Zoom Reviews

“interactive features”

Pros

Compared with many other video conferencing tools, the platform lets the meeting host admit participants whenever they want during the session. I also appreciate the video quality because it is usually very clear. Another plus is that it is open source so you can use it without paying unless you need to host meetings with more participants. On top of that, features like chat, raise hand and screen sharing help keep meetings organized and make interaction much more effective which improves understanding for everyone involved.

Cons

A reliable and strong internet connection is necessary to use the platform properly; otherwise, poor network access affects the video quality. Although there is a free version, it is restricted to 40 minutes so you need to pay for a plan if you want longer meetings. Connectivity can also be inconsistent on the platform and it tends to fluctuate over time which can disrupt the meeting experience for participants.

“well known platform”

Pros

At this point, pretty much everybody knows the platform and uses it regularly. It's largely plug and play: you click a meeting link, install the app if needed and you're in right away. It comes with a broad set of tools for screen sharing, managing participant interactions and exchanging files or information through chat and annotations. Altogether those features make it a strong option for virtual productivity whether you're running a large conference or doing one-on-one tutoring.

Cons

The interface isn't especially attractive and for business use, you realistically need a paid plan. On top of that, the menus can be frustrating to work through. There's a settings option I never seem to be able to reach while I'm actually in a meeting, several buttons along the bottom that open into even more submenus and features tucked away all over the app. A more organized menu structure would really improve the experience--it's odd that Security, Record and Reactions all get the same level of visibility. I still end up searching online just to figure out settings that really should be more accessible.

“no training needed”

Pros

Right from the start, the platform feels very accessible and doesn't require any training to use. It works really well for meetings where you need to share both video and information. The audio quality is solid, with no noticeable delays. Another very useful feature is the ability to let an external participant control what's happening on the screen when permission is given which makes it excellent for teamwork.

Cons

A drawback of the free version is that meetings are limited to 40 minutes so you have to leave and rejoin after that. Also, there's no option to delete a message once it has already been sent in the chat.

“excellent quality”

Pros

Audio and video quality are excellent and it works especially well for large meetings and webinars without noticeable lag. The desktop app is lightweight, with a clean and simple interface that feels polished to use. Security has also improved a lot over time. There are plenty of paid add-ons available too, including annotation which is very helpful for presentations and virtual classes. the platform marketplace also provides a wide range of useful extensions.

Cons

There really are not any major issues that come to mind although the Pro features do feel a bit expensive. It would also be better if the free plan allowed longer sessions, ideally at least 60 minutes.

“quick setup and clear calls”

Pros

Getting started is simple especially for new users and the setup process only takes a short time. Screen sharing works well and both the video and audio quality are very good.

Cons

The mobile app could be better when it comes to viewing participants. Right now it only shows 4 screens at once so you have to keep sliding to see everyone else.

“useful features”

Pros

The platform comes with a lot of useful features and the ones that stand out most to me are screen sharing, the personal meeting URL and the virtual background options.

Cons

When I go into the settings and turn local recording to "yes" it ends up recording every meeting automatically. What I want is only for the recording to be saved locally, not for every meeting to start recording by default. It would be much better if the platform added a prompt asking "Do you want to record this meeting?" each time a local meeting starts. That would let users decide case by case whether recording is actually needed. Hopefully that makes sense. I'd really prefer a simple yes/no recording prompt before every local meeting begins.

“my preference”

Pros

Across every device I use, the platform is very accessible whether I'm on a computer or a phone. Calls feel remarkably natural, almost as if everyone is sitting together in the same room. The video and audio quality are excellent, screen sharing works flawlessly and the drawing tools are very practical during presentations. It has become my default app for meetings.

Cons

One weakness I've noticed while using the platform for meetings is the lower quality of the recorded videos. Aside from that, everything else works well though the recording quality could definitely be improved.

“quick to start off with”

Pros

Getting started with the platform is quick and the platform is easy to use while still offering plenty of features. The breakout room function is especially useful when one meeting needs to be split into multiple sessions. We set up breakout rooms using naming conventions and move participants accordingly and that process has been very effective for us. It also helped us make better use of licenses across multiple meetings. The filters and virtual backgrounds are another feature I really enjoy and they perform very well with a green screen or even on a computer with average specs.

Cons

Platform works very well overall but handling security within breakout rooms can be difficult because each room has its own separate security settings.

“Convenient and easy”

Pros

Using this app is incredibly convenient and easy. It makes meetings and presentations much more engaging and enjoyable. My favorite feature is screen sharing and the session recording option comes right after that.

Cons

The only part I'd want improved is the session time limit. It would be much better if it were extended to at least 60 minutes.

“pratical for classes”

Pros

For the past year and a half, I've been using the platform for remote classes, just like a lot of other students. During that whole time, I really haven't run into meeting issues unless the internet connection itself was bad. One thing I really appreciate about the platform is the meeting quality, along with features such as the whiteboard and screen sharing because they make communication much more practical. I've also had the chance to use the paid version of the platform and I enjoy having access to all of those features without interruptions.

Cons

That said, the platform is not completely free and if you don't pay, your meetings get interrupted from time to time which is something I don't enjoy. I can understand having limits in the free version but the issue is that those interruptions happen too often. In my opinion, having them about once every hour would be much more reasonable.

“Strong features”

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of this tool is being able to invite a large number of participants into a single meeting. The one-to-one audio quality is very clear and screen sharing is easily the strongest feature it offers. Audio and video conferencing also runs very well overall.

Cons

During larger meetings or conferences, the audio and video quality can drop and become unreliable. There are also frequent network-related disconnections so calls sometimes get interrupted more than they should. Another concern is that invitation links are not very secure since anyone with the link can join. On top of that, the pricing feels a bit expensive, even though the free version still includes a decent set of features.

