Zoom Webinars and simulive webinars comparison

Live Zoom Webinars and simulive webinars offer similar features and functionality but have some key differences.

Zoom Webinars allow hosts or panelists to connect with large audiences and share video, audio, and content from any location and device. Attendees can also use the webinar chat or question-and-answer options (Q&A) to interact with the host and panelists. Hosts must be present for live webinars.

Simulive webinars allow hosts to share a previously recorded cloud recording as a video file within a webinar. The webinar will automatically start at the scheduled time, without the need for the host to be present. The host and panelists can still join and interact with the audience through live chat and webinar Q&A. Additionally, you can create simulive webinars in Zoom Events sessions.

This article covers:

Zoom Webinars versus simulive webinars

 
 Zoom WebinarsSimulive WebinarSimulive Event
DescriptionZoom Webinars can be used like a virtual lecture hall or auditorium. Webinars are ideal for large audiences or events that are open to the public. Typically, webinar attendees do not interact with one another. Though Zoom provides options for you to be more social with your attendees, your average webinar has one or a few people speaking to an audience.

With simulive webinars, you can reduce the amount of effort required to successfully run a webinar by using pre-recorded content.

Simulive webinars allow hosts to share a previously recorded cloud recording as a video file within a webinar. The webinar will automatically start at the scheduled time, without the need for the host to be present. The host and panelists can still join and interact with the audience through live chat and webinar Q&A.

Note: Simulive webinars can be managed by users with scheduling privileges. Both users must have a webinar license and Zoom Events or Zoom Sessions license in addition to existing prerequisites.

With simulive webinars on Zoom Events, you can reduce the amount of effort required to successfully run a Zoom Events webinar by using pre-recorded content from a previous Zoom Events session. You can create a single-session or a multi-session event that has a mix of live and simulive sessions.

Simulive webinars allow hosts to select a saved hub recording as the content of a webinar. Simulive sessions will automatically start at the scheduled time, without the need for the host to be present. The host can still join and interact with the audience through live chat, resources, and Q&A.

Best used for

Large events and public broadcasts (50+ attendees) such as:

  • Town halls
  • Quarterly updates
  • Educational lectures
 

Reusing content for a webinar such as:

  • Broadcasting marketing sessions
  • Repeating your organization’s all-hands sessions across multiple time zones
  • Delivering training courses 

Reusing content for a webinar such as:

  • Broadcasting marketing sessions
  • Repeating your organization’s all-hands sessions across multiple time zones
  • Delivering training courses 
Typically used by
  • Event hosts
  • SVPs and C-Suite
  • Event hosts
  • Event hosts
Prerequisites

Zoom Webinars and simulive webinars feature comparison

 
FeatureZoom Webinars (live webinar)Simulive WebinarSimulive Event
Registration and emails
Start webinar automatically 
Host/panelist can talk  
Host/panelist can be on video  
Host/panelist can share screen  
Attendee can be allowed to talk  
Chat
Poll
Q&A
Reactions
Raise hand
Resources
Backstage  
Co-host/alternative host
Panelist
Promote attendee to panelist
Recording and recording chat transcript  
Livestream
Lobby livestream  
Spoken/sign language interpretation  
Closed captioning
Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.17.5 version or higher for this feature.

Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.17.5 version or higher for this feature.
Translated captions
Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.17.5 version or higher for this feature.

Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.17.5 version or higher for this feature.
Zoom desktop app
Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.15.0 version or higher for this feature.

Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.15.0 version or higher for this feature.
Zoom mobile app
Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.15.0 version or higher for this feature.

Note: You must have the Zoom app version 5.15.0 version or higher for this feature.
Zoom web client
Web SDK

Note: mSDK for mobile browsers is not supported for simulive in webinars and events. This is only supported for live webinars. 

Note: mSDK for mobile browsers is not supported for simulive in webinars and events. This is only supported for live webinars. 

Zoom Rooms
Note: You must have the Zoom app version 6.0.0 version or higher for this feature.

Note: You must have the Zoom app version 6.0.0 version or higher for this feature.
CRC/SIP  
Telephony dial-in/out  
VDI

Note: VDI client and plugin must be version 5.16.0 or higher.

API support
Note: There is limited support for this feature.
 
Marketing integrations
Reporting