Cisco Webex vs Zoom
A side-by-side look at 2 directory tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
Enterprise messaging, meetings, and calling from Cisco.
Visit Cisco WebexReliable video meetings and webinars.
Visit ZoomOur take
Zoom and Cisco Webex are the two heavyweights of video conferencing, but they differ in their sweet spots. Zoom dominates for ease of use, free-tier generosity, and sheer market adoption. Webex shines for large enterprises needing deep security, compliance, and Cisco ecosystem integration. For most teams, Zoom is the simpler, more accessible choice. For large enterprises with stringent security needs, Webex is worth the investment.
Pricing compared
Head to head
| Cisco Webex | Zoom | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ||
| Starting price | $14.5/user/month | $13.33/user/month |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 | 30 |
| Founded | 1984 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Jose, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Team size | 10000+ | 5000-10000 |
Pros & cons
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance (HIPAA, FedRAMP)
- Deep integration with Cisco hardware and software
- Built-in messaging, calling, and meetings in one app
- Excellent whiteboarding features
- Strong phone support and SLAs for enterprise
- More expensive than Zoom for equivalent features
- Interface can feel dated compared to Zoom
- Steeper setup and learning curve
- Smaller third-party integration ecosystem than Zoom
- Extremely easy to set up and join meetings
- Most widely adopted video conferencing tool
- HD video and audio quality
- Robust free plan with 40-minute meetings
- Excellent integrations ecosystem
- Free plan limits meetings to 40 minutes
- Security concerns in early 2020 led to temporary trust issues
- Zoom fatigue is a real phenomenon
- Advanced features require expensive add-ons (Zoom Phone, Webinar)
Similarities & differences
- Both support HD video and audio conferencing
- Both offer screen sharing and recording capabilities
- Both have free plans with meeting limits
- Both integrate with calendar tools like Google Calendar and Outlook
- Both support mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Zoom is easier to set up and use; Webex has a steeper learning curve
- Webex offers deeper enterprise security and compliance features; Zoom has improved but trails Webex
- Zoom has a more generous free plan (40-min meetings); Webex free plan limits to 40 minutes too but adds whiteboarding
- Webex integrates tightly with Cisco hardware; Zoom works with more third-party hardware
- Zoom dominates in market share and adoption; Webex is preferred in enterprise IT-managed environments
- Webex includes messaging and calling in one platform; Zoom offers Zoom Phone as an add-on
Who should choose which
Choose Webex if you need enterprise-grade security, compliance, and deep Cisco ecosystem integration
Choose Zoom if you want the most popular, easiest-to-use video conferencing tool with broad integration support
Features compared
| Cisco Webex | Zoom | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans & pricing | ||
| Free tier | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free trial | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | Free; Webex Meet $14.50/user/mo; Business $25/user/mo; Enterprise custom | Free; Pro $13.33/user/mo; Business $18.33/user/mo; Enterprise custom |
| Money-back guarantee | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Platforms & access | ||
| Web app | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Mobile apps | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Desktop app | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Self-hosted option | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Offline mode | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Integrations & extensibility | ||
| Public API | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Webhooks | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Native integrations | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Slack, Cisco hardware | Slack, Google Calendar, Outlook, Salesforce, HubSpot, Dropbox, Microsoft 365 |
| Automation (Zapier/Make) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Security & compliance | ||
| SSO / SAML | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Two-factor auth | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| GDPR compliant | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Encryption at rest | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Collaboration | ||
| Team workspaces | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Role-based permissions | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Guest access | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Support | ||
| Email support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Live chat support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Phone support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Knowledge base | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SLA | 99.99% uptime SLA for enterprise plans with dedicated support | 99.9% uptime SLA for paid plans |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zoom free to use?
Yes, Zoom has a free plan that allows unlimited 1-on-1 meetings and group meetings up to 40 minutes with up to 100 participants. Paid plans start at $13.33/month/user (Pro) and remove the 40-minute limit, add cloud recording, and more.
Is Cisco Webex free?
Yes, Webex has a free plan that allows unlimited meetings up to 40 minutes, up to 100 participants, whiteboarding, and 10GB of cloud storage. Paid plans start at $14.50/user/month and add longer meetings, more participants, and advanced features.
Is Webex more secure than Zoom?
Webex has historically been regarded as more secure, particularly for enterprise use, with end-to-end encryption, FedRAMP authorization, and compliance certifications like HIPAA and SOC 2. Zoom has significantly improved its security since 2020, but Webex retains an edge in heavily regulated industries.
Can Zoom and Webex host large meetings?
Yes, both support large meetings. Zoom's paid plans support up to 1,000 interactive participants and up to 50,000 view-only attendees. Webex supports up to 1,000 participants on standard plans and up to 100,000 on webinar plans.
Which video conferencing tool is better for remote teams?
Zoom is generally preferred for remote teams due to its ease of use, wide adoption, and rich integration ecosystem. However, teams already using Cisco equipment or Microsoft Teams integrations may find Webex more seamless and cost-effective.