Microsoft Teams vs Zoom — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Microsoft Teams starts at $4.5/mo. Zoom starts at $16.99/mo. Microsoft Teams is $12.489999999999998/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Zoom.
See price history: Microsoft Teams · Zoom
Business communication and meetings, bundled with Microsoft 365 (Business Basic $6/user includes it). Positioned as the enterprise alternative to Slack + Zoom + Google Meet for organizations already on Microsoft. Distinctive for being effectively free for existing M365 customers — which drove Teams to overtake Slack in enterprise seat count by 2023. Standalone plan ($4/user/mo) rarely used; most Teams growth is Microsoft 365 bundle-driven. AI features (Copilot for Teams) charged separately at $30/user/mo.
Video conferencing that displaced WebEx and GoToMeeting through better free-tier quality and simpler UX. Scaled from 10M to 300M daily meeting participants during COVID. Now bundling AI Companion into paid tiers to defend against commoditization from Google Meet (free) and Microsoft Teams (bundled with M365). Priced per host, not per participant. Best free tier in the category if you can live with 40-minute group meeting caps.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Microsoft Teams monthly | Microsoft Teams annual | Zoom monthly | Zoom annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Basic | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | — / Pro | — | — | $16.99 | $13.33 |
| Teams | Teams Essentials / Business | $4.5 | $4 | $21.99 | $18.33 |
| Enterprise | Teams Enterprise / Enterprise | $8.55 | $8.55 | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Microsoft Teams is worth it if… Microsoft Teams is worth it as the meeting + chat + video default for orgs (any size) already inside Microsoft 365 — particularly if enterprise SSO, compliance, and calendar integration matter more than best-in-class UX. Teams Essentials covers standalone use; Business Standard bundles Office and email; Business Premium adds Intune and advanced security.
Zoom is worth it if… Zoom is still worth it in 2026 if video is core to your work — frequent external meetings, webinars, or client calls needing reliable recording, transcription, and calendar integrations. Pro covers most professional users; Business adds SSO and advanced admin.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Microsoft Teams over Zoom if…
Choose Microsoft Teams if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $4.5/mo).
- You match the profile Microsoft Teams is built for: worth it as the meeting + chat + video default for orgs (any size) already inside Microsoft 365 — particularly if enterprise SSO, compliance, and calendar integration matter more than best-in-class UX.
- You need a general-purpose communication option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Zoom if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $16.99/mo).
- You match the profile Zoom is built for: still worth it in 2026 if video is core to your work — frequent external meetings, webinars, or client calls needing reliable recording, transcription, and calendar integrations.
- You need a general-purpose communication option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Microsoft Teams | Zoom | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $4.5/mo | $16.99/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 19, 2026 | September 19, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 19, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Microsoft Teams and Zoom
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