Zoom to Google Meet Migration Guide: Step-by-Step (2026)

Why Google Meet?

Google Meet is free for anyone with a Google account. No 40-minute limit on group calls. If your team already uses Gmail, Drive, or any Google Workspace plan, Meet is included at no extra cost. That’s a big reason people leave Zoom — especially when Zoom’s per-host pricing starts at ~$14/mo for Pro, and you need to pay extra for cloud recording or larger meetings. Meet just works in the browser, no client install needed.

If you’re not sure Meet is right for you, see how it stacks up against Zoom in our Zoom vs Google Meet comparison. Or check out the full list of Zoom alternatives.

Before You Start: What to Back Up

Zoom owns your meeting data — recordings, chat logs, whiteboards, and participant reports. You want to grab those before you cancel.

• Cloud recordings: Go to Zoom’s web portal → Recordings → Cloud Recordings. Download any you need. Meet doesn’t automatically import them.
• Local recordings: Those are on your hard drive. Move them to Google Drive or a local folder.
• Contacts: Zoom Contacts are separate from Google Contacts. Export your Zoom contact list (Settings → Contacts → Export) and import into Google Contacts.
• Scheduled meetings: Zoom doesn’t let you bulk export future meetings. You’ll need to recreate them in Google Calendar. Take a screenshot or export the calendar feed.
• Chat history: Zoom chat is per-meeting and not easily exportable. If you need a record, copy/paste or use Zoom’s report feature (Admin → Reports → Meeting Reports).

Migration Steps

1. Set Up Google Meet

If you have a Google account (personal or Workspace), Meet is already there. Go to meet.google.com. For Workspace admins: enable Meet for your domain in Admin console → Apps → Google Workspace → Google Meet.

2. Move Your Scheduled Meetings

Zoom meetings won’t automatically appear in Google Calendar. You have two options:

• Manual recreate: For recurring meetings, create new events in Google Calendar and add a Google Meet link. Use the “Add Google Meet video conferencing” button.
• Bulk import: Export your Zoom calendar feed (usually an ICS file) and import into Google Calendar. This preserves times but doesn’t attach Meet links — you’ll still need to edit each event.

3. Notify Your Team

Send an email or Slack message: “We’re moving from Zoom to Google Meet. All future meetings will use Meet links. Your Zoom account will be deactivated on [date].” Include a quick how-to: open the meeting link, no install needed.

4. Update Your Calendar Defaults

In Google Calendar settings, set “Default video conferencing” to Google Meet. That way every new event automatically gets a Meet link.

5. Cancel Zoom (Optional)

If you’re on a paid Zoom plan, wait until your billing cycle ends. Go to Zoom’s web portal → Account Management → Billing → Cancel subscription. But keep your free Zoom account alive for a few weeks in case someone misses a meeting.

Common Gotchas

• No real-time captions in free Meet? Actually, Google Meet now includes live captions for all users (free and Workspace). But they’re English-only. Zoom’s captions require a paid plan.
• Breakout rooms: Meet has breakout rooms, but you must be on a Workspace plan (Business Starter and up). Free Meet doesn’t have them. If you rely on breakout rooms, check your Workspace tier.
• Recording: Free Meet recordings save to Google Drive. Workspace users can also record to Drive, but storage counts against your quota. Zoom gave you 1 GB free cloud storage; Meet uses your Drive space.
• Participant limit: Free Meet supports up to 100 participants. Workspace for Education and Enterprise can go to 500+. Zoom’s free plan caps at 100. So similar, but check your needs.
• Third-party integrations: Zoom has a huge app marketplace. Meet integrates natively with Google Workspace apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides) but fewer third-party integrations. Test your critical workflows.

Post-Migration Checklist

• All team members can join a test Meet call.
• Recordings are moved to Google Drive and organized.
• Google Calendar defaults are set to Meet.
• Zoom account is canceled (if paid) or left on free as backup.
• Team knows how to share screen, use chat, and turn on captions.
• IT has updated any SSO or directory sync if using Workspace.
• Review Google Meet settings: recording permissions, external participant access, etc.

FAQ

Q: Is Google Meet really free? A: Yes, for personal use. No time limit on group calls. Workspace plans start at $6/user/month and include Meet plus more storage and admin controls.

Q: Can I import Zoom contacts into Google Meet? A: Not directly. Export your Zoom contacts as a CSV and import into Google Contacts. They’ll then show up in Meet’s suggestions.

Q: What happens to my Zoom recordings after I cancel? A: They stay on Zoom’s cloud for 30 days (paid accounts) or 90 days (free). Download them before canceling.

Q: Does Google Meet have waiting rooms? A: Yes. Workspace admins can enable “Quick access” (no waiting room) or require host approval. Free Meet defaults to quick access.

Q: Can I still use Zoom after switching? A: You can keep a free Zoom account for occasional calls with external partners who insist on Zoom. Just don’t pay for it.

Still on the fence? Compare features side-by-side in our Zoom vs Google Meet guide. And if Meet isn’t your jam, browse other Zoom alternatives like Microsoft Teams or Webex.