Zoom or Teams Pro? Keys to choosing a platform for remote simultaneous interpretation

In an increasingly globalized and digital world, Multilingual virtual events have become common practice at international conferences, corporate training sessions, shareholder meetings, or product launches. To ensure that all participants—regardless of their language—can understand and actively participate, remote simultaneous interpretation has become an essential resource.

This type of interpretation allows attendees to hear the speaker's intervention in their own language, in real time and without interruptions, thanks to the work of professional interpreters operating from virtual booths. However, The technology used plays a determining role in the quality of the service. This is where many companies face a key decision:
Which platform offers the best experience for simultaneous interpretation? Zoom or Microsoft Teams Pro?

Both tools have functions to add interpretation channels, but they present substantial differences in terms of usability, technical control, audio stability and pre-configuration. Choosing one or the other can make the difference between a smooth, professional experience or a chaotic and confusing session for attendees.

In this article, we take a detailed look at the simultaneous interpretation features in Zoom and Microsoft Teams Pro, so you can make an informed decision and ensure the success of your next multilingual event.

Zoom: the most mature platform for remote simultaneous interpretation

Zoom has been pioneer in natively incorporating the simultaneous interpretation function within its platform, and remains, to this day, the preferred choice for multilingual event organizers and professional interpreters. Its focus on the user experience—for both participants and organizers—along with a dedicated interpretation setup, makes it the most reliable and robust solution for multi-language events.

Zoom has been pioneer in natively incorporating the simultaneous interpretation function within its platform, and remains, to this day, the preferred choice for multilingual event organizers and professional interpreters. Its focus on the user experience—for both participants and organizers—along with a dedicated interpretation setup, makes it the most reliable and robust solution for multi-language events.

Key benefits of Zoom for simultaneous interpretation

• Integrated language channels
  The platform allows you to create parallel audio channels for each language combination. Attendees can easily choose the language they want to listen to the event in, directly from the meeting menu, without having to leave or install extensions.
• Smooth switching between performers
  Zoom allows multiple interpreters to be assigned to the same language pair, making it easier for them to rotate without interruptions—critical for long or cognitively intensive events, such as technical or legal conferences.
• Full organizer control
  The meeting host can manage interpreters, turn interpretation on or off at any time, and monitor which channels are in use. This provides an additional layer of control and security for organizers and technical coordinators.
• Intuitive interface for participants
  Even users with no prior experience with virtual events can easily find and activate the interpretation feature. The language selection option is visible and clearly labeled, minimizing incidents and the need for technical support during the event.
• High audio stability in multilingual environments
  The sound quality is consistent even on medium connections, and the interpretation channel remains isolated from the main channel, avoiding confusion or overlaps between the original language and the translation.

Technical and configuration requirements

To use simultaneous interpretation on Zoom, you must meet some basic requirements:

• Have a Zoom Pro license or higher (Business, Enterprise or Education).
• Please enable the interpretation feature in your account settings (it is not enabled by default).
• Manually add interpreters before the start of the event, indicating their Zoom-associated email address and the language pair they will be working in.

In addition, it is advisable to carry out a test meeting with all interpreters and technical staff at least one day before the event, to verify settings, microphones, shifts, and channel usage.

What type of events is it ideal for?

Zoom is especially recommended for:

• Multilingual webinars with large audiences
• International conferences and technical forums
• Corporate training with a global presence
• General meetings, executive committees or institutional meetings with official interpretation
• Hybrid events with part of the audience in person and part online

Thanks to its reliability and the positive experience of thousands of successfully executed events, Zoom has established itself as the reference tool in the remote simultaneous interpretation industry.

Microsoft Teams Pro: simultaneous interpretation in the evolution phase

Microsoft has taken significant steps to incorporate multilingual capabilities into its collaborative environment, recently adding the option to remote simultaneous interpretation within Teams Premium, an advanced version of its platform. However, compared to Zoom, this functionality is still in an early stage of development and presents both technical and operational limitations.

Although it represents a step forward in the integration of interpretation within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, its use still requires specialized configuration, technical knowledge and certain manual adjustments that can make it difficult to implement smoothly in complex or highly demanding events.

