Whereby vs Skype
Last updated October 2026
Looking for a European alternative to Skype? Here's how Whereby compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.
Our pick for a European buyer: Whereby. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.
What it is
Browser-based video meetings from Norway, no app, no logins, EU-hosted.
Offers voice, video, and instant messaging over the internet.
Headquarters
🇳🇴 NO
🇺🇸 US · 2003
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
not established
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
not established
Certifications
ISO 27001
No
Price from
$10.99/mo
No
Free plan
Yes
No
Open Source
No
No
Integrations
Google Drive, Trello, YouTube, Miro, Google Docs +5
No
Where each one wins
Whereby
Strengths
- +Extremely simple and intuitive interface with no downloads or installations required for guests
- +High-quality video and audio, particularly well-regarded for small meetings
- +Customizable and branded virtual meeting rooms with useful features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, and chat
- +Affordable and transparent pricing, especially for small businesses, with a pay-per-room model
- +Reliable and stable connections, even on weaker networks, with minimal technical issues
- +No account creation or software installation needed for participants, reducing onboarding friction
- +Seamless integration with tools like Google Workspace, Slack, Trello, and YouTube
- +Quick meeting setup via shared links, making it accessible for non-tech-savvy users
Limitations
- −Participant limits on free and paid plans (e.g., 4 or 12 participants) restrict use for larger meetings
- −Lacks advanced features like built-in meeting recording (add-on), robust breakout room management, and direct file sharing
- −Mobile apps, especially on Android, are less developed with missing features and occasional performance issues
Skype
Strengths
- +Widely recognized for ease of use
- +Reliable for international calls
Limitations
- −Privacy concerns due to data collection practices
- −Limited advanced features in free tier
Data residency & compliance
Whereby
Skype
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
not established
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
not established
Certifications
ISO 27001
No
Pricing
Whereby
- Free $0 per month1 host, 1 room URL · Up to 4 attendees per meeting · Meetings limited to 30 minutes
- Pro $10.99 per host / month (17% discount with annual billing)3 room URLs · Up to 100 attendees per meeting · Unlimited meeting duration
- Business $13.99 per host / month (17% discount with annual billing, min. 3 hosts)Unlimited room URLs · Up to 200 attendees per meeting · Shared and flex rooms, custom subdomain
Pricing varies with annual billing (17% savings). Business plan requires a minimum of 3 hosts.
Skype
No published pricing we could verify.
Pricing details not publicly listed in the provided research.
Features
Whereby
- Video Meetings & Conferencing
- Browser-based video calls without downloads or installations, Up to 50 participants in meetings (Business plan beta), Unlimited meeting duration on Pro and Business plans, Screen sharing, breakout groups, and co-location groups for hybrid meetings
- Embedded Video Call API & SDK
- Integration of customizable video calls into websites, products, or apps, Pre-built UI for rapid deployment and browser SDK with React hooks, Features: screen sharing, pre-call checks, live chat, waiting rooms, recording, Custom branding and secure, individual meeting rooms
- Collaboration Tools in Meetings
- Google Docs integration for real-time document collaboration, Trello boards for project management inside meeting rooms, YouTube video sharing for synchronized viewing, Miro whiteboard integration for visual collaboration
- Calendar & Scheduling
- Google Calendar integration via Chrome extension for scheduling Whereby meetings, Automated Whereby meeting link insertion with Cronofy and Vyte, Calendar synchronization for seamless meeting planning
- Security & Compliance
- End-to-end encryption for all meetings, GDPR and HIPAA compliance, ISO 27001 certification, Secure, individual meeting rooms with unique URLs
Skype
- Communication
- Voice calls, Video calls, Instant messaging, Group chats
- Accessibility
- Cross-platform support, Mobile and desktop apps, Screen sharing