In modern times, computer technology is at its peak. It has become a vital part of human life, like natural resources such as oxygen and water. It provides countless services for people at home with some clicks on the screen.
Webinar and WebEx are two of those services that depend on computer technology.
Key Takeaways
- Webinars are online events or presentations aimed at educating, training, or informing a large audience, while Webex is a specific web conferencing platform developed by Cisco.
- Webex can host webinars but also provides additional features like virtual meetings, video conferences, and screen sharing.
- Webinars can be hosted on various platforms, not just Webex, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
Webinar vs WebEx
The difference between a webinar and WebEx is that a webinar is a virtual form of a seminar that can be hosted using multiple software and applications, while WebEx itself is an application that provides a virtual meeting for various people. Both webinars and WebEx are used for business-related meetings, which include voice or video chat and texts.
The term webinar is used for seminars that are held on the Internet. It is considered to be an online event. Organizations, specific groups of people, and companies host these events online via the Internet.
That is the main reason why a seminar is called a webinar. Both are the same things, but the medium to deliver is different.
WebEx is known to be an online meeting. It is a virtual meeting of individuals. A person can attend a WebEx meeting from Home without going anywhere. He needs access to a computer and an internet connection.
When a person joins a WebEx meeting, he can see the computer screen of the presenter to observe the information.
Comparison Table
| Parameters Of Comparison | Webinar | WebEx |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Webinars include specific activities such as lectures, workshops, presentations, meetings over a digital medium of communication to deliver information. | WebEx is a solution that can be referred to as a platform where online meetings take place. |
| Type | A webinar is considered to be a specific type of solution for web conferences that can include various topics. | WebEx is considered to be a one-stop solution for video conferencing that includes all types of conversations or communication. |
| Features | The features offered in a webinar for attendees are limited that including chat support during ongoing events for the audience. | WebEx meeting provides various features for its users such as screen sharing, file transfer, video sharing, and recording. |
| Modes | Most of the time, webinars are held in a view-only mode where attendees can not interact with the presenter. | In WebEx, the meetings are collaborating where both presenter and attendees interact with one another as a group. |
| Breakout session | Webinars do not have the feature, breakout room. There are only two sides that are the speaker and the audience. | WebEx offers breakout sessions when the audience is divided into smaller groups and these groups can communicate with one another. |
What is Webinar?
Webinars are events hosted by companies and organizations online for the people through the internet. When a person attends a webinar as an audience or speaker, he has control over being visible or not.
Webinars can also be referred to as web conferencing. It includes two parties which are presenters and attendees.
It provides the services of webcasting and web meeting.
Webinars have several benefits, such as a person can interact with an audience that belongs to other countries and continents, and the one condition is that both parties should have a high-speed internet connection.
The entire process of webinars depends on the service of the internet. It provides real-time conversation between multiple parties.
A person who’s part of the audience can ask a question by submitting it in the required section. It carries information from one source to many receivers across the globe, and that’s the beauty of webinars.
The information travels between the source and the receiver in the form of text, video chat, and voice chat.
In webinars, the physical presence of individuals is not required, they can attend the webinar from anywhere using computer software and the Internet.
The functionality of the medium being used for conducting a webinar can differ for the audience and speaker.
What is WebEx?
WebEx meeting is a software developed by Cisco Systems. It organizes online meetings for its users. The headquarter of WebEx is located in Milpitas, California, United States. Min Zhu and Subrah Iyar are the founders of WebEx.
They founded WebEx in the year of 1995. Access to the pc or laptop and connection is the basic requirement to attend a WebEx meeting.
In some cases, a separate phone line is also Preferred. To join the WebEx meeting, a person is expected to call on the given number, and when the call connects, both parties become able to communicate with each other.
This call can be made between the presenter and an individual or group.
Every participant in a WebEx meeting can communicate with one another. Almost 10,000 people work at WebEx as its employees. WebEx allows users to choose when, where, and how they want to work.
The updated version of WebEx, it included the feature of cloud calling.
WebEx focuses on what type of work is being done, not the location of that work. By using WebEx, an organization can have clients and employees from any corner of the world.
Since the process of communication becomes easier and more secure.
Main Differences Between Webinar and WebEx
- The application which is commonly used to host a webinar is GoToWebinar, while WebEx itself is a platform that facilitates online meetings.
- The audience can not be divided into small groups in webinars, while WebEx provides the feature of breakout sessions that makes small groups attendees.
- Webinars are hosted in view-only mode. On the other hand, in a meeting through WebEx, each individual can interact with another.
- The chat support feature is excluded in webinars, while in WebEx, attendees can ask questions or give feedback.
- The webinars cover various topics on which they give information, while the meeting in WebEx focuses on a certain topic.
- https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aafcs/jfcs/2015/00000107/00000002/art00012
- https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/shared-component-assets/tecom/uc&c/conferencing/cisco-webex-meetings/cisco-webex-meetings-webex-cca-sp-from-telstra-datasheet.pdf
Last Updated : 24 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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When the difference between Webinar and WebEx is clearly stated like this, it’s difficult to believe anyone could still be confused.
After reading this, it’s clear that Webinar and WebEx are two different beasts. I appreciate the thorough comparison.
The clear descriptions of both Webinar and WebEx leave no room for ambiguity. Excellent work done.
An excellent, well-researched article. The comparison table was particularly helpful in understanding the differences.