Quick answer
Choose Microsoft Teams Rooms if your company already runs on Microsoft 365 and Teams, since it ties into Entra ID, Intune and Exchange calendars. Choose Zoom Rooms if Zoom is your primary meeting platform or you want a platform-agnostic room experience. Both support certified hardware from major vendors, and both can join the other’s meetings through Direct Guest Join.
Key takeaways
- Platform fit matters most: match the room system to the meeting app your employees already use every day.
- Teams Rooms comes in Windows and Android variants; Zoom Rooms runs on Windows, macOS and Android-based appliances.
- Teams Rooms is licensed per room as Teams Rooms Basic (core features, limited room count) or Teams Rooms Pro (advanced features and management).
- Zoom Rooms uses a per-room license, separate from individual user licenses.
- Direct Guest Join lets each platform join the other’s meetings, so mixed environments are workable.
Zoom Rooms vs Teams Rooms at a glance
Zoom Rooms and Microsoft Teams Rooms both turn a conference room into a one-touch meeting space with a camera, microphones, speakers, a display and a touch controller. The differences show up in platform integration, hardware choice, licensing and administration.
The summary below reflects each platform’s general approach as of 2026. Licensing names and features change, so confirm current terms with Microsoft, Zoom or your provider.
| Factor | Microsoft Teams Rooms | Zoom Rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Best platform fit | Microsoft 365 and Teams organizations | Zoom-first or platform-agnostic organizations |
| Operating systems | Teams Rooms on Windows and Teams Rooms on Android | Windows, macOS and Android-based appliances |
| Hardware | Microsoft-certified systems, bars and panels | Zoom-certified systems, appliances and controllers |
| Licensing model | Per room: Teams Rooms Basic or Teams Rooms Pro | Per-room Zoom Rooms license |
| Cross-platform join | Direct Guest Join to Zoom, Webex and others | Direct Guest Join to Teams; interop options for others |
| Management | Teams admin center; Teams Rooms Pro Management Portal with Pro | Zoom web admin portal and device management tools |
| Identity and security stack | Entra ID, Intune, conditional access | Zoom account controls and SSO integration |
Which platform fits your organization?
Start with what your people already use. If employees schedule meetings in Outlook, chat in Teams and store files in SharePoint, Teams Rooms will feel native. Rooms appear as resource mailboxes, meetings show on the room console automatically, and security policies follow your existing Microsoft 365 setup.
If your company standardizes on Zoom Workplace for meetings, webinars or phone, Zoom Rooms delivers the same interface people use on their laptops. Zoom Rooms also integrates with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace calendars, which helps organizations that are not fully in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Mixed environments are common, especially for businesses that meet frequently with clients on another platform. In those cases, pick the platform most internal meetings use, then rely on cross-platform join for the rest.
Hardware ecosystems: certified devices and Windows vs Android
Both Microsoft and Zoom maintain certification programs, and major manufacturers such as Logitech, Poly (HP), Yealink, Neat and others offer certified hardware. Buying certified devices matters because they receive tested firmware, platform updates and vendor support for that specific platform.
Teams Rooms on Windows vs Teams Rooms on Android
Teams Rooms on Windows uses a dedicated compute module connected to cameras, audio and a touch console. It has historically received new features first and suits larger rooms, dual displays and more complex audio designs.
Teams Rooms on Android typically runs on an all-in-one video bar or appliance, which simplifies installation and reduces the number of components. It is well suited to huddle spaces and small to midsize rooms. Microsoft has been narrowing feature gaps, but check the specific features you need against each variant before buying.
Zoom Rooms hardware options
Zoom Rooms can run on a Windows or Mac computer paired with peripherals, or on Android-based Zoom Rooms appliances that combine camera, microphones and compute. Controllers can be a dedicated touch panel or a supported tablet, and Zoom also offers scheduling displays for outside the room.
Some appliances from vendors like Neat and Yealink can be provisioned for either Zoom Rooms or Teams Rooms on Android, depending on the model. That flexibility can protect your hardware investment if your platform choice changes, but confirm support for the exact model.
How does licensing work for each platform?
Both platforms license the room rather than the people in it. A room system signs in with a dedicated resource account, and that account needs the appropriate room license.
- Teams Rooms Basic: a no-cost license that covers core meeting features such as joining, scheduling, content sharing and whiteboarding. It is limited to a set number of rooms per organization (currently up to 25) and supports one device per room.
