Fundamentally, these video collaboration tools are intended to enable the same basic activity- online, video- and audio-based meetings between people who are in different locations. Both applications allow meeting participants to see and hear eachother.

Further, both applications have functionality beyond just "see and hear". There is text chat, the ability to send desktop content as a video stream, multi-way connectivity, the ability to use multiple cameras, file-sharing, etc.

Whilst either may be used in situations ranging from a single-user with a desktop/laptop to room-based installations for groups of people, EVO is intended to be straightforward for individual users to get running, and to do so with little or no support. Apart from ensuring that Java is on your machine, EVO does not need the user to install any software. A common example of use is for easy, rapid one-to-one or small group meetings, with the capability to share some or all of a participant's desktop as a video stream.

Access Grid, whilst requiring user installation and a slightly higher level of configuration, is Open Source, and consequently has a greater range of extra features that can be added and used. Whilst it certainly can be used on a personal basis, it is particularly well suited to meetings with larger numbers of participants. Items such as VNC, VPCScreenCapture and various Shared applications allow a high level of participation between AG users in a Meeting. Extended uses include remote teaching, online conferences, remote instrument control.

In short, EVO is quick to get going, and is very handy for convenient, frequent meetings. Access Grid can require more work for installation and configuration, but has a wider range of extra features and is more adpatable to a wider range of uses.