Webinar, webcast, livestream, virtual event: the terms get mixed up constantly, and choosing the wrong one can mean picking the wrong platform, budget, or format. This guide explains the difference between a webinar, a webcast, and a virtual event, with a comparison table and guidance on which to choose.
Definitions
What is a webinar?
A webinar is a live online presentation or class where an audience can interact through chat, Q&A, and polls. Webinars typically serve tens to a few thousand people, last 30 to 90 minutes, and run on platforms like Zoom Webinars, Microsoft Teams, or Webex. See what is a webinar for a full guide.
What is a webcast?
A webcast is a one-way broadcast of a live event over the internet, often to a very large audience. Think of a university commencement streamed online, a company’s quarterly earnings call, or a conference keynote streamed to remote viewers. Interaction is limited, perhaps a moderated question form, and the focus is on reaching as many people as possible with reliable, high-quality video.
What is a virtual event?
A virtual event is a larger online gathering that may include many sessions, such as webinars, webcasts, breakouts, networking, exhibitor booths, and social activities. Virtual conferences, career fairs, and summits are virtual events. They often run on dedicated event platforms and can last from a few hours to several days.
Webinar vs. Webcast vs. Virtual Event: Comparison Table
| Webinar | Webcast | Virtual event | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interaction | Chat, Q&A, polls | Minimal | Varies: sessions, networking, breakouts |
| Audience size | Tens to a few thousand | Hundreds to millions | Hundreds to thousands |
| Length | 30 to 90 minutes | Length of the live event | Hours to days |
| Main goal | Teach or inform with some interaction | Broadcast to the widest audience | Recreate a conference or gathering online |
| Typical platform | Zoom Webinars, Teams, Webex | Streaming platforms, YouTube Live | Event platforms with multiple rooms |
| Production | Simple, one presenter can run it | Often professional crew and cameras | Event team and multiple hosts |
What About Livestreams, Online Meetings, and Hybrid Events?
- Livestream. Any live video broadcast online. A webcast is a livestream of an event, usually more formal.
- Online meeting. A video call where everyone can see and talk to each other, usually 2 to 20 people. Better for collaboration than presentation.
- Online workshop. An interactive session where participants work in breakout rooms and shared whiteboards. See Workshop vs. Seminar vs. Webinar.
- Hybrid event. An event with an in-person audience and a remote audience at the same time. Often combines a live event with a webcast or webinar.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose a webinar when you want to teach or inform a defined audience and take questions. Most professional learning sessions fall here.
- Choose a webcast when you have an important live moment, like a commencement, a town hall, or an announcement, and want as many people as possible to watch.
- Choose a virtual event when you want multiple sessions, choice, and networking, like a conference.
- Choose an online workshop when you want people to collaborate, practice, or solve problems.
Examples
A university admissions office runs a 45-minute webinar for prospective students with live Q&A. The same university webcasts its commencement ceremony to families around the world. A professional association moves its annual conference online as a two-day virtual event with keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking lounges. A teaching center runs an online workshop where faculty redesign a course module together in breakout rooms.
Tips That Apply to All Online Formats
- Test your technology with the actual presenters, devices, and connections.
- Assign a host or producer separate from the presenter for anything larger than a small meeting.
- Plan interaction even for large audiences: polls, chat prompts, and moderated questions. Our list of webinar engagement ideas has 25 options.
- Keep it shorter than an in-person version. See how long should a webinar be.
- Record and reuse. A recording can become clips, articles, and on-demand content. See how to repurpose a webinar recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a webcast the same as a webinar?
No. A webinar is interactive and usually smaller. A webcast is a broadcast to a large audience with little interaction.
Is a Zoom meeting a webinar?
Not technically. In a Zoom meeting, everyone can talk and share video. In a Zoom webinar, attendees watch and interact through chat, Q&A, and polls.
Is a virtual conference a webinar?
A virtual conference is a virtual event that usually contains many webinars and other sessions.
What does “webcast” stand for?
It combines “web” and “broadcast.”
Whatever the format, online sessions work best when people participate. The facilitation workshop at InnovationTraining.org helps session leaders design online sessions that keep people engaged.
