Choosing the right video conferencing app can greatly impact your communication efficiency. Cisco Webex and Skype are two widely-used platforms, each catering to different needs. Cisco Webex is known for its strong security features and advanced collaboration tools, making it a top choice for businesses that prioritize data protection and seamless teamwork. Skype, with its user-friendly features and broad accessibility, is perfect for personal use and small to medium-sized businesses. This post will compare these two platforms, helping you determine which one is best suited to your conferencing needs.
General Information
Cisco Webex is developed by Cisco, while Skype is a product of Skype Technologies, a division of Microsoft. Cisco Webex was released in 1995, making it one of the older conferencing tools available. Skype, on the other hand, was launched in 2003.
Both Cisco Webex and Skype are available on multiple platforms. Cisco Webex supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web. Skype extends its reach further by also being available on Linux, Xbox, and Alexa, in addition to Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web.
Cisco Webex:
– Developer/Company: Cisco
– Release Date: 1995
– Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Skype:
– Developer/Company: Skype Technologies (a division of Microsoft)
– Release Date: 2003
– Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web, Linux, Xbox, Alexa
Verdict:
Skype is better due to wider platform support and backing by Microsoft.
| Attribute |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer/Company | Cisco | Skype Technologies (a division of Microsoft) |
| Release Date | 1995 | 2003 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web, Linux, Xbox, Alexa |
Core Features
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer robust core features for conferencing needs.
In terms of video quality, both platforms provide HD video, ensuring clear and sharp visuals during meetings. This makes either option suitable for professional presentations and personal calls alike.
For audio quality, both Cisco Webex and Skype deliver high-quality sound. This ensures that conversations are clear and free from significant disruptions, which is crucial for effective communication.
Overall, both Cisco Webex and Skype are strong contenders in the conferencing app market, offering HD video and high-quality audio to meet users’ needs.
Verdict:
Both Cisco Webex and Skype offer HD video and high audio quality. They are equally matched in core features.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | HD | HD |
| Audio Quality | High | High |
Interactive demos of Cisco Webex and Skype
Cisco Webex Demo
Skype Demo
Collaboration Tools
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer robust collaboration tools, but they differ in several key areas.
Participants (Free): Both Cisco Webex and Skype allow up to 100 participants in their free versions.
Participants (Paid): Cisco Webex supports up to 1,000 participants in its paid plans, whereas Skype limits this to 100.
Meeting Duration (Free): Cisco Webex has a 50-minute limit for free meetings, while Skype allows meetings to last up to 24 hours.
Screen Sharing: Both platforms offer screen sharing capabilities.
Recording: Cisco Webex provides both local and cloud recording options. Skype also offers recording but does not specify cloud storage.
Virtual Backgrounds: Both Cisco Webex and Skype support virtual backgrounds.
In summary, Cisco Webex and Skype are similar in many aspects but differ significantly in participant limits for paid plans and meeting duration for free plans.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to higher participant limits and comprehensive recording options.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Participants (Free) | 100 | 100 |
| Participants (Paid) | Up to 1,000 | 100 |
| Meeting Duration (Free) | 50 minutes | 24 hours |
| Screen Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Recording | ✅ Yes (Local and cloud recording) | ✅ Yes |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Integration and Compatibility
Cisco Webex and Skype are two popular conferencing apps with various features that cater to different needs.
Both Cisco Webex and Skype offer in-meeting chat, file sharing, polls and Q&A, and meeting notes. However, Cisco Webex has an edge with breakout rooms and whiteboarding, which Skype lacks.
In terms of integration, Cisco Webex supports Google Workspace, while Skype does not. Both platforms integrate with Microsoft 365 and third-party apps, providing flexibility for users who rely on these services. Additionally, both offer API availability, allowing for further customization and integration with other tools.
