Zoom vs Google Meet: Which One Is Better?

Zoom vs Google Meet: I spent hours testing Zoom and found it's really awesome when you need breakout rooms and all those advanced features that make meetings less boring. (whiteboard, polls, quizzes)

Google Meet is what I use when I want something quick and simple that works right away with my Gmail and Google Calendar (fyi, Google Meet also has breakout rooms).

Google Meet is already perfect if you and your team are using Google stuff all day anyway.

However, I want to help you figure out which one is right for your situation. I'll show you each video conferencing tool's features, what they cost, how they connect with other tools, and how easy they are to use.

By the end, you'll know exactly which one fits how you work. And I'll even share an AI tool (Jamie, that's us!) that fixes the biggest problems with both platforms (AI note-taking!).

Enjoy!

‍

TL;DR

• Zoom = More tools, more engagement. Great for breakout rooms, chat during meetings, quick polls, and drawing on screen. Works best when you teach or need people to interact in your meetings.
• Google Meet = Simple and fast. Great for breakout rooms, chat during meetings, overall clean look, works well on phones, perfect for quick, reliable calls, but you'll need to pay for many of the good features.

No Time for Note-Taking?

Jamie does it for you

Try Jamie for Free

Zoom and Google Meet Both Work for Meetings but Differ in How You Interact

Zoom and Google Meet both give you good video, reliable screen sharing, breakout rooms, and easy calendar links. You can use them on any device easily for quick check-ins or longer meetings.

You might be thinking, *Then, what is the big difference?* Well, there's A LOT.

Zoom comes with more built-in tools for engagement

• Polls, quizzes, whiteboards, and drawing features.

Google Meet keeps things simple and fast but hides some good features behind higher-priced plans.

Still, neither platform handles follow-up well.

• No offline transcripts, no smart summaries that work across all video conferencing platforms without the need of bots, and no real-time AI assistance.

Jamie fixes this problem, it transcribes your meetings (even offline), pulls out clear action items, and creates human-like meeting summaries. It works smoothly with both Google Meet and Zoom. Jamie works will all video conferencing platforms. Online and offline. You can literally say "Goodbye!" to compatibility issues.

For all that and more, let's get into the nitty-gritty of what makes Zoom and Google Meet so different from each other.

‍

Features

TL;DR

• Zoom works best for interactive group sessions with useful tools like breakout rooms, chat during meetings, and scheduling options (but free users get limited time).
• Google Meet gives you a simple, clean experience with easy features like mobile mode and emoji reactions, but you won't get extras like recording or desktop apps unless you pay.

‍

Zoom Features

Breakout Rooms

‍

‍

The breakout room is where you categorize a meeting into separate sections, or "Rooms". its quite fun splitting people into groups during calls. Feels just like real group work.

• I can assign rooms myself,
• Let the system do it randomly, or,
• Let people choose their own rooms.

This keeps things casual and lets people mix how they want.

It was easy to learn how to manage Breakout rooms once I played around it a bit. The attendees have the option to hit the "Ask for Help" button, which alerts me that someone needs assistance. I can jump into that specific breakout room to assist them, or I can send a message to all the rooms at once. This way, I can keep everyone informed without interrupting them.

Each room has its own encryption, which helped when discussing sensitive topics. Some say it's not great for active small groups, but I think it works well for breaking big meetings into smaller, more productive talks instead of large calls where nobody gets a chance to speak.

‍

In-Meeting Chat Feature

‍

‍

The chat feature is super helpful when you don't want to interrupt speakers. You can message everyone at once to share important info quickly. You can also send private messages if the host allows it.

You can make text bold, add emojis, and share files in chat. You can react to messages or reply to specific comments. Sometimes, the chat may disappear completely while using it. You might have to restart Zoom to fix this. This can get annoying during support. Also, you can't copy text from chat in some cases.

The chat works for most meetings, but these small problems can be frustrating.

