Whereby
Browser-based video meetings with no downloads required — a Norwegian alternative to Zoom.
Overview
Whereby is a Oslo, Norway-based European company building collaboration and video conferencing software since 2013. As an EU-headquartered provider, Whereby operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to well-known US incumbents for European teams.
Why European teams pick Whereby
Teams in Europe pick Whereby when they want a collaboration provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Norway law, operating since 2013. Compared with well-known US incumbents, Whereby avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
See more EU collaboration tools or browse other startups from Norway.
About
Whereby is a Norwegian video conferencing platform founded in Oslo in 2013, offering browser-based video meetings with no app download required. Meeting rooms are accessible via a persistent, shareable URL — participants join by clicking the link in their browser, even on mobile. Whereby processes all data in Norway and the EU, signs a GDPR DPA for all customers, and does not use participant video and audio for any purpose other than delivering the call. It offers embeddable video rooms via SDK for apps and websites, making it popular for telehealth, tutoring, and customer support use cases. Whereby is the most privacy-respecting and frictionless video meeting tool for European teams and applications.
Details
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Oslo, Norway
Categories
Other EU startups like Whereby
- LivestormFrance — Browser-based webinar and virtual event platform — a French alternative to Zoom Webinars.
- ElementUnited Kingdom — Secure, decentralised messaging built on Matrix — a UK alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- NuclinoGermany — Lightweight team wiki and knowledge base — a German alternative to Notion and Confluence.
- MiroNetherlands — Online visual collaboration and whiteboard platform — a Dutch alternative to Mural.
- WireSwitzerland — Secure end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration — a European alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- NextcloudGermany — Self-hosted productivity platform for files, calendar and collaboration — a European alternative to Google Workspace.
Frequently asked questions
What is Whereby?
Whereby is a Norwegian video conferencing platform founded in Oslo in 2013, offering browser-based video meetings with no app download required. Meeting rooms are accessible via a persistent, shareable URL — participants join by clicking the link in their browser, even on mobile. Whereby processes all data in Norway and the EU, signs a GDPR DPA for all customers, and does not use participant video and audio for any purpose other than delivering the call. It offers embeddable video rooms via SDK for apps and websites, making it popular for telehealth, tutoring, and customer support use cases. Whereby is the most privacy-respecting and frictionless video meeting tool for European teams and applications.
What does Whereby do?
Whereby is browser-based video meetings with no downloads required — a norwegian alternative to zoom. It is listed under collaboration and video conferencing on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European collaboration tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from well-known US incumbents.
Is Whereby a good European collaboration alternative?
Whereby is a fit for European businesses evaluating collaboration options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with video conferencing use cases.
Is Whereby GDPR compliant?
Whereby is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Norway's data protection authority, the Datatilsynet (Norwegian DPA). Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Whereby to disclose customer data the way they can with well-known US incumbents. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from well-known US incumbents to Whereby?
Most teams move to Whereby from well-known US incumbents because they want EU data residency without giving up the core collaboration workflow. Whereby's Norway base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Whereby with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is Whereby based?
Whereby is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. The company was founded in 2013. Its main website is https://whereby.com.