Organizations looking for video software solutions are often tempted to stick with the tools they know. After all, Microsoft is a platform stacked with video conferencing and event features, along with the more well known team collaboration and productivity features in Teams and Office, and many businesses use it as a primary internal communications platform.
However, the differences between software designed for workplace communications and a video communications platform like Vimeo can be vast. But don’t take our word for it. Let’s compare features from the Vimeo video platform with similar offerings from Microsoft, and let you decide if you want to add a video hosting platform to level up your employee communications strategy. (Spoiler alert: We think you absolutely should.)
What is the difference between Vimeo and Microsoft?
Vimeo is one of the most versatile video hosting sites for businesses and creators alike. Known for its high-quality, ad-free, customizable, and embeddable video player, Vimeo also offers robust capabilities for video creation and editing, live streaming internal or external events, webinars, state-of-the-art video management and collaboration, and advanced video analytics.
Microsoft has a ton of tools for managing your day-to-day workflow, but its primary video offerings live in Microsoft Teams and Stream (on Sharepoint). Neither are strictly video hosting platforms and both are used primarily for internal videos (external video sharing has limited capabilities). However, they do empower better workforce communications through the use of meetings, events, screen recordings, and more.
Vimeo vs Microsoft: A side-by-side comparison of video tools
To see what you might be missing when you’re just using Microsoft video tools, we captured a snapshot of features across both Vimeo and Microsoft that support teams using video content in their workflow.
| Features | Vimeo | Microsoft |
| Video quality | 4K HDR(Up to 8K & 360 immersive video) | Up to 1080P |
| Bandwidth | Up to 2 TB/month Up to unlimited for Enterprise | 1 TB plus 10 GB per license |
| Video storage | Up to 500 videos Up to unlimited for Enterprise | 500 GB/.5 per licensed user |
| Live streaming, webinars, and town halls | Yes | Yes |
| AI script generator | Yes | No |
| Teleprompter | Yes | No |
| Analytics dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| AI Capabilities | Closed Captions Trimming, Summary, Chapter making, Highlights, Ask a question, Library search [All included today] | Closed Captions, Summary, Ask a question, Library search [Requires Copilot license, not yet GA] |
| Editing | Yes | Limited |
| Office integration | Yes | Yes |
Video hosting platform comparison: Vimeo vs. Microsoft
If you’re looking for free video hosting, you’re unlikely to find it in an enterprise solution like Microsoft. While Teams does have home and small business plans, Stream (in Sharepoint) is only available for enterprise needs.
However, if you’re trying to host internal video for your organization or business, both Microsoft and Vimeo have video hosting solutions worth taking for a spin.
Vimeo video hosting overview
Vimeo video hosting services give both content creators and businesses the tools to host high-quality videos on a reliable platform accompanied by tons of integrations and security features that support private viewing experiences.
- Premium video quality. Vimeo’s video player hosts in 4K, 8K, or HDR, and is the only online video hosting platform to support Dolby Vision on Apple devices. Our constant bitrate of 320 kbps delivers a dynamic audio experience that isn’t available on other video hosting platforms. In other words, Vimeo makes you look and sound good.
- Customizable video player. Vimeo’s video player is ad-free – whether you have an enterprise plan or a free trial, you’ll never see ads before, during, or after videos. Vimeo’s player also lets you customize colors, logos, and video controls that carry over wherever you embed videos.
- Video security. Vimeo’s video privacy features include admin permissions, password protection, and privacy settings to ensure you control access to your video library.
- Easy uploads. Upload existing videos to Vimeo, whether you film on Android, iPhone, Mac, or Windows. Vimeo also integrates with Zoom, iMovie, Webex, Google Drive, and Dropbox for hassle-free uploading of videos, meeting recordings, and events from your existing systems.
- View anywhere. Whether your video is on a mobile app or browser-based on a desktop, Vimeo allows viewers to access your content at home, work or on the go.
