BigBlueButton vs Whereby (2026)
By Noahlast updated
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButtonAn open-source video conferencing server built for virtual classrooms, with a multi-user whiteboard, breakout rooms, and LMS integration, free to self-host under LGPL-3.0.
- Pricing
- Free
- License
- Open source
Best for schools, universities, and training organizations that need LMS-integrated virtual classrooms and are willing to self-host or pay a commercial BigBlueButton hosting provider
Whereby
WherebyBrowser-based, no-download video meetings and embeddable video API, free for solo use or from $10.99/month for Pro.
- Pricing
- Free tier · paid from $10.99/mo
- License
- Freemium
Best for coaches, consultants, and client-facing professionals who want guests to join a video call from one reusable link with no download or account
Which should you choose?
Choose BigBlueButton if…
wins 3/6 use cases
- You teach online and want instructors to launch classes from inside Moodle, Canvas, Sakai, D2L, Jenzabar, or Schoology
- You need classroom tools in every session: a multi-user whiteboard, slide annotation, polling, hand-raise, shared notes, and breakout rooms
- You want open-source code under LGPL-3.0 that you can self-host on your own Linux server at no license cost
- You have staff who can run a Linux server with enough CPU and RAM for video processing, or budget for a third-party BigBlueButton host
Choose Whereby if…
wins 3/6 use cases
- You want a managed service you can sign up for today, with published prices from $10.99/month (Pro)
- Your guests are clients or coaching customers who should join from a browser link with no download or account
- You want a permanent, reusable room URL for recurring calls
- You are building video calling into your own telehealth, e-learning, or marketplace app with the usage-billed Whereby Embedded API/SDK
- You want a low learning curve and no server to maintain
BigBlueButton vs Whereby: feature comparison
| Feature | BigBlueButton | Whereby |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Yesfree to self-host (LGPL-3.0) | Yesfree plan; Pro from $10.99/mo |
| Free tier | Yesfull software free; you supply the Linux server | Partial1 room, 4 attendees, 30-minute meetings |
| