Which video conferencing or webinar tool should I use? (Google Meet, Cisco Webex , Microsoft Teams, Zoom)

There are a number of web conferencing tools available to UW-Madison faculty, staff, and students. This document compares the major features of four web conferencing tools: Google Meet, Webex Meetings, Webex Webinars, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.

IMPORTANT - If possible, password protect your meetings and only share the URL as needed. At this time of remote meeting and learning, we are finding that uninvited guests are joining some public events and are sharing content without permission. If you must host an open event, be sure to verify who can present during the meeting and restrict access as much as possible.

ALSO - Many if not most web conferencing technologies will experience issues with users in China. Please see this news item for further details.

Please also look over this policy about collaboration technologies and recordings as they relate to students in particular. If the technology you want to use is not listed in this policy, do not use it for instructional purposes.

Google Meet is available to faculty, staff, and students through the UW-Madison Google Workspace for Education. You must activate a UW Google+ account to use Meet. For details about Meet, click UW-Madison Google Workspace - Getting Started with Google Meet

Cisco Webex (Meetings / Webinars) is available to faculty, staff, and students. This software can be installed on all UW-Madison computers and is accessible for download either via the Campus Software Library or via the UW-Madison Webex portal. For more information regarding Webex, click here.

Microsoft Teams offers chat, calls, and meetings and is available to faculty, staff, and students through the University's Microsoft 365 license. For more information, click Microsoft 365 - Getting Started with Teams.

Zoom is now available at UW-Madison, starting with the Fall 2020 semester. For more information, see UW-Madison Zoom - Getting started.

Non-UW-Madison tools: Due to FERPA, HIPAA, and other data privacy considerations, campus policy prohibits the use of other, non-sanctioned web conferencing software such as Skype for any University academic or business purposes.

Features	Google Meet	Webex Meetings	Webex Webinars	Microsoft Teams	Zoom
Max. # simultaneous video (Visible at a time)++	100 (16)	1000 (25)	1000 (25)	250 (16)	300 (49)
Max. # simultaneous audio	100	1,000	1,000	250	300
Max. # participants	100	1,000	1,000	10,000 (several live event settings must be configured first; see here for instructions)	1,000
Chat feature	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
File sharing capabilities	No##	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Screen sharing capabilities	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Breakout rooms (Total Number)	No	Yes (100)	Yes (100)	Yes (50)	Yes (50)
Cost	Free to UW	Free to UW	Free to UW	Free to UW	Free to UW
Integrated with Canvas	No	No	No	No	Yes
Remembers content	No	Yes (some)	Yes (some)	Yes	Yes (Some)
Browser based (no download required)	Yes	Yes^	Yes^	Yes^	Yes^
Live/closed captioning integration for captioners (e.g. CART)	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Students can create a session	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Live streaming	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (Live events)	Yes
Record meeting	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cloud Recording Retention	N/A	Yes	Yes	N/A	Yes
Allow external participants (non UW-Madison)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bandwidth Requirements	Google Meet	Webex Meetings	Webex Webinars	Microsoft Teams	Zoom
Application integration	Google Workspace for Education (Docs, Sheets, Drive, and more)	Microsoft Outlook, Cisco Jabber, Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, IBM Cloud, Microsoft OneDrive	Microsoft Outlook, Cisco Jabber	Microsoft Suite (Email, OneDrive, and more)	View approved application integrations.
Dial-in option	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Dial-out option	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Platform	Web, Mobile (iOS and Android)	Webex Teams, Webex Desktop, Web, Mobile (iOS and Android)	Webex Desktop, Web Mobile (iOS and Android)	Web, Mobile (iOS and Android)	Web, Mobile (iOS and Android)
Blur background	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (Mac OS/Win desktop clients)	Yes (iPhone only)
Captions	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
FERPA Data Allowed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Data Allowed+	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (Secure Zoom)
Security Information	Meet	Webex	Webex	Teams	Zoom
Training	Google Meet Training	Getting Started: Webex Meetings	Getting Started: Webex Webinars	Video Training Guides	Zoom Video Training
Accessibility and Usability	Google Accessibility and Usability	Webex Accessibility and Usability	Webex Accessibility and Usability	Microsoft Accessibility and Usability	Zoom Accessibility and Usability

## While Google Meet has no native file-sharing feature, you can share files through Google Drive.

These all have a desktop, browser, and mobile version.
- Attendees can choose to join via any option. (Setting up the room and accessing the full functionality of the product requires the desktop version)
HIPAA regulations apply to businesses and individuals in the health care industry such as health plans and health care providers.
- These are called covered entities, meaning they are covered by HIPAA.
- UW-Madison is a hybrid entity because it includes units that perform HIPAA-covered functions (such as providing health care) and units that do not.
- As a hybrid entity, UW-Madison has designated units that perform covered functions, and individuals or units that perform support functions on behalf of those designated units, as its Health Care Component.
Max # Simultaneous Video/Audio refers to the maximum amount of participants able to stream video or audio at the same time.

Which video conferencing or webinar tool should I use? (Google Meet, Cisco Webex , Microsoft Teams, Zoom)

Which video conferencing or webinar tool should I use? (Google Meet, Cisco Webex , Microsoft Teams, Zoom)

See Also