• Slack Zoom Merger
• Slack Zoom Shortcut
• Zoom Slack Teams
• Slack Zoom Out
• Slack Zoom Call
• Slack Zoom Partnership
• Slack Zoom Integration

How to Connect Zoom and Slack in 2021

The Slack integration is now a part of Zoom's Marketplace. Details and information on the integration can be found here. Start Zoom Meetings and make Zoom Phone calls with flawless video, crystal clear audio, and instant screen sharing from any Slack channel, private group, or direct message using the /zoom slash command. The Zoom app for Slack can be installed individually by any Slack user with a Zoom account or be deployed to the whole organization centrally. You can also ask your Slack admin to change the default setting for your workspace’s phone icon to Zoom (here’s how). Every time you click the phone in Slack, you’ll launch a Zoom meeting. With the Zoom and Slack enhancement, you will see in real time Zoom call details, such as call attendees and elapsed time, directly in Slack.

If your team uses both Slack and Zoom, you’re probably wondering how to make your life easier. If you want to connect Zoom and Slack, you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, we run through all your options to connect Slack and Zoom – and we’ve even gone and started working on our own too.

As well as all the methods to connect Slack and Zoom, this post includes:

1. What is the difference between Slack and Zoom?
2. What does the Slack-Zoom partnership mean?
3. How do I schedule a Zoom meeting in Slack?
4. Interoperability to connect Slack and Zoom Chat

1 – What is the difference between Slack and Zoom?

If you don’t want to read through this post, and just want to get on the waitlist for Slack <> Zoom interop, join our waitlist here.

The biggest difference between Slack and Zoom is the communication focus.

Slack is a messaging app at its core – with the option to add video and audio conferencing.

Zoom puts video conferencing first but offers Zoom Chat, Zoom Phone, and other options.

The table below highlights the blow for blow differences between Slack and Zoom’s collaboration capabilities.

2 – What does the Slack-Zoom partnership mean?

In 2019, Slack and Zoom signed a contract aligning product roadmaps. This partnership makes it easier to use Slack and Zoom together.

The connection between Slack and Zoom isn’t complete yet but already lets Slack users join Zoom meetings from Slack channels.

People in Slack can view participants in an ongoing Zoom meeting.

Users can also access notifications that allow them to join meetings at the touch of a button.

Future Slack users will also be able to make calls with Zoom Phone.

According to Slack and Zoom, the two companies have a multi-year roadmap. There is a plan to bring more of Slack’s features into Zoom.

Slack Zoom Merger

For now, the partnership only affects voice and video meetings. There’s still no native way to connect Zoom Chat with Slack.

Does Zoom work with Slack?

Zoom does work with Slack. Throughout the rest of this post, we document all the ways Zoom works with Slack.

3 – Using the Zoom Slack integration for meetings

Prerequisites for Zoom Slack integration

The Slack integration allows users to start an instant Zoom meeting within Slack. This means meetings created in Slack appear on your Zoom account.

The Slack integration is part of the Zoom marketplace. You’ll also find a Zoom integration in the Slack marketplace.

Here’s what you need to use the in-built integration:

• A Slack account and a Zoom account linked to the same email address
• A Zoom Pro, Business, Education, or API subscription
• A Zoom Phone subscription (for outbound calls)

Once you’ve got the prerequisites, here’s how to set up the Zoom Slack integration:

Step 1: Approving the Slack Zoom Integration

To add Zoom functionality in Slack, a Zoom account admin has to approve Slack. Do this from inside the Zoom integrations marketplace:

• Sign in to your Zoom account
• Use the Zoom Marketplace and search for Slack
• Click the toggle to pre-approve the Slack installation

When you approve the Slack/Zoom integration, this will give Zoom permission to:

• View information about user identity
• Add the ability for people to mention @zoom or direct message through Zoom
• Add slash commands and shortcuts (we’ll come back to these in a minute)
• View the name, email domain, and business icon for the workspace the user is connected to
• View email addresses of people in a workspace
• Send messages as Zoom

With Zoom pre-approved, the next step is installing your Zoom app within Slack.

Step 2: Adding Zoom to Slack

With Slack approved, you’re free to implement it from the Zoom app page in the Slack directory.

