Livestorm vs Zoom: Comparison and Detailed Overview

With so many video conferencing solutions available in the market today, it can be quite confusing to choose the best one for your business.

Be it for internal team meets, webinars to capture leads or external client calls, an efficient video conferencing tool can make all the difference.

In this article, we will be comparing two of the most popular meeting and webinar platforms – Livestorm vs Zoom, and help you decide which one is the better fit for your business needs.

Jump to:

• What is Livestorm?
• What is Zoom?
• Livestorm vs Zoom: Main features comparison
• Livestorm vs Zoom: Main differences
• Livestorm vs Zoom: Pros and Cons of each platform
• Livestorm vs Zoom: Pricing Plans
• Livestorm vs Zoom: typical customer of each platform
• Livestorm vs Zoom: which tool suits your business needs more?
• Final Verdict

What is Livestorm?

Livestorm is a browser-based video conferencing and webinar platform designed for businesses and organizations of all sizes. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with various tools such as Slack, HubSpot, and Google Calendar, Livestorm aims to provide an all-in-one solution for video communications.

Known for its high-quality video and audio, Livestorm offers features like screen sharing, real-time chat, and analytics, making it a great option for webinars, product demos, and meetings.

Livestorm also provides customizable registration forms and automated email reminders, ensuring that participants are well-informed and engaged.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is a widely used video conferencing platform that allows users to host and join meetings, webinars, and virtual events. With its powerful features and integrations, Zoom has become the go-to for many businesses, educational institutions, and individuals.

Offering high-definition video and audio, Zoom supports features such as screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and interactive whiteboards.

Additionally, Zoom offers various security measures, including end-to-end encryption and password-protected meetings, ensuring that your calls remain private and secure.

Livestorm vs Zoom: Main features comparison

Let’s dive into the main features of both Livestorm vs Zoom and see how they stack up against each other.

Ease of use

Livestorm’s browser-based interface makes it easy for users to join meetings without downloading any software, while Zoom requires users to install an app on their devices. However, both platforms offer intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for both hosts and attendees to navigate.

Video and audio quality

Both Livestorm vs Zoom are known for their high-quality video and audio capabilities. However, Livestorm’s browser-based system may sometimes lead to lower video quality, depending on the user’s internet connection. Zoom, on the other hand, is known for its consistent high-definition video and audio performance, even in low-bandwidth situations.

Integrations:

Livestorm and Zoom both offer a wide range of integrations with popular tools and platforms, such as Google Calendar, Slack, and HubSpot. However, Livestorm has a slight edge in this category, as it provides more native integrations and a robust API for custom integrations.

Webinars and virtual events

While both platforms are capable of hosting webinars and virtual events, Livestorm has a more focused approach, offering features specifically designed for webinars like customizable registration forms, automated emails, and engagement analytics.

Zoom, however, does offer webinar capabilities, but they come as an additional add-on to their regular conferencing plans.

Security

Security is a crucial aspect of any video conferencing platform. Livestorm and Zoom have taken steps to ensure the privacy and security of their users. Livestorm offers secure connections through HTTPS and WebRTC, as well as GDPR compliance.

Zoom has recently upped its security game with features like end-to-end encryption, password-protected meetings, and waiting rooms to prevent unauthorized access.

Livestorm vs Zoom: Main differences

Now that we’ve compared their main features, let’s highlight the key differences between Livestorm vs Zoom. Apart from the obvious distinction of Livestorm being browser-based and Zoom requiring an app installation, there are a few notable contrasts between the two platforms.

Browser-based vs App-based

As mentioned earlier, Livestorm is browser-based, which means users can join meetings without downloading any software. This can be an advantage for those who prefer not to install additional applications or have limited storage space on their devices. Conversely, Zoom’s app-based nature ensures more consistent video and audio quality across various devices and internet connections.

Webinar focus vs General video conferencing

Livestorm specializes in webinars and virtual events, offering features tailored specifically for these purposes. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses that frequently host webinars and require advanced features like customizable registration forms, automated email reminders, and analytics.

On the other hand, Zoom is designed for general video conferencing, making it a more versatile option for businesses that need a platform for meetings, webinars, and virtual events. However, to access Zoom’s webinar-specific features, users must purchase an additional add-on to their regular conferencing plans.

Integrations and API

While both Livestorm and Zoom offer numerous integrations with other tools and platforms, Livestorm has a slight edge in this area. With more native integrations and a robust API for custom integrations, Livestorm provides greater flexibility for businesses looking to streamline their workflows and improve team collaboration.

