The Zoom Meeting and Webinar platforms offer similar features and functionality but have some key differences.
Meetings are designed to be a collaborative event with all participants being able to screen share, turn on their video and audio, and see who else is in attendance. They have the ability to interact via Q&A, chat, and answering polling questions.
Webinars are designed so that the host and any designated panelists can share their video, audio and screen. Webinars allow view-only attendees. They have the ability to interact via Q&A, chat, and answering polling questions. The host can also unmute the attendees. Attendees in webinars, cannot rename themselves as well.
Meetings versus webinars
| |
Meeting |
Webinar |
| Description |
Zoom meetings are ideal for hosting more interactive sessions where you’ll want to have lots of audience participation or break your session into smaller groups. |
Think of webinars like a virtual lecture hall or auditorium. Webinars are ideal for large audiences or events that are open to the public. Typically, webinar attendees do not interact with one another. Though Zoom provides options for you to get more social with your attendees, your average webinar has one or a few people speaking to an audience. |
| Best Used For |
Small to large groups (2+ participants) for:
Customer-facing meetings
Sales meetings
Training sessions
|
Large events and public broadcasts (50+ attendees) such as:
Town halls
Quarterly updates
Educational lectures
|
| Cost |
Free for Faculty/Staff |
Contact your IT Representative for pricing |
| FEATURES |
Meeting |
Webinar |
| Capacity |
300 (Free), 500 ($598), 1000 (OU IT Loaner) or ($1,081) |
500 (OU IT Loaner) or ($715), 1000 ($3,399), 3000 ($9,977) |
| Participant Roles |
Host, Alternative Host & Co-Host
Participant
|
Host, Alternative Host and Co-Host
Panelist
Attendee
|
| Audio Sharing |
All participants can mute/unmute their own audio
Host can mute/request to unmute participants
The Host can set all participants to mute upon entry
|
Only the Host and panelists can mute/unmute their own audio
Attendees join in listen-only mode*
The Host can unmute one or more attendees
|
| Video Sharing |
All participants |
Hosts and Panelists |
| Screen Sharing |
Yes |
Yes |
| Participants List |
Visible to all |
Visible to host and panelist |
| Email Reminders
|
N/A |
If registration is enabled |
| Chat |
In-Meeting Chat |
Webinar Chat |
| Nonverbal Feedback |
Yes |
Only Raise Hand |
| Q & A |
N/A |
Yes |
| Breakout Rooms |
Yes |
N/A |
| Closed Captioning |
Yes |
Yes |
| Recording |
Yes |
Yes |
| Polling |
Polling for meetings |
Polling for webinars |
| Livestream |
Facebook, YouTube, Workplace by Facebook, Custom Streaming Service |
Facebook, YouTube, Workplace by Facebook, Custom Streaming Service |
| Registration |
Registration for meetings |
Registration for webinars |
| Practice Session |
N/A |
Yes |
| Waiting Room |
Yes |
N/A |
| PayPal Integration |
N/A |
Yes |
| Require Password to Join |
Yes |
Yes |
| International Dial-In Numbers |
Yes |
Yes |
*Note: If the host or co-host enables Allow to Talk for an attendee, they will be able to enable their microphone as well as mute and unmute themselves.