RingCentral vs Zoom – Full comparison to help you decide

With hybrid and remote work becoming more common, it’s essential to have a reliable and feature-rich communication platform that supports both in-office and remote collaboration. RingCentral and Zoom are two leading providers, offering robust business phone systems with a wealth of features. But which one is right for your business? Here’s a full comparison of RingCentral vs Zoom to help you make an informed decision.

RingCentral vs Zoom

Feature	RingCentral	Zoom
Core focus	Unified communication (phone, video, messaging)	Video conferencing with a cloud-based phone system
Calling features	Call forwarding, voicemail transcription, call recording, auto-attendant, multi-level IVR	Call routing, call queues, voicemail transcription, auto-attendant
Video conferencing	HD video, up to 200 participants, screen sharing, team messaging, whiteboarding	HD video, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, waiting rooms
Messaging and collaboration	Robust team messaging, file sharing, task management, and collaboration tools	Basic messaging within Zoom Phone and Meetings
Integrations	Over 200 integrations, including Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Google Workspace	Limited integrations, but strong with Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar
Analytics and reporting	Comprehensive analytics dashboard, call metrics, user adoption insights	Basic call metrics (call volume, duration), limited analytics
Security and compliance	GDPR, HIPAA, and other industry standards, with end-to-end encryption options	GDPR compliant, end-to-end encryption, strengthened security post-2020
Customer support	24/7 support for premium plans, live chat, phone support, dedicated account managers for large clients	24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone; robust training resources
Pricing plans	Essentials (£8/user/month), Standard (£14/user/month), Premium (£22/user/month), Ultimate (£30/user/month)	Metered (£8/user/month), Unlimited (£15/user/month), Pro Global Select (£20/user/month)
Strengths	Comprehensive communication suite, strong integrations, in-depth analytics	Exceptional video quality and features, seamless transition between video and phone
Drawbacks	Higher price for top-tier plans, video quality slightly lower than Zoom	Limited messaging and integrations, less extensive call analytics
Best for	Businesses needing a unified communication suite with advanced features and reporting	Businesses prioritising video collaboration with basic phone features

Overview of RingCentral vs Zoom

RingCentral is a longstanding provider of unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions, known for its comprehensive suite of features. It combines phone, video, messaging, and contact centre capabilities in a single platform, making it a versatile solution for businesses of all sizes.

Zoom started as a video conferencing platform but has expanded its offering to include Zoom Phone, a cloud-based phone system that integrates seamlessly with its popular video tools. It’s a good choice for organisations prioritising video collaboration but also requiring a functional phone system.

Key features

Calling and phone capabilities

• RingCentral: Offers advanced calling features, including call forwarding, voicemail transcription, call analytics, call recording, and multi-level auto-attendant. It supports integrations with leading CRM tools like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and HubSpot, helping sales and customer support teams stay productive.
• Zoom: Zoom Phone also includes essential calling features, such as call routing, call queues, auto-attendant, and voicemail transcription. While it supports integrations with CRM tools, the options are somewhat limited compared to RingCentral’s extensive list. Zoom Phone’s standout feature is its deep integration with Zoom Meetings, making it ideal for businesses heavily invested in video calls.

Video conferencing

• RingCentral: Video conferencing is included in RingCentral’s platform, allowing businesses to host HD video meetings with up to 200 participants, depending on the plan. It includes screen sharing, team messaging, and whiteboarding tools, offering a well-rounded collaboration experience.
• Zoom: Zoom has an edge in video conferencing, as it is the platform’s flagship feature. It supports HD video with advanced features like virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and waiting rooms. It’s designed for reliability in high-traffic video calls, so if video quality and features are a priority, Zoom may be the better option.

Messaging and collaboration tools

• RingCentral: Offers a complete team messaging platform that enables file sharing, task management, and collaborative document editing. RingCentral’s platform integrates messaging with voice and video, so team members can switch between communication modes without switching apps.
• Zoom: While Zoom has a messaging feature within Zoom Meetings and Zoom Phone, its capabilities are more limited than RingCentral’s. Zoom is primarily focused on video collaboration, so businesses that rely heavily on chat and messaging may find RingCentral’s solution more robust.

