Difference Between Webinar and Web Conference

Internet telephony, which was once the standard industry term for the process of placing telephone calls over the Internet, has now conveniently become the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Fortunately, it can take many forms. At its basic level, you can make VoIP from computer to computer, such as a voice call using a messaging application or software and using a microphone connected to the computer. Voice calls using services such as Skype, Zoom, are generally free. But over the years, the technology has dramatically changed the way we use to communicate and the people have become more sophisticated. Today there are more than just one way to reach your audience.

Tools for live online communication have moved from simple chat rooms to high-end video conferencing tools such as webinars and web conferencing. These are just a few terms to better describe web meetings. Web meetings enable you conference with individuals and small groups. Web conferencing is basically video conferencing that takes place via the Internet and used by individuals and businesses alike. Webinars are similar to web conferences but are mostly one-way with limited audience interaction. Although the terms webinar and web conference are quite different, they are often confused with each other.

Web Conference

Web conferencing is more or less like video conferencing – the most common form of live online communication – that takes place via a personal computer or any mobile device allowing you to conference with individuals and small groups. Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings, briefings or presentations, training sessions via the Internet. Basic web conferencing such as a video call between individuals can be performed via any online communication application such as an instant messaging program that supports video calling. Business web conferences require multiple participants to download a special client application to their computers. This functionality includes online audio/video, application sharing, electronic whiteboards, shared media, text chat, polling, etc.

Webinar

Webinars are similar to web conferences and offer the same basic capabilities but enable presentations by multiple speakers to large audiences. A webinar is an online seminar/session/presentation, delivered using web conferencing software. They are a specialized form of web conferences with a limited audience interaction and are typically one-way. They are used for sharing ideas and experiences, much like any typical sessions at a face-to-face meeting or conference. Although interaction with audience is very limited (such as Q&A sessions), webinars are typically more one-way communication than web conferences. Webinars involve a live audience and often polling is integrated to allow for some remote participation from the interested audience. The popular webinar software include GoToWebinar, GoToMeeting, DimDim, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, and more.

Difference between Webinar and Web Conference

Tool

– Both webinars and web conferencing are video conferencing tools with some added functionality. Web conferencing is basically video conferencing that takes place via the Internet and used by individuals and businesses alike. Basic web conferencing such as a video call between individuals can be performed via any online communication application such as an instant messaging program that supports video calling. Webinars, on the other hand, are similar to web conferences and offer the same basic capabilities but enable presentations by multiple speakers to large audiences. Webinars are typically one-way with limited audience interaction.

Purpose

– Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings, briefings or presentations, training sessions via the Internet. Each participant in a web conference sits at their own computer and connects to the conference via a conferencing application such as Skype or Zoom, thereby eliminating the need for a telephone. Webinars, on the other hand, are a special form of web conference used for sharing ideas and experiences, much like any typical sessions at a face-to-face meeting or conference. Webinars offer the same basic capabilities as web conferencing but enable presentations by multiple speakers to large audiences.

Interaction

– Web conference is a type of online collaboration tool used to conduct real-time online meetings, remote training sessions, and live presentations, much like webinars. However, web conferences are more interactive than webinars as such participants are allowed to share the desktop, screen, and the applications at ease. Plus, they have several features such as application sharing, electronic whiteboards, shared media, text chat, polling, etc. Webinars, on the other hand, are typically one-way communication and come with a few features and limited audience interaction compared to web conferences.

Webinar vs. Web Conference: Comparison Chart

Summary of Webinar vs. Web Conference

Both webinars and web conferencing are video conferencing tools to better describe web meetings. Web conferencing is more or less like video conferencing that takes place via the Internet and used by individuals and businesses alike. They are used to conduct live meetings, briefings or presentations, training sessions via the Internet. Webinars, on the other hand, are a special form of web conference used for sharing ideas and experiences. They offer the same basic capabilities but enable presentations by multiple speakers to large audiences. Although interaction with audience is very limited (such as Q&A sessions), webinars are typically more one-way communication than web conferences.

Sharing is caring!