With Zoom’s dizzying popularity, I bet you’re wondering who’s better between Skype vs Zoom, the challenge begins. Working from home can be a challenge and happiness, depending on the nature of your job. People use video calling tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Google Duo, etc.
To create digital meetings, conference rooms, and discuss potential ideas. These services allow group video calls and some other features that allow you to have an environment close to the office.
Among the services mentioned, both Skype and Zoom offer functions suitable for professional use. Skype has existed for over 15 years, while Zoom has been gaining ground in the corporate space. Both companies experienced explosive growth during the blockade for COVID-19 in major nations.
Both Skype and Zoom are fundamentally different and are at the top of the main areas such as video calls, chats, and group calls. In this post, we will compare both services based on numerous factors such as cross-platform availability, user interface, video calling functionality, ease of use, price, chat, and more. Let’s begin.
Skype vs Zoom- which video call service is better
Skype is accessible everywhere. The service is available on iOS, Android, Windows 10, Mac, Linux, Web, Xbox, and Microsoft Outlook Web.
Zoom is located a little further away. You can use the app on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and as an extension on Chromium-based browsers and Firefox browsers. You can also use it as an add-on on Microsoft Outlook.
Skype vs Zoom- user interface
At first glance, you can see the fundamental difference between the two services. Skype presents a more app design for the first chat. While Zoom motivates users to create or attend meetings and keep track of upcoming events.
Skype uses the usual messaging interface where the chat threads are located on the left and the conversation is located on the right side. To create group calls, you can create a Meet now group or create a group from the chat screen.
Zoom uses the usual icon-rich user interface where you can create or join meetings and switch between chats, meetings, and contacts from the main screen. It’s simple and new users don’t get confused about navigating the software.
Create and join a video call
One of the reasons for Zoom’s skyrocketing popularity is the ease of use. The software does not force participants to create an account. You can simply copy the shared meeting ID, open it in a web browser, and join the conversation.
However, there is an intrinsic problem with this method. Anyone with the meeting ID can join the conversation and add noise. And that’s what led to Zoombombing, and the company quickly added security and privacy measures to combat it.
To avoid this, add a meeting password from the Create Meeting menu. In addition to this, you can add the time, date of the meeting, choose from multiple calendars and enable advanced options such as recording meetings.
Skype was a complex solution for novice users. One needed to register with a Microsoft account before participating in group calls. The company recently introduced the Meet Now feature, which allows you to create hassle-free meetings directly from the web and without creating an account or downloading software.
Tap the Meet Now button and give the meeting a relevant name. Add people to the group or share the invitation link with others. Anyone can join the meeting with just the invitation link, there is no need to create an account. You can also schedule a call in the meeting group.
Alternatively, you can create groups with users and start the video or voice call by touching the call icon at the top.
Video call features
Let’s talk about Skype first. With Skype, you can create group video calls with up to fifty people for free. The service also offers group screen sharing which makes the conversation better than ever.
With Skype, you can blur the background to hide a messy room. Skype Translator is an excellent feature. The built-in voice translator can convert live conversations into ten languages including English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Italian, and more.
Attendees can use the integrated screen recording to view the meeting details. You can change the virtual background of the video with an embedded image or choose one from the gallery, share the iPhone or iPad screen on Zoom, use the whiteboard in Zoom, and other tricks.
It adds a distinctive touch and the implementation is better than simply blurring the background.
Other functions
Skype integrates other relevant Microsoft services such as OneDrive and Office apps. As for security, the company uses industry-standard end-to-end encryption to keep conversations secure.
I like the survey. You can quickly create surveys and publish them in the group to get everyone’s opinion. It’s not as powerful as dedicated survey apps, but it does the job.
Zoom supports the integration of hundreds of apps, including some of the most popular names like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, Google Drive, Zapier, and others.
Skype vs Zoom- prices
Skype is free. You only have to pay when you try to call non-skype numbers or landline using the service. With your Office 365 subscription, you get 60 minutes of free Skype Credit to use the feature.
Zoom offers a variety of packages. The basic plan is free and allows you to create a meeting with up to one hundred participants for 40 minutes. Pro plans start at $ 15 per month per host.
As you can see from the comparison above, both Zoom and Skype are excellent services for creating digital meetings. Skype is popular, has a solid chat function, and sufficient video calling features. Zooming is creative with several features like virtual backgrounds, ease of use, and screen recording.
