HCL Sametime vs Zoom comparison

HCLSoftware and Zoom Video Communications are both solutions in the Virtual Meetings category. HCLSoftware is ranked #19 with an average rating of 8.0, while Zoom Video Communications is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4. HCLSoftware holds a 0.5% mindshare in VM, compared to Zoom Video Communications’s 10.7% mindshare. Additionally, 75% of HCLSoftware users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Zoom Video Communications users who would recommend it.

HCL Sametime

Read 5 HCL Sametime reviews

192 Views
102 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

Zoom

Read 225 Zoom reviews

3,195 Views
3,099 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

HCL Sametime

Zoom

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 3, 2025

HCL Sametime and Zoom compete in communication and collaboration tools, with Zoom having the upper hand due to its comprehensive features and scalability, making it popular for video-heavy communication.

Features: HCL Sametime offers secure messaging, integration with enterprise systems, and flexible customization. Zoom provides robust video conferencing, high-definition video, and virtual backgrounds.

Room for Improvement: HCL Sametime could improve scalability, user interface, and video capabilities. Zoom could enhance security, integration with enterprise tools, and customization options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HCL Sametime requires tailored deployment due to its enterprise integration, offering a flexible approach. Zoom offers straightforward deployment, extensive online resources, and responsive support, enabling quick adoption.

Pricing and ROI: HCL Sametime may involve higher upfront costs but offers competitive ROI for secure and integrated solutions. Zoom's subscription-based pricing provides scalability and perceived higher ROI due to video capabilities and global reach, despite potentially higher ongoing costs.

To learn more, read our detailed HCL Sametime vs. Zoom Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

HCL Sametime vs. Zoom

July 2025

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Helped 862,077 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

HCL Sametime

Ranking in Virtual Meetings

19th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Zoom

Ranking in Virtual Meetings

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

225

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Virtual Meetings category, the mindshare of HCL Sametime is 0.5%, down from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zoom is 10.7%, down from 12.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Meetings

Featured Reviews

Bogdan Chechlowski

Kierownik Biura Informatyki at EIB SA

Stable product, communicate very fast and allows to see who's online in the office or work environment

It was used for communication through text messages, primarily Being able to see who was online and communicate very fast was a good feature. The security was quite good. However, when we tried to implement it for email at a high level, we had to use another solution, FortiMail Gateway. I view…

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Luiz Kazan

Head of Digital Solutions at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Utilizing versatile features for efficient personal and work meetings

Zoom offers a number of interesting and valuable features. One of the most interesting is the ability to share only audio and provide ambient music without sharing a screen. The breakout room feature is much more developed than other solutions, allowing users to stay in the same meeting and move to different rooms and back to the main room. The sharing features are great for projecting people who should be in focus. Another valuable feature is the virtual entrance, which uses a username and password recognized by the Zoom system, showing the person's full name and ID. Additionally, the use of video and a good fixed background improves visibility compared to other applications. These features differentiate Zoom from others.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I can view the status and availability of colleagues or team members, which makes it easy to approach them when they are available."

"The security was quite good."

"The most valuable features of Zoom are the screen blur and the background transition, which is great because we are working from home. Without this feature we would not have private meetings, they do not need to see what is happening in our background. The background transition is good with Zoom."

"Zoom has good integration and allows users to adjust the video image, other solutions I have used do not have this feature."

"The solution is stable."

"The product's initial setup phase was easy."

"Some of the most valuable features are the performance and ease of use. Also, since everyone knows about and is familiar with Zoom, you don't need to teach them how to use it."

"You can have multiple connections so that everybody can interact. You can change your background. If you're in your home and you don't want people to know what it looks like, you can pretty much change the background to any background that you want."

"Setting up Zoom is easy."

"The interface makes it simple to use."

More Zoom pros

Cons

"It lacks some features compared to modern solutions. For example, it doesn't allow sending screenshots or other files."

"The webinar should be integrated into Sametime for a larger number of participants."

"It takes time to acclimate end users to the product."

"The performance could be better."

"The interface could be more user friendly."

"There was a situation not long ago when there were some security fears. Some users had somebody else take control of their calls. They might have addressed these issues now, but the security needs to continue to be upgraded."

"I think there are aspects that need to be developed. While I haven't identified specific areas for improvement yet, I believe it could add many new AI features, which is why I wouldn't give it 10 out of 10."

"The paid version is quite expensive. There's no middle ground between free and paid."

"We have had some quality and lagging issues with video regardless of connection quality."

"Zoom is more expensive than others."

More Zoom cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"There is a free version of Zoom which allows you a certain limited amount of time usage and there is a corporate version of the solution where you have to pay."

"We have subscribed to a package for Zoom and it is a monthly payment."

"I use the tool's free version."

"We are on an annual license for the solution. The price of the solution could be less expensive."

"We use the free version of the product. We utilize it only three to four times a month."

"The cost of Zoom is approximately $150 USD annually."

"We have an account but we are also using the free version."

"In the basic version, there is a 40-minute time limit on group meetings."

More Zoom pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Educational Organization

59%

University

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with HCL Sametime?

I view it as part of HCL Notes and Domino, and my opinion is similar to those products. It lacks some features compared to modern solutions. For example, it doesn't allow sending screenshots or oth...

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What is your primary use case for HCL Sametime?

It was used for communication through text messages, primarily.

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What advice do you have for others considering HCL Sametime?

Overall, it was quite good. I would rate it an eight out of ten. It's a better product than some others from HCL, but overall, I wouldn't recommend it, given the availability of superior alternatives.

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LucidChart vs LucidSpark for brainstorming sessions over Zoom

Hi @Krista Thompson - Yes, LucidSpark is a much more nimble and, in some ways, user-friendly tool than LucidChart. LucidSpark is designed to do a better job managing multiple users participating ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Zoom?

The product is scalable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zoom?

Zoom offers a free version for up to forty minutes.

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Skype for Business vs Zoom

Compared 27% of the time

Webex vs Zoom

Compared 27% of the time

TeamViewer vs Zoom

Compared 7% of the time

Adobe Connect vs Zoom

Compared 7% of the time

Zoho Meeting vs Zoom

Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Virtual Meetings

June 2025

Download HCL Sametime product report

Buyer's Guide

Zoom

June 2025

Download Zoom product report

Also Known As

Lotus Sametime, IBM Lotus Sametime

No data available

Overview

HCL Sametime. Secure Conversations Across Any Device

Your company can’t afford to take any data risks, but your teams still need to be able to interact and react quickly, wherever they are working. Sametime offers modern instant messaging, file-sharing, and online meetings with the proven security your business can trust.

HCLSoftware

Zoom helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done. Our easy, reliable cloud platform for video, phone, content sharing, and chat runs across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. Message me to learn more about how Zoom can help your business or organization Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom_us.

Zoom Video Communications

Sample Customers

Connect2Cloud, Superior Group, Daifuku Co. Ltd., Seaward, The City of Fort Worth, Christian Brothers Services, Berlitz, Deutsche Notes User Group, Danske Fysioterapeuter, Slumberland, La Vacanza, Rheinmetall AG

Fortinet, Veeva, Proofpoint, Box, Ticketmaster, Trend Micro, Caesars Entertainment, Santa Clara University, Pandora, Stanford Continuing Studies

Buyer's Guide

HCL Sametime vs. Zoom

July 2025

Free Report: HCL Sametime vs. Zoom

Find out what your peers are saying about HCL Sametime vs. Zoom and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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We monitor all Virtual Meetings reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.