True cost comparison — not just what the pricing page says
Quick Verdict
Microsoft Teams saves you 70%
Best for Microsoft Teams
Bundled with Microsoft 365. 'Free' for M365 subscribers, but standalone and add-ons (Rooms, Phone, W
Best for Zoom
Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Add-ons for
Bundled with Microsoft 365. 'Free' for M365 subscribers, but standalone and add-...
Advertised
$4
/month
True Cost
$74
/month (typical)
Teams Phone System
Voice calling requires Teams Phone at $8/user/mo + calling plan $12/user/mo. Total: $20/user/mo for ...
Teams Rooms
Conference room integration: $40/room/mo for Teams Rooms Pro. 10 rooms = $400/mo....
Teams Premium
AI meeting recap, custom branding, advanced webinars: $10/user/mo add-on. Not included in any M365 p...
Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting...
Advertised
$13
/month
True Cost
$161
/month (typical)
40-Minute Free Meeting Limit
Free plan limits group meetings (3+ participants) to 40 minutes. Meetings cut off abruptly. Must res...
Zoom Phone Add-On
Zoom Phone (VOIP) is NOT included in any Workplace plan. Metered at $10/user/mo or Unlimited at $15/...
Zoom Rooms Add-On
Conference room hardware/software integration costs $49/room/mo. A 10-room office adds $490/mo. Hard...
Webinar & Events Add-On
Zoom Webinars start at $79/mo/license (500 attendees). Zoom Events at $99/mo. These are per-license,...
Cloud Recording Storage
Workplace Business includes limited cloud storage. Additional storage packs cost extra. Heavy record...
Microsoft Teams advertises $4/mo. Zoom advertises $13.32/mo.
Microsoft Teams has 3 documented hidden fees. Zoom has 5.
Microsoft Teams confidence: 76%. Zoom confidence: 83%.
| Metric | Microsoft Teams | Zoom | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $4/mo | $13.32/mo | Microsoft Teams |
| True Monthly Cost | $74/mo | $161/mo | Microsoft Teams |
| Hidden Fee Total | +$70/mo | +$148/mo | Microsoft Teams |
| # Hidden Fees | 3 | 5 | Microsoft Teams |
| Confidence Score | 76% | 83% | Zoom |
| Pricing Tiers | 0 | 4 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | No public affiliate program | — |
Microsoft Teams advertises $4/mo and Zoom advertises $13.32/mo. However, when you include hidden fees, Microsoft Teams has 3 documented hidden fees adding +$70/mo, while Zoom has 5 hidden fees adding +$148/mo. Based on true cost, Microsoft Teams is typically 70% cheaper.
Microsoft Teams has 3 documented hidden fees: Teams Phone System, Teams Rooms, Teams Premium. These add approximately +$70/mo on top of the $4/mo advertised price.
Zoom has 5 documented hidden fees: 40-Minute Free Meeting Limit, Zoom Phone Add-On, Zoom Rooms Add-On, Webinar & Events Add-On, Cloud Recording Storage. These add approximately +$148/mo on top of the $13.32/mo advertised price.
Choose Microsoft Teams if: Bundled with Microsoft 365. 'Free' for M365 subscribers, but standalone and add-ons (Rooms, Phone, W. Choose Zoom if: Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Add-ons for . The right choice depends on your team size, usage volume, and which features you need most.
This comparison is based on manual research of official pricing pages, terms of service, and user reports. Microsoft Teams data has a 76% confidence score and Zoom has 83%. Prices were last verified in April 2026. For the most accurate estimate, enter your specific usage in our calculator.
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