Is Zoom Workplace free? The simple answer is you can use one version of Zoom Workplace for free, but if you want to access more features and functionality, you’ll need a paid subscription.
Just like Microsoft Teams, and Google Workplace, Zoom Workplace has its own (slightly limited) free plan. In fact, Zoom has always offered customers a free version of its video conferencing and collaboration software, even before it introduced the new “Workplace” branding.
However, like any free version of a collaboration tool, it’s worth remembering that the free plan does have some limitations. Zoom wouldn’t be a very profitable company if it gave all of its features away for free. So, is the free version of Zoom Workplace worthwhile? Should you consider upgrading to a paid subscription? Here’s everything you need to know.
Zoom Workplace Pricing
Zoom Workplace offers one free plan and a selection of premium plans designed to address different business needs. Pricing outside of the free plan ranges from $13.32 per month per user to $22.49 per month per user, with a custom price for larger organizations.
Before we dive into what the free Workplace plan includes (as well as what you get with the paid subscriptions), it’s worth noting that Zoom Workplace is a specific service. It’s not just another word for Zoom Meetings or Zoom Video Conferencing.
Zoom Workplace includes most of the top essential features of Zoom’s wider technology platform, such as Meetings, Chat, Zoom Notes, Calendar, Mail, and Zoom Clips. However, exactly what you get from your Workplace subscription depends on your plan.
All Zoom Workplace plans include HD voice and 1080p video conferencing, TLS encryption for security, and access to a range of features like breakout rooms, screen sharing, and virtual backgrounds. However, the more you pay for your plan, the more features you’ll get.
As an example, Zoom AI Companion, is only available to users on paid plans, along with the advanced version of Zoom Whiteboard, and various other tools.
Plus, on all Zoom Workplace plans, you’ll need to pay extra for certain features, such as Zoom Phone, Events and Webinars, Zoom Rooms, and the Zoom Contact Center tools.
What’s Included in the Free Plan?
Ultimately, the answer to “Is Zoom Workplace Free?” is “Yes, if you only want basic features.”
Zoom “Basic”, is Zoom’s free plan, intended for a single user. This plan is an evolution of the previous free plan users could access for “Zoom Meetings.” The functionality is similar to what you’d expect from Google Workplace’s free plan or the free one from Microsoft Teams.
With the Basic plan, you’ll get a convenient conferencing solution that’s easy-to-use, intuitive, and packed with handy capabilities, such as breakout rooms. In fact, Zoom’s free plan is one of the most popular options out there for everyday conferencing.
However, there are limitations, for instance:
- Meetings: While you can access HD voice and 1080p video in conferencing sessions, you can only host conversations for up to 40 minutes. That’s a little less than the time limit you get on Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams’ free plan.
- Participants: In group meetings, you’re limited to 100 participants in the free plan. However, an unlimited number of people can communicate via Zoom Chat.
- Features: Zoom’s Basic plan only includes access to a pared-down whiteboarding tool (with 3 editing boards), and a restricted version of Clips, which lets you create 5 two-minute videos. You will still get access to mail and calendar services, and Notes, however.
So essentially, if you’re just hosting the occasional short meeting online, or chatting with team members on a day-to-day basis, Zoom’s free plan is great. If you want a more comprehensive collaboration platform, intended for business users, you’ll need to upgrade.
Is Zoom Workplace Free? The Paid Plans
The free version of Zoom Workplace is a fantastic option for anyone who wants a user-friendly video conferencing and collaboration platform, but doesn’t want to spend a fortune. However, if you want to tap into all of the latest advanced features, like AI on Zoom Workplace, you’ll need to upgrade.
Upgrading to a paid plan doesn’t just give you more features, support for longer meetings, and handy apps either. It also means you can access more customer support from Zoom, and more online storage for all of your cloud-based documents and files.
Let’s take a look at the premium plans.
Zoom Workplace Pro
Intended for 1-99 users, Zoom Workplace Pro costs $13.32 per user, per month when you pay annually, or $15.99 per month, per user, when you pay monthly. This plan includes all of the features of Zoom Basic, but it eliminates some of the extra limitations.
For instance, you can host meetings for up to 30 hours on Zoom Workplace Pro, although you’ll still be limited to 100 participants. Notably, though, you can increase the participant limit with Zoom’s “large meeting” add-on (more on the Zoom add-ons later).
Zoom Workplace Pro also comes with 5GB of storage per license, and an upgraded version of Zoom Clips, which allows you to create unlimited videos. One of the biggest benefits of this plan, however, are the fact that you can access Zoom AI Companion, Zoom’s free tool for meeting notes, summarization, and generative AI support.
Additionally, Zoom Workplace Pro comes with access to a range of free “Essential Apps” for Zoom, for 1 year. So, it’s great if you want to expand the functionality of the platform. For business users, you’ll also get access to analytical reporting tools, social media streaming capabilities, and advanced customer service.
