Zoom licenses: everything I need to know

Novedades > Collaboration

6 de July de 2023

Licensed Zoom users can access the meeting software to make and participate in individual Zoom video calls at no additional cost. But, with the licensing options available, it can be a little difficult to wrap your head around.

Let's break down and explain the different types of licenses offered so you have a complete understanding of what you need to operate a successful video collaboration within your organization.

What is a Zoom license?

When setting up an account for the first time in Zoom, you will be prompted to select a license type. A Zoom license refers to the type of account you sign up for, which determines the features that are available to you. All Zoom licenses are per user and include a set number of meeting room hours (MRH) each month.

If you sign up for a Basic license, you will have a lower MRH limit per month than if you choose an Enterprise license. And Enterprise Plus users will have even more MRH.

What types of Zoom licenses are there?

There are three basic types of Zoom licenses:

Basic.
Plus.
Enterprise.

Which license type is right for me?

Let's go over some questions to help you decide which license type would be best for your organization.

- Do you have more than 20 Zoom users? If so, you should consider purchasing an Enterprise license to maximize your investment.

- If you want to make video calls with people outside your organization (i.e. customers), the Enterprise or Enterprise Plus license is recommended.

- If you plan to use Zoom video conferencing for internal office meetings, a Basic or Plus license will suffice.

How to get a free Zoom license

There are three ways to get a free Zoom license. First, if you are a non-profit organization, schools or government agencies you can get a free Plus license.

Second, if you have Zoom Standard or Plus and invite at least three new users, you are eligible for a free Enterprise license. Finally, if you are one of the first 10,000 Zoom users, you can get a free Enterprise license.

Advantages and disadvantages of Zoom free licenses

Advantages of Zoom free licenses

Zoom free licenses provide users with a range of features normally found in paid licenses. This means that a user with a free license can organize a meeting with up to 100 participants, regardless of how many licenses the latter own.

In addition, these free licenses are renewed every quarter, and the number of hours available for meeting rooms is recalculated each period.

Although the free licenses have no expiration date, they do have some restrictions. Users will only have access to Zoom's standard plan and basic meeting room hours.

To obtain a free license, it is necessary to register as a new user and invite at least three people. If an attempt is made to register with a promotional code, the user's email address will be requested and the user will be added to a waiting list for a free license.

Disadvantages of Zoom free licenses

Although Zoom offers a free license option, it is important to note that this version has certain restrictions that may affect the user experience.

Restrictions on the application of coupon codes.

One limitation is that a coupon code cannot be applied to a free license. Acquiring a free license can be achieved in two ways: by inviting three other people to join Zoom or by receiving a free license as a gift from someone else.

Limited access to premium features

In addition, free users do not have access to Zoom's premium features. These features include the ability to screen share, access to collaboration tools, and the ability to create team accounts.

These limitations can restrict the functionality and efficiency of virtual meetings, especially for teams that rely on these features for effective collaboration.

It is important to keep these limitations in mind when considering which version of Zoom is best suited for your communication and collaboration needs.

While the free version may be sufficient for basic video conferencing needs, the lack of access to premium features may be a drawback for those who require greater functionality and flexibility in their virtual meetings.

Licensing Conclusion

Zoom Videoconferencing is a fantastic addition to any organization. However, it can be a bit confusing to navigate the different licensing options and figure out which one is right for you. With this guide, you should have a better understanding of what each type of license is and how to get a free license.

At Newtech, we do wholesale zoom licensing consulting for all types of industries and professionals.