Digital Samba
Anyone who wants truly free, unlimited video conferencing without compromises — plus privacy-conscious organizations and developers needing GDPR-native embedded video via Digital Samba Embedded
Cisco Webex
Existing Cisco enterprise customers and government organizations that need FedRAMP-authorized video conferencing
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Digital Samba
Anyone who wants truly free, unlimited video conferencing without compromises — plus privacy-conscious organizations and developers needing GDPR-native embedded video via Digital Samba Embedded
Digital Samba offers something no other platform can match: a completely free video conferencing product (DS Free) with no participant limits, no session time limits, and no 40-minute gotchas — a genuine free alternative to the Big 3. The company makes its money through Digital Samba Embedded, a VPaaS product for developers who need white-label video with full API/SDK access and EU-only data residency. The collaboration toolset — breakout rooms, whiteboard, polling, quizzes, Q&A, shared notes — goes deeper than many premium competitors. With 20+ years in business and privacy baked into the architecture (not bolted on), Digital Samba is a serious contender that flies under the radar.
Strengths
- DS Free is completely free with no participant limits, no time limits, and no catch — a genuine alternative to Zoom, Teams, and Meet without the annoying 40-minute cap
- Privacy-first, GDPR-native platform — all infrastructure EU-only, zero-tracking business model, no data sold or shared
- Comprehensive feature set rivaling premium platforms — breakout rooms, whiteboard, polling (30 options), quizzes, Q&A with upvoting, shared notes, and AI captions/transcriptions/summaries
- Full API parity with the UI, SDK, webhooks, and CNAME white-labeling — strongest embedded/VPaaS offering for developers via Digital Samba Embedded
Limitations
- Embedded product uses EUR-based pricing and usage-based model (participation minutes), which adds complexity vs simple per-seat pricing
- Less brand recognition outside Europe — smaller community and fewer third-party reviews compared to the Big 3
- AI features launched recently (late 2025) — functional but still maturing compared to Zoom AI Companion or Teams Copilot
When to Choose Cisco Webex
Existing Cisco enterprise customers and government organizations that need FedRAMP-authorized video conferencing
Cisco Webex remains a strong security and compliance play, with FedRAMP authorization and Zero Trust architecture that few competitors can match. However, the platform has lost significant market momentum. The interface feels dated, the integration ecosystem is thin, and collaboration features trail Zoom and Teams by a noticeable margin. For security-first government and enterprise use cases it still delivers, but teams choosing a new platform today will likely find better options elsewhere.
Strengths
- Industry-leading security with E2EE, FedRAMP authorization, and Zero Trust architecture
- AI Assistant with real-time translation in 120+ languages included on paid plans
- Super Resolution AI enhances video quality on low-bandwidth connections
- Strong compliance credentials for government and regulated industries
Limitations
- Interface feels dated and clunky compared to Zoom, Teams, and newer competitors
- Market momentum has shifted — declining adoption outside existing Cisco enterprise customers
- Integration ecosystem is limited compared to Zoom or Teams marketplaces
