In short: Microsoft Teams is the stronger choice for most UK SMEs already using Microsoft 365. It combines video meetings, persistent chat, file sharing, and task management in a single platform deeply integrated with the rest of the Microsoft ecosystem. Zoom remains an excellent standalone video conferencing tool and is worth considering for businesses that prioritise meeting quality above all else, work heavily with external parties on different platforms, or have no Microsoft 365 footprint to leverage.
Feature comparison at a glance
Pricing excludes VAT and is indicative as of mid-2025.
| Microsoft Teams | Zoom | Advantage view | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic (£4.90/user/month) | From £13.99/user/month (Pro) | Teams wins on value if you are already paying for Microsoft 365 |
| Free tier | Yes — unlimited chat, 60-min meetings | Yes — 40-min meetings, 100 participants | Both offer usable free tiers; Teams free is more generous on meeting length |
| Video meeting quality | Strong — up to 1080p, noise suppression | Excellent — industry-leading video quality | Zoom has a slight edge in raw video and audio quality perception |
| Meeting participants | Up to 1,000 (Business Premium) | Up to 1,000 (Business Plus) | Comparable at enterprise tiers; most SMEs will never approach the limit |
| Persistent chat | Core feature — channels, direct messages, threads | Available — Zoom Team Chat (improving) | Teams is built around persistent chat; Zoom Chat is secondary to meetings |
| File sharing & storage | SharePoint & OneDrive integrated | Basic in-meeting file sharing | Teams is significantly stronger for document collaboration and storage |
| Microsoft 365 integration | Native — Outlook, SharePoint, Planner, Word, Excel | Via third-party connectors | Decisive advantage for any business already in the Microsoft ecosystem |
| AI features | Copilot in Teams (meeting summaries, action items, chat intelligence) | Zoom AI Companion (meeting summaries, smart compose) | Both have capable AI assistants; Copilot integrates across the wider M365 suite |
| Webinars & large events | Teams Webinars & Town Halls (included in Business plans) | Zoom Webinars (paid add-on) | Teams includes webinar capability in Business plans; Zoom charges extra |
| External guest access | Yes — guests join via browser or app | Yes — widely familiar to external parties | Zoom has a familiarity advantage for external meetings; Teams catches up rapidly |
| Phone system | Teams Phone (add-on or included in some plans) | Zoom Phone (add-on) | Both offer full cloud telephony; Teams Phone integrates with Outlook and contacts |
| Security & compliance | Enterprise-grade — Purview, DLP, eDiscovery | Strong baseline; fewer compliance tools | Teams leads for regulated sectors needing data residency and compliance controls |
Which platform fits your business?
Choose Microsoft Teams if…
- You are already using Microsoft 365 and want to avoid a separate subscription
- Your teams collaborate on documents, tasks, and projects as well as meeting
- You need compliance controls, data residency, or eDiscovery capability
- You want AI meeting summaries and action items that feed back into Microsoft 365
- You use Dynamics 365, SharePoint, or Power Platform and want unified workflows
- You are running internal all-hands events or webinars without paying extra
- You want a single platform for communication rather than multiple point tools
Consider Zoom if…
- Video and audio meeting quality is the single most important factor
- You hold frequent external meetings with clients on varied platforms
- You have no Microsoft 365 subscription and want a standalone meeting tool
- Your team is distributed across different technology ecosystems
- You run large-scale virtual events or webinars as a core business activity
- Ease of use for non-technical participants is the primary concern
Microsoft Teams — deployed and supported by Advantage
Advantage configures and manages Microsoft Teams as part of our broader Microsoft 365 managed service for UK SMEs. We handle everything from initial setup and governance policies through to ongoing support, security configuration, and adoption training — so your team gets value from day one rather than self-configuring a platform that underdelivers.
The Advantage methodology
Whether you are deploying Teams for the first time, consolidating from a mix of tools, or looking to unlock more from an existing deployment, we deliver it in three structured phases.
We review your current communication tools, meeting culture, and security requirements before designing the right Teams configuration and governance model.
