AlphaNow / Zoom Comparison

To support your adoption of AlphaNow and help you transition from other platforms like Zoom, we have created the below tables. They provide an overview of key features in AlphaNow and Zoom, a walk-through guide showing how to run your Alpha in either of the two products, and side by side, detailed comparison tables showing differences between the AlphaNow and Zoom web, iOS and Android apps.  

  • Overview 
  • Running Alpha Online On Desktop and Mobile Web Browser 
  • Apps Comparison (Web) 
  • Mobile Apps Comparison

Overview

CATEGORYAlphaNowZOOM
PRICEFree account with no time limitation and access to all available features. 

Free account with a 40-minute limitation.  

Paid Pro account with no time limitation.  

REDUCING DATA USAGE

Participants can choose between three data saving modes within the mobile app to reduce their data usage.  

The Standard mode (default option) allows the user to have the best available audio and video quality for the group video. The Alpha Video will be displayed in 720p resolution.   

The Low mode reduces the video quality for the group video. The Alpha Video will be displayed in 360p resolution.   

The Lowest mode  
removes the user’s video output and shares their audio only. The Alpha Video will be displayed in 360p resolution.  

Participants can choose to join a meeting using audio only.  
SAFEGUARDING

Guests remain in the waiting room until hosts open a small group with a minimum of 3 participants.  

Breakout room requires a minimum of three participants (one host needed).  

Guests can message everyone and their small group publicly. Private messages cannot be sent between guests. Guests can only send a private message to an administrator or host.  

Hosts can mute audio, turn off video, or remove a participant.  

Participants remain in the waiting room until hosts allow them in.  

Hosts can disable chat or allow participants to message hosts only, everyone publicly, or everyone publicly and privately.  

Hosts can mute audio, turn off video, or remove a participant.  

TRAINING  Alpha team training, Alpha best practices training, watch training videos, and read support articles available.Register for basic Zoom training, watch training videos, and read support articles.  
SUPPORT  Help website access, chatbot support, and National Alpha Office support available to all participants.

Free account has help website access only. 

Paid account has help website, live chat, and support tickets.  

MyAlpha INTEGRATION

Admins and hosts use the same login credentials for AlphaNow as they do for MyAlpha.   

An Alpha and respective link are automatically generated for admins and hosts running an Alpha using the AlphaNow app. 

Hosts need to create a Zoom meeting after creating an Alpha in MyAlpha.
THE ALPHA VIDEOHosts can play the Alpha Video from within the AlphaNow app allowing participants to view it simultaneously without having to leave the platform. Hosts must share their screen to play the Alpha video. Alternatively, participants can watch the Alpha video on their own.  
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTSCurrently we recommend a max of 6 small groups with a max of 16 participants for an optimal Alpha experience 

A maximum of 300 participants can join per meeting.  

Paid add-on available for up to 500 or 1000 participants.  

SPEAKER VIEWHosts can spotlight themselves as the main speaker on the screen using Broadcast feature.  Hosts can spotlight themselves and other participants as the main speaker on the screen. 

Running Alpha Online On Desktop and Mobile Web Browser

RUNNING SESSIONAlphaNowZOOM
START SESSION Host opens the waiting room. They can start the 
session when two or more participants in their small group have joined.  

All hosts join the same Zoom meeting. 
Guests are admitted as they join the waiting room. 

Or  

Each small group has their own Zoom meeting.  Hosts of the small group join their respective meeting. Guests are admitted by the host as they join the waiting room. 

INTROHost broadcasts themself to welcome everyone. 
Host broadcasts a worship video from Vimeo. 
Host spotlights themself to welcome everyone. 
Host screen-shares a worship video from YouTube. 
WATCH ALPHA VIDEOHost broadcasts the Alpha Vimeo link for everyone to view within the app. 

Host screen-shares the Alpha video for everyone to watch in the app. 

Or 

Host pastes the Alpha Vimeo link in the chat.  
Guests click the link and watch the Alpha video on Vimeo.  
Guests re-join the Zoom call to discuss the video.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION Guests are already in small groups. 

Host creates breakout rooms. 
Guests join their assigned breakout room. 

Or 

Each small group has their own Zoom meeting that guests are already in. 

PRAYER MINISTRYHosts can invite guests to a breakout room
with a minimum of 3 participants (including a host).
Host can invite guests to a breakout room. 
ENDING SESSION

Host clicks the End session button 

Or 

Admin can click End for All button from the dashboard. 

Host clicks End Meeting for All button. 

