Differences between Host, Co-Host, Alternative Host, and Participant Roles in Zoom

Roles in Zoom

The following table compares the meeting controls available to the host, co-hosts, alternative hosts, and participants. 

Note:

  • Features with an asterisk (*) can be disable by the host.
  • Some features are dependent on certain prerequisites. If you do not see a feature, review the article to see if your account meets those prerequisites.
Feature Host Co-host / alternative
host		 Participants

Participating in the meeting
Start the meeting ✔ see note  
Mute/unmute themselves* ✔ ✔ ✔
Start/stop their own video ✔ ✔ ✔*
View participants list ✔ ✔ ✔
Share screen ✔ ✔ ✔*
Allow entry from waiting room ✔ ✔  
Request or give remote control ✔ ✔ ✔
Chat with participants (in-meeting chat) ✔ ✔ ✔
Save in-meeting chat ✔ ✔  
Create or edit polls ✔    
Start polling ✔ ✔  
Answer polls     ✔
Assign someone to enter closed captions ✔    
Enter closed captions ✔ ✔* ✔*
Use call-out to join audio by phone ✔ ✔ ✔
End meeting ✔    
Reactions and nonverbal feedback ✔ ✔ ✔

Managing participants
Mute or unmute participants ✔ ✔  
Stop participant's video ✔ ✔  
Ask participant to start video ✔ ✔  
Spotlight a video ✔ ✔  
Promote participant to host or co-host ✔    
Change who attendees can chat with ✔ ✔  
Remove attendees ✔ ✔  
Put participants on hold ✔ ✔  
Rename participants ✔ ✔  
Invite others to join ✔ ✔ ✔
Mute controls for participants (ask to mute, mute all, mute on entry) ✔ ✔  
Assign participants to breakout rooms ✔    

Recording 
Start cloud recording ✔ ✔  
Start local recording ✔ ✔ ✔*
Allow or forbid a participant to start local recording ✔ ✔  

Note:

  • Alternative hosts can start the meeting by using the meeting ID or meeting link the invitation email. The meeting will not display in the upcoming meetings list in the desktop client or mobile app for alternative hosts.
  • Co-hosts cannot start meetings scheduled by the host. Co-hosts cannot be assigned ahead of time. The host has to promote a participant to co-host. Alternatively, the host can assign a user as an alternative host.

Article Credit:  Roles in a Meeting, Zoom

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