Webinars vs. Meetings vs. Live Events in Microsoft Teams: What’s the Difference?

Introduction

Microsoft Teams offers multiple ways to host virtual sessions, each designed for different scenarios. Whether you’re conducting a collaborative team meeting, hosting a large public webinar, or broadcasting a company-wide town hall, understanding the distinctions between Meetings, Webinars, and Live Events is key to choosing the right format.

Microsoft Teams Meetings

Best for: Internal team collaboration, quick catch-ups, and group discussions.

Teams Meetings are the most common and versatile format. They are designed for interactive, real-time collaboration with chat, screen sharing, and multiple presenters. All participants can unmute, share video, and contribute freely (unless restricted).

Ideal for:

  • Team updates
  • 1:1s and small group discussions
  • Department meetings
  • Daily standups or scrums

Microsoft Teams Webinars

Best for: Structured, registration-based presentations to external audiences.

Webinars offer more control over the audience experience. They support registration pages, attendee engagement tools (like polls and Q&A), and role-based participation (presenters vs. attendees). Attendees join in a more passive mode (view-only until promoted).

Ideal for:

  • Customer or partner presentations
  • Product demos
  • Training sessions with external guests
  • Lead generation events

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Best for: Broadcasting to very large audiences with minimal interaction.

Live Events are designed for one-to-many communication. Only designated presenters and producers can speak or share content. Attendees watch a controlled, broadcast-like stream and can submit questions via moderated Q&A. Interaction is minimal.

Ideal for:

  • Company-wide announcements
  • CEO town halls
  • Virtual conferences
  • Large public briefings (up to 20,000 viewers)

Comparison Chart: Microsoft Teams Meetings vs. Webinars vs. Live Events

Feature / Use CaseTeams MeetingTeams WebinarTeams Live Event
Audience SizeUp to 1,000 (interactive)Up to 1,000 (interactive)Up to 20,000 (view-only)
Registration PageNot included Built-inNot included
Audience Interaction Full (chat, video, audio)Limited (Q&A, raise hand)Minimal (Q&A only)
Presenter ControlBasic (anyone can present) Presenters vs. Attendees Designated presenters only
Recording & Transcripts Yes Yes Yes
Attendee ReportsBasic attendance report Detailed registration & engagement Viewer analytics
External Participants Yes Yes Yes
Use Case ExampleTeam meeting, project reviewTraining webinar, sales demoCompany town hall, public event

Which One Should You Use?

Your GoalUse This Option
Interactive team discussionTeams Meeting
Presentation to external customers or partnersTeams Webinar
Company-wide broadcast with limited interactionTeams Live Event
Training session with registrationTeams Webinar
Product launch with Q&A for large audienceTeams Live Event

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