• Click Add to Slack
• On the Zoom website click Add to Slack
• Choose Allow to grant access between both apps
• Open your Slack workspace and click Zoom on the Recent Apps list
• Select Authorize Zoom

Once you’ve added a Zoom app to your workspace, all of your members will need to connect their Zoom accounts to Slack to use it.

Step 3: Use Zoom in Slack

Type the /zoom command into your message field on any channel or direct message. This sends colleagues a prompt to join a meeting. When the other person clicks Join, the Zoom window will open in their browser.

Zoom prompts users to join with a button to Open Zoom.US; then, each user will need to sign-in to start a meeting. If you want to make a call via Zoom Phone, you’ll need a Phone subscription.

Got one already? Great, then:

• Type /Zoom Call into the message field in your Slack app, followed by the display name of another Slack user, or their phone number. If you enter a display name for a user that has more than one phone number, you can select the one you want to call.
• Click on the Call command.
• Click on Open Zoom.US to start the call

4 – How do I schedule a Zoom meeting in Slack?

Type the /zoom slash command into the message field of any conversation. This command works in direct messages and channels. Send the message and all members of the channel or message will see a meeting prompt. Click the Join button to open Zoom in your browser.

When prompted, you’ll need to open Zoom.us. Select the Sign in option to enter your details and begin the meeting.

To start a call with Zoom, a Slack team owner needs to visit Settings and Permissions.

In the Settings tab, expand Calls and click Enable calling in Slack, using: and choose Zoom.

Selecting the Call button will launch an instant Zoom meeting.

5 – Slack Zoom shortcut options

Another way to connect Zoom and Slack is by using the /Zoom shortcuts in your Slack workspace.

In any Slack workspace connected with Zoom, you can use commands like:

• /Zoom: The prompt for launching an instant meeting
• /Zoom meeting [topic]: This command starts a meeting on Zoom with a topic title, so your other attendees know what the conversation is about.
• /Zoom Join [Meeting ID]: This command lets you join meetings already in progress.
• /Zoom Call [Number or name]: This command launches a Zoom outbound call if you have a Zoom Phone subscription.
• /Zoom Help: This command lists all the Zoom commands available from within a Slack workspace.

These shortcuts take users straight to Zoom functions within Slack.

6 – Interoperability to connect Slack and Zoom Chat

The integration available between Zoom and Slack is great. But, it only scratches the surface of syncing your teams together.

Sure, you can connect your people through instant Zoom video calls within Slack. However, you can’t send a message to someone using Zoom from inside your Slack workspace.

Your only option here is to leave Zoom Chat and send people messages on Slack.

Cue, the time taken switching between platforms, shutting down the tasks you’re working on, and trying to drum up the momentum of a new conversation on a different platform that you don’t use regularly.

What if we told you that you could send a message from Zoom Chat to Slack?

With Mio, your team members can message Zoom users directly from within Slack, and vice-versa.

They don’t need to switch apps to have conversations or send an important file. This integration means team members can use the tools that make them most productive.

That’s right, when you install Mio in the background, you can send a message from Zoom Chat to Slack.

Or if Slack is your preferred chat app, it will send the message from Slack to Zoom Chat.

There’s no change to the user interface and your users wouldn’t notice any difference in platform.

While we’re working on our interoperability tool to connect Zoom and Slack, join the waitlist to be one of the first to know when we go live.

Once you sign up, we’ll be in touch when our interoperability for Slack and Zoom is ready.

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Zoom vs Slack – Which is Best for Your Business in 2021?

Which is the better choice? Let’s put Slack vs Zoom to the test.

We’ve compiled this comparison of Slack vs Zoom to make your choice of which platform to use (or which platform to use when) easier.

Let’s get straight into what each platform does.

What is Zoom?

Zoom Video Communications launched in 2011. The service offered the world a more convenient way to chat over video.

As people reject time-consuming downloads and installations, Zoom provides something new. With a couple of clicks, you can be online and collaborating in seconds.

Today, Zoom combines cloud video collaboration, simple meetings, group messaging, and file sharing.

The platform is easy-to-use and convenient, with everything from screen sharing to HD audio. Plus, Zoom is available on all devices too, from your Mac to your Samsung Galaxy.

