Built-in meetings vs. Zoom: which to use

In this article: A comparison of Ruzuku's two built-in meeting types and the Zoom integration, with guidance on when each one is the right choice for your live sessions. All Plans

Your live session options

Ruzuku gives you three ways to host live meetings inside your course. Two are built in (no extra software required) and one uses Zoom:

• Video Conference — built-in, up to 60 participants, everyone on camera
• Presentation — built-in, up to 250 participants, presenter-focused
• Zoom — uses your Zoom account, capacity depends on your Zoom plan

You also have two additional meeting types for sessions hosted outside Ruzuku: External (paste any meeting URL) and In-Person (provide a physical location). This article focuses on the three options where Ruzuku manages the meeting experience.

Side-by-side comparison

Built-in Video Conference

Video Conference is Ruzuku's built-in small-group meeting format. Everyone joins directly inside the course — no downloads, no separate apps.

Capacity: Up to 60 participants.

How it works: Participants join by clicking the meeting link in your course. Everyone can turn on their camera and microphone. You can share your screen. Ruzuku handles recording automatically if you have it enabled.

Strengths:

• Zero friction for students. They click a button inside the course and they're in. No Zoom downloads, no "can you hear me now?" troubleshooting with a third-party app.
• Built-in recording with a simple toggle. Recordings appear on the meeting page in your course.
• Rich in-meeting tools: polls, shared whiteboard, chat with threaded replies and emoji reactions, raise hand, screen sharing, and push-to-talk.
• Works well for interactive sessions where you want to see and hear your students — small groups, coaching calls, workshops, Q&As.

Limitations:

• 60-person cap. If your group is larger, use Presentation or Zoom.
• No breakout rooms or waiting room.

Best for: Coaching calls, small group workshops, office hours, mastermind sessions, and any meeting under 60 people where you want two-way conversation.

Built-in Presentation

Presentation mode is designed for larger audiences where one person (you) presents and attendees watch and participate through chat.

Capacity: Up to 250 participants.

How it works: You present with your camera, microphone, and screen. Attendees see and hear you but don't share their own video or audio. They participate through the text chat. Recording works the same as Video Conference — toggle it on when you create the meeting.

Strengths:

• Handles up to 250 people. Good for larger webinars, live trainings, and presentations.
• Still built into Ruzuku. No separate software for students to install.
• Built-in recording with the same simple toggle.
• Polls, whiteboard, and chat with threaded replies keep the audience engaged even in one-way format.

Limitations:

• One-way video and audio. Attendees can't unmute or share their camera. If you want students to speak or show their face, use Video Conference or Zoom.
• No breakout rooms or waiting room.

Best for: Webinars, live trainings, guest speaker sessions, course kick-offs, and any session over 60 people or where a presenter-to-audience format makes sense.

Zoom integration

Zoom connects your existing Zoom account to Ruzuku. Meetings are created through Ruzuku but run inside Zoom. After the meeting, cloud recordings automatically upload back to your Ruzuku course.

Capacity: Depends on your Zoom plan (free Zoom supports up to 100 participants, paid plans go higher).

How it works: When you create a Zoom meeting in Ruzuku, students see the meeting in their course. When it's time, they click to join and are taken to Zoom (in the app or browser). After the meeting ends, Zoom processes any cloud recording and sends it to Ruzuku automatically.

Strengths:

• Access to Zoom's full feature set: breakout rooms, polls, waiting room, closed captions, virtual backgrounds, and more.
• Familiar interface. Many students already have Zoom installed and know how to use it.
• Higher capacity on paid Zoom plans (300, 500, or 1,000+ participants).
• Recording automatically transfers to Ruzuku after the meeting.

Limitations:

• Requires a separate Zoom account (and potentially a paid Zoom plan for larger meetings or advanced features).
• Students leave the Ruzuku environment to join the meeting. This adds a small friction step, especially for students who haven't used Zoom before.
• Recording processing takes longer. Zoom needs time (5-30 minutes, depending on meeting length) to process the cloud recording before it appears in Ruzuku.

Best for: Large sessions, sessions that need breakout rooms or polls, teams already using Zoom, and any meeting where Zoom's advanced features matter more than the simplicity of staying inside Ruzuku.

How to decide

Start with the built-in options unless you have a specific need for Zoom features. The built-in meetings are simpler for both you and your students. No extra accounts, no app downloads, no switching between tools.

Here's a quick guide:

Use Video Conference (built-in) when:

• Your group is 60 people or fewer
• You want interactive, two-way conversation
• You want the simplest possible experience for students

Use Presentation (built-in) when:

• Your group is between 60 and 250 people
• You're presenting to an audience (not hosting a discussion)
• You want the simplest possible experience at a larger scale

Use Zoom when:

• You need breakout rooms for small group activities
• You need a waiting room or closed captions
• Your audience is larger than 250 people
• Your students already use Zoom and prefer it

Setting up each option

Built-in meetings (Video Conference or Presentation)

1. Go to Manage Course → Meetings.
2. Click Create Meeting.
3. Choose Video Conference or Presentation.
4. Set the date, time, and duration.
5. Toggle Record Event on if you want to record the session.
6. Toggle Allow download on if students should be able to download the recording.
7. Click Create Meeting.

No additional setup required. Students will see the meeting on their course page and can join at the scheduled time.

Zoom meetings

1. First, connect your Zoom account to Ruzuku (one-time setup).
2. Go to Manage Course → Meetings.
3. Click Create Meeting.
4. Choose Zoom.
5. Set the date, time, and duration.
6. Click Create Meeting.

Recording settings for Zoom meetings are controlled in your Zoom account, not in Ruzuku. If you want cloud recordings to appear in Ruzuku automatically, enable cloud recording in your Zoom settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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