Zoom as a tool for online teaching has been adopted by Al-Qasemi College as an alternative to face-to-face teaching/learning method since the beginning of COVID-19 global pandemic. Therefore, this study explored graduate and undergraduate students` perception of social presence, social interaction, and satisfaction of synchronous online learning via Zoom compared to face-to-face learning and the overall factors which affected their perceptions. The participants (n. 227) of the study are students who learned in regular face-to-face in-class lectures for at least one semester before converting to Zoom. A mixed-methods design was used in the study: a questionnaire to learn about the perceptions of the students; and semi-structured interviews to gain more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the factors which affect the students` attitudes. Results indicate that students` perceptions of social presence, social interaction and satisfaction are higher while learning face to face than learning via zoom. Similarly, results show that there is a significant relationship between students` satisfaction and their perceptions of social presence and social interaction. Results also indicate that the students` age and degree affect the level of satisfaction while learning via zoom. The findings of the thematic analysis of interviewees` answers indicate that the special features of Zoom, learners` needs and the instructors` approaches are factors which influence participants` perceptions. This implies the necessity to employ the methods suitable to each age group\degree and personal preferences when offering courses.