Microsoft Teams Phone vs Zoom Phone: Which Fits Your Business?
Teams Phone and Zoom Phone both add business calling to familiar collaboration apps, but the buying path is different. Teams Phone gives organizations several ways to connect to public phone numbers through Microsoft or a carrier. Zoom Phone brings cloud calling into Zoom Workplace, with a separate choice of calling plan and geographic coverage.
For a useful comparison, list your users, countries, numbers, calling volume, queues, recording rules and current collaboration licenses. Then price the same configuration with both vendors.
Compare features ↓Explore Zoom Phone →Choose the workflow first
Teams Phone is a natural fit if your staff already live in Microsoft 365 and your IT team can manage Teams telephony.
Zoom Phone deserves a close look if Zoom meetings are the daily hub and you want calling managed alongside them.
Neither meeting subscription alone should be mistaken for a fully priced public telephone service.
Teams Phone vs Zoom Phone: The Main Difference
Microsoft Teams Phone centers calling in Teams, while Zoom Phone centers it in Zoom Workplace. With Teams, check the Teams Phone entitlement and a separate PSTN path: Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect or Direct Routing. With Zoom, check the exact Phone plan, domestic or international calling allowance, numbers and any required Workplace bundle. Both can support auto attendants, call queues and multi-device calling, with features varying by license and country.
Microsoft Teams Phone and Zoom Phone at a Glance
Microsoft Teams Phone
Best for: organizations already using Teams, Outlook and Microsoft 365 administration.
Strength: flexibility in choosing a PSTN carrier and managing calls alongside Microsoft collaboration.
Watch: license and carrier layers can make the total quote more complex.
Zoom Phone
Best for: teams that already use Zoom and want calling in the same app and administrative environment.
Strength: unified meetings and calling workflow with phone administration and integrations.
Watch: confirm numbers, calling countries, allowances and advanced add-ons in the selected tier.
The two G2 ratings cover different product scopes. Use them as context for user sentiment, not as a direct numerical verdict on the phone systems.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Buying factor | Microsoft Teams Phone | Zoom Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Core environment | Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 | Zoom Workplace |
| External calling | Requires qualifying Teams Phone license and PSTN connectivity through Microsoft or a carrier | Depends on the chosen Zoom Phone calling plan or BYOC configuration |
| Carrier flexibility | Calling Plan, Operator Connect, Direct Routing and qualifying Teams Phone Mobile options | Zoom-provided calling or supported bring-your-own-carrier arrangements |
| Call handling | Auto attendants, call queues, transfer and voicemail; verify add-ons and agent requirements | Auto receptionists, call queues, transfer and voicemail; verify plan and add-ons |
| Integrations | Microsoft 365 ecosystem and supported third-party apps | Zoom Workplace plus supported integrations such as Salesforce, Slack and Microsoft |
| Administration | Teams admin center plus carrier/operator responsibilities | Zoom admin portal; carrier duties differ under BYOC |
| Public numbers | Availability and porting depend on PSTN option and country | Availability and porting depend on regional plan and country |
| International calling | Country-specific Calling Plan or carrier rates and eligibility | Metered international calling or eligible add-ons/coverage |
| Price structure | Teams Phone entitlement plus PSTN service and any add-ons | Phone plan or Workplace bundle plus usage and add-ons |
| Best first pilot | Teams-first team with representative carrier and queue needs | Zoom-first team with customer-facing calling workflow |
| Explore options | Teams Phone → | Zoom Phone → |
Teams Phone Licensing and PSTN: The Part Buyers Often Miss
Teams-to-Teams calls are different from dialing the public telephone network. Microsoft says a user needs the relevant Teams Phone capability and a PSTN connection for calls to ordinary external numbers. Depending on the organization and country, that connection can come from a Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect or Direct Routing. Teams Phone Mobile is another eligible path with participating operators.
Practical advice: Ask who owns number porting, emergency-address setup, carrier support and incident resolution. Under Operator Connect, Microsoft and the operator have distinct responsibilities. A quote that includes only the Teams Phone Standard license is incomplete for external calling.
