Zoom vs Google Meet 2026: Which Video Conferencing is Better?
Zoom and Google Meet dominate video conferencing. Both are excellent, but they serve different audiences and use cases.
Quick Answer:
- Choose Zoom for webinars, large meetings, and advanced features
- Choose Google Meet for Google Workspace users and simple meetings
At a Glance
| Feature | Zoom | Google Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Free Meeting Length | 40 min | 60 min |
| Free Participants | 100 | 100 |
| Paid From | $15.99/mo | Included with Workspace |
| Best For | Large meetings | Google users |
| Recording | Cloud + Local | Cloud only |
Free Plan Comparison
Zoom Free
- ✅ 40-minute group meetings
- ✅ 100 participants
- ✅ Unlimited 1:1 meetings
- ✅ Virtual backgrounds
- ✅ Screen sharing
- ✅ Breakout rooms
- ✅ Local recording
Google Meet Free
- ✅ 60-minute group meetings
- ✅ 100 participants
- ✅ Unlimited 1:1 meetings
- ✅ Background blur
- ✅ Screen sharing
- ❌ No breakout rooms
- ❌ No recording
Winner: Tie — Zoom has more features, Meet has longer meetings.
Pricing Comparison
Zoom Plans
| Plan | Price/Host/Mo | Meeting Length | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 40 min | 100 |
| Pro | $15.99 | 30 hours | 100 |
| Business | $21.99 | 30 hours | 300 |
| Enterprise | Custom | 30 hours | 1,000 |
Google Meet Plans
| Plan | Price/User/Mo | Meeting Length | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 60 min | 100 |
| Starter | $7.20 | 24 hours | 100 |
| Standard | $14.40 | 24 hours | 150 |
| Plus | $21.60 | 24 hours | 500 |
*Meet is included with Google Workspace—no separate purchase.
Verdict: Google Meet is cheaper if you need Workspace anyway.
Features Comparison
Meeting Basics
| Feature | Zoom | Meet |
|---|---|---|
| HD video | ✅ 1080p | ✅ 1080p |
| Screen sharing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hand raise | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reactions | ✅ | ✅ |
| Captions | ✅ | ✅ |
Advanced Features
| Feature | Zoom | Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Breakout rooms | ✅ Free | Paid only |
| Polls | ✅ | ✅ Paid |
| Q&A | ✅ | ✅ Paid |
| Whiteboard | ✅ | ✅ |
| Waiting room | ✅ | ✅ |
| Co-host | ✅ | ✅ |
Winner: Zoom — More advanced features on free plan.
Recording
| Feature | Zoom | Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Local recording | ✅ Free | ❌ |
| Cloud recording | ✅ Paid | ✅ Paid |
| Auto transcription | ✅ Paid | ✅ Paid |
| Recording storage | 5-10 GB | Google Drive |
Winner: Zoom — Local recording is free.
Backgrounds & Effects
| Feature | Zoom | Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual backgrounds | ✅ Extensive | ✅ Limited |
| Custom backgrounds | ✅ | ✅ |
| Background blur | ✅ | ✅ |
| Filters | ✅ | ✅ |
| Studio effects | ✅ | Limited |
Winner: Zoom — More customization options.
Security Comparison
Zoom Security
- End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
- Waiting rooms
- Meeting passwords
- Lock meeting option
- Report attendee feature
- SOC 2 Type II certified
Google Meet Security
- Encryption in transit
- Meeting codes expire
- Domain-based access controls
- Anti-hijacking protections
- Google infrastructure security
- SOC 2/3 certified
Winner: Tie — Both offer enterprise-grade security.
Ease of Use
Zoom
- Desktop app required for best experience
- Feature-rich interface
- More settings to configure
- Slight learning curve
Google Meet
- Works entirely in browser
- Simple, clean interface
- Minimal configuration
- Easier for new users
Winner: Google Meet — Simpler and browser-based.
Integration
Zoom Integrates With
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Salesforce
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- 1,500+ apps
Google Meet Integrates With
- Google Calendar (native)
- Gmail (native)
- Google Workspace
- Slack
- Third-party apps
Winner: Zoom — More integrations, but Meet has better Google integration.
Best For Each Use Case
| Use Case | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Simple team meetings | Meet | Browser-based, easy |
| Large webinars | Zoom | Better webinar tools |
| Google Workspace users | Meet | Native integration |
| External clients | Zoom | More widely known |
| Education | Zoom | Breakout rooms free |
| Healthcare | Tie | Both HIPAA compliant |
| Enterprise | Tie | Both secure |
Pros and Cons
Zoom
Pros:
- ✅ Most feature-rich
- ✅ Best for large events
- ✅ Breakout rooms (free)
- ✅ Local recording (free)
- ✅ Industry standard
Cons:
- ❌ 40-min limit on free
- ❌ Requires app download
- ❌ Past security issues
- ❌ More complex
Google Meet
Pros:
- ✅ 60-min free meetings
- ✅ No download needed
- ✅ Google integration
- ✅ Simple interface
- ✅ Included with Workspace
Cons:
- ❌ Fewer advanced features
- ❌ No free recording
- ❌ Limited virtual backgrounds
- ❌ Less known to non-Google users
Our Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Free plan features | Zoom |
| Free meeting length | Google Meet |
| Ease of use | Google Meet |
| Advanced features | Zoom |
| Value (Workspace users) | Google Meet |
| Webinars | Zoom |
Bottom Line
Google Workspace users should use Google Meet—it’s included and integrates perfectly.
Everyone else should evaluate based on needs:
- Zoom for webinars, training, and advanced features
- Meet for simple, browser-based meetings
Both are excellent. You can’t go wrong with either.
Last updated: January 2026