Zoom's 40-minute limit: how to get longer meetings
Short answer
Meetings hosted on a free Zoom account end after 40 minutes. To run longer meetings, the host needs a paid licence such as Zoom Pro, which removes the 40-minute cap. Only the host needs the paid plan: everyone else can join from a free account.
Why Zoom meetings stop at 40 minutes
Zoom's free plan, called Basic, limits every meeting to 40 minutes, one-on-one calls included. Zoom warns everyone shortly before time runs out, then closes the meeting. The limit follows the host's account, so it makes no difference which plan the participants have.
Workarounds on the free plan
- Start a new meeting. When the meeting ends, the host starts another one and shares the new link. It works, but it breaks the flow of the conversation.
- Split long sessions. Plan agendas in blocks of under 40 minutes.
- Let someone with a paid licence host. If a colleague or client has a paid Zoom plan, they can schedule the meeting and you join as a participant.
These are fine for an occasional call. If you host long meetings every week, the interruptions add up.
What Zoom Pro changes
Zoom Pro is a paid licence for one host. For most people, two changes matter:
- No 40-minute cap on the meetings you host.
- Cloud recording, so meetings are saved online for anyone who missed them.
Zoom sets the exact limits of each plan and can change them. Zoom Pro at LicenceBase starts at $9.10 CAD, with short plans that suit a project, a semester or a busy season. Nothing renews automatically.
Is Zoom Pro worth it?
Pay for it if you host meetings longer than 40 minutes more than once or twice a month, or if you need recordings saved to the cloud. Skip it if your calls are short, or if the people you meet with already have a paid plan and can host. If you also need documents and email, the Business Bundle pairs Zoom Pro with Microsoft 365 in one order.
Frequently asked questions
Do participants need Zoom Pro too?
No. The meeting length depends on the host's plan. Participants can join from free accounts.
Does the 40-minute limit apply to one-on-one meetings?
Yes. On the free plan, every meeting the account hosts is limited to 40 minutes.
Can I keep my existing Zoom account?
If it matters which Zoom account the plan is used on, email us before you buy and we will tell you how delivery works for this product.
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