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Polycom RealPresence Desktop vs Webex comparison

Why PeerSpot?
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Polycom RealPresence Desktop
Ranking in Virtual Meetings
13th
Average Rating
7.0
Reviews Sentiment
8.5
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Webex
Ranking in Virtual Meetings
4th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
5.6
Number of Reviews
128
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Virtual Meetings category, the mindshare of Polycom RealPresence Desktop is 1.4%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Webex is 5.0%, down from 12.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Virtual Meetings Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Webex5.0%
Polycom RealPresence Desktop1.4%
Other93.6%
Virtual Meetings
 

Featured Reviews

NH
Network Technical Advisor at a government with 10,001+ employees
Regular use enables effective communication with room for improvement in interoperability
The most valuable part of the desktop is the ability to make voice and video calls. Without getting too technical or divulging too much due to the environment we are in, it allows us to further our reach, from a traditional video conferencing room. Scalability was easy. It was based on calls, not licenses.
DO
Web Designer / Developer & Creative Professional at Federal University of Technology Akure
Virtual training has supported collaborative learning and now needs a simpler and clearer interface
Webex can be simplified in terms of user interface, where many features should be displayed in a compact view, with similar features grouped together and a minimalistic design helping users understand what each button does. If specific features are not needed, they should not distract you, and some features should appear as sliding elements for ease of access. Additionally, connecting to Webex can be technical, and it would be beneficial to have a way to connect anonymously using a simple code instead of going through microphone issues.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It allows us to further our reach, from a traditional video conferencing room."
"The ROI was phenomenal."
"The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward."
"I don't think Zoom has anywhere near the features and functionality of Webex."
"WebEx allows both host and participants to engage in an online class, conference, training session, or support case with ease."
"Webex is very good for webinars and presentations."
"I have found a lot of virtual meeting solutions seem the same. Some might work a little bit better, it is difficult to pinpoint a particular functionality that's widely different, they all have screen sharing and video in-voice."
"The most valuable aspect of this solution is that it is the easiest for participants to get connected to."
"It's easy to dial the numbers and the process of connecting a call is very intuitive."
"We have received a return on investment."
 

Cons

"There probably needs to be an improvement in interoperability."
"The software, licenses and hardware combine to make the solution extremely expensive."
"Sometimes, the solution lags because of performance issues."
"Cisco is not cheap, and this product is not the exception to the rule, but it is worth all the money paid."
"Recordings are slow to start, sometimes fail, and are difficult to edit."
"The product's user interface is an area with shortcomings, making it an area where improvements are required."
"Webex is in the cloud but if they had more economical options, or any additional features compared to Teams and other products, it might be a value add."
"I think Webex could be improved by simplifying the process. For instance, they could make it easier to join meetings by providing a direct meeting link without requiring sign-ups or logins. While security is important, finding a balance with user-friendliness is key."
"CWMS on-premises solution does not integrate either with CMR nor with Jabber as of yet."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"Webex is expensive, especially compared to Zoom or Google."
"There is an annual license required for this solution."
"My organization took care of the licensing. I'm guessing they did some subscription cycle, but I used the free version."
"I rate the platform's pricing a six out of ten."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a six out of ten."
"The price of the license depends a lot on the type of service required and whether it is for the entire company or only for a few users."
"We paid for our Webex license as a bundle."
"The price should be improved significantly."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Virtual Meetings solutions are best for your needs.
913,806 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Financial Services Firm
16%
Outsourcing Company
14%
Construction Company
12%
Marketing Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business41
Midsize Enterprise25
Large Enterprise69
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Polycom RealPresence Desktop?
There is probably room for improvement in interoperability.
What is your primary use case for Polycom RealPresence Desktop?
We use the desktop. It was used in the same case. We use it with our partners.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Webex?
From when I last implemented it, I found the price to be expensive. The licensing model doesn't work because if I want to implement it for an organization, I need to pay a per-user license, which m...
What needs improvement with Webex?
Webex is top-notch at this point in time. The only improvement I see is related to RAM and CPU usage, as older systems with 4GB RAM or i3 processors might slow down the application. I do not have a...
What is your primary use case for Webex?
Webex is primarily used for customer meetings, collaboration with team members, presenting to customers, and virtual calls with customers. In my daily work, I get on the meeting and take the discus...
 

Also Known As

RealPresence Desktop
Cisco Spark
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

John Laing, China Daily, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, NATO Communications and Information Agency, NHS Home Dialysis, Silver Chain, South Carolina Department of Mental Health, nimed
Seagate Technology, Kohn Pedersen Fox, World Vision International, Glen Raven, University of Notre Dame, CEV Multimedia, The Food Group, LUMEDX, California Baptist University, and Georgetown University Law Center.
Find out what your peers are saying about Zoom Video Communications, TeamViewer, Microsoft and others in Virtual Meetings. Updated: September 2026.
913,806 professionals have used our research since 2012.