Teams deployment, channel structure, guest access policies, meeting room integration, and user training — delivered to a clear timeline with minimal disruption to your business.
Ongoing managed support, policy updates, licence management, and access to our UK-based helpdesk team as your business and usage evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions — Microsoft Teams vs Zoom
Common questions from UK businesses choosing between Microsoft Teams and Zoom — answered honestly by Advantage, Microsoft Solutions Partner.
Is Microsoft Teams better than Zoom for business use?
For most UK SMEs already using Microsoft 365, Teams is the stronger overall platform. It goes well beyond video meetings to cover persistent chat, file collaboration, task management, and deep integration with Outlook, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365. If your business already pays for Microsoft 365, Teams is included — adding Zoom on top means paying twice for overlapping capability.
Zoom is the better choice if raw video and audio quality is the overriding priority, or if your business has no Microsoft 365 subscription and simply needs a reliable standalone meeting tool.
Does Microsoft Teams cost more than Zoom?
Teams is included as part of Microsoft 365 Business plans, which start at around £4.90 per user per month. Zoom Pro starts at approximately £13.99 per user per month as a standalone product. If you are already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams adds no extra cost.
Zoom can appear cheaper if you only compare the meeting tool in isolation, but most businesses need the broader productivity suite that Microsoft 365 provides alongside it — which makes the combined cost significantly higher than Teams alone.
Can you use both Microsoft Teams and Zoom at the same time?
Yes — many businesses run both, typically using Teams internally and Zoom for external client meetings. This works, but it creates tool fatigue, additional licence cost, and split notification management. A cleaner approach for most SMEs is to standardise on Teams and use its guest access capability for external meetings, which allows people outside your organisation to join via browser without needing a Teams account.
Is Zoom more reliable than Microsoft Teams?
Both platforms have strong reliability records at scale. Zoom built its early reputation on meeting stability and low-bandwidth performance, and that reputation is well earned. Microsoft Teams has improved substantially since its initial release and now performs reliably for the vast majority of business use cases.
If you are in an area with limited bandwidth or frequently join meetings from mobile connections, Zoom's video compression and adaptive bitrate performance can give a slightly smoother experience. For most office-based or home-based UK business users, both platforms will be indistinguishable in day-to-day use.
Does Microsoft Teams work with Dynamics 365?
Yes — Teams integrates natively with Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and Business Central. Sales teams can access CRM records and account activity directly within Teams conversations, collaborate on deals without switching applications, and receive AI-assisted meeting summaries that feed back into Dynamics. This kind of embedded workflow is only possible within the Microsoft ecosystem and represents a significant productivity advantage for businesses using Dynamics 365.
What is Microsoft Copilot in Teams and how does it compare to Zoom AI Companion?
Microsoft Copilot in Teams can transcribe meetings, generate summaries, identify action items, and answer questions about meeting content after the fact. It also works across the wider Microsoft 365 suite — so meeting notes can feed into Outlook tasks, SharePoint documents, or Dynamics 365 records. Zoom AI Companion offers similar meeting summary and smart compose features and is included in paid Zoom plans.
The key difference is scope. Copilot in Teams is part of a broader AI layer across Microsoft 365, which means it can reason across emails, documents, and meeting transcripts together. Zoom AI Companion is more self-contained within the Zoom product. For businesses wanting AI that spans their entire productivity environment, Microsoft Copilot has the wider reach.
Can external clients join a Microsoft Teams meeting without a Teams account?
Yes — external guests can join a Teams meeting via browser without installing any software or creating an account. They simply click the meeting link and join as a guest. This addresses one of the main historical arguments for Zoom among businesses with frequent external meetings. The experience is straightforward for most participants, though Zoom still benefits from wider name recognition among non-technical users.
How do I get Microsoft Teams configured properly for my business?
Out-of-the-box Teams deployments often underdeliver because channel structure, guest access, meeting policies, and governance settings are left at defaults. Advantage configures Teams as part of our Microsoft 365 managed service — covering governance design, security policy, user training, and ongoing support.
You can contact us online, call us on 020 3004 4600, or email hello@advantage.co.uk to discuss your current setup.
