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Telecommunications · head to head

Whereby vs Zoom

Whereby logo

Whereby

Telecommunications

No downloads, no logins - just video meetings that work

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom logo

Zoom

Communication

Video conferencing that's easy, reliable, and secure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Whereby no breakout rooms, polls, or whiteboard tools; Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • They diverge on capability: Whereby covers Browser-based meetings, Zoom covers HD video & audio.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Whereby and Zoom actually diverge.

Attributes where Whereby and Zoom differ
AttributeWherebyZoom
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
CategoryTelecommunicationsCommunication
Founded20132011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Whereby

  • Browser-based meetings
  • No downloads required
  • Personal room URLs
  • Recording
  • Trello
  • GDPR compliant
  • Room locks
  • Cloud deployment

Only in Zoom

  • HD video & audio
  • Recording & transcripts
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Breakout rooms
  • Polling & Q&A
  • Chat
  • Whiteboard
  • Microsoft Teams

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Slack
  • HubSpot
  • End-to-end encryption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Whereby

  • Client meetingsnot Zoom
  • Remote consultationsnot Zoom
  • Team standupsnot Zoom
  • Webinars

Zoom

  • Team meetingsnot Whereby
  • Webinars
  • Virtual eventsnot Whereby
  • Online trainingnot Whereby
  • Telehealthnot Whereby

Both are used for webinars, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Whereby

  • No breakout rooms, polls, or whiteboard tools
  • Hard cap of 200 participants and performance drops with groups of 12+
  • No phone dial-in option for participants without internet
  • Occasional connectivity issues and laggy screen sharing reported

Zoom

  • Cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • Feature set is overwhelming with complex navigation and too many options
  • Limited analytics and coaching features compared to dedicated contact center platforms
  • Call recording and admin oversight lack strict governance needed for regulated industries

Pricing, plan by plan

Whereby

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 meeting room
    • 100 participants
    • Screen sharing
  • Pro$6.99/month
    • 3 meeting rooms
    • Custom branding
    • Recording
  • Business$11.99/month
    • Unlimited rooms
    • SSO
    • Analytics

Zoom

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 100 participants
    • 40-minute group meetings
    • Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings
  • Pro$14.99/month
    • 100 participants
    • 30-hour group meetings
    • Cloud recording (5GB)
  • Business$19.99/month
    • 300 participants
    • Single sign-on
    • Recording transcripts
  • Enterprise$25/month
    • 500 participants
    • Advanced admin features
    • Executive business review

Which should you pick?

Choose Whereby if

  • You need browser-based meetings.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want no downloads required.
Whereby review

Choose Zoom if

  • You need hd video & audio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want recording & transcripts.
Zoom review

Questions people ask

Is Whereby or Zoom better?
Neither clearly leads. Whereby starts at Free and Zoom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Whereby or Zoom?
Whereby starts at Free and Zoom at Free.
Does Whereby or Zoom run on more platforms?
Whereby runs on Web. Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Whereby for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Whereby best used for?
Whereby is most often used for client meetings, remote consultations, team standups, webinars. Of those, client meetings and remote consultations are not what Zoom is typically brought in for.
What can Whereby do that Zoom cannot?
Whereby covers Browser-based meetings, No downloads required, Personal room URLs, Recording. Zoom covers HD video & audio, Recording & transcripts, Virtual backgrounds, Breakout rooms. Both handle Screen sharing, Google Calendar, Outlook, Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Whereby: Does Whereby require software downloads?

No. Whereby is browser-based and requires no downloads or complex configuration. Participants join via a simple link without needing to install software.

Source
Zoom: What are Zoom's main pricing tiers?

Zoom offers a free Basic plan with 40-minute limits for group meetings, Pro at $14.16/user/month, Business at $15.58/user/month with 300 participant capacity, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Additional costs apply for Phone ($10.50/user/month), Webinars, and Rooms.

Source
Whereby: What is Whereby's pricing model?

Whereby offers a free-forever plan and paid plans starting at $5.82/month when billed annually. Whereby does not offer a free trial.

Source
Zoom: What integrations does Zoom support?

Zoom integrates with Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Zendesk, and many other business applications, though integration depth varies by partner.

Source
Zoom: Can Zoom be used for webinars?

Yes, Zoom Webinars is available as a separate product starting at $66.67 per month, providing larger audience capabilities and specialized webinar features.

Source
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