tech from europe
vsZoom

OpenTalk vs Zoom

Last updated October 2026

Looking for a European alternative to Zoom? Here's how OpenTalk compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.

Our pick for a European buyer: OpenTalk. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.

OpenTalk
Zoom
What it is
Open-source video conferencing from Germany, built for public authorities and regulated sectors
Cloud video conferencing and online meeting platform.
Headquarters
🇩🇪 DE
🇺🇸 US · 2011
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency is available for Enterprise and Education customers.
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
Yes
Certifications
No
ISO 27001
Price from
€7.50/user/mo
$149.90/yr
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Open Source
Yes
No
Ratings
No
No
Integrations
innovaphone App Store, Outlook (Premium plan plug-in), ownCloud, Manufacturing software systems (MRP, MES, ERP)
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Zoom Apps

Where each one wins

OpenTalk

Strengths

  • +Strong GDPR compliance and strict data protection with servers located in Germany
  • +Comprehensive core feature set including chat, direct messaging, surveys, voting, and virtual workshops
  • +Supports diverse communication needs for businesses, educational institutions, and public sector organizations
  • +High trust among users due to transparent data handling and EU-based hosting
  • +Reliable for standard video conferencing and team collaboration scenarios

Limitations

  • −User interface perceived as less polished and intuitive compared to major competitors
  • −Onboarding and initial setup may require more effort or clearer guidance
  • −Occasional performance issues or system responsiveness reported

Zoom

Strengths

  • +Reliable video and audio quality
  • +Easy to use for participants
  • +Strong collaboration features
  • +Scalable for large organizations

Limitations

  • −Security concerns in the past
  • −Limited free tier features
  • −Occasional performance issues with large meetings
  • −Complex admin settings

Data residency & compliance

OpenTalk
Zoom
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency is available for Enterprise and Education customers.
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
Standard Contractual Clauses
DPA
Published →
Published →
Sub-processors
not established
Listed →
Certifications
No
ISO 27001

Pricing

OpenTalk

  • Starter Free per user / month10 conference rooms · Up to 5 participants · 30-minute max call length
  • Standard €7.50 per user / monthUnlimited conference rooms · Up to 50 participants · 240-minute max call length
  • Premium €12.50 per user / monthUnlimited conference rooms · Up to 200 participants · Unlimited call length
  • Custom On request Custom features · On-premises hosting option

All prices exclude VAT. Annual billing available at a lower rate.

Zoom

  • Basic Free per meetingUp to 100 participants · 40-minute limit on group meetings · Unlimited 1:1 meetings
  • Pro $149.90 per year per licenseUp to 100 participants · 30-hour meeting duration · 1 GB cloud recording storage
  • Business $199.90 per year per licenseUp to 300 participants · 30-hour meeting duration · Cloud recording transcripts
  • Enterprise On request per year per licenseUp to 1,000 participants · Unlimited cloud storage · Dedicated customer success manager

Pricing varies by region and plan. Enterprise pricing is custom and requires a quote.

Features

OpenTalk

Conference Management
Scheduling conferences via dashboard, Invitation function with integrated address book, Access restrictions for participants, Multi-person moderation
Communication & Interaction
Video and audio conferencing, Chat and direct messaging, Breakout rooms for group discussions, Interactive whiteboard
Recording & Streaming
GDPR-compliant conference recording, Streaming (Premium plan)
Accessibility & Connectivity
Telephone dial-in for participants with poor internet connection
Data Protection & Compliance
GDPR-compliant operation in German data centers, Data processing agreement included

Zoom

Meetings & Webinars
Host up to 1,000 video participants, 49 videos on screen simultaneously, Virtual backgrounds, Breakout rooms
Collaboration Tools
Team chat with file sharing, Whiteboarding, Polls and Q&A, Calendar integrations
Security & Compliance
End-to-end encryption for meetings, Password protection, Waiting room, Role-based user permissions
Integrations
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Salesforce
Admin & Management
Single sign-on (SSO), User activity reports, Device management, Custom branding
See OpenTalk →More Zoom alternatives