Ditto vs. Zoom Rooms
Which is Better for Screen Mirroring?
This article breaks down the key differences between Ditto and Zoom Rooms. Prefer to skip all the reading? Talk to the experts (that’s us) instead.
Highlights
- Ditto is a wireless presentation software solution for meeting spaces. Zoom Rooms is a conference solution that combines hardware and software for remote and in-person meetings.
- Zoom Rooms allows outside users to conference and share screens remotely.
- Ditto costs $399. Zoom Rooms starts at $699.
- Ditto is entirely cross-platform. Screen mirroring with Zoom Rooms is limited to specific platforms.
Software vs. Hardware
Ditto and Zoom Rooms are two different products that accomplish different goals.
What is Ditto?
Ditto is a software-based, wireless presentation solution created for places where people meet. It allows people to screen mirror and present in any room without cables and adapters.
What is Zoom Rooms?
Zoom Rooms is a video conferencing solution that combines software and physical hardware to enable web conferencing, screen mirroring and other features.
Zoom Rooms was developed by video conferencing company Zoom. The company pairs web conferencing software with hardware such as microphones, cameras, computers, TVs and cables in conference rooms with a display.
Compatibility
Ditto supports devices running Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android and Chrome OS. These devices use an app called Ditto Connect to screen mirror to receivers.
Zoom Rooms works with Windows, macOS and iOS. These devices screen mirror in different ways specific to each operating system and do not use a single, unified application.
Wireless Screen Mirroring – Compatible Devices
Ditto:
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Chrome OS
Zoom Rooms:
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
Connections and Usability
Ditto is used in any environment where people are physically present. Zoom Rooms accommodates in-person meetings, but it caters to online meetings and webinars with distributed users.
How Connections Work
Ditto
One single option: The screen mirroring experience is nearly identical across all devices. The TV or primary display shows a unique room code. To screen mirror, all users have to do is enter the room code into the Ditto Connect app on their device.
Mac and Windows users can use a web browser that runs a temporary version of Ditto Connect if they don’t want to download an application.
Zoom Rooms
Users have several ways to share their screens in a Zoom Room:
Use a web browser
Users find and enter a nine-digit Zoom Meeting ID number into their web browser, enter their username inside a pop-up window, select the window they’d like to share inside another menu and click “Share” to initiate screen sharing.
Use a sharing key (desktop only)
Users click “Share Screen” inside the Zoom desktop app, find and enter the meeting sharing key and click “Share” to initiate screen sharing.
Use the Zoom app (desktop only)
Users launch the Zoom app on their desktop computer, find and enter their nine-digit Zoom Meeting ID number into the app, enter their username inside a pop-up window, click “Share” inside the app, select the window they’d like to share inside another menu and click “Share” to initiate screen sharing.
Use native AirPlay screen mirroring (Apple devices only)
If you want to wirelessly screen mirror an iPhone or iPad to a Zoom Room, the only way to do so is to open Control Center on your device, select Screen Mirroring and tap the name of your Zoom Room from the list of available receivers. This method can also be used on macOS without using the Zoom app.
Buy an HDMI cable, capture card, appropriate adapter and update the card’s firmware
Zoom Rooms supports wired connections, such as using HDMI cables. To share a device via an HDMI cable, users must purchase a third-party HDMI capture card and adapter before connecting their device to the computer. Users must upgrade the capture card’s firmware before using it with any device.
With Zoom Rooms, screen mirroring on mobile is limited to iOS only, using the native screen mirroring feature in Control Center. Android and Chromebook users cannot mirror their screens to a Zoom Room.
Unlike Ditto, Zoom Rooms disables audio and video by default on every connected device. If you’re screen mirroring to show audio and video, you must turn them on manually while presenting.
Getting Started
Ditto requires a receiver to be set up with a TV, projector or other large display in order for users to screen mirror. Ditto software works with receivers that already exist in many conference rooms and presentation environments: Apple TV, Chromecast, Windows PCs and Macs.
Zoom Rooms requires a wide variety of physical hardware deployed in the conference room to allow for every supported web conferencing feature. This includes a computer connected to a TV, a tabletop meeting controller such as a tablet or other third-party device, cameras, speakers and microphones as well as cables and adapters to connect these disparate devices.
Basic Hardware Requirements
Ditto:
- TV
- Receiver (Apple TV, Windows device, Mac, Chromecast)
Zoom Rooms:
- TV
- Receiver (Windows device, Mac, Chromebox)
- Controller (iPad, Windows tablet, Android tablet, or other tabletop meeting controller)
- Camera
- Speaker
- Microphone
- Necessary Cables
- Appropriate Adapters
Digital Signage
Ditto and Zoom Rooms both offer digital signage capabilities, allowing admins to display content on screens when users are not actively mirroring. Features, ease of use and offerings vary between both platforms.
Ditto Digital Signage
Ditto offers an all-in-one platform for designing, managing and scheduling signage. Ditto digital signage is a robust service included at no extra cost with every subscription.
Zoom Rooms Digital Signage
Displays in a Zoom Room can show digital signage content such as images, video and web pages. Zoom does not include templates and pushes users to external, paid vendors if they require additional design capabilities.
Cost
Ditto is priced on a per-room basis. The initial Zoom Rooms subscription also follows a per-room model, but requires additional purchases specific to each individual organization’s needs.
- Ditto: $399 per year per room. Requires no additional hardware, cables or replacement parts.
- Zoom Rooms: $699+ per year per room. This is all that’s required for basic screen mirroring and collaboration in the conference room. For full teleconferencing capabilities with remote users, Zoom Rooms requires third-party hardware integrations that cost an additional several hundred to several thousand dollars per room.
Price breakdown
Since Ditto works with receiver hardware already found in most organizations, you have the ability to set up and use Ditto without purchasing any additional technology or equipment. If you do require a wireless receiver, numerous options are available. Even if you decide to purchase a high-end option, such as an Apple TV HD (priced at $240), the total cost of Ditto, paired with a receiver, is $638 for one room.
Zoom Rooms is software-based, but if you want to use Zoom Rooms to its full capacity with integrated audio, video and web conferencing for distributed users, Zoom requires the purchase of third-party hardware to outfit your conference room. These items can be procured and purchased a la carte depending on your organization’s needs, but Zoom strongly recommends procuring through its partnered vendor hardware kits, which start at several thousand dollars per room.
Other add-on options are available for additional costs, such as webinar functionality ($80 per month), cloud recording storage (starting at $40 per month), and VoIP and dial-in audio conferencing (starting at $300 per month). Zoom’s professional services provide consulting and on-site installation of a conference room setup for an additional hourly fee.
The Bottom Line
Both Ditto and Zoom Rooms allow users to share their screens, but the similarities end there. If you’re looking for a truly cross-platform solution where users can present nearly any device wirelessly in any room, go with Ditto.
Zoom Rooms excels at conducting virtual meetings and web conferences that integrate with AV hardware. If you’re looking to invite remote attendees to meetings, have the budget for premium professional services, and don’t require support for a wider range of device types, go with Zoom Rooms.