‍

Zoom Scheduler

‍

‍

Zoom Scheduler finds meeting times that work without back-and-forth emails.

• I can set my available times,
• Limit daily meetings and,
• Choose between one-on-one or group meetings.

It syncs with Google and Microsoft 365 calendars automatically. You get email or text notifications, reducing missed meetings. But there's a tiny problem. You need an enterprise subscription to use scheduling features, which doesn't work for individuals or small teams. It's also hard to see coworkers' availability unless they've shared calendars manually. This can make internal scheduling harder.

‍

Zoom Is the Right Choice if You

• Need breakout rooms for interactive learning
• Rely on screen sharing and annotations for engagement
• Want a widely adopted, easy-to-use platform

Zoom Isn’t the Best Option if You

• Show videos during meetings and need smooth screen sharing.
• Want simple tools like chat search or custom waiting rooms.
• Don’t like extra features that feel confusing or get in the way.

‍

Google Meet Features

Breakout Rooms

Image Source: Google Workspace

‍

Breakout Rooms let hosts split meeting participants into smaller groups. Hosts can assign people manually or let Google Meet do it automatically.

In a breakout room, participants can:

• Talk,
• Chat, and,
• Collaborate just like in the main meeting.

Only hosts can create these rooms, and they need a computer to do it. Participants can join from any device. Hosts can check any room and bring everyone back to the main meeting when done.

‍

On-the-Go Mode: Joining Meetings While in Motion

‍

‍

Source: Google Workspace Updates

On-the-Go mode works great when I'm:

• Walking,
• Driving, or
• Commuting.

When I turn it on, my video turns off, and I get big, easy buttons for:

• Mute,
• Raise your hand, or
• Adjust the audio.

This helps me focus on listening.

I love that it uses less data, too. I can't see the video, but I can hear everything and still speak or chat.

Google Meet even detects when I'm moving and turns this mode on automatically. I can switch back to the normal view with one tap.

‍

Reactions: Engaging with the Meeting Without Interruptions

‍

‍

Reactions let me respond without interrupting. I can send:

• Thumbs up 👍
• Clapping 👏
• Laughing 😂
• Shocked 😲
• Thinking 🤔
• Crying 😢
• Thumbs down 👎 emojis!

These emojis show up in two ways:

1. As a badge on my picture and,
2. As floating emojis in a "reaction bubble".

I can choose my skin tone for reactions too. Hosts can turn off reactions if needed to keep meetings focused.

‍

Google Meet Is the Right Choice if You:

• Need a simple video tool with a clean look and easy setup.
• Want security with encryption that works even on slow internet.
• Need a browser-based tool with no downloads.

Google Meet Isn’t for You if You:

• Need free recording - recordings only come with paid plans.
• Prefer a desktop app instead of using your browser.
• Need tools like polls and whiteboards during meetings.

‍

Integrations

Google Meet Integrations

• Google Workspace Apps: Connect directly with Google Calendar to schedule and join meetings fast. You can also work together on Docs, Sheets, and Slides while in your meeting.
• Third-Party Add-Ons: Install extra tools right inside Google Meet to do more. Find these in the "Activities" tab during meetings.
• Automation Platforms: Use IFTTT and Make to connect Google Meet with other apps and save time. For example, auto-create meeting links when you add events to your calendar.
• CRM Integration: Link with Pipedrive and other CRMs to handle meetings straight from your customer management system.

Zoom Integrations

• Microsoft and Google Integrations: Use Microsoft tools inside Zoom without switching apps. The same goes for Google tools; access them right in your Zoom workspace.
• Collaboration Tools: Start Zoom meetings directly from Slack or Microsoft Teams.
• CRM and Sales Tools: Link Zoom with Salesforce to schedule and launch meetings without leaving your CRM.
• Scheduling Tools: Use Calendly with Zoom to let people book meetings with you. It automatically creates Zoom links when someone schedules time.