Try free video hosting on Vimeo →
Microsoft video hosting overview
While Microsoft Teams isn’t a traditional video hosting platform, Microsoft Stream (in Sharepoint) allows a marketing, business, or creative team to host and leverage video assets within Microsoft Sharepoint or OneDrive.
- Lower quality video. While Microsoft Stream doesn’t support HD video resolutions like 8K, they do have 1080p and 4K resolutions that are usually adequate for most streaming needs. For high-visibility executive presentations or marketing events, this may not be adequate.
- Generous upload limits. Microsoft Stream Classic allowed you to upload up to half a million videos, although there were some channel and user specific limitations.
- Storage Limits. 500 GB the starting point for storage and scaled up another .5 GB for every registered user on your enterprise plan. Going beyond this limit usually means variable costs as storage needs grow.
Virtual events and webinar software comparison: Vimeo vs. Microsoft
Virtual events and webinars are part of the daily workflow in most organizations. A live streaming platform and webinar software give you the tools to record, connect, and communicate like a professional.
Vimeo live streaming and webinar platform overview
Live streaming on Vimeo means crisp, branded HD streams plus the tools to repurpose a webinar or virtual event into video snippets and downloadable assets.
- Superior video quality. Vimeo’s live streaming quality is a reliable 1080p/60fps HD viewing performance even for participants with low bandwidth, and eCDN support. Host captivating virtual town halls on Vimeo Venues with advanced breakout rooms and more.
- Streams that spark engagement. The Vimeo webinar platform lets you add chat, polls, Q&A, and live links to your engaging virtual event.
- Brand your event. Streaming from the Vimeo virtual events studio lets you switch between feeds, add pre-recorded video, and mix in branding like a company logo, colors or custom graphics.
- Downloadable video assets. Host a webinar and then create video snippets or downloadable assets from the recording to get more mileage out of your virtual event.
- Full workflow. Use pre-event registration questions to know how best to re-engage your audience with highlights and clips that are important to them.
Start livestreaming on Vimeo →
Microsoft live streaming and webinar overview
Microsoft Teams is a hub for chat, email, and meetings so it makes sense to take that a step further with advanced webinar solutions. While Stream doesn’t have an out-of-the box live streaming function, virtual events are easy to set up with Teams Premium. Microsoft historically gets rid of their live streaming solution every few years, most recently announcing the end of Teams Live and the creation of Town Hall meetings. This inconsistent product planning leads to unreliable experiences as companies must adapt to new tools that take time to mature only to see them leave again before fully maturing.
- Global virtual events. Microsoft Teams enables you to connect with an audience of up to 1,000 participants.
- Webinars and town halls. Microsoft Teams now offers both webinar solutions and town halls, both launched in 2023.
- Custom registrations. Expanded registration options available in Teams let hosts personalize the setup and scheduling of webinars.
Video creation and editing comparison: Vimeo vs. Microsoft
The best enterprise video solutions enable video recording and editing as part of a suite of employee video communications tools.
Vimeo recording, video creation, and editing overview
The Vimeo screen recorder lets you capture efficiency on the go with built-in tools and customization options that add context to tutorials, meetings, and more.
- Free screen recording. They say the best things in life are free and in this case, that’s correct. Vimeo’s screen recorder is free to use and records for up to 2 hours.
- Dual feeds. Vimeo lets you record your webcam, your screen, or both to capture dynamic videos that can help with videos for onboarding, training, tutorials, product demos, and more.
- Record on demand and on the go. Vimeo’s screen recorder records your webcam, your screen, or both on mobile or desktop so you can record and share videos from anywhere.
- Seamless video creation and editing. Vimeo provides an end-to-end solution for video creation as well as an advanced timeline-based video editor. Choose from hundreds of video templates or upload your own video to get started. The video editor allows for a full suite of capabilities from trimming and cropping to adding audio and music.
How to record your screen with Vimeo →
Microsoft video recording, creation, and editing overview
In Microsoft Teams, a lack of integrated editing tools and recording limitations could make this straightforward feature a little lackluster.
