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Hello new best friend, my name is Spencer I am the president of Median Cobrowse and this is a question I get all the time. What is the difference between cobrowsing and screen share? In this article I am going to do by best to explain the differences and break down which is the best fit for you. If I miss anything or you have questions, feel free to email me at Spencer@HelloMedian.com or snag a time on my calendar below.
Cobrowsing and screen sharing are two technologies that enable users to share their computer screens with others over the internet. Although these two technologies may seem similar at first glance, there are some key differences between them that are worth understanding.
At a high level, cobrowsing allows multiple users to view and interact with the same web page in real time, while screen sharing allows one user to share their entire screen or a specific application with one or more other users.
One of the main differences between cobrowsing and screen sharing is the level of control that each technology allows. With cobrowsing, multiple users can interact with the shared web page, clicking on links and buttons, filling out forms, and even using their own mouse and keyboard to navigate the page. This means that cobrowsing can be an effective way to collaborate on tasks that require multiple people to work together on a single web page.
In contrast, screen sharing generally only allows the person who is sharing their screen to interact with it. Other users can view the shared screen, but they cannot click on links or buttons, fill out forms, or otherwise interact with the content. This means that screen sharing is more suited to situations where one person needs to show something on their screen to others, but does not need their input or collaboration.
Generally speaking cobrowsing has been deemed safer than screen share since most cobrowsing software only allows for a sales or support rep to see pages where the cobrowsing code is installed. If the cobrowsing code is not installed then most cobrowsing applications will fail to render what a customer is seeing.
For example, cobrowsing is typically used by sales and support teams that only want their reps to offer support on the assets or services the company provides. By choosing a cobrowsing software, sales and support teams can control what is being transmitted in the session. By controlling what is being transmitted, teams are able to reduce risk by limiting access to personal identifiable information (PII) versus most screen share software which allow access to the entire desktop.
The largest pro for cobrowsing is also considered the largest con. One of the major cons of cobrowsing is that it typically does not offer visibility into other tabs or the desktop in general. Most cobrowsing applications are purpose built to offer visibility into web pages presented in the browser. If a sales or support team needs to be able to extended their support outside of the browser then most cobrowsing applications will fall short.
In conclusion, I am biased, but I would recommend cobrowsing as a starting point for most sales and support teams. Cobrowsing is generally safer and most teams do not need full control of a customers computer... BUT if you operate a team needs to see the entire browser or even the desktop... Then a screen share software might be a better fit.
If you would like to see a demo or just have questions for me. Feel free to snag a time on my calendar below. I would love to meet yah.
