Zoom Webinar or Meeting?

The webinar and meeting platforms offer similar features and functionality BUT have some key differences.

Meetings are designed to be collaborative. All participants will have the ability to share their video, audio and screen. While webinars only allow the host and any designated panelist to share their video, audio and screen. Webinars will only allow attendees to view. Attendees will only have the option to interact via Q&A’s, chat and poll questions.  

What do Meetings work best for?

Meetings are ideal for more interactive sessions. If you’re looking to hold a session where you can communicate with participants freely, then hosting a zoom meeting is ideal. This will allow you to create breakout sessions where attends can break into smaller groups and collaborate. This will also allow you to interact face to face with each attendee creating a more intimate setting.

Specs

• All participants can screen share.
• All participants are visible
• In-meeting chat
• Meeting reactions
• Polling
• Livestream
• Breakout rooms
• Waiting rooms
• Can be an authenticated meeting
• Whiteboard can be used
• Close captioning
• Recording

What do Webinars work best for?

Webinars are ideal for virtual lectures for large audiences or events that may be open to the public. Normally attendees DO NOT interact with one another, though Zoom provides options to get more social with your attendees. Webinars normally allows you to have designated panelist who can speak to the audience.

Specs

• Only the host and panelists can mute/unmute their own audio
• Attendees join in listen-only mode
• The host can unmute one or more attendees if needed
• Only the host and panelist can video share
• Only the host and panelist can screen share
• Webinar chat
• Only raise hand (reaction) for attendees
• Whiteboard can be used
• Closed captioning
• Recording
• Can require user to authenticate
• Polling
• Livestreaming
• Practice session