‍

Pricing

TL;DR

Zoom Pricing

‍

‍

Basic Plan

• Price (Monthly): Free
• Price (Yearly): Free
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 40 minutes
• Maximum Participants: 100 participants
• Cloud Storage: Not included
• Meeting Recording: Yes, Local only
• Whiteboards: 3
• Additional Features:
  • Zoom Meetings included
  • Team Chat included
  • Personal Meeting ID
  • Virtual background
  • Screen sharing
  • Breakout rooms
  • Waiting room
  • Co-Annotation on screen share
  • Multi-share
  • Basic reporting
  • Polling
  • Host controls
  • REST API access (Pro limits)
  • Skype for Business interoperability

‍

Pro Plan

• Price (Monthly): $15.99/user/month
• Price (Yearly): $13.33/user/month (billed annually)
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 30 hours
• Maximum Participants: 100 (can increase with Large Meeting add-on)
• Cloud Storage: 5 GB cloud storage per license
• Meeting Recording: Yes, Local & Cloud (5 GB cloud)
• AI Features: Included (e.g., Automated Captions, Translated Captions)
• Whiteboards: 3
• Live Support: Ticket & Live Chat
• Mail & Calendar: Not specified
• Additional Features:
  • Free premium Zoom apps for 1 year (terms apply)
  • Team Chat included
  • Clips: 5 included
  • REST API access (Pro limits)
  • App integrations (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Hubspot, ServiceNow)
  • Avatars, virtual backgrounds, appearance touch-up
  • In-meeting polls & quizzes, reactions, spotlight & pin multiple participants
  • Branding & Admin Portal
  • Recording transcripts
  • Language interpretations
  • Zoom Scheduler
  • Toll-based dial-in

‍

Business Plan

• Price (Monthly): $21.99/user/month
• Price (Yearly): $18.32/user/month (billed annually)
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 30 hours
• Maximum Participants: 300 (can increase with Large Meeting add-on)
• Cloud Storage: 5 GB cloud storage per license
• Meeting Recording: Yes, Local & Cloud (5 GB cloud)
• AI Features: Included (e.g., Automated Captions, Translated Captions)
• Whiteboards: Unlimited
• Live Support: Ticket, Live Chat & Phone Support
• Mail & Calendar: Custom Mail Domain included
• Additional Features:
  • Free premium Zoom apps for 1 year (terms apply)
  • Team Chat included
  • Clips: Unlimited
  • REST API access (Pro limits)
  • Executive business reviews
  • LTI integration
  • Zoom Scheduler
  • Custom branding
  • Managed domains
  • Visitor Management
  • Workspace Reservation
  • App integrations (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Hubspot, ServiceNow)
  • Advanced reporting
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Zoom Customer Managed Key
  • Secure file sharing
  • Admin portal
  • Cloud Storage integrations
  • Multi-language support
  • Live streaming across platforms

💡 Check out our full Zoom pricing breakdown.

‍

Google Meet Pricing

‍

‍

Free Plan

• Price (Monthly): $0 /user/month
• Price (Yearly): $0 /user/year (billed annually)
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 60 minutes (no limit for mobile calls and 1:1s)
• Maximum Participants: 100 participants
• Meeting Recording: No
• AI Features: Not included
• Whiteboards: Not specified
• Live Support: Not included
• Mail & Calendar: Not included
• Additional Features:
  • Create video meetings with a Google Account

‍

Business Starter Plan

• Price (Monthly): $6.30 /user/month (1-year commitment)
• Price (Yearly): $75.60 /user/year
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 24 hours
• Maximum Participants: 100 participants
• Cloud Storage: 30 GB pooled storage per user
• Meeting Recording: No
• AI Features: Limited – Gemini AI assistant in Gmail, Chat with AI in the Gemini app
• Live Support: Standard Support
• Mail & Calendar: Included – Secure custom business email, Shared calendars
• Additional Features:
  • Security and management controls
  • Appointment booking pages not included