“user friendly”

Pros

From meetings and conferences to online classes, the platform handles just about every kind of virtual activity. It works on a PC, laptop or mobile app which makes it convenient to join from anywhere. Another big plus is the participant capacity: the free plan lets you host up to 100 people and paid plans can scale up to 1000 attendees. The interface is user friendly and simple to understand and the platform's support team is usually very responsive. You can also stream meetings directly to Facebook and the free version is available if you only need the basics. It integrates well with Google Calendar too which is really helpful. If someone sends you a meeting invite, you can add it to your calendar and then just join at the scheduled time through the reminder. There's also chat for meeting participants while the host keeps full control over the session. On top of that storage is included, starting at 1 GB and going up to unlimited depending on whether you choose the free, pro, business or enterprise plan.

Cons

Pricing feels a little expensive although that really depends on what you need it for. One issue I've noticed is that inappropriate comments can't be controlled very well since there's no option to delete them. Another downside is the video resolution which is limited to 720p while some competing platforms already offer 1080p or higher. The app-download requirement can also create confusion right before a meeting if someone hasn't installed it yet since the platform only works after downloading the app. I've also run into inconsistent video performance at times--the picture can turn blurry and occasionally the connection drops in the middle of a meeting. I tested this on both wired and wireless internet and still saw the same problem.

“love the recording option”

Pros

Using this software has been really convenient because it's simple to figure out and very user friendly. It lets me record meetings, helps a lot with scheduling upcoming sessions and also gives me access to the chat box while a meeting is in progress.

Cons

Proper attendance tracking is missing. the platform only shows the list of people currently in the meeting but it doesn't let users save or record attendance for future reference. That's a feature they should definitely add in upcoming versions.

“helpful transcripts”

Pros

Most of the time, it just works and I've run into very few problems with it. During COVID, they were developing it at a really fast pace as people raised concerns and they've continued pushing regular updates to fix issues and make improvements. It also connects really well with Outlook so scheduling the platform while creating an Outlook invite is very convenient. I've also gotten a lot of value from the recordings and the included audio transcripts. The transcripts aren't flawless but they're accurate enough to be genuinely helpful. The platform is honestly one of the few tools I rarely feel the need to complain about. It may not offer some of the flashier extras but I trust it to work when I need it.

Cons

I've noticed that the audio seems overly sensitive for users on low-bandwidth connections. I used voice over dial-up years ago and still didn't run into this kind of problem. the platform seems to let video take over the available bandwidth and once that happens, both the audio and video quality fall apart. It really needs an option to prioritize audio over video whenever network congestion is detected.

“remote sales reach expanded”

Pros

During the pandemic, the platform became a big part of how I handled remote presentations and sales. It connects well with several other software platforms I already use which made it much easier to keep my workflow moving. Because of that, I was able to continue writing business without much disruption and even broaden my prospecting beyond New Mexico into Texas. At this point, I expect that more than half of my business will continue to stay on the platform.

Cons

Something I still wish were better is the way participants enter a meeting room without having to download anything. The "Join by Browser" option should be much more visible and easier to recognize since that would make joining much simpler for people.

“excellent audio, video and sharing”

Pros

The platform delivers excellent audio and video quality for both sending and receiving and the screen sharing features are truly top-notch.

Cons

The recurring meeting workflow could be more easy. I also wish the "original audio" option were easier to find since the platform's default settings reduced the quality of my higher-end microphone.

“works well!”

Pros

Sharing meeting links with others is simple and it works well for seeing everyone during a meeting, even if some people choose not to turn on their camera.

Cons

Using it on mobile can be frustrating sometimes. I especially ran into issues with meeting links on my phone when I scheduled a meeting with one account but was logged into a different one on mobile. It was not at all obvious that this was why the link would not work so some kind of clearer feedback around that would be really helpful.

“Fitting for webinars and classes”

Pros

The platform has become one of the top choices for webinars and is a really effective way to bring a large group of people together from home. The video quality is strong, the audio is clear and the platform offers useful management features for different kinds of meetings. It also has several plan options for people who want a better overall webinar experience. In my case, I use it for academic meetings and the image and sound quality help students get much more out of the class. Another very valuable feature is the option guests have to adjust how they appear on screen.

Cons

The pricing on some plans can be difficult for today's students to afford. Also, the differences between certain tiers do not always feel significant enough to encourage clients to upgrade. Another issue is with recordings since meeting guests do not receive them automatically and usually have to contact the organizer to get access which is not always convenient or useful.

“simple tools for virtual lessons”

Pros

Using the platform has been extremely helpful especially for virtual classes. The thing I appreciate most is how simple it is to use while still offering really practical features like screen recording and screen sharing. It lets you present your work, slides, images, videos or even any game or program you're running on your screen.

Cons

An improvement I'd really like to see is a better way for meeting hosts to create and organize groups so users can access meetings more directly instead of always depending on a link and password.

“versatile meetings from anywhere”

Pros

Whether it's for office meetings, online classes, lectures, conferences or seminars, the platform works really well as an audio and video calling platform. It lets you connect with several people at once and take part in virtual sessions directly from your desk. Users can exchange files in different formats during meetings which is very useful. The screen sharing option is also helpful when someone needs to present documents, slides or other content to the group. Another plus is that the platform performs well on both computers and smartphones so it's convenient across devices. It even offers a free version for people who don't want to pay for a license, with only a few minor restrictions.

Cons

One drawback is that the free plan automatically ends meetings after 40 minutes so you need to start the session again if you want to keep going. Another issue is that video quality can drop when the internet connection is weak, likely because the platform needs fairly high bandwidth to run well.