Whereby vs Zoom

Whereby and Zoom are both web conferencing tools. They also offer some collaboration capabilities, although Zoom provides a much broader range of collaboration and communication features. 

Zoom is the web conferencing giant used across company sizes. It offers a range of capabilities to serve many different use cases, including VoIP and collaboration. In contrast, Whereby is an SMB-focused video conferencing tool that specializes as a web-based platform. It’s designed to be as simple and easy to use as possible, in order to be highly accessible to smaller-scale teams and companies. 

Features

Whereby and Zoom both offer feature sets that differentiate their ideal uses for companies. 

Whereby specializes as an accessible platform for SMBs and small team use. The interface and mechanics of joining a meeting are relatively streamlined. Users simply create and share a web link that other participants can then use to join. This “one-click access” to meeting rooms, as well as the ability to join without downloading an app, are strong differentiators to Whereby reviewers. 

Zoom, rather than overly specializing, provides features and services for a very broad range of organizations and businesses. In addition to a strong video conferencing service, Zoom also allows users to “dial-in” on a traditional phone, and other VoIP capabilities. The platform also delivers collaboration features like breakout rooms for more complex meetings, webinars, and sessions. The range and robustness of Zoom’s feature set make it an appropriate option for nearly any company size. 

Limitations

While both products have strong differentiators, there are some limitations to Whereby and Zoom. 

Whereby’s focus on the SMB market means that it is not as scalable as competing products. For instance, it lacks VoIP/Dial-In capabilities commonly found in video conferencing tools. The mobile app is also more limited, and its quality is less reliable than the browser-based desktop version. These limitations can constrain companies as they scale up and have to be more flexible to meet the needs of larger teams or clients. 

On the other hand, Zoom’s scalability leads to it being a heavier product to manage and administer. User management is more customizable, but also more complex than simpler products. It also requires a download to use since there’s not a web version. This download can be frustrating for one-off users who wouldn’t otherwise need to use Zoom. 

Pricing

Whereby offers 3 different plans. The Free version is for personal use, with one user, 1 meeting room, and up to 4 meeting participants, along with basic integrations and screen sharing. The Pro version, at $9.99/month, is for one user and provides 3 meeting rooms, up to 12 participants, branded rooms, premium support, better screen sharing, and recording for a $5 add-on fee. The Business plan, starting at $59.99/month  for multiple users and admins and 10 meeting rooms, caps at 50 meeting participants, a custom domain, priority customer support, and additional security and collaboration features.  

Zoom offers 4 pricing tiers. The Basic package is free, with a 40-minute cap on group meetings. The Pro version, at $14.99/month/host, extends the meeting length cap to 24 hours and adds user and administrator controls, reporting, and cloud recording. The Business plan, at $19.99/month/host starting at 10 hosts, adds dedicated phone support, dashboarding, SSO, and white labeling. The Enterprise plan, at $19.99/mo/host starting at 100 hosts, adds unlimited cloud storage, a dedicated customer success manager, executive business reviews, and bundled discounts on other Zoom products.