Zoom Phone Plan and Calling Coverage
Zoom Phone can give users a direct number, domestic calling, SMS/MMS and call recording in eligible regional plans. Zoom's current product page offers Phone with Workplace bundles; other Phone configurations and bring-your-own-carrier paths may also be available. A free or basic meetings account alone does not supply the external calling entitlement your business may need.
Confirm whether a quote is metered or unlimited for the destinations you actually call. An “unlimited” regional plan does not automatically include every international destination, special number or add-on. If your company has branches in several countries, request a written country-by-country number and porting matrix before making a decision.
Call Quality, Reliability and Everyday Use
Call quality
Neither vendor can overcome packet loss, jitter, weak Wi-Fi or poor headsets on its own. Pilot actual inbound and outbound calls over office and home networks, including transfers and busy periods. Track dropped calls and one-way audio by location and device.
Scalability
Both can support growing teams, but scale changes administration. Test number assignment, queue ownership, role-based access, bulk user changes and reporting for your projected size, not just five trial users.
Continuity
Document what happens when the office internet, a carrier connection or the collaboration platform has an incident. Confirm mobile-app fallback, emergency dialing behavior and who owns support at each step.
For network troubleshooting, see VoIPCalling.com's guide to latency and jitter and common VoIP problems.
Queues, Recording, Integrations and AI
Customer-facing call handling
For both products, test a real inbound path: main number → menu → queue → agent → transfer → voicemail → follow-up. Ask how business hours, overflow, analytics and shared ownership work. A basic queue is not automatically a complete contact center.
Recording and compliance
Check which plan or add-on enables call recording, retention and access controls. Recordings may require notices or consent depending on jurisdiction. Ask where data is stored and which administrator can retrieve or delete it.
CRM and workflow
Compare the integrations your staff actually use: Outlook, Salesforce, help desk, CRM, calendar and messaging. Test click-to-call, customer lookup and whether call activity reaches the correct contact record.
AI features
Vendors advertise summaries and other AI assistance, but availability can depend on licensing, permissions, language and region. Test whether the output helps agents, then review retention and access settings.
Teams Phone vs Zoom Phone Pricing: Build the Same Quote
Start with the price of a callable user, then add the telephone connection, numbers, usage and add-ons. A Teams Phone system license and a Zoom package with domestic calling are different bundles; their headline prices should not be compared alone.
Cloud phone system license shown on Microsoft's US page. External PSTN service is additional unless included in another qualifying bundle. A Teams or Microsoft 365 base license may also be required.
See Teams plans →Choose a calling plan or qualifying bundle for your countries. Verify domestic allowances, international rates, direct numbers and any required add-ons in the current checkout.
Explore Zoom plans →Illustrative US pricing reference checked September 2026. Taxes, billing terms, geography and agreements change the final quote.
What your written quote must include
Compare the same user count and calling destinationsSwipe the table to see both providers →
| Cost item | Microsoft Teams Phone | Zoom Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration base | Existing Microsoft 365/Teams entitlement or required subscription | Existing Zoom Workplace entitlement or selected bundle |
| Phone entitlement | Teams Phone license if not already included | Zoom Phone license or Phone + Workplace bundle |
| Public calling | Microsoft Calling Plan or carrier charges | Metered/unlimited regional plan or BYOC charges |
| Numbers and porting | Local, toll-free, international, port and setup fees | Local, toll-free, international, port and setup fees |
| Extras | Recording, queue, contact center or AI add-ons where applicable | Recording, Power Pack, contact center or AI add-ons where applicable |
Where Each Service Shines and Where to Check Carefully
Microsoft Teams Phone
Pros
- Natural fit for existing Teams and Microsoft 365 workflows.
- Several PSTN connectivity choices and carrier options.
- Centralized Teams administration and collaboration context.
Cons
- License plus PSTN layers can complicate budgeting.
- Operator or Direct Routing choices require more planning.