‍

Business Plus Plan

• Price (Monthly): $22 /user/month (1-year commitment)
• Price (Yearly): $264 /user/year
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 24 hours
• Maximum Participants: 500 participants
• Cloud Storage: 5 TB pooled storage per user
• Meeting Recording: Yes – Saved to Google Drive, includes attendance tracking
• AI Features: Included – Gemini AI in Gmail, Docs, Meet, and more; AI research assistant (NotebookLM Plus)
• Live Support: Standard Support
• Mail & Calendar: Included – Secure custom business email, Shared calendars
• Additional Features:
  • Enhanced security and management controls, including Vault and advanced endpoint management
  • eSignature with Docs and PDFs
  • Appointment booking pages
  • Collaborative video creator + editor
  • Email layouts and mail merge

‍

Enterprise

• Price (Monthly): Contact sales
• Price (Yearly): Contact sales
• Maximum Meeting Duration: 24 hours
• Maximum Participants: 1000 participants
• Cloud Storage: 5 TB pooled storage per user with ability to request more
• Meeting Recording: Yes – Includes attendance tracking, in-domain live streaming
• AI Features: Included – Gemini AI in Gmail, Docs, Meet, and more; AI research assistant (NotebookLM Plus)
• Live Support: Enhanced Support
• Mail & Calendar: Included – Secure custom business email, Shared calendars
• Additional Features:
  • Advanced security, management, and compliance controls including Vault, DLP, data regions, and enterprise endpoint management
  • eSignature with Docs and PDFs
  • Appointment booking pages
  • Collaborative video creator + editor
  • Email layouts and mail merge

‍

What Are Customers Saying About Zoom vs Google Meet?

Zoom Reviews (G2: 4.5 out of 5)

What users love:

• "It usually works well for most people. Sufficient for meetings."
• "My experience has been amazing because I am able to do everything online."
• "An application easy to use and conect people."
• "Easy to implement, Easy to integrate, Customizable according to the organizational policies
  User friendly"
• "The image/video quality is amazing, easy to connect and I also like that I can use it as my calendar to put in reminders, tasks etc."

Common complaints

• "Can be difficult logging into at times. Ease of use could be better."
• "Not everyone can fully use it, as it needs internet connection. Besides that, if you enjoy using technology you would love exploring different features. Elderly people are the ones that suffer as they barely remember what they worked on previous meetings."
• "The colour combination is to bright, Image placement is not too good"
• "Zoom has lately been CRASHING whenever I share my screen. This has happened during some really important meetings. 3-4 times last week alone. Not being able to share the screen is non-negotiable for the kinds of meetings we run, so we had to disrupt the entire meeting and move to another platform. Insane."
• "It uses way too much ram and memory on my PC. This leads to distorted sound and choppy connection when trying to share my screen etc"

Source: G2

💡Check out our full Zoom review article.

‍

Google Meet (G2: 4.6 out of 5)

What users love:

• "The tool is integrated within other Google tools such as GMail and Calendar."
• "Google Meet, a video conferencing platform Using this daily with such an ease"
• "The best about this platform is how easy and fun it is. It's very didactic."
• "Easy to use video confering tool with minimal configuration"
• "Accuracy, High Speed, Clarity, and Close Looking meeting"

Common complaints

• "The only downside about it is it lacks a Whiteboard. Previously it had Jamboard, but it has discontinued."
• "Sometimes I find the mobile app navigation to be somewhat challenging."
• "The customer supports need improvement"
• "there is no option for recording the video call" (Available only in a business plan and up)
• "The thing that I dislike about google meet is it's limitation in terms of features. Like if we take example of teams, google meet doesn't let you share files or documents. It doesn't let any other user take control of the screen of the person who is presenting like in zoom and teams."

