Zoom's pricing tiers and what you get at each level

Zoom offers four main subscription tiers: Basic (free), Pro ($15.99 per month), Business ($25.99 per month), and Enterprise (custom pricing). The free plan lets you host unlimited one-on-one meetings and group meetings up to 40 minutes with up to 100 participants. Pro adds unlimited meeting length, up to 300 participants, and cloud recording. Business scales to 500 participants and adds administrative controls. Enterprise is for organizations needing custom features, dedicated support, and advanced security options.

Zoom also sells add-ons separately: Zoom Phone (cloud phone system starting at $15.99 per user per month), Zoom Rooms (conference room software at $49.99 per room per month), and Zoom Webinars (webinar hosting starting at $99 per month). These are not included in the standard subscription tiers and cost extra.

Pricing shown here is for annual billing paid upfront. Monthly billing costs more per month. Zoom occasionally runs promotions, particularly for annual plans, so the exact price you see may differ from these base rates. Educational institutions and nonprofits often receive discounts.

Key Takeaways

  • The free Basic plan includes unlimited one-on-one meetings and 40-minute group meetings for up to 100 people, with no credit card required.
  • Pro at $15.99 per month removes the 40-minute limit and raises the participant cap to 300, making it the most common choice for small teams.
  • Business at $25.99 per month adds 500-participant capacity and administrative controls for managing multiple users across an organization.
  • Zoom Phone, Webinars, and Rooms are separate products sold as add-ons, not included in any subscription tier.
  • Annual billing costs less per month than paying month-to-month, and educational or nonprofit organizations may receive discounts.

When the free plan is enough

The Basic plan works for casual users, small groups, and anyone who rarely hosts meetings longer than 40 minutes. One-on-one meetings have no time limit, so if you mostly meet one person at a time, you never need to pay. The 40-minute limit applies only to group meetings with three or more participants.

The free plan includes screen sharing, chat, and recording to your computer (local recording). You do not get cloud storage for recordings, so you must save them yourself. If you host occasional meetings with friends, family, or a small club, Basic covers your needs.

Pro plan: the standard choice for small teams

Pro removes the 40-minute meeting limit and raises the participant cap to 300. It adds cloud recording, which stores your meetings on Zoom's servers instead of your computer, and gives you 1 GB of cloud storage per month. You also get a personal meeting ID (a permanent link people can use to join your regular meetings) and the ability to schedule recurring meetings.

Pro is the most common paid tier because it covers most small-business and team needs without the complexity of Business. If you run a small consulting practice, lead a team of under 50 people, or host regular client calls, Pro is usually the right fit.

Business plan: for larger organizations

Business raises the participant limit to 500 and adds administrative features like user management, single sign-on (SSO), and the ability to manage multiple accounts from one dashboard. It includes 40 GB of cloud storage per month instead of 1 GB. You also get priority support and the ability to customize your meeting room with your company branding.

Business is designed for organizations with 50 or more employees or those needing centralized control over who can use Zoom and how. If you have an IT department or need to enforce security policies across your company, Business provides the tools to do that.

Enterprise plan: custom solutions for large organizations

Enterprise pricing is not published because it depends on your organization's size, features, and support needs. You contact Zoom's sales team for a quote. Enterprise includes everything in Business plus dedicated account management, custom integrations, advanced security features, and may provide uptime commitments.

Organizations with thousands of users, complex security requirements, or custom workflows typically move to Enterprise. The sales team can also negotiate volume discounts and add specialized features like advanced analytics or custom development.

Add-on products: Zoom Phone, Webinars, and Rooms

Zoom Phone is a cloud-based phone system that replaces or supplements a traditional office phone line. It starts at $15.99 per user per month and includes calling, voicemail, call recording, and integration with Zoom meetings. You pay per person, so a team of 10 costs $159.90 per month. This is separate from your meeting subscription — you can have Pro and add Zoom Phone on top.

Zoom Webinars is for hosting large, structured events where attendees do not interact with each other (unlike meetings, where everyone can talk). It starts at $99 per month and supports up to 10,000 attendees. Webinars include registration pages, Q&A, polls, and reporting on who attended.

Zoom Rooms is software that turns a conference room into a Zoom-ready space. It costs $49.99 per room per month and handles one-touch meeting join, wireless screen sharing, and room scheduling. Organizations with multiple meeting spaces often use Rooms to make it easier for people to start video calls from physical conference rooms.

How to choose between monthly and annual billing

Zoom offers both month-to-month and annual billing. Annual billing costs less per month but requires paying the full year upfront. For example, Pro might cost $15.99 per month on a monthly plan but $191.88 per year (about $16 per month) on an annual plan — a small savings that adds up if you have multiple users.

Choose monthly billing if you are testing Zoom or unsure whether you will use it long-term. Choose annual billing if you know you will keep the subscription and want the lowest monthly cost. You can also switch plans at any time; if you upgrade mid-month, Zoom prorates the difference.

Discounts for education and nonprofits

Zoom offers reduced pricing for schools, universities, and registered nonprofit organizations. Educational institutions typically receive 20 to 40 percent discounts on Pro and Business plans. Nonprofits may also may have access to, but the discount varies by organization and region.

To request an educational or nonprofit discount, you contact Zoom's sales team with proof of your organization's status (such as a 501(c)(3) letter for nonprofits or a school email address for educational institutions). The process usually takes a few business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a credit card to use the free plan?

No. Zoom's Basic plan requires only an email address and password. You can create an account and start hosting meetings without entering payment information. If you later upgrade to a paid plan, that is when you provide a credit card.

Can I host a meeting longer than 40 minutes on the free plan?

Only if it is a one-on-one meeting. Group meetings with three or more participants are limited to 40 minutes on the Basic plan. Upgrading to Pro removes this limit for all meetings.

What happens to my recordings if I cancel my subscription?

Cloud recordings stored on Zoom's servers remain available for 30 days after cancellation. Download them during that window if you want to keep them. Locally recorded files (saved to your computer) are yours to keep regardless of your subscription status.

Can I use Zoom Phone without a meeting subscription?

Yes. Zoom Phone is a separate product with its own pricing. You can subscribe to Zoom Phone alone without paying for Pro, Business, or any meeting plan. However, most organizations buy both because they work together.

Do I pay per participant or per host?

You pay per host (the person running the subscription account). The number of participants does not affect your cost, as long as you stay within your plan's participant limit. Zoom Phone is the exception — you pay per user who has a phone extension.