VDI client features comparison

The Zoom meeting client for VDI has similar features and functionality compared to its other solutions, but it also has some key differences. 

This article provides a high-level comparison of the VDI client with the Zoom desktop app and Web App. Learn more about the differences between the desktop and web client. 

Table of Contents

How does Zoom VDI compare to other Zoom platforms

                                                
FeatureDesktop clientWindows, macOS, Linux
(VDI Clients)
ChromeOS
(VDI Client)
Zoom Web App
(Web client)
General Meeting features
Computer audio (VOIP)✔✔✔✔
Video resolution1080p max1080p max, 360 typical on thin hardware720p max720p max
Video participantsSpeaker and gallery views, with up to 49 visible at once, hardware permittingSpeaker and gallery views, with up to 49 visible at once, hardware permittingUp to 49 visible at once, hardware permittingSpeaker and gallery views
7x7 gallery view✔✔✔✔
Custom gallery view✔✔ ✔
Pin multiple video tiles✔✔ ✔
Immersive view✔✔  
Dual cameras✔   
Virtual backgrounds and filters✔
(functionality varies by hardware)
✔
(hardware permitting)
✔
(functionality varies by hardware)
✔
(functionality varies by hardware)
Dual monitor mode✔

VDI Client 5.17.10 or later

VDI Client 5.17.10 or later 
RecordingLocal or cloudCloud onlyCloud onlyCloud only
Breakout rooms✔✔✔✔
Language interpretation✔✔ ✔
Meeting reactions✔✔✔✔
Screen sharing features
Screen sharingDesktop, apps, audio, camera, Airplay, portion of desktopDesktop, apps, portion of desktopDesktop, apps, portion of desktopDesktop and apps
(varies by browser)
Optimized video screen sharing✔Enabled through RegistryEnabled through Registry✔
Share computer audio with shared content✔✔ ✔
(varies by browser)
Share computer audio only✔

✔

(client and plugin version 6.0.10 or higher)

 
  
Share video✔   
Sharing multiple applications at once✔✔  
Share video from 2nd camera✔   
Mouse control for zoom-in/-out✔   
Sharing slides as a virtual background✔   
General audio features
Push to talk✔✔  
HID functionality on Jabra headsets✔✔  
General features
Screenshot/screen capture✔Basic screen capture: 5.15.2 or higher

Screen capture in Webinars: 5.16.10 or higher

 
  
Archive meeting✔✔✔✔
Simultaneous meeting support✔✔

(2nd meeting in fallback mode)

 
 ✔
General Webinar features
Webinar Backstage✔✔

(version 5.15.10 or higher)

 
  
Production Studio✔Viewer or presenter support only, requires version 5.15.10 or higher  
Webinar reactions✔✔ (Windows and macOS)

Limited support on Linux

 
✔✔
General Chat features
Share video as message✔   
Other supported Zoom products
Zoom Phone✔Optimized on all platforms:

- Citrix (Windows, macOS, Linux*)

- VMware (Windows, macOS, Linux*)

- AVD (Windows and Linux*)

*All supported Linux plugins

 
VDI Client 5.17.10 or later✔
Zoom Clips✔

Windows and macOS: VDI Client 6.5.10 or later


Linux: VDI Client 6.5.11 or later


Notes:

  • Recording a screen share of an application window with Zoom Clips is currently not supported.
  • Utilizing Zoom Clips with 4k monitors requires the following CPU requirements:
    • Intel processors: A Minimum of a 4th-generation i5 with four physical cores or six logical cores is required.
    • Non-Intel processors: A minimum of eight physical cores or twelve logical cores, with a minimum frequency of 3.5 GHz, is required.
  • The Linux plugin requires the following dependencies:
    • libxcb.so
    • libxcb-xfixes.so
    • libxcb-image.so
    • libxcb-keysyms.so
    • libxcb-randr.so
    • libxcb-shape.so
    • libxcb-shm.so
    • libxcb-xtest.so
  
Zoom Huddles✔   
Zoom Contact Center✔

Audio optimization for Contact Center is supported for:

  • Citrix versions 5.11.9 or higher (Windows, macOS, Linux*) 
  • VMware versions 5.11.9 or higher (Windows, macOS, Linux*)
  • AVD versions 5.11.9 or higher (Windows and Linux*)
  • AWS PCOIP versions 5.11.9 or higher (Windows, Mac, Linux*)
  • AWS WSP versions 5.17.10 or higher (Windows, Mac, Linux*)
  • Teradici versions 5.15.10 or higher (Windows, Mac, Linux*)

Video optimization for Contact Center is supported in version 5.17.11 or higher for the following platforms: 

  • Citrix (Windows, macOS, Linux*)
  • VMware (Windows, macOS, Linux*)
  • AVD (Windows and Linux*)
  • AWS PCOIP (Windows, Mac, Linux*)
  • AWS WSP (Windows, Mac, Linux*)
  • Teradici (Windows, Mac, Linux*)

*Note: All supported Linux plugins

 ✔

Note:

 

How Zoom VDI is optimized

In the most optimal case, the media plugin will offload video encoding and decoding and communicate over the network directly to the Zoom cloud, bypassing the VDI infrastructure. Control information such as authentication and window location is always sent over the VDI channel.