Integrations and compatibility

• RingCentral: Provides a wide range of integrations, supporting over 200 apps. Popular integrations include Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, and various CRM tools, allowing teams to streamline workflows without switching platforms.
• Zoom: While Zoom offers essential integrations, its range is not as broad as RingCentral’s. However, it does integrate well with Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, and Slack. Businesses already using Zoom for video may find its integration options sufficient.

Analytics and reporting

• RingCentral: Offers comprehensive analytics, including call metrics, customer engagement insights, and user adoption reports. The analytics dashboard is customisable, allowing businesses to monitor performance metrics relevant to their needs.
• Zoom: Zoom Phone also offers usage and call analytics, but they are more limited in scope. It provides basic call metrics, such as call volume and duration, which are helpful for monitoring call activity, though they lack the depth of RingCentral’s reports.

Cost comparison – RingCentral vs Zoom

The cost of these platforms can vary significantly depending on the package and the number of users.

• RingCentral pricing: RingCentral’s pricing plans range from £8 to £30 per user per month, with four main tiers:
• Essentials: Starts at £8 per user per month, offering basic calling and messaging features.
• Standard: Priced at £14 per user per month, this plan includes video conferencing, integrations, and analytics.
• Premium: At £22 per user per month, Premium includes advanced analytics, CRM integrations, and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities.
• Ultimate: The top-tier plan, costing £30 per user per month, includes all features, making it ideal for larger businesses with complex needs.
• Zoom pricing: Zoom Phone offers three main pricing plans, ranging from £8 to £20 per user per month:
• Metered plan: Starts at £8 per user per month, with users paying for each minute used. It includes basic phone features and voicemail.
• Unlimited plan: Priced at £15 per user per month, offering unlimited domestic calling, voicemail, and auto-attendant.
• Pro Global Select plan: For £20 per user per month, this plan includes unlimited international calling to selected countries.

Both platforms offer volume discounts and custom pricing for large organisations. Zoom may be the more cost-effective option for businesses primarily interested in video with basic phone features, while RingCentral’s pricing is competitive for those needing a comprehensive communication suite.

Pros and cons

RingCentral pros and cons

Pros

• Comprehensive communication platform with phone, video, and messaging
• Extensive integration options
• Strong analytics and reporting features

Cons

• Higher price for the top-tier plan
• Video quality is good but doesn’t match Zoom’s level of reliability

Zoom pros and cons

Pros

• Exceptional video quality and features
• Seamless integration between Zoom Meetings and Zoom Phone
• Cost-effective for businesses prioritising video

Cons

• Limited messaging and collaboration tools compared to RingCentral
• Fewer CRM and third-party integrations

Customer support

• RingCentral: Offers 24/7 support for premium plans, with resources including live chat, phone support, and a help centre with tutorials. RingCentral also provides account managers for larger clients, ensuring a dedicated support channel.
• Zoom: Also offers 24/7 support with live chat, email, and phone options. Zoom’s support resources, including webinars, training sessions, and documentation, are thorough, though Zoom Phone users may find fewer tutorials focused on telephony.

Security and compliance

Both platforms offer secure communication with features like end-to-end encryption, single sign-on, and data loss prevention.

RingCentral complies with GDPR, HIPAA, and other industry standards, making it suitable for businesses in regulated industries.

Zoom also meets GDPR standards and offers end-to-end encryption for meetings but has faced scrutiny in the past regarding its security practices. Zoom has since made significant improvements, making both platforms secure choices for UK businesses.

RingCentral vs Zoom – Which one should you choose?

Choosing between RingCentral vs Zoom ultimately depends on your business’s priorities. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Choose RingCentral if you need a unified communication system that combines messaging, phone, and video, with strong analytics and a wide range of integrations.
• Choose Zoom if video quality is your top priority, and you want a seamless transition between video conferencing and phone without requiring extensive messaging or integrations.

Both platforms have unique strengths, and either can serve as a valuable tool in a business environment. Evaluating the specific needs of your business, along with the budget, will help you make the best choice.

FAQ – RingCentral vs Zoom comparison