Zoom vs Around
Zoom is video conferencing platform for meetings, webinars, and virtual events, while Around is lightweight video calling tool with floating bubbles, noise cancellation, and minimal screen space. The biggest difference up front: Around is free, while Zoom starts at $13.33/user/mo. Zoom is built for teams that prioritize reliable, high-quality video calls, whereas Around targets remote teams wanting lightweight, always-on video.
At a glance
|
Zoom
|
Around | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Teams that prioritize reliable, high-quality video calls | Remote teams wanting lightweight, always-on video |
| Starting price | $13.33/user/mo | Free |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Breakout Rooms | ✓ | — |
| Floating UI | — | ✓ |
| Lightweight | — | ✓ |
| Noise Cancellation | — | ✓ |
| Recording | ✓ | — |
| Screen Sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video Meetings | ✓ | — |
| Webinars | ✓ | — |
Zoom
Strengths
- Industry-leading video and audio quality
- Reliable even on poor connections
- Universal — everyone knows how to use Zoom
- Strong webinar and events features
Weaknesses
- Free tier limited to 40-minute group calls
- Security concerns have been raised
- Becoming bloated with features
- Another standalone tool when alternatives are built into existing platforms
Around
Strengths
- Includes Floating UI as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows
- Includes Noise Cancellation as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows
- The core product is free with no paywalled essentials
- Includes screen sharing alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed
Weaknesses
- May lack some advanced features
- Some advanced features require upgrading to a paid plan
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Call quality depends heavily on participants' internet connections
The bottom line
Pricing: Around is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Zoom starts at $13.33/user/mo, but Free 40-min group meetings. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Zoom offers Breakout Rooms, Recording and Video Meetings that Around lacks. Around brings Floating UI, Lightweight and Noise Cancellation that Zoom does not have. Both share Screen Sharing.
Team fit: Zoom is geared toward any size teams, while Around is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Where each tool shines: Zoom's biggest strengths are: industry-leading video and audio quality. reliable even on poor connections. Around's biggest strengths are: includes floating ui as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows. includes noise cancellation as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows.
Watch out for: With Zoom, users commonly note that free tier limited to 40-minute group calls. With Around, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.
Choose Zoom if...
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that prioritize reliable, high-quality video calls
- You specifically need Breakout Rooms and Recording
- You care about reliable even on poor connections
- Your team size fits the any size profile Zoom is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free 40-min group meetings
Choose Around if...
- You need a tool built for remote teams wanting lightweight, always-on video
- Budget is a hard constraint — Around is free, Zoom is not
- You specifically need Floating UI and Lightweight
- You care about includes noise cancellation as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Around is designed for
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