Overview
Zoom Videoconferencing and Microsoft Teams are both powerful tools that combine real-time chat, content sharing, and video. Each has its unique strengths. (If you're new to Zoom, these training resources will help you get started quickly.)
Review the tables below to help determine which solution best meets your needs.
Detail
HIPAA Compliance
The University of Pittsburgh’s standard Zoom environment is not HIPAA compliant. However, the University provides access to a separate HIPAA-compliant Zoom environment for those who are conducting tele-medicine appointments or are hosting meetings that discuss protected health information. To use Zoom for HIPAA-related meetings, please see the Zoom and HIPAA Compliance page.
Teams is HIPAA compliant.
Webinars/Town Halls
| Function |
Zoom Webinar |
Teams Webinars, Town Halls |
| Available without additional purchase |
No (requires purchase of Zoom Webinar add-on via PantherExpress) |
Yes |
| Automated/Live Captioning/Live Transcription |
Yes (manual or 3rd party vendor options available, machine-generated in non-HIPAA only) |
Yes, machine-generated |
| Breakout Rooms |
Yes (requires additional Events or Sessions license purchase) |
Yes (webinars only with less than 300 participants) |
| Chat with Attendees |
Yes |
Yes (town halls limited to 100 participants) |
| Collaborative Tools (In-Meeting) |
Yes |
Yes, limited for town halls |
| File Transfer |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maximum Event Duration |
24 hours |
30 hours (town halls) |
| Maximum Number of Interactive Participants |
500 (larger capacities available at additional cost) |
1000 (webinar only) |
| Listen/View-only participants over max. participants |
Yes, via live streaming |
10,000 (town hall only, up to 20,000 at a cost through Teams Premium2)
Live streaming option available for webinars on request
|
| Q&A Tool |
Yes |
Yes |
| Recording |
Yes (local recording only with HIPAA) |
Yes |
| Registration |
Yes |
Yes, webinar only |
| Video Sharing |
Yes |
Yes, webinar only |
| Virtually Raise Hand |
Yes |
Yes |
Virtual Classrooms, Meetings and Conferences
| Function |
Zoom |
Teams |
| Audio/Video Calls |
Yes |
Yes |
| Automated/Live Captioning |
Yes (manual or 3rd party vendor options available, machine-generated in non-HIPAA only) |
Yes |
| Breakout Rooms |
Yes |
Yes |
| Chat |
Yes |
Yes |
| File transfer |
Yes |
Yes |
| Guest join1 |
Yes |
Via browser |
| Lobby / Waiting room |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maximum Event Duration (live events) |
24 hours |
30 hours |
| Maximum Number of Interactive Participants |
300 (500 participant add-on available for purchase via PantherExpress) |
1,000 |
| Listen/View-only participants over max. participants |
Yes, via live streaming |
10,000
Live streaming option available on request
|
| Outlook Calendar integration |
Limited, Outlook Calendar add-in available |
Yes |
| Phone Conf Bridge Included |
Yes |
Yes |
| Q&A Tool |
Yes |
Yes |
| Recording |
Local or Cloud (local only with HIPAA) |
Cloud |
| Registration |
Yes |
Yes |
| Remote Control |
Yes |
Yes |
| Screen Sharing |
Yes |
Yes |
| Together Mode/Immersive View |
Yes |
Yes |
| Video Background Blur |
Blur, Custom Background |
Blur,
Custom Background
|
| Video Sharing |
Yes |
Yes |
1 Zoom defines a guest is identified as someone who is not signed in to a Zoom account or is signed with an email address that is not in the same account as the host. In Teams, a 'guest' is defined as someone from outside the tenant, in this case outside the University community, that has been invited to join a meeting or live event.
2 Teams Premium licenses are available for purchase via PantherExpress.
Instant Messaging
| Function |
Zoom |
Teams |
| File transfer via chat |
Yes |
Yes |
| Instant Messaging |
Yes |
Yes |
| Persistent Instant Messaging |
2 years |
Unlimited |
| Public Group chat |
Yes (limited to 10,000 participants) |
Yes (limited to 10,000 participants) |
| Screen Sharing |
Yes |
Yes (limited to 20 participants) |
| Screen Sharing from Chat |
No |
Yes (limited to 20 participants) |
| Whiteboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Related Information
Help Resources