- Support responsibilities can span Microsoft and a carrier.
Zoom Phone
Pros
- Calling in the Zoom app familiar to meeting-heavy teams.
- Phone, meetings and administration can be managed together.
- Regional plans and integrations suit distributed teams.
Cons
- Coverage and calling allowances vary by country and plan.
- Add-ons can change the total price.
- Mixed Teams-and-Zoom workplaces may manage two ecosystems.
What Real Customer Stories Suggest
Teams Phone: ScottMadden
Microsoft's customer story describes ScottMadden moving calling into the Microsoft environment and using familiar tools to guide employees through adoption. The practical lesson is to prepare migration guides and make the phone rollout part of the wider collaboration workflow. This is a vendor-published case, so its results should not be generalized to every business.
Zoom Phone: UDG Healthcare
Zoom's customer story says UDG Healthcare uses Microsoft Teams alongside Zoom Phone and equipped 500 representatives to call healthcare professionals from iPads. The lesson: a business does not have to replace every collaboration tool at once to change its calling platform. This is also a vendor-published account.
Run a Two-Week Pilot Before Porting Every Number
- Map the call flow: Include main line, reception, after-hours, queues, transfers and voicemail.
- Test representative staff: Include agents, managers, remote workers and employees who need desk phones.
- Measure quality: Track failed or one-way calls, jitter, packet loss and headset or Wi-Fi issues.
- Check country coverage: Verify number types, porting dates, emergency calling and SMS where needed.
- Test administration: Add a user, change a queue and export a call report without vendor assistance.
- Price the full stack: Put carrier charges, calling minutes, taxes and add-ons in writing.
- Stage migration: Port a small number first and keep rollback contacts and procedures ready.
See our VoIP setup requirements guide when preparing your local network.
Microsoft Teams Phone vs Zoom Phone: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Teams Phone included in Microsoft Teams?
Not always. Confirm your existing Microsoft 365 and Teams licenses. External PSTN calls also require a qualifying connectivity option such as a Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect or Direct Routing.
Does Zoom Phone include a phone number?
Eligible regional calling plans can include a direct number. Zoom Phone Pro or BYOC arrangements differ, so confirm the chosen plan and country.
Can I keep Teams meetings and use Zoom Phone?
Yes. A business can use Teams for meetings and collaboration while using Zoom Phone for external calling; administrators should plan for two platforms.
Which one is cheaper?
It depends on existing collaboration licenses, carrier selection, user count, countries, minutes, add-ons and billing term. Compare complete equivalent quotes.
Can I port my business numbers?
Both offer porting paths where supported, subject to number type, geography and the current carrier. Confirm timing before cancelling old service.
Which offers better call quality?
Neither has an automatic advantage at every site. Test the real network, devices, headsets, PSTN route and support response for your use case.
Are call queues and auto attendants included?
Both offer these capabilities, but detailed functionality, agent licensing and advanced reporting can vary by plan or add-on.
Does either replace a contact center?
Basic phone-system queues do not necessarily cover omnichannel routing, quality management or workforce tools. Scope a separate contact center product if those are required.
Final Verdict
Choose Teams Phone when Microsoft 365 is your team's working environment and you value PSTN carrier choice. Shortlist Zoom Phone when Zoom meetings already anchor collaboration and you want calling within Zoom Workplace. The deciding test is a complete country-specific quote and a pilot of your real customer call flow.
Explore Microsoft Teams Phone →Explore Zoom Phone →Affiliate disclosure: VoIPCalling.com may earn a commission if you sign up through our Zoom referral link. Microsoft is linked directly for editorial comparison. This does not change your price.
Sources and review method
Updated September 2026 using Microsoft Teams Phone plans, Microsoft Operator Connect documentation, Zoom Phone plans, and Zoom Phone coverage details. Ratings were checked against G2's Microsoft Teams and Zoom Phone product listings; rating badges intentionally show the source name without linking it. This is an editorial feature and purchasing comparison, not a hands-on call-quality benchmark. Prices and features can change by region and agreement.