The Myth That Platform Choice Locks You Into One Hardware Brand
Most businesses treat this as a much larger decision than it needs to be, assuming Zoom Rooms and Teams Rooms each require their own dedicated hardware brand. That assumption does not hold up once the actual certification landscape is looked at properly.
Here is the actual reality - plenty of hardware, particularly from Logitech and Yealink, holds dual certification for both Zoom Rooms and Teams Rooms. The same physical device can often run either platform, with the difference coming down to licensing rather than the hardware itself, which removes most of the pressure people feel around getting this decision exactly right on the first attempt.
This matters because it changes the order in which decisions should be made. Hardware does not need to wait for the platform decision, and the platform decision does not need to be treated as permanent just because equipment has already been purchased.
The myth largely comes from marketing presentation rather than technical reality. Each platform publishes its own certified hardware list, which visually looks like two separate ecosystems, but a side-by-side comparison of the actual device names reveals far more shared hardware than the separate lists suggest.
Feature by Feature: Zoom Rooms vs Teams Rooms
Where the platforms genuinely differ is in software experience, not hardware. The admin console for managing rooms looks and behaves differently between the two, and IT teams already familiar with one Microsoft or Zoom ecosystem will generally find their existing platform easier to manage at scale.
The deciding factor for most offices is not the meeting room experience itself but how the platform integrates with software already in daily use. Teams Rooms naturally suits a Microsoft 365 environment, while Zoom Rooms tends to suit a business that already runs most of its external communication through Zoom.
The scheduling experience differs in small but noticeable ways. Teams Rooms defaults to Outlook calendar integration, whereas Zoom Rooms offers more flexibility across Google Workspace and Microsoft environments, which matters mainly to businesses not already standardised on one calendar system.
Day-to-day usability differences exist too, particularly around extending a running meeting or checking into a booked room directly from the panel. These small details are unlikely to be the deciding factor by themselves, but they shape how staff actually experience the room once it is in regular use.
Logitech and Yealink Support Both - Here Is the Proof
Logitech Rally and MeetUp devices, along with several Yealink room systems, carry certification for both Zoom Rooms and Teams Rooms. This is publicly documented by both Microsoft and Zoom, and it is the clearest evidence against the idea that hardware locks a business into one platform permanently.
The hardware was never the argument. The license invoice is.
Where the platforms genuinely diverge financially is in ongoing licensing cost, which is charged per room and varies depending on the specific Microsoft 365 or Zoom subscription tier already in place. For businesses already paying for Microsoft 365 at a tier that includes Teams Rooms licensing, the additional cost can be lower than starting a Zoom Rooms subscription from scratch.
Most Australian offices end up buying through www.kickstartcomputers.com.au which supports both Zoom and Teams certified hardware.
The practical recommendation, then, is to choose hardware based on room size and audio or camera priority first, confirm it carries dual certification where possible, and let the platform decision be driven by software integration and existing subscription costs rather than hardware availability.
This sequencing also guards against the outcome businesses fear most - settling on a platform only to find the hardware they wanted is not supported. Confirming dual certification at the hardware stage removes that risk before the platform decision is even finalised.
What People Usually Ask About This Decision
Can the same camera and mic work on both systems?
It depends on the specific model, but a meaningful amount of Logitech and Yealink hardware is certified for both platforms, meaning the same device can often run either Zoom Rooms or Teams Rooms depending on which software license is applied.
Is Zoom Rooms or Teams Rooms cheaper to license?
The cheaper option depends heavily on what subscription tier a business already holds. A business already on a higher Microsoft 365 tier may find Teams Rooms licensing cheaper in practice, while a business with no existing Microsoft subscription may find Zoom Rooms more straightforward to price.
Which platform is better for a business already using Microsoft 365?
Teams Rooms generally integrates more smoothly for a business already running Microsoft 365, since calendar and scheduling integration come built in. There can still be a case for Zoom Rooms if client-facing calls are predominantly run through Zoom regardless of internal Microsoft 365 use.
What happens if different rooms use different platforms?
This is more common than most people expect, especially in larger offices, and there is no inherent technical conflict in having different rooms run on different platforms.