Compare Zoom Features: Desktop App, Web, and iPad

Questions

  • What is the difference between the Zoom desktop app and the Zoom web client?
  • What features are available on the Zoom iPad app versus the desktop app?
  • Can I host a meeting from the Zoom web browser?
  • Which Zoom client should I use for the best experience?
  • Can I record a meeting from the Zoom web client?
  • Can I use breakout rooms on an iPad?
  • What Zoom features are only available on the desktop app?
  • Does screen sharing work in the Zoom web client?

Environment

This article applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students. The comparison covers three Zoom clients: the desktop app on Windows 11 or macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later; the mobile/tablet app on iPad and iPhone; and the Zoom web client accessed through a browser.

Resolution

Recommendation: Use the Zoom desktop app or mobile app for the most complete feature set. The web client is a useful fallback when you cannot install or open the desktop app, but some features are unavailable. The web client works best in Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Chart may not reflect the latest Zoom version: Zoom adds and updates features regularly. For the most current comparison, see the official Zoom feature comparison on Zoom's support site.

The Zoom web portal (bowdoin.zoom.us) is separate from the clients listed here. The web portal is used primarily to manage your profile, change meeting settings, and schedule or edit meetings — not to attend meetings.

Jump to a section:

Joining & Scheduling In-Meeting Controls Host Controls Security Controls Screen Sharing Chat & Settings

Joining & Scheduling

Feature Desktop App
(Windows / macOS)		 iPad / iOS Web Client
Join a meeting without signing in ✓ ✓ ✓
Join a meeting in progress ✓ ✓ ✓
Sign in using Zoom account, Google, Facebook, or SSO ✓ ✓ ✓
Start an instant meeting ✓ ✓ ✓
Schedule a one-time or recurring meeting ✓ ✓  
Share your screen in a Zoom Room using a sharing key or meeting ID ✓ ✓  
Display upcoming meetings ✓ ✓  
Display synced calendar events ✓ ✓  
View, edit, start, or delete scheduled meetings ✓ ✓  
Participants pre-assigned to breakout rooms (set up by host) ✓ ✓  

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In-Meeting Controls (All Participants)

Feature Desktop App
(Windows / macOS)		 iPad / iOS Web Client
Join computer audio ✓ ✓ ✓
Mute / unmute microphone ✓ ✓ ✓
Start / stop video ✓ ✓ ✓
Invite others to join the meeting ✓ ✓ ✓
Change your display name for the meeting ✓ ✓ ✓
Non-verbal feedback (reactions) ✓ ✓ ✓
Share your screen ✓ ✓ ✓
In-meeting chat ✓ ✓ ✓
Start cloud recording ✓ ✓ ✓
Start local recording (saves to your computer) ✓    
Request remote control ✓ ✓ ✓
Gallery view (see all participants at once) ✓ ✓  
Participate in breakout rooms ✓ ✓ ✓

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Host Controls

Feature Desktop App
(Windows / macOS)		 iPad / iOS Web Client
Meeting Controls (Hosts and Co-Hosts)
Create, edit, and launch polls ✓    
Start breakout rooms (host only) ✓ ✓  
View pre-assigned participants in breakout rooms ✓    
Live stream meeting ✓    
Manage Participants (Hosts)
Stop a participant's video ✓ ✓ ✓
Assign a participant as host ✓ ✓ ✓
Assign a participant as co-host ✓ ✓ ✓
Allow a participant to start or stop recording ✓ ✓  
Assign a participant to type closed captions ✓ ✓ ✓
Change a participant's display name ✓ ✓ ✓
Remove a participant from the meeting ✓ ✓ ✓
Mute or unmute all participants ✓ ✓ ✓
Auto-mute participants as they join ✓ ✓ ✓
Play a chime when participants join or leave ✓ ✓ ✓
Control who participants can chat with ✓ ✓ ✓
Put a participant on hold ✓ ✓ ✓
Webinar Controls (Hosts)
Launch a Q&A session ✓ ✓ ✓
Launch polls in a webinar ✓    
Live stream webinar ✓    

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Security Controls (Hosts and Co-Hosts)

Feature Desktop App
(Windows / macOS)		 iPad / iOS Web Client
Lock the meeting (prevent new participants from joining) ✓ ✓ ✓
Place a participant in a waiting room ✓ ✓ ✓
Control whether participants can share their screen ✓ ✓ ✓
Control whether participants can use in-meeting chat ✓ ✓ ✓
Control whether participants can unmute or rename themselves ✓ ✓ ✓
Enable or disable video receiving ✓    

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Screen Sharing Controls

Feature Desktop App
(Windows / macOS)		 iPad / iOS Web Client
Share whiteboard ✓ ✓  
Annotate on a shared screen or whiteboard ✓ ✓  
Pause your current shared screen ✓ ✓  
Show or hide annotator names ✓ ✓  
Stop a participant's screen share (host and co-host only) ✓    
Allow multiple participants to share screens simultaneously ✓ ✓  

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Chat, Channels, Contacts & Settings

Feature Desktop App
(Windows / macOS)		 iPad / iOS Web Client
Chat
Mark messages as unread ✓ ✓  
Edit your sent messages ✓    
Delete sent messages, images, or files ✓ ✓  
Save images or files received in chat ✓ ✓  
Star messages and view all starred messages ✓    
View starred messages in a specific chat ✓ ✓  
Use your personal chat space ✓ ✓  
Send images or files ✓ ✓  
View all files sent or received in chat ✓ ✓  
Share chat files with contacts ✓ ✓  
Send a screen capture ✓    
Send animated GIFs ✓    
Send code snippets ✓    
Send emoticons ✓ ✓  
Encrypted chat ✓ ✓  
Store chat message history ✓ ✓  
Invite contacts to an existing chat ✓ ✓  
Channels
Change notifications for channel messages ✓ ✓  
Star channels and view starred channels ✓ ✓  
Create a channel ✓ ✓  
Edit a channel (requires channel admin role) ✓ ✓  
Invite members to a channel ✓ ✓  
Contacts
Add contacts ✓ ✓  
Star contacts and view starred contacts ✓ ✓  
Directory for contacts, channels, and Zoom Rooms ✓ ✓  
Add contact to auto-answer group ✓    
Profile
Add a personal note (away message) ✓ ✓  
Change profile photo or display name ✓ ✓  
Manually change your availability status ✓    
Settings
Auto-join meeting audio ✓ ✓  
Auto-mute when joining a meeting ✓ ✓  
Show link previews in chat messages ✓ ✓  
Change chat notification settings ✓ ✓  
Manage blocked contacts ✓    
Display meeting reminders ✓ ✓  
Display connected meeting time ✓ ✓  
Display closed captions (when available) ✓ ✓  
Auto-disable video when joining a meeting ✓ ✓  
Touch up appearance (appearance filter) ✓    
Virtual Background ✓ ✓  

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Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

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Related Services / Offerings (1)

Zoom
Zoom is one of Bowdoin's supported web-conferencing platforms. Faculty are licensed automatically; staff and students have a 40-minute account and can request a Pro, Large Meeting, or Webinar license here. Also report Zoom problems or get help using Zoom in a classroom.