Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Whereby (formerly appear.in) VS Jitsi

Compare Whereby (formerly appear.in) VS Jitsi and see what are their differences

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Whereby (formerly appear.in) logo Whereby (formerly appear.in)

Collaborate from anywhere - video meetings with no downloads

Jitsi logo Jitsi

Open-source video calling and chat platform.
  • Whereby (formerly appear.in) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-30
  • Jitsi Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

Whereby (formerly appear.in)

Release Date
2017 January
Startup details
Country
Norway
State
Oslo
City
Oslo
Founder(s)
Ingrid Ødegaard
Employees
50 - 99

Whereby (formerly appear.in) features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Whereby is extremely user-friendly and does not require any software installation, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical proficiency.
  • No Account Required for Guests
    Guests can join meetings without creating an account, which simplifies the process for participants who may be less tech-savvy or pressed for time.
  • Browser-Based
    As a browser-based application, Whereby works on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices, thus providing great flexibility.
  • Customizable Room Links
    Users can create personalized room links that are easy to remember and share, increasing convenience for both hosts and participants.
  • Integrated Tools
    It offers built-in tools such as screen sharing, meeting recording, and chat, providing a rich feature set for collaboration.
  • Security
    Whereby rooms are private and require permission to join, providing a secure environment for meetings.

Possible disadvantages of Whereby (formerly appear.in)

  • Limited Free Plan
    The free version of Whereby limits meetings to 45 minutes and only supports up to 4 participants, which might be restrictive for larger teams or longer meetings.
  • Performance
    Performance can sometimes be less reliable compared to some other video conferencing tools, potentially leading to connection issues or lag during meetings.
  • Fewer Integrations
    Whereby offers fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, which may limit its utility for businesses that rely on integrated workflows.
  • Cost for Premium Features
    Many of the more advanced features, such as meeting recording and increased participant limits, are locked behind a paywall, which may not be cost-effective for individuals or small businesses.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    While it is mobile-friendly, the experience on mobile devices is not as robust as on desktops, and some features may be limited or harder to use.

Jitsi features and specs

  • Open Source
    Jitsi is an open-source platform, which means its source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance, promoting transparency and community-driven development.
  • Cost
    Being open-source, Jitsi is free to use, making it an economical choice compared to other proprietary video conferencing solutions.
  • Privacy
    Jitsi is known for its strong focus on privacy and security. It includes end-to-end encryption and allows users to host their own instances, ensuring data remains under their control.
  • Ease of Use
    Jitsi offers a straightforward, user-friendly interface, making it accessible even to those with limited technical expertise.
  • No Account Required
    Users can start and join meetings without the need to sign up for an account, simplifying the process and enhancing user privacy.
  • Integrations
    Jitsi offers integration with various platforms and services, enabling seamless embedding and customization for broader application.

Possible disadvantages of Jitsi

  • Scalability
    While Jitsi performs well for small to medium-sized meetings, it may face scalability issues with larger groups, affecting performance and user experience.
  • Feature Set
    Compared to some commercial video conferencing solutions, Jitsi may lack certain advanced features and functionalities, such as detailed analytics or extensive administrative controls.
  • Technical Expertise
    Setting up and managing a self-hosted Jitsi instance can require significant technical expertise, which may be a barrier for some users or organizations.
  • Performance
    Performance can be inconsistent, particularly if users lack adequate bandwidth or server resources, potentially impacting the quality of video and audio.
  • Mobile Experience
    While Jitsi has mobile apps, the experience may not be as polished or feature-rich as some competing solutions, potentially affecting usability on mobile devices.

Analysis of Whereby (formerly appear.in)

Overall verdict

  • Whereby is a good option for those looking for a straightforward and secure video conferencing tool without the hassle of complicated setups or downloads. Its ease of use and privacy-focused approach make it a strong contender in the video calling space, especially for small to medium-sized teams or individuals who prioritize simplicity and security.

Why this product is good

  • Whereby provides a user-friendly video conferencing platform that requires no downloads or installations, making it easily accessible for users who need a quick and simple solution for virtual meetings. The platform allows for seamless collaboration with features such as screen sharing, integrated chat, and the ability to customize meeting rooms. Additionally, Whereby's commitment to privacy and security, with GDPR compliance and a strong focus on encrypted communications, makes it a reliable choice for sensitive and professional interactions.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized teams
  • Startups and freelancers
  • Educational purposes such as online classes or tutoring
  • Quick and easy virtual meetings
  • Users who prioritize privacy and want GDPR-compliant solutions

Analysis of Jitsi

Overall verdict

  • Jitsi is a highly recommended option for users who prioritize privacy and open-source solutions. It's particularly beneficial for those looking for a cost-effective and straightforward video conferencing tool without sacrificing functionality.

Why this product is good

  • Jitsi is an open-source video conferencing tool known for its strong privacy features, as it does not require an account for use and offers end-to-end encryption. It's a free, flexible, and scalable solution that works directly from the browser without the need for downloads or installations, making it accessible and user-friendly. Additionally, it supports large meetings and offers integration options with other platforms.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized organizations seeking secure video conferencing
  • Educational institutions needing a free communication tool
  • Developers looking for customizable video conferencing integration
  • Individuals requiring a quick and easy virtual meeting setup with no registration

Whereby (formerly appear.in) videos

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Jitsi videos

Jitsi Meet is a self hosted, open source, free alternative to GoToMeeting, Join.Me, Zoom and More.

