Online Video Conferencing apps - Zoom or Skype? A brief comparison.

Video conferencing has made our lives easy, especially during the current pandemic it seems to be the only rescue system for every kind of interaction. The two video conferencing platforms that have become popular among consumers over the years are Skype and Zoom. The major difference between the two platforms is cost, efficiency and user-friendliness. In these two parameters, Zoom gets more edge than its competitor Skype. Zoom provides different plans as per the requirement of the consumer but the Basic Zoom Plan is free of cost and allows 100 participants in one single meeting and with 40 Minutes duration of the meeting which can be extended further.  

What is Zoom?

Zoom Video Communications is an American based technology company. It provides video conferencing and online chat services through a cloud-based software platform. It can be used by big business organizations for having online meetings or with distant clients, it can also be used for distant education and other personal online meetings. The app gives the features to record the meeting, share the screen with the other participants and with some other robust features than any other platform.

What is Skype?

Skype is a telecommunications software application that provides video conferencing, video chat, and voice calls between computers, mobiles, and tablets. It uses the internet for these services. It provides features like Skype Translate, which allows the users to speak in different languages, and the app translates the conversation in real-time, it allows screen sharing and live subtitles. It can be used for business purposes as well with the plans provided.

Parameters of Differences

1. Pricing

• Zoom: Free of cost/ paid upgradation as per the requirements.
• Skype: Free for Skype to Skype Communications

2. Privacy

• Zoom: End-to-end encryption to be updated
• Skype: End-to-end encryption is available 

3. Participants

• Zoom: 100 minimum and above that are paid 
• Skype: 50 minimum and above that are paid

4. Conferencing features

• Zoom: HD Video, HD Voice, Screen Sharing, Whiteboarding
• Skype: Group Video Calls, Collaboration Tools, Screen Sharing

5. Supported Language

• Zoom: English
• Skype: English

Main Differences Between Zoom and Skype

• Zoom has integrated features apart from supported integration like individual meetings URLs, breakout sessions which allow participants to be divided into groups, virtual hand-raising whereas Skype allows translation of different languages in real-time and live subtitles.
• Skype provides end-to-end encryption which provides users with high security during online videoconferencing whereas in Zoom the end-to-end encryption is still in the works and there have been problems with Zoombombing- the act of showing violent and abusive images while screen-sharing. This has created a lot of problems for the platform as it is banned in a few countries for online learning purposes. 
• Zoom is free for users via any web portal under its Zoom Basic Plan. There are other plans as well which are paid and have some add on benefits. Skype is free for Skype-to-Skype communications and anyone who wants to make a call outside Skype needs to purchase Skype Credit. Credit offered in minute-based tier: $5 for 165 minutes, $10 for 330 minutes, and so on.
• Zoom provides hosting meetings with up to 100 participants for free with 40 minutes as meeting duration. The number of participants can be increased to 300, 500, 1000 according to the Plan chosen. In Skype, the limit of participants in its free plan is 50 which can be exceeded by upgrading the Skype Plan. 
• Both Zoom and Skype have excellent video quality of 1080p which makes the videoconferencing experience amazing. However, Zoom does not have activated 1080p resolutions which can be changed from the settings. 

CONCLUSION 

Zoom and Skype both have similar features which are very close to each other which makes them the alternatives of the other. Both of the platforms provide high-quality video conferencing and communications solutions to businesses and other users worldwide. However, Zoom with its better-integrated features and Free Zoom Basic Plan makes it more user friendly as well as feasible for the consumers. It is also preferred by the business houses for formal in-house or foreign meetings. 

References

1. www.dgicommunications.com
2. www.androidauthority.com