Source: G2

‍

Final Verdict: Zoom vs Google Meet (+ Jamie for the Win)

Zoom works best for interactive needs like breakout rooms, polls, and whiteboards when you teach, run workshops, or need team engagement, making it a powerful video conferencing solution . Google Meet gives you quick, clean video calls that work well, especially if your team already uses Google tools daily.

But here's the truth: both need improvement at handling meeting follow-ups.

That's where Jamie helps you.

Jamie records your meetings (on any platform), finds action items, and makes clear summaries without adding bots to your call. It shows who said what and works with many languages. Jamie also gives you a real-time Executive Assistant Sidebar for instant help during meetings, making your workflow complete.

So pick Zoom or Google Meet; Jamie makes both work better.

‍

Use Zoom/Google Meet Better with Jamie (AI Meeting Assistant)

Zoom and Google Meet work well for video calls, but both have that missing gap that solves problems after a meeting ends. This is where Jamie helps, it captures everything from your meetings automatically.

‍

Step 1: Download Jamie (Works with Both Zoom and Google Meet)

‍

‍

Jamie works with both Zoom and Google Meet without any problems.

To start:

• Go to Jamie's website
• Download for Mac or Windows
• Install in just one minute

Jamie runs quietly with any video software - Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, and others.

Hopping Between Platforms?

Jamie just works with them all

Try Jamie for Free

Step 2: Join Your Zoom or Google Meet Session

‍

‍

You don't need to invite Jamie to your meetings:

• Start your Zoom or Google Meet call
• Open Jamie on your computer
• That's it - Jamie works in background

‍

🔒 Note on Privacy

‍

‍

Jamie doesn't save video or audio files. All data gets encrypted, and recordings are deleted after transcription. Just tell others you're using transcription only.

‍

Step 3: Record & Transcribe (Without Bots!)

‍

‍

When your meeting starts:

• Click "Start Meeting" in Jamie
• It starts capturing and transcribing instantly

Jamie never joins your call as a bot, so your meeting stays natural.

‍

Step 4: End the Meeting & Let Jamie Work Its Magic

‍

‍

When you finish your call:

• Click "Stop" in Jamie
• It analyzes everything right away
• You get a summary, transcript, and action items in seconds

Jamie highlights next steps and decisions made, no matter which platform you used.

‍

Step 5: Identify Speakers Automatically

‍

‍

Jamie uses AI to label who said what.

• First few times, you'll help match voices to names
• After that, Jamie remembers everyone automatically

Perfect for team meetings where you need to know who said what.

‍

Step 6: Instantly Access a Polished Meeting Summary

‍

‍

This is the best part - Jamie gives you:

• A clean meeting summary right after calls end
• Clear action items, decisions, and key points
• Easy sharing options for your team

No more missed details or messy notes - everything is organized for you.

‍

BONUS: Jamie's Executive Assistant Sidebar (CTRL + J)

‍

‍

Jamie gives you real-time help through its sidebar with three AI tools:

‍

‍

1. Jamie LLM: Search past meetings and find information instantly
2. GPT-4: Draft emails, brainstorm ideas, and research topics
3. Claude 3 Opus: Get summaries and support during complex calls

‍

‍

Need to check something from a previous meeting?

Just ask Jamie without disrupting your call.

‍

Jamie's Benefits (Whether You Use Google Meet or Zoom)

• Works with all video call software
• Transcribes multiple languages clearly
• Turns meetings into action plans
• No bots or interruptions
• Works for short and long meetings

‍

All Features Are Free, Yes, Even the Advanced Ones

Jamie's free version includes:

• Transcriptions
• AI summaries
• Speaker identification
• Action item tracking
• Multiple languages
• Real-time assistant

Jamie gives you what Zoom and the Google Meet app lack: a way to remember and follow up on everything from your meetings, online or offline, without bots and with universal compatibility.

Need Help During Calls?

