Zoom

zoom.us
Communication & Collaboration
Weekend Project

Video conferencing and unified communications platform

How to Replace Zoom

Overview

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform enabling secure meetings, webinars, and instant messaging for teams and organizations worldwide. It provides HD video and audio, screen sharing, and collaboration tools accessible across devices.

Features

45 features across 18 categories

AI Features(4)

Auto TranscriptionAIPremium

Generate real-time transcripts of meetings with speaker identification.

Intelligent RecordingAIPremium

Smart recording that auto-chapters and indexes meeting content.

Meeting SummaryAIPremium

AI generates automatic summaries of key discussion points.

Noise SuppressionAI

AI filters background noise for clearer audio quality.

Accessibility(3)

Accessibility Features

Keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and high contrast modes.

Closed CaptionsAIPremium

Real-time closed captions for accessibility and compliance.

TranslationAIPremium

Translate meeting content into multiple languages in real-time.

Also in: Justinmind, Justworks, Notion

Administration(2)

Admin ConsolePremium

Centralized dashboard for managing users, settings, and analytics.

Role-Based Access ControlPremium

Manage permissions and features based on user roles.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Smartsheet

Analytics(1)

Analytics & ReportsPremium

Detailed usage statistics and meeting analytics for insights.

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Smartsheet

Appearance(1)

Virtual Backgrounds

Customize meeting backgrounds with images or blur for privacy.

Collaboration(3)

Annotation Tools

Draw, write, and markup shared screens in real-time.

Directory

Searchable organizational directory for finding colleagues.

Whiteboard

Collaborate on digital whiteboard with shapes, text, and images.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Obsidian

Communication(1)

Chat & Instant Messaging

Send direct and group messages during or between meetings.

Also in: Jobber, Jira, Insightly

Core(3)

HD Video Conferencing

Crystal-clear video meetings with up to 1000 participants in gallery view.

Recording & Playback

Record meetings locally or to cloud storage for future reference.

Screen Sharing

Share your entire screen, specific applications, or whiteboard in real-time.

Customization(1)

Custom BrandingPremium

Add company logos and colors to webinars and virtual backgrounds.

Display(4)

Gallery View

Display up to 49 video participants simultaneously on screen.

Smart GalleryAIPremium

AI-powered view that intelligently arranges participant videos.

Speaker View

Highlight the active speaker with larger video display.

Spotlight Video

Pin specific participant videos to display prominently.

Engagement(3)

Breakout RoomsPremium

Divide participants into separate rooms for group activities.

Poll & Q&APremium

Engage audiences with real-time polls and moderated Q&A sessions.

Reactions & Nonverbals

Use hand raise, thumbs up, and emoji reactions to engage participants.

Hardware(1)

Zoom RoomsPremium

Dedicated conference room systems with one-touch meeting joins.

Integration(1)

Unified Experience

Integrated messaging, calendar, and contacts in single platform.

Phone(7)

Call Hold & ResumePremium

Place calls on hold and resume with integrated music.

Call RecordingPremium

Record phone calls with automatic cloud backup.

Call RoutingPremium

Distribute incoming calls to teams based on availability and skills.

Call TransferPremium

Transfer calls between team members seamlessly.

Phone Conferencing

Dial-in numbers for participants to join via traditional phone.

VoicemailPremium

Leave and receive voicemails with transcription capabilities.

VoIP CallingPremium

Make and receive calls over internet with crystal-clear quality.

Presence(2)

Do Not Disturb

Control call availability with DND mode for focused work.

Presence Status

Display availability status across Zoom and integrated apps.

Scheduling(2)

Recurring Meetings

Set up daily, weekly, or monthly recurring meeting schedules.

Schedule Meetings

Plan and schedule meetings with calendar integration and reminders.

Security(4)

End-to-End EncryptionPremium

Secure meetings with military-grade encryption on all communications.

Meeting Lock

Prevent unauthorized participants from joining active meetings.

Single Sign-OnPremium

Integrate with identity providers for seamless authentication.

Waiting Room

Control meeting entry by screening participants before admission.

Webinar(2)

Live StreamingPremium

Stream meetings directly to YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms.

Webinar HostingPremium

Host interactive webinars with up to 10,000 attendees.

Pricing

Free

Free
  • Unlimited meetings up to 40 minutes
  • basic features
  • up to 100 participants

Pro

Popular
$15.99/mo
  • Unlimited meetings
  • 30-hour recordings
  • advanced features

Business

$25.99/mo
  • Advanced admin controls
  • 300 GB storage
  • branded webinars

Enterprise

Contact Sales
  • Custom solution with unlimited participants and advanced features

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Zoom

Monthly$15.99/mo
Yearly$192/yr
5-Year Total$959

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 Year
SaaS
$192
DIY
$240
3 Years
SaaS
$576
DIY
$720
5 Years
SaaS
$959
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 45 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Zoom alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 45 features.

Buy Zoom

Better Value
Monthly cost$159.9/mo
3-year total$5,756.4
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Zoom saves ~$31,203.6 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 45 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

25 known integrations