Discord vs Zoom: Select The Efficienct One for Virtual Meetings?

Video conferencing meetings have become inevitable for modern businesses, especially after the pandemic. In 2022, the global video conferencing market was worth $10.6 billion and it is forecasted to almost double by 2027.

Today, if you know how to leverage the power of video conferencing platforms, you can do wonders. Are you also looking for a video calling service and don’t know which platform to opt for? Choosing the right video conferencing platform is essential as it can help save time and money. But, while selecting the platform, you should always check their ease of use, security & privacy guidelines, and customer support. Two such platforms offer you these features and accessibility: Discord and Zoom.

In this blog, we will compare Discord vs Zoom and learn about their features and pricing so that you can compare and see which works better for you.

What is Discord?

Discord is one of the best platforms for hosting real-time video, text, and voice chat. Using this platform is very easy; you need to download the Discord app, create an account, and set up your credentials. You can start your video meeting with someone already using the server.

Know more about How to Create an Account on Discord

If you know their server link, you can connect with them; otherwise, you can ask them to invite you. Once you have the invite link, join the server, and your meeting will begin. You also have the option to create your server. Using this server, you can create new text and voice channels and add new people to your server.

Features of Discord

When thinking of the comparison of Discord vs Zoom, features are the first thing you should consider. So here are some of the major features of Discord-

• It enables users to do live screen-sharing
• This platform has a ‘Server Discovery’ feature that allows users to find and join new communities
• Discord also has age-restricted commands, which means users can categorize content as age-restricted for users less than 18 years of age
• Users have the option to apply virtual backgrounds during a streaming session
• Its voice chat option enables users to set up a voice call with other members during the meeting.

Pricing Model of Discord

Discord is free to download and can be used without ever paying for it.

It has two premium plans-

Nitro Basic ($2.99/month)	Nitro ($9.99/month)
Unlimited Super Reactions	Unlimited Super Reactions
Custom stickers anywhere	Custom stickers anywhere
Custom emoji anywhere and make them animated	Custom emoji anywhere and make them animated
Custom App Icons	Custom App Icons
50mb file sharing	500mb file sharing
Nitro badge on your profile	Nitro badge on your profile
Custom video backgrounds	Custom video backgrounds
	HD streaming is available up to 4k and 60fps
	2 Free Boosts + 30% off extra Boosts
	Animated avatar, banner, and profile theme
	Early access to Clips
	Custom server profiles
	Join up to 200 servers
	Longer messages up to 4,000 characters
	Custom sounds anywhere
	Colors for your Discord Theme

Link: Nitro Benefits and Features | Discordis

What is Zoom?

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform used for video conferencing meetings, webinars, meeting recordings, audio conferencing, and live chat across mobile devices, desktops, and room systems. Using this platform is straightforward; you first need to download the Zoom app from the app store. Once you create the Zoom account, you can start by scheduling a meeting. To do this, click on ‘Meetings’ and set the time and date for the meeting. If you have an existing meeting link, you need to click on it, and it will connect you to the meeting.

Before starting the meeting, ensure you have enabled the audio and video settings. Check the camera and test the microphone to see if they are working properly. During a Zoom meeting, you can share the screen, record meetings, and use a virtual background.

Features of Zoom

Here are some of the noteworthy features of Zoom-

• It integrates well with numerous calendars, such as Outlook, iCal, and Gmail
• Users can use the Zoom whiteboard to collaborate and brainstorm with the team. It offers features like smart connectors, sticky notes, drawing tools, and comments
• You can use Zoom phone, it enables modern communication with features like live call transcriptions, video voicemail, etc.
• The platform integrates with multiple well-known applications, such as Slack, Hubspot, Salesforce, etc.
• It has a new feature, ‘Translated Captions,’ that helps eliminate language barriers. The captions are currently available in 12 languages.