Cisco Webex:
– In-meeting Chat: Yes
– File Sharing: Yes
– Breakout Rooms: Yes
– Polls and Q&A: Yes
– Whiteboarding: Yes
– Meeting Notes: Yes
– Google Workspace Integration: Yes
– Microsoft 365 Integration: Yes
– Third-party Apps Integration: Yes
– API Availability: Yes
Skype:
– In-meeting Chat: Yes
– File Sharing: Yes
– Breakout Rooms: No
– Polls and Q&A: Yes
– Whiteboarding: No
– Meeting Notes: Yes
– Google Workspace Integration: No
– Microsoft 365 Integration:
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to Breakout Rooms, Whiteboarding, and Google Workspace Integration.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| In-meeting Chat | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| File Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Breakout Rooms | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Polls and Q&A | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Whiteboarding | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Meeting Notes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Google Workspace Integration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Microsoft 365 Integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Third-party Apps Integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| API Availability | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Security and Privacy
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer robust security and privacy features, making them reliable choices for secure communication.
End-to-End Encryption: Both Cisco Webex and Skype provide end-to-end encryption, ensuring that communications are secure and private.
Password Protection: Both platforms support password protection for meetings, adding an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access.
Waiting Room: Both Cisco Webex and Skype include a waiting room feature, allowing hosts to control who enters the meeting.
Participant Authentication: Both services offer participant authentication, ensuring that only authorized individuals can join the meeting.
Data Compliance: Cisco Webex stands out with its comprehensive data compliance, adhering to GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, and HITRUST standards. Skype, on the other hand, complies with GDPR but does not list additional certifications.
In summary, both Cisco Webex and Skype provide essential security and privacy features such as end-to-end encryption, password protection, waiting rooms, and participant authentication. However, Cisco Webex offers broader data compliance compared to Skype.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to broader data compliance: GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, HITRUST vs GDPR.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| End-to-End Encryption | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Password Protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Waiting Room | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Participant Authentication | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Data Compliance | GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, HITRUST | GDPR |
User Experience
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer a high ease of use, making them accessible for users of all skill levels. Cisco Webex features an intuitive UI design, while Skype is known for its user-friendly interface. Both apps provide mobile functionality, ensuring users can join meetings and calls on the go.
In terms of accessibility, both Cisco Webex and Skype are well-equipped, allowing users to connect from various devices and platforms. Cisco Webex offers customer support through live chat, email, and phone, though the availability of these options can vary by plan. On the other hand, Skype provides support through the Skype Help Center and an online Skype Community, which can be useful for troubleshooting and finding answers to common questions.
Overall, both Cisco Webex and Skype deliver strong user experiences with slight differences in their UI design and customer support options.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to its comprehensive customer support options.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | High | High |
| UI Design | Intuitive | User-friendly |
| Mobile Functionality | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Accessibility | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customer Support | Live Chat, Email, Phone (varies by plan) | Skype Help Center, online Skype Community |
Pricing
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer free tiers, making them accessible for users who need basic conferencing features without any cost. Cisco Webex provides a structured pricing model with several paid plans: Starter at $13.50 per user per month, Plus at $17.95 per user per month, Business at $26.95 per user per month, and Enterprise at $32.95 per user per month. These plans cater to different business needs and scales, offering more features and capabilities as the price increases.
Skype, on the other hand, does not have specific paid plans. Instead, it uses a pay-as-you-go model with Skype Credit for calls. This can be more flexible for users who only need occasional premium features or international calling capabilities.
Both platforms offer free trials, allowing users to test the premium features before committing to a paid plan. This can be particularly useful for businesses evaluating which service best meets their needs.
In summary, Cisco Webex has a clear and structured pricing model with multiple tiers, while Skype offers flexibility with its Skype Credit system. Both provide free tiers and free trials, making them accessible for users to try out their services.
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to its structured paid plans, offering more options for different needs.
Performance
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer high performance for conferencing needs.
Reliability for both platforms is high, ensuring stable connections during meetings. Users can trust that their calls will not drop unexpectedly, making both options dependable for professional use.
Latency is low on both Cisco Webex and Skype. This means that there is minimal delay in communication, which is crucial for real-time interactions. Users can expect smooth conversations without noticeable lag.
Resource usage is also low for both applications. They are optimized to run efficiently on various devices, ensuring that they do not heavily tax system resources. This allows for multitasking and running other applications simultaneously without performance degradation.
