Mitel vs Zoom – Comparing features and costs to help you choose

Both Mitel and Zoom offer comprehensive solutions for business communication, but their features and pricing models cater to different needs. This analysis will compare Mitel vs Zoom, examining their features, pricing, and suitability for UK businesses to help you make an informed decision.

Overview of Mitel vs Zoom

Feature	Mitel	Zoom
Primary Focus	VoIP telephony and unified communications	Video conferencing and unified communications
Telephony Services	Advanced VoIP with features like PBX, call routing, call recording, and voicemail to email	Zoom Phone offers basic VoIP services with call routing and voicemail
Video Conferencing	Available through MiCollab, but not the primary focus	Industry-leading video conferencing platform with HD video and large meeting capacity
Unified Communications	MiCollab and MiCloud Connect offer integrated voice, video, and chat	Unified communications with a focus on video, plus chat and file sharing
Mobility Features	Strong mobile app for remote telephony, softphones available	Mobile-friendly for video conferencing, but telephony features are more basic compared to Mitel
Integrations	Integrates with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and other business tools	Integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and many more
APIs	Offers APIs for custom telephony and communication solutions	Developer-friendly APIs for embedding video conferencing and communications
Scalability	Scales well for medium to large businesses needing robust telephony	Scales for small to large businesses, especially for video meetings and webinars
Call Management	Advanced call routing, queue management, and reporting tools	Basic call management features with Zoom Phone
Hardware	Requires desk phones or softphones (hardware costs apply)	No hardware required for video conferencing; Zoom Phone can work with softphones
Pricing – Telephony	Starts from £15 per user/month for MiCloud Connect	Starts from £8.99 per user/month for Zoom Phone
Pricing – Video Conferencing	Included with MiCollab but less developed	Free for basic, £11.99 per user/month for Pro, £15.99 for Business
Call Centre Features	Advanced, supports high call volumes, call centres, and customer service	Not designed for high-volume call centres, more basic telephony
Best for	Medium to large businesses with complex telephony needs	Small to large businesses focused on video conferencing and collaboration
Strengths	Advanced telephony, scalability, mobility for voice services	User-friendly video conferencing, affordable pricing for video, scalability
Weaknesses	Video conferencing is less robust compared to dedicated platforms	Basic VoIP and telephony services compared to Mitel

Key features comparison

Voice and telephony services

• Mitel: Mitel is primarily a VoIP provider with deep expertise in telephony. Its MiCloud platform delivers reliable voice services alongside advanced PBX features like call routing, call recording, and voicemail to email. Mitel’s telephony services are known for their robustness, making them ideal for businesses with high call volumes or complex call management needs.
• Zoom: Zoom introduced Zoom Phone, a cloud-based telephony service, as part of its UC offering. While Zoom Phone provides essential VoIP services such as call routing, voicemail, and call recording, it lacks some of the more advanced features found in traditional phone systems like Mitel. For businesses primarily looking for video conferencing but also needing basic telephony, Zoom Phone may suffice.

Video conferencing

• Mitel: While Mitel offers video conferencing through its UC platforms like MiCollab, its video capabilities are not its primary selling point. The video quality is decent, and it integrates well with other communication tools, but it may not compete directly with dedicated video conferencing platforms in terms of ease of use or advanced features.
• Zoom: Zoom’s strength lies in its video conferencing. Offering HD video and audio, Zoom’s platform supports large meetings (up to 1,000 participants in certain plans) and provides features like screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and recording. Zoom is user-friendly, and its scalability makes it a top choice for businesses prioritising video meetings, webinars, or virtual events.

Unified communications and collaboration

• Mitel: Mitel’s MiCollab and MiCloud Connect platforms provide unified communications that integrate voice, video, chat, and collaboration tools in one system. Mitel also supports softphones for seamless communication on the go. For businesses that need a fully integrated solution where telephony is paramount, Mitel offers a strong package.
• Zoom: Zoom has expanded beyond video meetings to offer a more comprehensive Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform, including team chat, file sharing, and collaboration tools. However, Zoom’s primary strength remains video conferencing, with its collaboration features being secondary to this.

Mobility and remote work

• Mitel: Mitel excels in providing mobility features, allowing users to take their office phone on the go via Mitel apps for smartphones and desktops. This is ideal for businesses with mobile workforces or those needing remote access to their telephony system. Mitel’s seamless integration of voice services with mobile devices makes it highly flexible.
• Zoom: Zoom is inherently mobile-friendly, with robust apps for smartphones and tablets. Zoom’s flexibility for remote work is unmatched when it comes to video meetings. However, its voice services for mobile work may not be as advanced as Mitel’s, which has decades of experience in telephony.

Integrations and APIs

• Mitel: Mitel offers a range of integrations with popular CRM tools, including Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, as well as various other business applications. Mitel’s API options also enable custom integrations, making it highly adaptable for businesses with specific needs.
• Zoom: Zoom offers a wide variety of integrations, including with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. It also provides a developer-friendly API, enabling businesses to embed Zoom’s video and communication features into their own apps and workflows.

Mitel vs Zoom costs comparison

Mitel pricing

Mitel’s pricing varies based on the specific solution and the size of the business. The costs typically include both hardware (such as desk phones) and licences for software services.

• MiCloud Connect: Pricing for Mitel’s MiCloud Connect UCaaS solution starts around £15 per user per month, depending on the chosen package. The more advanced packages, including additional collaboration tools, can go up to £30+ per user per month.
• Mitel hardware: Businesses may need to factor in the cost of hardware, especially for desk phones, which can range from £50 to £200 per phone, depending on the model and features.

Mitel’s pricing model tends to suit medium to large businesses with a need for dedicated telephony services.

Zoom pricing

Zoom offers a range of pricing plans depending on the size of the business and required features:

• Zoom Meetings: Free for basic personal use, with Pro plans starting from £11.99 per user per month for small teams, and Business plans starting from £15.99 per user per month, allowing up to 300 participants.
• Zoom Phone: Zoom Phone plans start from £8.99 per user per month for domestic calling. Businesses looking for international calling and more advanced phone system features will see costs rise with Pro and Business options.

Zoom’s pricing is typically more attractive for small businesses or those primarily seeking video conferencing rather than advanced telephony services.

Which is better for your business?

Choosing between Mitel vs Zoom depends heavily on the specific needs of your business. Here are some key considerations:

• Telephony focus: If your business requires a robust, scalable telephony solution, Mitel’s experience and advanced VoIP features make it the better option. Mitel excels in environments with complex call routing needs and high call volumes, such as call centres or businesses with a large customer service focus.
• Video conferencing focus: If your business prioritises video conferencing, Zoom is the clear winner. Its intuitive platform and scalability make it ideal for businesses conducting regular virtual meetings, webinars, or remote collaboration. Zoom is also a cost-effective option for businesses needing basic VoIP services alongside their video conferencing tools.
• Unified communications: For businesses needing a fully integrated UCaaS platform, both Mitel and Zoom offer compelling options, but with different strengths. Mitel’s telephony and mobility features may be more appealing to businesses that value reliable voice services, while Zoom’s easy-to-use video meetings and growing set of collaboration tools may be better for businesses with a focus on remote communication and flexibility.

Conclusion – Mitel vs Zoom

For UK businesses, the decision between Mitel vs Zoom hinges on your priorities.

Mitel’s strong telephony and unified communications features make it a better choice for businesses that require dependable voice services.

Zoom, on the other hand, is ideal for those that need a feature-rich video conferencing solution and more basic telephony services at an affordable price.

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