Livestorm vs Zoom: Pros and Cons of each platform

Livestorm Pros

• Designed specifically for webinars, offering advanced features and analytics
• Native integrations and a robust API for seamless workflows
• Clean, modern, and intuitive user interface
• Browser-based platform, with no downloads or installations required for attendees
• Customizable registration pages and attendee management

Livestorm Cons

• Free plan has limited features, especially for video conferencing
• May not be the best option for businesses primarily focused on video meetings and real-time collaboration
• Can be more expensive than Zoom for certain features and capabilities

Zoom Pros

• Widely known for its user-friendly interface and ease of use
• Offers a generous free plan and scalable pricing options for businesses of all sizes
• High-quality video and audio for meetings and collaborations
• Variety of features, such as screen sharing, breakout rooms, and chat
• Easy integration with calendar apps for streamlined scheduling and reminders

Zoom Cons

• Primarily focused on video conferencing, not specifically tailored for webinars
• Some integrations may not be as extensive as Livestorm’s
• Attendees may need to download the Zoom app to join meetings

Livestorm vs Zoom: Pricing Plans

When comparing pricing plans, it’s crucial to consider the features and capabilities offered by each platform to determine the best value for your business. Livestorm offers a free plan with basic features, and its paid plans start at $88 per month. Zoom provides a more generous free plan, with paid plans starting at $14.99 per month. However, keep in mind that Zoom’s webinar-specific features require an additional add-on purchase of $690 for a yearly license.

Livestorm Pricing Plans

Livestorm’s free plan is limited to up to 20 minutes per session with a maximum of 30 live attendees but offers unlimited team members.

If the free plan is too limited for your needs, you can choose among Livestorm’s Pro, Business, or Enterprise plans.

Zoom Pricing Plans

Zoom’s free plan is more generous, offering meetings up to 40 minutes with up to 100 participants.

However, Zoom’s Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans are significantly less generous vis-à-vis Livestorm’s offering, except for Zoom’s “up to 30 hours per meeting” cap, which is hardly a selling point.

Livestorm vs Zoom: typical customer of each platform

Livestorm Typical Customers

Livestorm’s typical customers include small to large businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations that prioritize a seamless, all-in-one webinar solution with advanced features for a professional experience.

These customers value native integrations, a robust API, and a platform tailored to their unique needs, making Livestorm a popular choice for businesses looking to streamline their workflows and improve team collaboration.

Zoom Typical Customers

Zoom’s typical customers range from individuals and small teams to large enterprises that require a reliable, easy-to-use video conferencing solution for meetings and collaborations.

These customers prioritize high-quality video and audio, along with basic and advanced features such as screen sharing, breakout rooms, and chat.

With its free plan and scalable pricing options, Zoom is popular among businesses of all sizes seeking versatile collaboration and communication tools.

Livestorm vs Zoom: which tool suits your business needs more?

To determine which tool suits your business needs more, consider the following factors:

Primary use case

If webinars are your main focus, Livestorm might be the better choice, as it’s specifically designed for running webinars with advanced features, analytics, and integrations. On the other hand, if your primary need is video conferencing and real-time collaboration, Zoom could be the better fit.

Budget

Consider the pricing options and features offered at each pricing tier. Zoom offers a liberal free plan for basic video conferencing needs, while Livestorm’s free plan is geared toward webinar hosting. Determine which features are essential for your business and compare the costs of each platform.

Integrations and API

Evaluate the integrations and API options offered by both platforms. Livestorm is known for its native integrations and robust API, which can help streamline your workflows and improve team collaboration. Zoom also offers integrations, but may not be as extensive as Livestorm’s. Consider which tools and integrations are critical for your business operations when making a decision.

Security and Compliance

Both Livestorm and Zoom prioritize security and compliance with industry standards. However, specific security features, such as SSO and managed domains, are available at higher pricing tiers for both platforms. If security and compliance are top concerns, assess the security options provided by each platform and choose the one that best aligns with your business requirements.

Livestorm vs Zoom: Final Verdict

Both Livestorm vs Zoom offer valuable features and benefits for businesses seeking collaboration and communication tools. The choice between the two platforms ultimately depends on your primary use case, budget, required integrations, security needs, and overall user experience.

If you’re still on the fence, it usually indicates that neither option is the right one for you and your business. In that case, we strongly recommend looking into Kaltura. Unlike its competitors, Kaltura Webinars is purposely built for connecting with your employees, customers, or partners while keeping their experience and your brand front and center.

Kaltura Webinars’ key features:

• Automatically generated branded minisite and registration page
• Automated session recording uploads your webinar as VOD to the minisite
• Bring participants to the stage
• Fun engagement features like crowd reactions and on-screen interactive polls
• Connect via group chat, 1:1 chat, and moderated Q&A
• Send real-time pop-up notifications and announcements
• Keep your eye on your bottom line with advanced cross-webinar analytics

Kaltura vs Livestorm vs Zoom? Take some time to decide. 14 days to be exact, with Kaltura Webinars’ 14-day free trial, no commitment, and plenty of time to check out all of its features and capabilities!