And fragmenting the messaging app market even further, Zoom has now launched Zoom Chat.

What is Slack?

Slack is a messaging and collaboration tool for teams and businesses. Launched in 2013, it’s one of the original team collaboration services.

While Zoom was still pursuing video domination, Slack was already introducing us to a new way of work. Today’s teams primarily use Slack for flexible and convenient messaging.

Slack sets itself apart from the crowd by being one of the most flexible software solutions. There are hundreds of Slack integrations available. You can even integrate Slack with Zoom!

Zoom features

Slack Zoom Shortcut

Zoom is an ideal alternative to glitchy and complex video software. The service offers plenty of features for high-quality meetings. You can set up video conferences with virtual backgrounds, host webinars, and create breakout rooms.

Zoom’s audio transcript feature turns audio into text for easier discoverability. Zoom also offers Zoom Chat for messaging, and Zoom Phone for telephony. With plenty of flexible integrations, you can also combine your favorite tools with Zoom.

The major features of Zoom include:

• Zoom Phone for full VoIP access
• Zoom Meetings for web-based conferencing
• Video webinars and town-hall meetings
• Business messaging with Zoom Chat
• Integrations with many leading tools (like Slack)
• Conference rooms (with no downloads)
• Support for up to 1,000 participants and 10,000 viewers

Slack features

So, what happens when you compare Zoom vs Slack?

Designed as an in-house communications tool, Slack is as close to a collaboration staple as it gets.

If Zoom is a video tool at its core, then Slack’s heart is in messaging.

If you’re looking for a place to consistently communicate with the rest of your team, Slack can give you that. It offers everything from group messaging with message threading to one-on-one conversations.

Core Slack features above and beyond messaging include:

• Custom notifications and do not disturb
• Secure encryption end-to-end
• Integrations with hundreds of leading tools
• Guest access and shared channels (for external chat)
• Audio and video conferencing
• Screen and file sharing
• One-on-one or group conversations

This team collaboration tool brings all the moving parts of your business together in one place.

What’s more, Slack integrates with dozens of other tools too, from Box, to Google Drive.

With Slack you can:

• Share files and documents
• Speak in a group via messaging, or one-on-one
• Enjoy dozens of integrations, or make your own with the API
• Access encryptions for securely transferred data
• Use two-way audio and video calling
• Use comprehensive search for your conversations
• Create full user profiles

Zoom vs Slack benefits

Zoom benefits

There were 200 million users active on Zoom in April 2020.

People love Zoom because it’s easy to set up and use. One click is all it takes to start or join any meeting. Zoom also offers plenty of participant and collaboration controls. You don’t need any help from an IT team.

Other Zoom benefits include:

• Waiting rooms for your videos: Waiting rooms make it easy to control your meetings. Hosts and co-hosts can add and remove participants and adjust their level of control.
• Phone systems: Zoom Phone ensures you can connect your collaboration apps to your PBX. Small businesses can run their entire communication stack through Zoom.
• Marketplace: Zoom integrates with dozens of third-party apps, including Slack and PayPal. Open APIs also make it easier to create your own integrations.
• Zoom hardware: Build your own Zoom Rooms with high-level hardware. Hardware as a service keeps costs low too. You just pay for the meeting tools you need.
• Flexibility: Join Zoom from a Mac, PC, Linux, iOS, or Android device. Using Zoom is the same from any device thanks to a commitment to consistency.
• Affordable straightforward pricing: You can get started for free. Scaling Zoom is easy too, with predictable and custom pricing packages.
• Growing security strategy: Zoom is currently investing in better security for everyone. Zoom encrypts all audio, video, and screen sharing data as standard.
• Breakout rooms: Create up to 50 breakout rooms and split users into different environments for conversations. Breakout rooms make it easy to control team conversations.