Jamie’s Sidebar assists live

Try Jamie for Free

Read More

• Discover why Jamie is the top AI note-taker for Zoom. Perfect for capturing meeting notes.
• Learn to transcribe Zoom meetings for free. Turn speech into text easily.
• Need to blur the Zoom background? Follow our simple guide.
• Want to change your name on Zoom? Our easy guide helps you update it.
• Unsure how to share your screen on Zoom? Follow our instructions.
• Learn to record a Zoom call. Save your meetings for later.
• Curious about changing the Zoom background? See our tutorial.
• Find out how to schedule a Zoom meeting. Plan your calls easily.
• Get the best Zoom meeting summaries with Jamie. Quick and clear notes.
• Wondering how much Zoom costs? Read our breakdown.
• Check the 12 best Zoom tips. Discover new tricks.
• Read our full Zoom review. See our thoughts.
• Google Meet vs Zoom: Simple analysis to help you decide.
• Learn to record Google Meet. Save your calls easily.
• Find the best AI note taker for Google Meet. Capture notes during meetings.
• Learn how to transcribe Microsoft Teams meetings. Turn speech into text.
• Here's the best AI note taker for Microsoft Teams. Capture key points.

‍

FAQS on Zoom Vs Google Meet

What Are the Main Differences Between Zoom and Google Meet?

Zoom packs powerful features like breakout rooms and third-party plugins. It's best for teams needing advanced meeting tools.

Google Meet keeps things simple and works smoothly with Gmail, Calendar and other Google tools, thanks to google meet's interface . If your team already uses Google stuff, you'll probably like Meet better.

How Do the Pricing Plans Compare Between Zoom and Google Meet?

Both platforms have free and paid options:

• Zoom's free plan gives you 40-minute group calls with up to 100 people. Paid plans start at $13.32/user/month and unlock longer meetings and more storage.
• Google Meet lets you meet for one hour with 100 people for free. Paid options start at just $6/user/month and include other Google apps like Gmail and Drive.

Which Platform Is More Suitable for Large Meetings?

Zoom handles up to 1,000 participants in its Enterprise plan. Perfect for company-wide meetings or big webinars.

Google Meet supports 500 active participants in Business Plus and up to 1,000 in Enterprise (with 500 view-only). Works great if you're already in the Google ecosystem.

Can I Record Meetings on Both Platforms?

Yes, both let you record:

• Zoom's paid plans include local and cloud recording options with transcript features.
• Google Meet offers recording in Business Standard plan and up. Recordings go straight to Google Drive for easy sharing.

How Do the Collaboration Features Compare?

Both platforms let you share screens and chat:

• Zoom gives you whiteboards, polls, and breakout rooms. Great for interactive workshops and training.
• Google Meet works perfectly with Google Docs and Slides. Ideal if your team already works in Google apps.

Are There Differences in Security Features?

Yes, both follow strict security standards:

• Zoom uses waiting rooms, passcodes, and meeting locks to control who joins.
• Google Meet leverages Google's security with encryption and admin controls.

Which Platform Offers Better Integration With Other Tools?

• Google Meet connects seamlessly with Gmail, Calendar and other Google apps. No friction if you're a Google user.
• Zoom integrates with more outside tools like Slack, Salesforce, and Microsoft Teams. Better for teams using different software.

Can Participants Join Meetings Without an Account?

Yes! Both make it easy for guests:

• With Zoom, anyone can join through a meeting link without an account, though downloading the app helps.
• With Google Meet, people join directly in their browser—no download needed. Super simple for quick calls.

How Do the Platforms Handle Meeting Durations?

• Zoom caps free meetings at 40 minutes. Paid plans let you meet for up to 30 hours.
• Google Meet limits free calls to one hour. Paid plans extend this to 24 hours.

Which Platform Is More User-Friendly?

• Google Meet has a clean, minimal interface. I find it perfect for quick access with minimal setup.
• Zoom offers more features but takes more time to learn. The extra effort gives you more flexibility and control over your meetings.