More videos:

  • Review - Using Jitsi: A free, no-registration video conferencing site
  • Review - Jitsi video conferencing

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Whereby (formerly appear.in) and Jitsi)
Communication
36 36%
64% 64
Video Conferencing
100 100%
0% 0
Group Chat & Notifications
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Whereby (formerly appear.in) and Jitsi

Whereby (formerly appear.in) Reviews

Top 10 Zoom Alternatives in 2024 — Better Video Conferencing Software
Whereby has recently announced Co-location groups, which allows group participants to join from the same physical location. Hybrid teams will find the feature beneficial as it removes echo and improves their audio and video quality.
Source: pumble.com

Jitsi Reviews

12 Best Self-hosted Chat Platforms For Team Communication
Jitsi is completely a video conferencing platform making it a reliable team chatting platform. With exquisite features like screen sharing, and real-time messaging, it makes it ideal for businesses in improving employee productivity.
The 7 best Zoom alternatives in 2024
If you want to create a frictionless, no-frills meeting experience for attendees, Jitsi will do the trick. You don't need to create an account to start—just head to the site, generate a link, and share the link with everyone you want on the call. Likewise, attendees don't need to create an account to join.
Source: zapier.com
10 BEST VoIP Software 2020 | Free & Commercial Voice Over IP Tools
Jitsi is a collection of open-source projects that provide you functionalities for video conferencing for web and mobile. Advanced video routing concepts such as simulcast, bandwidth estimations, scalable video coding, etc. are supported by Jitsi.
Top 10 Team Chat Software for a Self-Hosted environment specifically designed for Large Enterprises
Jitsi is a 100% free multi-platform open-source video conferencing tool that looks good and sounds amazing. The users/developers across the world can use Jitsi or build their own apps using the tools of it. Jitsi has two projects; jitsi Video bridge, and jitsi Meet. Both are open-source and WebRTC compatible that allows users to develop high-quality and scalable video...
7 Alternatives to Skype to Save Your Sanity in 2019
Jitsi is entirely open source, making it the best option if you’re scared about big companies tracking you (remember what we said about the Chinese?).
Source: www.sodapdf.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Jitsi should be more popular than Whereby (formerly appear.in). It has been mentiond 60 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Whereby (formerly appear.in) mentions (22)

  • Show HN: OnAir – create link, receive calls
    Looks good, I want to give it a try next week. Appear.in (now called https://whereby.com/) used to have the same functionality and I would just share my link everywhere so that team members could call me whenever they wanted. Although, Facetime is kind of the exact same thing isn’t it? - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Top 10 Video Conferencing APIs & SDKs in 2024.
    Whereby offers a simple and user-friendly video conferencing API. It's designed for businesses that want an easy video experience without complex setup. It's a great choice for small to medium-sized businesses that need reliable video conferencing for internal meetings, client calls, or webinars. With Whereby's API, you can embed video conferencing directly into your website or application, making it effortless... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • A list of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS offerings that have free tiers of interest to devops and infradev
    Whereby.com — One-click video conversations, for free (formerly known as appear.in). - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Twilio Video Going Down ! What next ?
    If you're looking for a similar tool then Whereby has a easy to use SDK. Source: over 1 year ago
  • What Comes After Zoom?
    I use: https://whereby.com I don't know if it can handle sizable calls but it works well for me. It's simple, seems to have a decent privacy policy, and has always worked for me and others. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

Jitsi mentions (60)

  • Indie Hacking Success Stories with Open Source Licenses
    Jitsi: In an era where remote work is redefining communication, Jitsi has carved out its own niche. Backed by the Apache License, Jitsi offers a flexible video conferencing solution ideal for privacy-focused users. Even with challenges that may arise from certain licensing models (as discussed in the downside of Apache License), Jitsi demonstrates how adaptability and a commitment to open source values can lead to... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Rely less on Third-Party Services
    Jitsi is a video messaging service software that you can, but don't need to host yourself,. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Top 10 Video Conferencing APIs & SDKs in 2024.
    Jitsi is a free, open-source video conferencing API. It's a reliable and flexible solution for businesses on a budget. With Jitsi, you can host video conferences, webinars, and virtual meetings without much setup. Even though it's free, Jitsi still offers many features that make it good for business use, such as screen sharing, real-time chat, and the ability to host large group calls. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • YouTube is barely usable specifically on Firefox Windows at the moment
    It does, its called Jitsi https://jitsi.org/ "Jitsi is a set of open-source projects that allows you to easily build and deploy secure video conferencing solutions. At the heart of Jitsi are Jitsi Videobridge and Jitsi Meet, which let you have conferences on the internet, while other projects in the community enable other features such as audio, dial-in, recording, and simulcasting.". - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Discord to Start Showing Ads for Gamers to Boost Revenue
    > Tell me another platform that is free, has realtime chat, voice and video, has stable service, allows sharing images and other media, with good ownership management... And is open source. Mattermost: https://mattermost.com/ Rocket.Chat: https://www.rocket.chat/ Nextcloud Talk: https://nextcloud.com/talk/ Self hosting and some assembly required. I've run all of them on cheap VPSes to explore a Slack/Discord... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Whereby (formerly appear.in) and Jitsi, you can also consider the following products

Zoom - Equip your team with tools designed to collaborate, connect, and engage with teammates and customers, no matter where you’re located, all in one platform.

Skype - Stay in touch with your family and friends for free on Skype. Download Skype today to chat and call on desktop and mobile.

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

Around.co - Around.co is an app that provides video calls to remote teams all around the world.

Facebook Messenger - Facebook Messenger is a faster way to message.

WebEx - Cisco WebEx Web Conferencing, Online Meetings, Desktop Sharing, Video Conferencing