also a limited free version.
Zoom
What it’s good at
Zoom became the default external-facing meeting tool for a reason: it just works, reliably, for anyone. A guest can join a Zoom call from a link without creating an account, on any device, and the experience is consistent. Video quality is excellent, the client is lightweight compared to Teams, and features like breakout rooms, webinars, and the waiting room are well-implemented.
For businesses that regularly call people outside their organisation — clients, suppliers, prospects — Zoom is often the best choice for those external calls even if you use Teams internally.
Downsides
Zoom is a standalone app — it doesn’t integrate deeply with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace the way native tools do. You’ll be scheduling meetings by copying links rather than via calendar integration (though plugins exist for this). The free tier limits meetings to 40 minutes, which pushes most business users to a paid plan.
Cost
Free tier (40-minute limit on group calls). Pro plan from £11.99/month/user for unlimited meeting duration.
Google Meet
What it’s good at
Google Meet has improved significantly since its early reputation as a weak Zoom alternative. If your business uses Google Workspace, Meet is woven into Gmail and Google Calendar — starting or joining a meeting from an invite is as frictionless as it gets. It runs in a browser tab with no client to install, which is an advantage for IT-light environments and guests joining from external organisations.
Video quality and reliability are good, and Google has added features like noise cancellation, background blur, and companion mode for hybrid meetings. For Google Workspace businesses, it’s the natural default.
Downsides
Without a Google Workspace subscription, Meet lacks features. Recording requires a paid plan. The platform has fewer advanced features than Teams or Zoom for large-scale events, webinars, or breakout rooms (though these have been added in recent updates).
Cost
Free with a Google account (limited). Included with Google Workspace Business Starter (£4.60/user/month) upwards.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Teams | Zoom | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video quality | Good | Excellent | Good |
| External guest experience | Acceptable (browser join) | Excellent (no account needed) | Good (browser join) |
| M365 integration | Native | Plugin required | No |
| Google Workspace integration | No | Plugin required | Native |
| Client weight/speed | Heavy | Light | Browser-based |
| Recording | Paid plans | Paid plans | Paid plans |
| Free tier usability | Good | Limited (40 min) | Good |
Can You Use More Than One?
Yes, and most businesses do. A common setup is Teams for internal communication and collaboration, with Zoom used for external client-facing calls where you want the easiest possible join experience for the guest. This isn’t wasteful — Teams and Zoom serve slightly different use cases well.
