Zoom Headsets

Zoom certified or works with Zoom?

Almost any USB or Bluetooth headset will play sound in a Zoom meeting. Certification is about what else works. As our explainer on Zoom compatible vs Zoom certified devices puts it, Zoom certified devices "have been specifically tested and certified by Zoom to work optimally with the platform."

On this page we use two labels, and both come from the product listing:

• Zoom certified: the listing says the headset is certified for Zoom. The Yealink HA64 Pro listing, for example, says it is "Zoom and Microsoft Teams certified for ease of use, including remote call answering."
• Works with Zoom: the listing names Zoom as a compatible app but makes no certification claim. These headsets still work in Zoom; check the listing for the call controls you need.

Zoom certified headsets are sorted to the front of the grid.

What certification adds in a meeting

The difference shows up in the buttons. On a certified headset, the headset controls talk to Zoom: the Shokz OpenComm2 listing says you can mute your Zoom call from the headset, and that it "allows you to take Zoom calls remotely because it's Zoom certified." Our guide to HID compatible headsets explains the standard behind it: HID lets the headset answer, end and mute calls in apps like Zoom without you touching the computer.

Plug in the USB adapter, not your laptop's Bluetooth

Most wireless headsets on this page ship with a small USB adapter. Use it for Zoom on your computer. When a headset is paired straight to the computer's Bluetooth, our article on Bluetooth headsets on work computers says you lose answering and ending calls from the headset, muting from the headset and seeing your mute status in Zoom and Teams. Our HID guide makes the same point: Bluetooth "bypasses HID functionality."

The adapter also helps your IT team. Our USB dongle vs direct Bluetooth guide explains that IT departments often prefer dongles because they standardize the connection across different laptops and cut troubleshooting time.

Wired, Bluetooth with a dongle, or DECT?

• Wired USB: no battery to charge and nothing to pair. A good fit for a fixed desk. The Jabra Engage 50 II, Poly Blackwire 3315 and 3325, and Yealink UH42 and UH44 listings all say they are certified for Zoom.
• Bluetooth with a USB dongle: one headset for your laptop and your mobile. Our DECT vs Bluetooth guide says Bluetooth makes a lot of sense if you mostly use a computer and a phone, travel, or move between work locations. Ratings of about 100 ft are common, and our Evolve3 45 review recommends planning on half the stated range.
• DECT: the headset talks to its own base, and the base plugs into your computer by USB. The Yealink HA64 Pro reaches up to 606 ft on DECT and also has Bluetooth for your mobile, and its base can connect a compatible desk phone too.

If you also take calls on a desk phone, start with our wireless headsets for office phones, which show the cable or adapter each phone brand needs.

One headset for Zoom and Teams

Many companies use both. Several headsets come in a UC version and a Microsoft Teams version, and our Teams vs UC explainer gives the rule of thumb: choose the Teams version if Teams is your only app, and the UC version if you use other apps or a mix.

Read the certification line for the version you buy. The Jabra Evolve2 65 listing, for example, says the UC version is Zoom certified and the Teams version is certified for Microsoft Teams. The Jabra Engage 55 SE listing says it is certified for Zoom, while its Teams model is certified for Microsoft Teams.

Some headsets carry both certifications. The Jabra Evolve2 55 listing says "Certified for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom." The Yealink HA64 Pro needs no special order: you pick the Teams profile or the UC configuration on its touchscreen. For a Teams-first team, see our Microsoft Teams headsets.

What we heard in our mic tests

We test with the noises that interrupt real meetings. Our three Zoom picks were each played against office noise, barking dogs and a blender:

• Yealink HA64 Pro: in our crying baby mic test, "Microphone sound quality was solid, and the noise cancellation was excellent." See our HA64 Pro review for Teams and Zoom.
• Jabra Evolve2 55: we tested it against the Evolve2 65 with office noise, dogs barking, babies crying and a blender. In our Evolve2 55 vs Evolve2 65 test, "the Evolve2 55 did a better job overall."
• Jabra Engage 50 II: after office noise, barking dogs and our blender test, our Engage 50 II review says it "pretty much removed all the different noises."

In the same crying baby test, the Jabra Evolve3 85, which its listing says is UC-certified and optimized for Zoom, scored this line: "the sound quality was solid, and the noise canceling was equally solid." The Evolve3 lineup is on our Jabra Evolve3 series page.

Your laptop's built-in mic and consumer earbuds are a step down. In our AirPods and laptop mic vs headset comparison, both did "a poor job at removing noise."

Comfort for back-to-back meetings

If you spend hours a day in Zoom, weight and wearing style matter as much as the mic.

• Light on the head: our review puts the Engage 50 II mono at 1.6 ounces and the duo at 2.3 ounces. The Evolve2 55 mono weighs 2.7 ounces.
• Nothing on your ears: the Shokz OpenComm2 uses bone conduction, wraps around the back of your head and weighs 35 grams, per its listing. Our OpenComm2 review covers who it suits.
• One ear or two: a single-ear headset keeps you aware of the room. Two ears block more of the noise around you.

Working from home most days? Our work from home headsets are chosen for barking dogs and busy kitchens.

Buying Zoom headsets for a team

Standardize on one or two models so your IT team supports one setup, and order the version (UC or Teams) that matches the apps your people use. We quote volume orders on our team quote page and accept purchase orders, tax-exempt orders and payment terms for enterprise, government, education and healthcare teams. For 10 or more users, the Managed Headset Program covers headsets from $4 to $20 per user per month, and replacements ship first. Not sure which version you need? Talk to an Advisor.