Whereby

Whereby is a Norwegian video conferencing platform that has carved out a unique position in the market by focusing on simplicity and frictionless meetings. Originally launched as Appear.in in 2013 by Telenor, Norway's largest telecommunications company, the service was spun off as an independent company and rebranded to Whereby in 2019. The platform's core philosophy is that video meetings should be as simple as clicking a link - no downloads, no accounts for guests, no complicated setup.

Norwegian Roots and European Privacy

Being headquartered in Oslo, Norway, places Whereby within the European Economic Area (EEA) and subject to GDPR requirements. Norway, while not an EU member, has implemented GDPR through the EEA agreement, providing the same level of data protection as EU countries. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) oversees compliance, and Norway has a strong tradition of privacy protection.

Whereby's origins within Telenor, a state-owned telecommunications company, gave it a solid foundation in secure communications technology. The independent company has maintained this focus on reliability and security while developing a more user-friendly product targeted at businesses and individuals who value simplicity.

Frictionless Meeting Experience

Whereby's defining feature is its completely browser-based approach. Guests can join meetings simply by clicking a link - no app downloads, no account creation, no installation prompts. The meeting happens entirely in the web browser using WebRTC technology. This removes one of the biggest friction points in video conferencing: the awkward few minutes at the start of every meeting while participants download and install software.

For meeting hosts, Whereby provides permanent room URLs that never change. Instead of generating new meeting links for every call, you can create a room like whereby.com/your-company/meeting-room and use it indefinitely. This is particularly convenient for recurring meetings, client calls, or public office hours. Room URLs can be customized with your brand, making them easy to remember and professional in appearance.

Features for Modern Collaboration

Despite its simplicity, Whereby includes the essential features expected from a modern video conferencing platform. Screen sharing works directly in the browser with options to share your entire screen, specific application windows, or browser tabs. Recording allows you to capture meetings for later reference or for team members who couldn't attend. Breakout rooms enable larger meetings to split into smaller groups for focused discussions.

Whereby also includes unique features like YouTube and Spotify integrations that allow you to watch videos or listen to music together during meetings. Virtual backgrounds and blur effects help maintain privacy when working from home. The chat function supports messages and reactions, and there's a whiteboard feature for visual collaboration.

Embedded Video API

One of Whereby's standout offerings is its Embedded API, which allows developers to integrate video calling directly into their own applications. This is particularly valuable for telehealth platforms, online education services, customer support tools, and any application where video communication adds value. The API handles all the complexity of video infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on their core product.

The Embedded solution is fully HIPAA compliant, making it suitable for healthcare applications in the US, and naturally complies with GDPR for European deployments. Companies like Deel, Livestorm, and numerous healthcare platforms have built their video capabilities on Whereby's infrastructure.

Pricing Structure

Whereby's pricing starts with a generous free tier that includes one meeting room with up to 100 participants, though meetings are limited to 45 minutes. This is suitable for individuals and small teams with modest meeting needs. The Pro plan at $6.99 per month per host adds three rooms, removes time limits, and includes recording and breakout rooms. The Business plan at $9.99 per month adds more rooms and advanced features like custom branding.

For the Embedded API, pricing is based on participant minutes, starting with a free tier for development and scaling based on usage. This usage-based model makes it accessible for startups while supporting enterprise-scale deployments.

Privacy and Security Approach

Whereby takes a privacy-conscious approach appropriate for a European company. The platform uses end-to-end encryption for small meetings (peer-to-peer connections), though larger meetings route through Whereby's servers for better performance. GDPR compliance is built into the product, with data processing agreements available for business customers. The company is transparent about its data practices and provides tools for data export and deletion.

For organizations with specific compliance needs, Whereby offers dedicated infrastructure options and has achieved SOC 2 Type II certification. The HIPAA compliance for the Embedded product demonstrates the company's commitment to meeting stringent security requirements.

Limitations to Consider

Whereby's browser-based approach, while reducing friction, means that video quality and reliability depend on the browser and device capabilities. Some older browsers or underpowered devices may struggle with larger meetings. The platform is designed primarily for meetings up to 200 participants; for large webinars or events, other platforms may be more suitable.

Advanced enterprise features like SSO integration and detailed analytics are only available on higher-tier plans. While Whereby integrates with some calendar and productivity tools, the integration ecosystem is smaller than that of Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Who Should Use Whereby

Whereby is ideal for teams and businesses that prioritize simplicity and want to minimize technical friction in video meetings. It's particularly well-suited for client-facing calls where you can't expect clients to install software, for sales and consulting teams with frequent external meetings, and for any organization that values a clean, branded meeting experience. The Embedded API makes it an excellent choice for software companies building video capabilities into their products.