Your virtual Thanksgiving just got a little longer and less complicated, as Zoom has announced that its free plan will drop the 40-minute time limit during the holiday.
Let's be honest, no one is particularly excited that the holiday season is marred by the pandemic in such a significant way. Unfortunately, with cases and deaths rising at such an explosive rate in the US, business as usual is simply not the reasonable, safe approach to Thanksgiving this year.
Fortunately, Zoom is looking out for its socially distancing users by nixing the limit from its free plan, so family and friends can — at least virtually — spend some time together.
Zoom: No Time Limits on Thanksgiving
Announced in a tweet last week, Zoom has said it will do away with the 40-minute time limit that is standard in the free plan available from the video conferencing platform, and it should make the holidays a bit easier to manage for all socially distanced users.
As a thank you to our customers, we will be lifting the 40-minute limit for all meetings globally from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 so your family gatherings don't get cut short. ❤️🏡 #ZoomTogether pic.twitter.com/aubsH0tfxG
— Zoom (@zoom_us) November 10, 2020
The move is a kind one from what many consider the poster child for virtual communication amidst a global pandemic that continues to ravage the US. Zoom has seen unprecedented growth in the months since the coronavirus reared its ugly head, and this move to make a socially distanced holiday more enjoyable is another reason why it's the go-to option for so many. Well, that and those virtual backgrounds, of course.
Zoom Fatigue
While Zoom's decision provides its users with a limitless experience on Thanksgiving, it's worth noting that the video conferencing trend has begun to wear on some. Zoom fatigue has become a very real strain on the mental health of some users, and this limitless experience may not be the long term solution.
Studies have shown that everything from the lack of personal connection to the inclination to multitask can have more of a disconnecting effect than the alternative. In fact, the term has become part of everyday life now, with Google searches for the phrase increasing substantially since March.
The reality is that Zoom gatherings, meetings, and other events aren't the same as meeting in person, and it can be hard to understand how that affects your body. Still, during the holidays, when you're looking to jump on with as many family members as possible, doing away with the 40-minute time limit can make things infinitely easier, as long as you manage your mental health.
What about after Thanksgiving?
If you are excited about the lack of a time limit on Zoom this Thanksgiving, and want to enjoy more limitless video chats, you're in luck! While the free plan on Zoom saddles users with a 40-minute time limit, paid users are free to use the service for as long as they wish. Well, technically the paid Zoom plans come with a 30 hour time limit, but come on, who's trying to video chat instead of sleeping, right?
Additionally, Zoom isn't the only video conferencing platform out there, despite what you may believe after this pandemic. Google Meet is another great option, which comes with a 60-minute time limit for free plans, and offers some truly intuitive features for businesses.
Check out our Google Meet review for more information.
And that's not all. There are dozens of great video conferencing options on the market today with varying plan options, time limits, and features that might be a better fit for you, no matter what you're using it for. Take a look at this table to get a better idea of the video conferencing options available to you.
| Price from The lowest starting price for a paid plan. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | User rating Average rating given by iOS and Android users in App Store and Google Play Store reviews | Best for | Pros | Cons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| RingCentral | Google Meet | Microsoft Teams | GoTo Meeting | Zoom | Webex | Zoho Meeting | Lifesize |
| $11.99/month | $8/month | $4/month | |||||
| 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Longer meetings | Google Workplace users | Microsoft users | Overall conference calling | Beginners | Larger businesses | Zoho users | Users that need hardware |
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