Whereby vs Zoom
Considering a switch from Zoom to a European alternative? Whereby offers full GDPR compliance and EU-only data hosting without the legal uncertainties that come with US-based services. Here's how they compare on features, pricing, and data protection.
Quick Overview
Whereby
EU- Headquarters
- Oslo, NO
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Zoom
USZoom is a video communications platform that provides video meetings, webinars, chat, and phone services for businesses and individuals worldwide.
The Case for Whereby
- Whereby stores all data exclusively in EU, under European jurisdiction. Unlike Zoom, which is subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702, Whereby cannot be compelled by foreign governments to hand over your data.
- Whereby offers a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that is fully aligned with GDPR Article 28. There is no legal ambiguity about data transfers or adequacy decisions — your data processor is European, and the law that governs it is European.
- You can try Whereby for free before committing. This makes it easy to evaluate whether it meets your needs alongside — or as a replacement for — Zoom, without any financial risk.
Why Switch to Whereby?
Concerns with Zoom
- US CLOUD Act jurisdiction
- History of encryption misrepresentations
- Partial development in China raised security concerns
- Meeting data routed through US servers by default
Whereby Compliance
GDPRDPA
- Headquarters
- Oslo, NO
- Data Centers
- EU
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Whereby vs Zoom — FAQ
Is Zoom GDPR compliant?
Zoom may offer GDPR compliance features and EU data residency options, but as a US-headquartered company, it remains subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702. These laws can compel US companies to hand over data regardless of where it is stored. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework provides some safeguards, but its predecessors (Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield) were both invalidated by the European Court of Justice. Whereby, as a European company, is not subject to these US laws at all.
How does Whereby compare to Zoom in features?
Whereby offers No-download browser meetings, Permanent meeting room URLs, Screen sharing, Meeting recording, and 5 more features. While Zoom's ecosystem may be larger due to its market position, Whereby covers the core functionality that most teams need. The trade-off is typically between breadth of integrations (Zoom) and data sovereignty with regulatory certainty (Whereby).
Can I migrate from Zoom to Whereby?
Yes. Most European software providers, including Whereby, offer migration tools or documentation to help you transition from US-based services. Under GDPR Article 20, you have the right to data portability — meaning Zoom must provide your data in a machine-readable format. The migration process varies in complexity depending on your data volume and integrations, but for most teams it can be completed within a few days to a few weeks.