Feedback during high traffic is positive for both Cisco Webex and Skype. Users report satisfactory performance even during peak usage times, indicating that both platforms handle large volumes of traffic well.
In summary:
Reliability: High vs High
Latency: Low vs Low
Resource Usage: Low vs Low
High Traffic Feedback: Positive vs Positive
Verdict:
Both Cisco Webex and Skype perform equally well in terms of performance.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | High | High |
| Latency | Low | Low |
| Resource Usage | Low | Low |
| High Traffic Feedback | Positive | Positive |
Unique Selling Points
Cisco Webex and Skype both offer unique selling points that cater to different user needs.
Cisco Webex stands out with its AI-powered Webex Assistant, which enhances productivity by providing real-time transcription and note-taking. It boasts high-quality audio and video, ensuring clear communication. Webex is known for its strong security features, making it a reliable choice for businesses concerned about data protection. Additionally, Webex integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365, Slack, Google Calendar, Box, SharePoint, and Salesforce, offering flexibility for various workflows.
Skype, on the other hand, excels in its integration with Microsoft services, making it a natural choice for users already within the Microsoft ecosystem. Skype Translator is a unique feature that supports real-time translation in multiple languages, breaking down language barriers. It also offers calling to landlines and mobiles, which is a significant advantage for users needing to reach contacts without internet access. Skype’s integration with Alexa allows for hands-free operation, adding convenience for users.
In summary:
– Cisco Webex: AI-powered Webex Assistant, high-quality audio and video, strong security, integration with Microsoft 365, Slack, Google Calendar, Box, SharePoint, Salesforce.
– Skype: Integration with Microsoft services, Skype Translator, calling to land
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to AI-powered Webex Assistant, high-quality audio and video, and strong security.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Key Features and Differentiators | Integration with Microsoft 365, Slack, Google Calendar, Box, SharePoint, Salesforce; AI-powered Webex Assistant, high-quality audio and video, strong security | Integration with Microsoft services, Skype Translator, calling to landlines and mobiles, SMS, integration with Alexa |
User Feedback and Reviews
Cisco Webex and Skype are two popular conferencing apps, each with its own strengths and weaknesses based on user feedback and reviews.
Cisco Webex is highly rated for its security, seamless integration, and high-quality user experience. Users appreciate its strong security features, which make it a reliable choice for sensitive communications. The seamless workflow integration ensures that users can easily incorporate Webex into their existing systems. Additionally, Webex offers high-quality audio and video, enhancing the overall meeting experience. However, some users find the interface complex at times, and there are limitations on the number of meeting participants for lower-tier subscriptions.
Skype, on the other hand, is highly rated for its reliability and user-friendliness. It is available on many platforms and integrates well with Microsoft services, making it a convenient option for users already within the Microsoft ecosystem. Skype is praised for its reliability and ease of use, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users. However, it faces competition in a crowded market and lacks some advanced features that other conferencing apps offer. Additionally, Skype does not have premium plans, which might limit its appeal to users looking for more advanced functionalities. Some users also report occasional interface complexity.
Overall Ratings:
Cisco Webex: Highly rated for security,
Verdict:
Cisco Webex is better due to its strong security features and high-quality user experience.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Ratings | Highly rated for security, seamless integration, and high-quality user experience | Highly rated for reliability and user-friendliness, but faces competition in a crowded market |
| Pros | Strong security features, seamless workflow integration, high-quality audio and video | Reliable, user-friendly, available on many platforms, integrates well with Microsoft services |
| Cons | Limitations on the number of meeting participants for lower tier subscriptions, occasional user interface complexity | ❌ No premium plans, lacks some advanced features, occasional interface complexity |
Final Verdict
Cisco Webex and Skype both excel in core features, offering HD video and high-quality audio. In terms of security and privacy, Cisco Webex stands out with broader data compliance, including GDPR, HIPAA, FERPA, and HITRUST, compared to Skype’s GDPR compliance. For user experience, Cisco Webex offers more comprehensive customer support options. Pricing-wise, Cisco Webex provides structured plans catering to various business needs, while Skype offers flexibility with its pay-as-you-go model. Overall,
