Async and live video meeting tool that stays out of the way with a floating interface.
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Around vs Zoom
Comparing Around and Zoom to help you pick the right Meeting Software for your needs.
| Feature | Around | Zoom |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux |
| Editorial rating | ★ 3.8 / 5 | ★ 4.2 / 5 |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |
| Community votes | 10 | 521 |
Around Pros & Cons
- Floating interface stays visible while working in other apps
- Low-friction quick video calls without entering full meeting mode
- Noise cancellation built in
- Free tier covers core video calling needs
- Less suitable for formal presentations or large meetings
- Mac and Windows desktop app required — no browser version
- Less established than Zoom or Google Meet for professional contexts
Zoom Pros & Cons
- Reliable call quality even on lower-bandwidth connections compared to many competitors
- Extremely low friction to join — works in-browser without an account for participants
- AI Companion generates meeting summaries and action items automatically
- Scales from one-on-one calls to large webinars on the same underlying platform
- Broad device and OS support including dedicated hardware room systems
- Free plan's 40-minute group meeting limit pushes most regular users to a paid plan quickly
- Has faced past security and privacy scrutiny over default settings and data handling practices
- Per-user pricing adds up for larger organizations compared to flat-rate alternatives
- Some advanced features fragment across separate add-on products (Phone, Whiteboard)
- Meeting fatigue concerns apply to Zoom as much as any video conferencing tool
Verdict: Around vs Zoom
Around and Zoom both serve the Meeting Software category well, but suit different priorities. Zoom carries the stronger editorial rating (4.2 / 5), Zoom supports more platforms (6 vs 2). Based on community engagement, Zoom is currently the more widely adopted choice (521 votes), but the better fit ultimately depends on your specific pricing, platform, and feature requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which is cheaper, Around or Zoom?
- Around and Zoom use a similar pricing model (both freemium), so the cheaper choice depends on which specific plan tier and feature set you need rather than the base pricing model.
- Is Around or Zoom rated higher?
- Zoom has the higher editorial rating at 4.2 out of 5, compared to Around's 3.8 out of 5. This is Kreemhunt's own staff rating, not a public user aggregate — review the pros and cons below for specifics that matter to your use case.
- Which platforms do Around and Zoom support?
- Around is available on macOS, Windows. Zoom is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux. Zoom covers more platforms overall, which matters if your team works across a wider range of devices and operating systems.
- Can I switch from Around to Zoom (or vice versa)?
- Most meeting software tools, including Around and Zoom, support data export in standard formats, making migration possible though rarely fully automatic. Expect to manually verify that custom configurations, integrations, and historical data transfer correctly, and budget time for the team to adjust to workflow differences between the two products.
- Should I choose Around or Zoom?
- Around and Zoom both serve the Meeting Software category well, but suit different priorities. Zoom carries the stronger editorial rating (4.2 / 5), Zoom supports more platforms (6 vs 2). Based on community engagement, Zoom is currently the more widely adopted choice (521 votes), but the better fit ultimately depends on your specific pricing, platform, and feature requirements.