COMPARE WIRELESS COLLABORATION SOLUTIONS

This article breaks down the key differences between Ditto and Zoom Rooms. Prefer to skip the article and talk to a human instead? Allow us to introduce ourselves.

Key Points

• Ditto is a wireless presentation software solution for meeting spaces. Zoom Rooms is a conference solution that combines hardware and software for a hybrid meeting experience.
• Ditto costs $99-$175. Zoom Rooms starts at $500.
• Ditto is cross-platform, allowing users to share Apple, Windows, Android and Chrome devices via the Ditto Connect app or webpage. In-person screen sharing with Zoom Rooms is limited to Apple and Windows devices; Android and Chrome users can only share content from their devices while using the screen share function in a Zoom videoconference.
• Important: Don't confuse Zoom Rooms with Zoom Meetings. Zoom Meetings are videoconferences that people join on computers, phones and tablets. Zoom Rooms are dedicated in-person spaces. People can use the equipment in Zoom Rooms to join Zoom Meetings, but they can also have an entirely in-person meeting without the videoconference element. This article is about Zoom Rooms.

How Ditto and Zoom Rooms work

Ditto software runs on compatible receivers such as Apple TV and Windows devices. Organizations connect these receivers to their displays via HDMI. Ditto users wirelessly share content directly from their devices to the receiver-connected displays, such as TVs, projectors and interactive whiteboards.

Zoom is primarily known as a videoconferencing service, but it also accommodates in-person meetings via Zoom Rooms. At minimum, Zoom Rooms requires a Mac/Windows/iPad/Zoom Rooms Appliance running Zoom Rooms software connected to a room display, and in most cases, a Zoom Rooms controller such as an iPad or Android tablet. Zoom Rooms that host hybrid meetings also require cameras, speakers and microphones as well as various cables, adapters and network connections.

The End-User Screen Sharing Experience

Key screen sharing takeaways

• Ditto-enabled displays are always ready to receive shared content; Zoom Rooms require extra steps via a Zoom controller to wirelessly share content

• The Ditto connection process is uniform for all device types; Zoom Rooms users must navigate various connection processes for different device types, and some devices require workarounds to share

• Ditto is designed for in-person collaboration; Zoom specializes in videoconferencing software 

How Ditto users share wirelessly

Ditto users share via the Ditto Connect app or Ditto Connect webpage. A Ditto room code is shown on Ditto-enabled displays. Users simply enter that room code into Ditto Connect to begin sharing wirelessly. Ditto provides a single, consistent sharing method across various device types.

Discover complete details about how Ditto works. 

How Zoom Rooms users share wirelessly

To share a screen, Zoom Rooms users must either tap the Presentation button on the Zoom Rooms controller or start a Zoom Meeting, then select the Share Content option.

Users then share wirelessly to Zoom Rooms displays via a number of different methods depending on their device type and the availability of certain Zoom Rooms features. For example, Mac and Windows devices can use "Direct Share" via proximity detection when available or by entering a sharing key or meeting ID into the Zoom desktop app. iPhone and iPad users share via native Apple AirPlay, which requires support for Bonjour traffic on an organization's network. Users can also begin the sharing process via a web browser. Zoom also notes the option to share via a physical HDMI cable.

It's not possible to share an Android or Chromebook screen during in-person Zoom Rooms meetings without a workaround. In order to share these device screens, users need to start a Zoom Meeting videoconference in the Zoom Room. The Android/Chromebook devices must then join the videoconference via the Zoom app and utilize the videoconference Share Screen function in the app.

The mix of native sharing protocols, apps, browsers, sharing keys, meeting IDs and proximity detection may make the connection experience more difficult to navigate for some end users.

Hybrid meetings vs in-person collaboration

Ditto excels at in-person collaboration sessions, but it works with certain videoconferencing hardware setups for fully hybrid collaboration.

Zoom specializes in videoconferencing software, but it offers Zoom Rooms to accommodate in-person collaboration.

Digital Signage

Ditto and Zoom Rooms offer digital signage capabilities, allowing admins to display content on screens when users are not actively mirroring.

Ditto digital signage is created via customizable signage templates, web URLs, Canva or by uploading image or video assets. Admins schedule and manage signage from anywhere via the web-based Ditto Account Portal. Signage can be schedule for certain days and times in different locations. Additionally, Ditto admins can send custom or CAP-integrated emergency alerts to Ditto-enabled displays to keep people in their spaces aware of time-sensitive information.

Zoom Rooms digital signage is created by uploading images and video or by entering a web URL. Zoom does not include templates and pushes users to external vendors if additional design capabilities are needed. Zoom Rooms signage scheduling is limited to on-screen duration and does not include more advanced day/time signage scheduling capabilities.

Cost - First Year

Ditto offers three subscription plans — Basic, Premium and Elite — ranging from $99-$175. A Ditto receiver such as Apple TV costs $150 if needed. A Zoom Rooms subscription costs $500 per year. Zooms Rooms hardware costs several hundreds to thousands of dollars per room. 

• Ditto: $99-$325: Price range for the Ditto subscription and receiver (Apple TV)
• Zoom Rooms: $500+: Price for Zoom Rooms software; Hardware cost not included as this price varies drastically 

Zoom Rooms is software-based, but if you want to use Zoom Rooms to its full capacity with integrated audio, video and web conferencing for distributed users, Zoom requires the purchase of third-party hardware to outfit your conference room. These items can be procured and purchased a la carte depending on your organization’s needs, but Zoom strongly recommends procuring through its partnered vendor hardware kits, which start at several thousand dollars per room.

Updated on 4/3/2024