Current Teams features for simultaneous interpretation

• Live interpretation feature available only in Teams Premium
  Unlike Zoom, which includes this option in more affordable licenses like Pro, Microsoft restricts simultaneous interpretation to users with the Premium version, which incurs an additional cost and may limit its adoption by small and medium-sized organizations.
• Advanced and IT department-dependent configuration
  Activating the feature requires prior configuration by technical administrators of the Microsoft 365 environment, as well as correct role assignment within the meeting. This can create logistical barriers if the event does not have specialized IT support.
• Limited management of interpreters during the meeting
  Although performers can be pre-assigned, live monitoring is less agile. The organizer doesn't have the same tools that Zoom offers to monitor and modify channels in real time or make adjustments on the fly.
• Unclear interface for participants
  Many attendees confuse the simultaneous interpretation feature with automatic subtitles or on-screen translations, which can lead to frustration or loss of context if clear instructions are not given. Furthermore, the visibility of the selected language channel is not always intuitive.

Operational limitations to take into account

• Not all attendees can easily access the language selection menu, especially if they are not using the updated desktop app.
• It is required that organizers, performers and attendees use compatible versions from Teams, preferably under the same corporate infrastructure.
• The Performer changes may cause minor audio interruptions or desynchronizations., affecting the continuity of the speech.
• There is no native function for test previously the interpretation function within the production environment, so it is essential to perform tests in a test environment.

What type of events is it suitable for?

Microsoft Teams Pro (or Premium) can be a valid solution in contexts where:

• The organization already operates regularly within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• It is about multilingual internal meetings, with low reputational risk.
• We have a technical team familiar with advanced Teams configuration.
• The number of interpreters and language combinations is limited.
• Integration with corporate tools (SharePoint, Outlook, OneDrive) is prioritized over the event's audiovisual experience.

Which option do we recommend in ATLS?

At ATLS, we have extensive experience managing multilingual events for companies, international organizations, and public entities. We have worked with both platforms —Zoom and Microsoft Teams Pro— in very diverse contexts, from internal seminars to international conferences with thousands of attendees. Our recommendation is based on technical, operational and user experience criteria, always thinking about the fluency of communication and the quality of interpretation.

Zoom: the most complete and reliable option for demanding events

If your event is external, multilingual, international in scope or requires a seamless attendee experience, Zoom remains the most robust and professional option. Its mature simultaneous interpretation function, its technical stability and its intuitive interface allow:

• ✅ A frictionless experience for the end user, regardless of their technical profile.
• ✅ A optimized audio quality, essential for interpreters to work accurately and for listeners to receive a clear message.
• ✅ A smooth and secure management of the team of interpreters, with options to change channels, monitor in real time and perform pre-testing within the same environment.

Furthermore, being widely adopted in the international events sector, Zoom offers Greater compatibility with technical teams, interpretation agencies and moderators accustomed to its dynamics.

Teams Pro: a viable alternative in internal corporate contexts

Now, if your company already works in a consolidated way with the environment Microsoft 365, and the event you want to organize is smaller, internal or aimed at teams that already use Teams regularly, so Microsoft Teams Pro may be a valid option. Of course, in this case it is essential:

• Count on specialized technical advice to correctly activate and configure the interpretation function.
• Carry out exhaustive pre-testing with all the key performers and participants.
• Make sure that all profiles involved (organizer, performers, assistants) have the appropriate versions and compatible licenses.

Our philosophy: The platform must adapt to the event, not the other way around.

Ultimately, the choice of platform should respond to the specific needs of the event: number of languages, audience profile, quality requirements, degree of interaction and available technical resources. At ATLS we do not impose standard solutions, but rather We advise each client in a personalized way for remote interpreting to be a success, whatever the tool chosen.

The success of your event depends on technology… and the human team

The platform matters, but the real value is provided by them professional interpreters who accompany your event and the technical team that ensures everything runs smoothly. At ATLS we not only offer remote simultaneous interpretation, but we also help you choosing the right platform, configure language channels and ensure an error-free experience.

Do you want to organize a flawless multilingual event?

Frequently asked questions about simultaneous interpretation with Teams Pro and Zoom

Karen Aliaga