Outlook plugin and add-in comparison

This document provides a side-by-side comparison of features in the Outlook add-in and plugin. The plugin is an installable file package that you can use from Outlook on your desktop. The add-in is built using the Microsoft API and is used from Outlook on your desktop or the web. The comparison of features between these apps will help you decide which is the best to use for your organization.

Note: Microsoft has announced that they are removing support for injection-based native plugins with Outlook for Mac. At this time, Zoom will also stop the development and support of the Mac Outlook plugin. Initially planned for June 2020, this timeline was postponed, however, Microsoft is still working with Apple to block certain plugins. Due to this, it is still recommended that organizations migrate their users from the plugin to the Zoom Outlook add-in.

This article covers:

Scheduling meetings comparison
Joining meetings comparison
Managing app comparison
Recommended deployments

Scheduling meetings comparison

I want to...	Add-in	Plugin
Select meeting options while scheduling event	✔	✔
Hide meeting options while scheduling event	✔	✔
Schedule on behalf of someone	✔ Delegate user must have access in Zoom. Delegate user must have Office 365 store permissions.	✔ Delegate user must have access in Zoom.
Schedule with one-time meeting ID (also known as a non-recurring meeting ID)	✔	✔
Schedule using Personal Meeting ID (PMI)	✔	✔
Ensure scheduled event has join URL	✔	✔
Ensure scheduled event has phone number/s	✔	✔
Ensure scheduled event has SIP address	✔	✔
Ensure scheduled event has H.323 address	✔	✔

Why is the schedule on behalf of experience different for each?

The prerequisite for scheduling on behalf of someone is obtaining delegate scheduling privilege on Zoom.us. Once a user has provided the delegate user with scheduling privilege, the delegate user will be able to schedule on the user’s calendar.

With the Outlook plugin, the delegate user does not need further access and can select the main user when scheduling.
With the Outlook add-in, the delegate user needs to have Office 365 store access to see the main user’s calendar. This limitation is due to Outlook and is not in Zoom's ability to change.

Joining meetings comparison

Features	Add-in	Plugin
One click/ tap to join meeting via URL	✔	✔
One tap to join meeting via audio	✔	✔
Join by SIP address	✔	✔
Join by H.323 address	✔	✔

Will Zoom Rooms and CRC be compatible with the add-in?

Yes. Both of these products will read the join URL from the location field and/or the description box of the Outlook event. If you are scheduling with the add-in on Outlook for web, you will only see the join URL populated in the description box.

Managing app comparison

Features	Add-in	Plugin
Customize account-level settings	✔ Available at Zoom web portal.	✔ Available at Zoom web portal.
Customize group-level settings	✔ Available at Zoom web portal.	✔ Available at Zoom web portal.
Customize user-level settings	✔ Last-saved settings are used.	✔ Last-saved settings are used.
Centrally install calendar integration	✔ Done through MS O365 Admin Portal.
Centrally deploy calendar integration	✔ Done through MS O365 Admin Portal.
Centrally manage updates	✔ Done through MS O365 Admin Portal.

What On Premise versions of Outlook/Exchange does the add-in work with?

The add-in works for On Premise Exchange 2016 and 2019, as well as Office 365 Outlook versions (i.e. Outlook on web, Outlook 2013+ for PC and Outlook 2016+ for Mac).

What is different about the install-deploy-manage cycle with the add-in?

As an admin you can perform a centralized installation and then manage the installed apps from the Office 365 admin portal. Previously, admins had to ensure the plugin was made part of each build, and upon deployment, would require individualized monitoring to ensure updates were enforced.

Recommended deployments

Office 365 - macOS and Windows environment: Deploy the Zoom Outlook add-in for both platforms.
Office 365 - Windows only: Deploy the Zoom Outlook add-in since it provides a better user experience and simplifies admin management. However, using the Zoom Outlook plugin will still work.
On Premise Office - macOS and Windows: If using Exchange 2016 or 2019, deploy the add-in. If using an older version of On Premise Office, deploy the plugin and keep Mac OS to Mojave or below, as Mac OS Catalina does not support plugins.
On Premise Office - Windows only: If using Exchange 2016 or 2019, deploy the add-in. If using an older version of On Premise Office, deploy the plugin.