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
Whereby
Freelancers, consultants, and small teams that want the simplest possible meeting experience with zero friction
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 Whereby
Freelancers, consultants, and small teams that want the simplest possible meeting experience with zero friction
Whereby is the anti-Zoom — it strips video meetings down to the absolute essentials. Permanent room links mean zero scheduling friction, and the no-download approach is genuinely delightful. The lack of AI features and limited scalability make it unsuitable for larger teams, but for small, informal meetings, nothing is simpler.
Strengths
- Simplest meeting experience — permanent room links, no downloads, no accounts needed for guests
- Embedded API for developers who want to add video to their own apps
- Beautiful, minimalist interface designed for quick, informal meetings
- Free tier includes unlimited 1-on-1 meetings and up to 4 participants in group calls
Limitations
- No AI features — no transcription, summaries, or noise cancellation
- Limited to 200 participants even on the highest plan
- Basic collaboration tools — no breakout rooms or advanced features