- Teams Rooms Pro: a paid per-room subscription that adds advanced audio and video features, multi-screen support, Teams Phone capability, Intune, Entra ID P1 and remote management through the Teams Rooms Pro Management Portal.
- Microsoft licensing note: Microsoft requires shared meeting devices to use Teams Rooms licenses rather than individual user licenses, so plan room licensing explicitly.
- Zoom Rooms: a per-room subscription license, separate from Zoom Workplace user licenses. Some Zoom plans bundle room licenses or add-ons, so review which features and device management tools your plan includes.
Can a Zoom Room join a Teams meeting, and vice versa?
Yes. Through Direct Guest Join, a Zoom Room can join a Microsoft Teams meeting, and a Teams Room can join Zoom meetings (and some other platforms such as Webex) from the room console. Admins enable the feature, and the room joins as a guest using a browser-based experience.
Direct Guest Join is convenient, but the guest experience is not identical to a native meeting. Some features, such as advanced layouts or in-meeting tools, may be limited. For rooms that regularly host another platform’s meetings, organizations sometimes use a cloud video interoperability (CVI) service, which typically carries its own licensing.
Management and monitoring
Teams Rooms devices are managed in the Teams admin center, and Teams Rooms Pro adds the Pro Management Portal for health monitoring, alerting, incident tracking and update management. Because Pro includes Intune and Entra ID P1, IT teams can apply device compliance and conditional access policies the same way they do for laptops.
Zoom Rooms are managed in the Zoom web admin portal, where admins configure room settings, monitor device status, push updates and set alerts across locations. Zoom also offers device management tools for supported peripherals and appliances.
For multi-site organizations, both platforms support centralized, remote administration. The deciding factor is usually which admin console your IT team already lives in.
Plan for room scheduling at the same time. Teams Panels and Zoom scheduling displays mount outside the door, show availability and let people book a room on the spot. Count those devices in your licensing and network plans from the start.
Recommendation by scenario
Use this table as a starting point. Your room sizes, budgets and meeting patterns will shape the final design.
| Scenario | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 organization with Teams for internal meetings | Teams Rooms | Native calendar, identity and security integration |
| Company standardized on Zoom Workplace | Zoom Rooms | Same interface and admin portal employees already use |
| Small office with a few huddle rooms | Teams Rooms on Android (Basic) or a Zoom Rooms appliance | All-in-one bars keep install simple |
| Boardroom or large training room | Teams Rooms on Windows or Zoom Rooms on a PC/appliance with expanded audio | More flexibility for dual displays and ceiling mics |
| Frequent external meetings on both platforms | Primary platform + Direct Guest Join | Covers most cross-platform needs without extra hardware |
| Uncertain long-term platform | Dual-platform-capable appliance | Hardware can be re-provisioned if you switch |
Network and installation considerations
Both platforms depend on a solid network: wired connections for room systems, QoS for real-time traffic, adequate upstream bandwidth and firewall rules that allow each platform’s required endpoints. Our network solutions work covers the switching, VLANs and firewall configuration that keep room video stable.
Room acoustics, camera placement, display size and cable management matter just as much as the software. Our conference room systems team designs and installs both Zoom Rooms and Microsoft Teams Rooms. For a step-by-step look at the Zoom side, see how to set up a Zoom Room.
Not sure which platform fits? Request a free on-site assessment and we will review your rooms, network and meeting habits before you buy hardware.
Frequently asked questions
Is Teams Rooms Basic free?
Teams Rooms Basic is offered at no additional cost for core meeting features, limited to a set number of rooms per organization (currently up to 25). Advanced features and management require Teams Rooms Pro.
Can I use a regular Microsoft 365 user license on a Teams Room?
No. Microsoft requires shared meeting devices to use Teams Rooms licenses, such as Teams Rooms Basic or Teams Rooms Pro, assigned to the room’s resource account.
Can a Zoom Room join Microsoft Teams meetings?
Yes. With Direct Guest Join enabled, a Zoom Room can join Teams meetings from the room controller. The guest experience may have fewer features than a native Teams Room.
Should I choose Teams Rooms on Windows or Android?
Android all-in-one bars are simpler and suit small to midsize rooms. Windows systems offer more flexibility for large rooms and complex audio, and have historically received new features first.
Can the same hardware run both Zoom Rooms and Teams Rooms?
Some appliances can be provisioned for either platform, depending on the model and firmware. Most rooms run one platform at a time, so confirm support for the exact device.
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