Whereby is a no-download, browser-based video calling tool with an embeddable video API. Compare Free, Pro, and Business plans and key features.
Whereby is a browser-based video conferencing tool that lets people join calls directly from a link, without downloading an app or creating an account as a guest.
The product started life as appear.in, launched in 2013 as an intern project inside Norwegian telecom Telenor in Oslo, and was one of the first web apps built on the WebRTC standard. It spun out with new ownership in 2017 and was rebranded to Whereby in 2019.
Whereby now offers two product lines: Whereby Meetings for individuals and teams who want simple, no-download video calls, and Whereby Embedded for developers who want to add video calling directly into their own applications.
Whereby Meetings offers permanent, custom room links, screen sharing, background effects, breakout groups, co-location groups for hybrid setups, recording, and a virtual whiteboard, all directly in the browser.
Whereby Embedded provides an API and SDK for developers to create meeting rooms programmatically and customize the video experience for their own products, billed based on usage rather than per seat.
Because it is browser-first, Whereby is often used for meetings involving external guests, such as client calls or interviews, where asking someone to install dedicated software would create friction.
Whereby offers a Free plan limited to one meeting room, up to four attendees, and 30-minute session limits, along with basic screen sharing and background effects.
Paid Meetings plans remove the session time limit and add features like more room URLs, unlimited recording, custom branding, larger participant capacity, and priority support, generally priced per user per month.
Whereby Embedded is billed separately on a usage basis, since it is aimed at developers embedding video calling into their own products rather than individual meeting hosts.
No, Whereby is browser-based, so guests can join a meeting directly from a link without installing software.
Yes, Whereby offers a Free plan limited to one meeting room, four attendees, and 30-minute sessions, with paid plans removing those limits.
Meetings is the standalone video calling product for individuals and teams, while Embedded is an API and SDK for developers to add video calling into their own applications.
Yes, Whereby was originally launched as appear.in in 2013 and was rebranded to Whereby in 2019.
Whereby traces its roots to Oslo, Norway, and operates as a largely remote, distributed organization.
Capacity depends on the plan, with higher-tier plans supporting significantly more participants than the Free plan's four-person limit.
Yes, recording is available, with unlimited recording included on paid plans.
Yes, paid plans allow custom branding and a custom subdomain for meeting links.