Apps Comparison (Web) 

CATEGORYFEATURE AlphaNow
WEB BROWSER APP
ZOOM DESKTOP APPZOOM WEB BROWSER APP
ACCOUNTJoin session directly from link 
 Join session without login 
 Guest loginEmail Email + password, Google, Facebook.Email + password, Google, Facebook.
 Admin, Host, Helper loginEmail + passwordEmail + password, Google, Facebook.Email + password, Google, Facebook.
 Upload profile picture 
 Change language
 Language supportEnglish 
Spanish (Latin American)
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) 
English 
French 
German 
Italian 
Japanese 
Korean 
Portuguese 
Russian 
Spanish 
Vietnamese 
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) 
English 
French 
German 
Italian 
Japanese 
Korean 
Portuguese 
Russian 
Spanish 
Vietnamese 
MANAGING COURSECreate a recurring Alpha 
 Share the Alpha link 
 Preassign small groupsOnly for participants with a Zoom account. 
WAITING ROOMGuests can join waiting room before scheduled Alpha timeHost must open the waiting
room first.
 Enable/disable waiting room 
 Host see list of all participants in the waiting roomSee names of those in your small group and hosts. Can see the total joined per group. 
 Admit participants from the waiting room Host chooses to admit all participants and close the waiting room for their small group. Once done, users will join straight into the small group without entering a waiting room.Host can choose to admit some participants while leaving others in the waiting room. Host is notified each time a new participant is in the waiting room.Host can choose to admit some participants while leaving others in the waiting room. Host is notified each time a new participant is in the waiting room.
 Configure who goes into the waiting roomAll participants go to the waiting room.Host can choose who can bypass the waiting room.Host can choose who can bypass the waiting room.
ALPHA SESSIONGrid ViewSee up to 16 people at once.See up to 49 people at once.See up to 49 people at once.
 Speaker View
 Change audio/video settings
 Reactions 
 Screenshare
HOST CONTROLSSpotlight speakerAny host can broadcast themselves as the main speaker.Host can spotlight anyone as the main speaker. 
 Host can mute audio, turn off video, or kick out a participant
 End sessionHost can end their small group only. Admins can end the session for all small groups.Host can end the session for all participants or make someone else the host when they leave.Host can end the session for all participants or make someone else the host when they leave.
CHATSend message to everyone
 Send Message To Small Group    
 Private messaging between host/admin and guests
 Private messaging between guests 
 Send emoji
 Send file, image, GIF 
BREAKOUT ROOMHost creates breakout roomManually select people to join a breakout room. Create one breakout room at a time. Manually select, autogenerate, or participants can choose their room. You can create multiple breakout rooms at the same time.Manually select, autogenerate, or participants can choose their room. You can create multiple breakout rooms at the same time.
 Breakroom created3 participant minimum (including one host)No minimum. No minimum. 
 Host can end the breakout roomBreakout room closes when there are no more hosts in the room.Host can end breakout room after a countdown, or manually end them.Host can end breakout room after a countdown, or manually end them.
 Countdown timer 
 Broadcast message to all breakout rooms
MYALPHA INTEGRATIONLogin with same MyAlpha login  
 Autocreate the Alpha from MyAlpha  
     

Mobile Apps Comparison

CATEGORYFEATUREAlphaNow ANDROID / iOS APPSZOOM ANDROID / iOS APPS
DATA CONSUMPTIONAudio Only SessionData Consumption mode: Lowest for audio only group video session with 360p Alpha video. Phone call into the meeting or run Zoom in the background. Participants can’t see the Alpha video if shown in Zoom. 
 Reduce Alpha Video Quality Data Consumption mode:  
Standard = 720p 
Low = 360p 
Lowest = 360p 
Participants can’t control the Alpha video resolution within Zoom. Video resolution can be changed outside of Zoom.
 Reduce Session Data Usage Data Consumption mode: 
Standard = no bandwidth restrictions 
Low = reduced bandwidth 
Lowest = audio only for group video  
Phone call into the meeting or run Zoom in the background for audio only session. 
ACCOUNTJoin Session Directly From Link  
 Join Session Without Login  
 Guest Login Email  Email + password, Google, Facebook 
 Admin, Host, Helper Login Email + password Email + password, Google, Facebook 
 Upload Profile Picture 
 Change Language 
 Language Support English 
Spanish (Latin America) 
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) 
English 
French 
German 
Italian 
Japanese 
Korean 
Portuguese 
Russian 
Spanish 
Vietnamese 
MANAGE COURSECreate Recurring Alpha  
 Share Alpha link 
WAITING ROOMGuests Can Join Waiting Room Before Scheduled Alpha Time Host must open the waiting room first. 
 Enable/Disable Waiting Room  
 Host Sees All Participants In Waiting Room 
 Admit participants from the waiting room  Host can choose to admit some participants while leaving others in the waiting room. Host is notified each time a new participant in the waiting room. 
 Configure who goes into the waiting room All participants join the waiting room. Host can choose who can bypass the waiting room. 
ALPHA SESSIONGrid View Shows up to 4 people at once. Shows up to 4 people at once. 
 Speaker View
 Change Audio/Video Settings 
 Reactions  
 Screenshare 
HOST ABILITIES Spotlight Speaker  Host can spotlight anyone as the main speaker 
 Mute audio, Turn Off Video, Remove A Participant  
 End session  Host can end the session for all participants or make someone else the host when they leave 
CHAT Send Message To Everyone 
 Send Message To Mmall Group  
 Private Messaging Between Host/Admin and Guests 
 Private Messaging Between Guests  
 Send Emojis
 Send File, Image, GIF  
BREAKOUT ROOMHost Creates Breakout Room  Manually select, autogenerate, or participants can choose their room. You can create multiple breakout rooms at the same time.
 Breakroom created 3 people minimum (including one host) No minimum. 
 Host can end the breakout room Breakout room closes when there are no more hosts in the room. Host can end breakout room after a countdown, or manually end them. 
 Countdown timer  
 Broadcast message to all breakout rooms