- Drop recordings in chat. Got a question? You can record yourself on video or audio and drop the recording into one-on-one or group chats in Teams.
- Trim your recording. A straightforward trimming tool lets you edit the length of your video and clip out the parts you don’t need. Microsoft offers other video editing capabilities with Clipchamp, a company it acquired in 2021, but those features are not well integrated into Microsoft’s other tools.
- Screen recording limits. Within Teams, screen recording is limited to one minute. Microsoft Stream allows longer screen recording but is not integrated into Teams.
AI video tools comparison: Vimeo vs. Microsoft Teams
There’s nothing fake about the ways in which artificial intelligence is powering new frontiers in video communication. Video platforms often incorporate the use of AI to add auto caption or subtitles that improve accessibility and video search.
Vimeo AI video tools overview
The difference between nailing it in one take versus ten takes can involve a little help from everyone’s favorite new friend, AI. Vimeo’s suite of AI video tools do the heavy lifting to empower a smoother recording and video editing process.
- Integrated teleprompter. Vimeo’s video teleprompter scrolls your script at the bottom of the monitor so you’ll never lose your spot when you’re recording.
- AI script generator. Vimeo’s AI takes your talking points, sprinkles it with a little guidance about tone, and transforms notes into a polished video script.
- Auto-generated subtitles. Depending on your plan, Vimeo can auto caption live recordings, which empowers better access and engagement for your audience.
- AI video editing. Pop into your script and tweak like a pro because Vimeo’s in-text editing assistance helps you make changes with efficiency.
See Vimeo's AI tools in action →
Microsoft Teams AI video tools overview
While Microsoft is implementing some AI tools that power AI-generated images in Microsoft Communities, other AI video tools available to Teams and Stream seem to be relegated to third-party apps.
- Auto-captions. Although they can take some time to generate (up to two times the duration of the video), Stream does support auto-captions in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Video communications comparison: Vimeo vs. Microsoft Teams
Video content isn’t just king on social media. The ability to leverage video for better employee communication and team collaboration relies on having a high-quality, comprehensive video comms platform.
Vimeo video communications overview
Vimeo transforms screen recordings and pre-recorded videos into communications tools for collaboration as well as higher productivity at work. Video privacy features put you in control of who views content while video management tools enable better search and organization.
- Cutting-edge communications. Vimeo’s high-quality HD video approach means every screen recording, virtual event, and video asset looks as professional as it sounds.
- Secure your videos. Leverage video security such as passwords and admin permissions to control access to video content and ensure private viewing experiences.
- Video analytics. Advanced Vimeo analytics reveal how employees are engaging with video content and provide insights into whether your communications are connecting.
- Clutter-free content hubs. Vimeo’s video library is powered by searchable folders so you (and your employees) can find what you need when you need it.
- Video collaboration tools. Time-stamped comments and consolidated feedback make it easier to communicate and collaborate across teams.
Explore Vimeo's video communication and collaboration suite →
Microsoft Teams video communications overview
Microsoft Teams is a chat and virtual meeting application while Stream lends itself to being used as an enterprise video communications hub. Microsoft Stream layers in video analytics to provide a more comprehensive suite of enterprise video comms tools.
- Video conferencing. Teams is designed for video conferencing and has all the features you’d expect in professional virtual meeting software (including those custom virtual backgrounds everyone loves).
- Scalable virtual events. Teams has the ability to host interactive meetings that scale up to 1,000 attendees and supports hosting webinars for up to 10,000 participants.
- Basic video analytics. Stream provides a snapshot of basic video engagement including views, viewership retention, geolocation data, and viewing devices.
Which enterprise video platform is best for you: Vimeo or Microsoft?
Microsoft Teams provides efficiency gains for collaboration and meetings, but a solid video communications strategy includes adding Vimeo to your toolbox to host professional, high-quality videos that can be leveraged for a smooth onboarding experience or to build a more engaging company culture.
