Roles in Zoom Webinars

There are multiple roles available for a webinar: host, cohost, panelist, and attendees. The role that you have in the webinar will be designated by the host.

Requirements for roles in Zoom Webinars

Table of Contents

Comparison of webinar controls

The following table compares the webinar controls available to the host, co-hosts, panelists, and attendees. To learn more about each feature, click the embedded links in the table or see Host and Co-Host Controls in a Meeting.

Note:

Participate in Zoom Webinars

 HostCo-hostPanelistAttendee
Join during practice session✔
(see note)
✔ 
Start the broadcast✔✔  
Mute/unmute themselves✔✔✔ 
Start/stop their own video✔✔✔* 
View attendee list✔✔✔ 
Share screen✔✔✔ 
Request or give remote control✔✔✔ 
Chat✔✔✔✔*
Save chat✔✔✔ 
Ask questions in Q&A   ✔
View All Q&A and respond✔✔✔ 
Create or edit polls✔   
Start polling✔✔  
Answer polls  ✔*✔
Assign someone to enter closed captions✔   
Enter closed captions✔✔*✔* 
Raise hand  ✔✔
Use call-out to join audio by phone✔✔✔ 
End webinar✔   

Note: Co-hosts cannot be assigned ahead of time. If you would like to designate someone as a co-host, invite them to the webinar as a panelist and then promote them to a co-host. Alternatively, you can assign them as an alternative host. Alternative hosts are able to start or join a practice session.

Manage participants

Learn more about managing attendees and panelists in webinars.

 HostCo-hostPanelistAttendee
Mute or unmute attendees✔✔  
Stop panelist's video✔✔  
Ask a panelist to start video✔✔  
Spotlight a Video✔✔  
Promote attendee to panelist✔✔  
Demote from panelist to attendee✔✔  
Change attendees' view✔✔  
Change who attendees can chat with✔✔  
Remove attendees✔✔  
Allow attendees to talk✔✔  
Assign Co-host Permission✔   
Put panelist on hold✔   
Invite others to join webinar✔✔✔ 

Record

 HostCo-hostPanelistAttendee
Record to cloud✔✔  
Record to computer✔✔✔* 

Livestream

 HostCo-hostPanelistAttendee
Livestream on Facebook ✔   
Livestream on YouTube✔   
Livestream on Twitch✔   
Custom live stream ✔