Slack benefits

For quick chat and constant conversations between colleagues, Slack is excellent. It also has tons of integrations for extra functionality. You can set your team up with Slack in minutes. Benefits of Slack include:

• Shared Channels: Shared channels make it easy to work with external contacts. You can connect your Slack channels with the channels of contractors and other teams.
• Integrations: Slack has hundreds of integrations. You can link your chat app to workflow tools, CRM systems and other must-have features.
• Communication options: Slack offers calls via voice and video. You can also share screens to add context to your conversations.
• Simplicity: Slack is easy to use. The interface is intuitive and simple. Plus, you can search for messages and conversations in seconds.
• Flexibility: You can use Slack on your Mac, PC, Android, or iOS device. Slack offers a convenient experience no matter where you log on.
• Developer tools: Building custom tools is simple with Slack. You can build a bot to automate tasks and use the Slack API.
• Affordable: Slack comes with a free version for small companies. If you need a premium option, prices are low enough to suit any team.

How to make breakout rooms in Zoom

Zoom breakout rooms allow users to split meetings into up to 50 sessions. Meeting hosts can split participants into these sessions manually or automatically.

To enable breakout rooms as a feature for Zoom, sign into the web portal as an admin. Click on Account Management then Account Settings. Toggle the Breakout Room setting to On.

Click the checkbox to allow meeting hosts to pre-assign participants to rooms.

Only meeting hosts can assign participants to breakout rooms. Co-hosts can leave and join any breakout room after joining a room assigned by the host.

• To create a breakout room:
• Start a scheduled or instant meeting and click Breakout Rooms
• Select the number of rooms you want to create
• Choose to automatically or manually assign participants to room. The automatic option allows Zoom to split participants evenly into each room. You can also let participants select their preferred room.
• Click Create Breakout Rooms

After creating a breakout room, click Options to view your settings. Options include allowing participants to return to the main session at any time.

You can also add a countdown timer for after you close a breakout room. Admins can set breakout rooms to close automatically after so many minutes.

To broadcast a message to all your breakout rooms, click Breakout Rooms. Next, Broadcast Message to All, type your message and click Broadcast.

Slack vs Zoom pricing

Zoom pricing

Zoom pricing comes in four different variants. The one that’s likely to be best for you will depend on the size of your company and your unique needs.

• Basic: The Basic plan, with support for up to 100 participants is free. However, while you get unlimited 1-to-1 meetings, you only have a 40 minute limit on group meetings.
• Pro: $14.99 per month per host. This supports up to 100 participants with a meeting duration limit of 24 hours.
• Business: $19.99 per month per host (10 host minimum). This offers all the features of Pro, with support for up to 300 participants.
• Enterprise: $19.99 per month per host (50 host minimum). This supports up to 500 participants and comes with all the features of Business.

Supplementing the four subscription plans, Zoom also has unique conference room options. The Zoom video webinar package comes with extra functionality available for any plan.

Zoom’s flexible pricing makes it ideal for any business. For the occasional video conference, or regular boardroom discussions, Zoom is ideal.

Slack pricing

Slack also offers users a range of pricing packages to choose from.

• Free: The first option for Slack is the free version. This is popular and has no time constraints on meetings. It’s perfect for a small company with limited needs.
• Standard: $6.67 per person, per month. This plan adds unlimited message archive functionality. You also get unlimited access to apps, group calls, and guest accounts.
• Plus: $12.50 per month per user: This plan adds 99.99% uptime guarantees to your Standard package. There’s also user provisioning, SAML-based single sign-on, and corporate exports for messages.
• Enterprise Grid: Quote based pricing. This plan adds unlimited workspaces to the mix. There’s also support for data loss prevention, e-discovery, and more. You also get your own designated customer success team.

Just like Zoom, Slack ensures that there’s something for everyone in their pricing strategy. Options exist for one-person startups and large companies alike.

Slack vs Zoom security

Slack security

Let’s look at Slack’s promise for enterprise-grade data protection. Identity and device management features like single sign-on are available. You can also claim your domain with Slack and use enterprise mobility management. Slack encrypts all data at rest and in transit. The company also protects information with Slack Enterprise Key Management.

Slack’s security strategy includes information governance plans. Users can access global retention policies and custom terms of service.

Zoom security

When it comes to Zoom security, it has a number of ways your logins can be done. You can create your own username and password within Zoom, or you utilise Single Sign On (SSO) and use your own identity for logging in. This will then bring enterprise security to your Zoom logins.

It supports Google, Facebook, and your own SSO based on SAML or OAuth authentication methods. These include Okta as well as other enterprise identity management platforms like Centrify, Microsoft Active Directory, Gluu, Okta, OneLogin, PingOne, Shibboleth, and many others.

