Desktop & web

RingCentral Scheduler Outlook add-in and RingCentral for Microsoft Outlook plugin comparison

Last updated on February 16, 2022

Table of contents

RingCentral offers integrations with Microsoft Outlook that make scheduling video meetings easier.
 
The fundamental difference between these two integrations is that 
  • The RingCentral Scheduler add-in is built using the Microsoft API’s as an Outlook Add-in, a web application that can be used on desktop and the web as well as on Windows and Mac OS.
  • The RingCentral for Microsoft plugin is an injection-based native plugin that can be installed as a file package and can be used from Outlook on your desktop only on Windows OS.
Note: In 2020, Microsoft announced that they are blocking injection-based plugins with Outlook for Mac. After a recent update as published in this article, they will be blocking only certain plugins in the newer macOS releases (12.x) due to security and stability concerns.
 
RingCentral will continue to offer both Outlook Scheduler Add-in as well as Outlook plugin until Microsoft releases more news around blocking plugins.

RingCentral’s Outlook integrations overview

Plugin: RingCentral for Microsoft Outlook plugin

RingCentral Scheduler outlook plugin
  • RingCentral developed and actively maintained
  • Supports video, voice, and SMS features
  • Supports both RingCentral Meetings (RCM) and RingCentral Video (RCV)
  • Works only on Windows OS.
  • Click here to learn more and download the RingCentral for Microsoft Outlook plugin.

Add-in: RingCentral Scheduler Outlook Add-in 

(Older versions are RingCentral Meetings and RingCentral Video Add-ins)
RingCentral Scheduler outlook addin
  • RingCentral Meetings and RingCentral Video add-ins are upgraded to unified RingCentral Scheduler Outlook add-in. 
  • Developed and actively maintained by RingCentral
  • Supports both RingCentral Meetings (RCM) and RingCentral Video (RCV)
Click here to learn more and install the RingCentral Scheduler Outlook add-in.
 
Important Notes:
  • For existing RingCentral customers,
    • RingCentral Meetings add-in and RingCentral Video add-in should be automatically replaced with RingCentral Scheduler add-in if installed via Microsoft App Source. 
    • If RingCentral Meetings and RingCentral Video add-ins were installed via manifest file,  users have to manually delete them and replace them with RingCentral Scheduler Outlook add-in, which can also be installed via manifest file. Click here to know more.
  • For new RingCentral customers,

Legacy Plugin: RingCentral Meetings Outlook plugin

Legacy outlook plugin
  • Developed by Zoom for RingCentral Meetings (RCM) only
  • Requires the RingCentral Meetings Windows app
  • No active development on this product by RingCentral 
  • This product has been officially sunset
  • Recommendation: If this product has been sunsetted for your organization, please download or install the RingCentral Scheduler add-in or RingCentral for Microsoft Outlook plugin

A comparison guide for selecting a RingCentral Outlook integration

The following table guides you to choose which RingCentral’s Outlook integration best fits your needs depending on your Outlook setup.
Outlook version
Scheduler add-in
Outlook plugin
Microsoft Office 365 subscription
Supported
Supported
On-premise Exchange 2013
Supported
Supported
On-premise Exchange 2016
Supported
Supported
On-premise Exchange 2019
Supported
Supported
Exchange Online
Supported
Supported
Standalone Outlook 2013
Supported
Supported
Standalone Outlook 2016
Supported
Supported
Standalone Outlook 2019
Supported
Supported
VMware Horizon VDI
Supported
Not Supported
Citrix VDI
Supported
Not Supported
The following table guides you to choose which Outlook integration best fits your needs depending on your OS version.
OS
Scheduler add-in
Outlook plugin
Windows 7 32 & 64-bit
Windows  8 32 & 64-bit
Windows 10 32 & 64-bit
Supported
Supported
macOS v10.10 Yosemite, or later versions.
Supported
Not Supported
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of the RingCentral video (RCV) product features that the Scheduler add-in and Outlook plugin offer.
Feature name
Scheduler add-in
Outlook plugin
Add a RingCentral Video meeting with one click
Supported
Supported
Add RingCentral Video meeting link to the location field
Supported
Supported
Open & synchronize meeting settings with one click
Supported
Not Supported
Add a meeting title
Supported
Supported
Add meeting details in the body of the invite 
Supported
Supported
App icon can be added to the toolbar
Supported
Supported
Mute audio for participants
Supported
Supported
Turn off camera for participants
Supported
Supported
Use Personal Meeting ID
Supported
Not Supported
Change personal meeting settings
Supported
Not Supported
Schedule on behalf of *
Supported
Supported
RingCentral Video Non-US dial-in numbers
Supported
Not Supported
Auto-dial the password from email invite
Supported
Not Supported
Room Connector details
Supported
Not Supported
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of which Outlook versions and RingCentral Outlook integrations work with the “Schedule on behalf of” feature.
Outlook version
Scheduler add-in
Outlook plugin
On-premise Exchange 2013
Not Supported
Not Supported
On-premise Exchange 2016
Not Supported
Not Supported
On-premise Exchange 2019
Not Supported
Not Supported
Exchange Online
Supported
Not Supported
Standalone Outlook 2013
Not Supported
Not Supported
Standalone Outlook 2016
Not Supported
Not Supported
Standalone Outlook 2019
Supported
Supported
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of the RingCentral video (RCV) security features that the Scheduler add-in and Outlook plugin offer.
Feature name
Scheduler add-in
Outlook plugin
Require meeting password
Supported
Supported
Participants can only join after me
Supported
Supported
Only authenticated users can join
Supported
Not Supported
Only hosts & moderators can share screen
Supported
Not Supported
Enable waiting room
Supported
Not Supported
Use end-to-end encryption
Supported
Not Supported
In conclusion, we hope this article helps select the RingCentral Outlook integration that best suits your needs based on your Outlook setup, OS version, and the product features offered.
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