Pricing Module of Zoom

Discord vs Zoom comparison will become easy after comparing their prices, so here is its price plan with the features they offer-

Basic (Free)	Pro ($160/year)	Business ($240/year)	Business Plus (Customizable)	Enterprise (Customizable)
Up to 40 minutes per meeting	Up to 30 hours per meeting	Up to 30 hours per meeting	Up to 30 hours per meeting	Up to 30 hours per meeting
100 Attendees per meeting	100 Attendees per meeting	300 Attendees per meeting	300 Attendees per meeting	1000 Attendees per meeting
Whiteboard Basic	Whiteboard Basic	Whiteboard	Whiteboard	Whiteboard
Team Chat	Team Chat	Team Chat	Team Chat	Team Chat
Mail & Calendar (Client)	Mail & Calendar (Client & Service)	Mail & Calendar (Client & Service)	Mail & Calendar (Client & Service)	Mail & Calendar (Client & Service)
Clips Basic	Clips Plus	Clips Plus	Clips Plus	Clips Plus
Notes	Notes	Notes	Notes	Notes
	AI Companion	AI Companion	AI Companion	AI Companion
	Cloud Storage 5GB	Cloud Storage 5GB	Cloud Storage 10GB	Unlimited Cloud Storage
	Essential Apps Free premium apps for 1 year (terms apply)	Essential Apps Free premium apps for 1 year (terms apply)	Essential Apps Free premium apps for 1 year (terms apply)	Essential Apps Free premium apps for 1 year (terms apply)
		Extras SSO managed domains & more	Extras SSO managed domains & more	Extras SSO managed domains & more
		Scheduler	Scheduler	Scheduler
			Phone Global Select	Phone Full-featured PBX
			Translated Captions	Translated Captions
			Phone Global Select	Phone Full-featured PBX
			Workspace Reservation	Workspace Reservation
				Rooms & Webinars

Link: One platform to connect | Zoom

Discord vs Zoom: Comparison Chart

Here is the comparison between Discord and Zoom, it will make it easy for you to decide which one to opt for

Specifications	Discord	Zoom
User-interface	Discord has a modern and intuitive user interface	Zoom has a straightforward and user-friendly interface
Screen-sharing	Discord allows users to share their screens during video calls or within a voice channel.	Zoom offers screen-sharing capabilities, with options to share specific application windows or the entire screen
Recording	Does not allow screen recording	Zoom allows users to record meetings and save them for future reference
Breakout Rooms	It does not provide a built-in breakout rooms feature, making it less suitable for structured group activities	It’s breakout room feature allows the meeting host to divide participants into smaller groups
File Sharing	It allows you to share files of up to a max of 100Mb each	The maximum file size it supports is 512Mb

Discord vs Zoom: Which is Efficient for Virtual Meetings?

Both tools are perfect for connecting with groups, teams, or your friends & family.

Discord is primarily a community-centered platform with text and audio/video features; on the contrary, Zoom is a web conferencing platform that aims mainly at the organization and business sectors.

Thus, it majorly depends on your requirements; if you need to connect with a large number of people for free, Discord can be a great choice, and if you wish to collaborate with team members for video conferencing and meetings, then Zoom can be a better option.

Conclusion

Discord vs Zoom, which platform would you prefer? Both have their strengths and different features that cater to different business requirements. Discord’s free version offers numerous features, and Zoom’s video quality is commendable. Ultimately, the choice between them depends on your business goals and the budget.

Before choosing any platform, make sure to check its features, pricing, reviews, integration with other platforms, and, most importantly, ease of use.

FAQs – Discord vs Zoom

Can both Zoom and Discord be used for business purposes?

Yes, you can use both platforms as per your business requirements.

Which platform offers better video quality?

Although both platforms offer good video quality, Zoom is a little ahead as it offers diverse video features, such as automatic video touch-ups for better video performance.

Does Discord offer round-the-clock support?

Discord offers standard support, but Zoom provides round-the-clock support for all paid plans.