Zoom utilises a conference ID for every meeting. Previously all meetings were set to have this ID and without a PIN code, meaning anyone could join a meeting with just guessing a 9-12 digit meeting ID.

Is Slack or Zoom more secure?

Slack offers enterprise-grade data protection. Single sign-on domain claiming are available with Slack. Users can access enterprise mobility management. Slack also encrypts all data in transit and at rest. You can also protect information with Enterprise Key Management.

Zoom Slack Teams

Check Slack’s information governance plans and retention policies for insights into privacy.

Zoom also has a much stronger security architecture today. Zoom will not hold any identifiable information on users. The company also encrypts all audio, video, and screen data.

Zoom waiting rooms now prevent unwanted people from attending meetings. You can disable private chat or control recording and screen sharing permissions. Hosts and co-hosts can lock meetings and remove users.

Who wins Slack vs Zoom?

Both Slack and Zoom have plenty to offer. They provide ideal solutions for bringing teams together. Whether you’re looking for video conferencing, messaging, or both, each solution has its pros and cons.

Zoom is a competitively priced video-conferencing software for companies with a video-first culture. Connecting with people inside or outside of your team is simple with Zoom. You can even build custom Zoom Rooms for in-office conferencing then take your conversations “offline” with Zoom Chat.

Slack is a versatile collaboration tool that’s fantastic for a wide range of businesses. If you’re looking for a messaging software that puts chat first, this is the collaboration tool for you.

Slack puts text-based messaging at the heart of the team communication strategy while offering calling and meeting options. If you can’t find the native functionality in Slack, there’s usually an integration for that.

In all likelihood, your company probably already has instances of both Zoom and Slack. So, your issue is how you choose between which one as your primary collaboration platform.

Here’s how you can have both and get around Slack vs Zoom

Can’t decide?

We don’t blame you. Both tools are excellent for improving company culture and communication.

To make the choice even tougher, some of your employees are probably already using one tool or the other (or both).

Slack Zoom Out

So, what if you don’t want to choose?

Well, you have two options there.

1 – Integrate Zoom and Slack for calling and meetings

The first is to simply integrate the Zoom app for Slack into your Slack workspaces. With the Zoom integration for Slack, you can launch a Zoom meeting in seconds. Just type /Zoom into your content bar.

You’ll also get information on the details of the meeting and who’s in the call.

Slack admins can even change the default setting for your audio service to Zoom. Every time someone clicks on the Zoom phone in Slack, they’ll launch their conversation in Zoom.

Slack has an app for Zoom available in its integrations marketplace.

When you install the Zoom app, you can start meetings and calls through Zoom, from your Slack channels. Zoom users can start video conversations, share screens, and direct messages from any Slack channel, dm, or private group.

Users can access the Zoom app on Slack with the /Zoom command. Features include the ability to:

• Start a meeting
• Join a meeting
• Access a meeting recording link
• Launch a Zoom phone call
• Start a meeting with a topic

The only problem?

This allows you to connect the people in your team through calls. The integration doesn’t go any further than that.

You can’t send a message to someone in Zoom from inside of your Slack workspace, or share files.

At least, you can’t do that with the Slack <>Zoom integration.

2 – Combine Slack and Zoom with Mio

With Mio, you can sync multiple platforms in your workspace, including Slack and Zoom.

Slack Zoom Call

We’re not just talking about clicking on the phone in your Slack chat and launching a Zoom call. Mio allows employees using Zoom Chat to message someone on Slack, and vice versa. There’s no need to switch between apps.

Mio does its work in the background so team members can continue to use the tools that they love. Whether it’s Zoom or Slack, there’s no need to switch between apps to chat with your colleagues.

Messages sent from Slack to Zoom users appear within the Zoom chat inbox, and vice versa.

You can even send a file from Zoom Chat to someone in Slack, without having to create your own Slack account.

Why force your business onto one app that only half your teams use when you can let them choose their preferred app and chat cross-platform?

Slack Zoom Partnership

If you’re interested in Zoom and Slack interoperability, join our waitlist.

Slack Zoom Integration

Read Next: How to Connect Zoom Chat and Slack

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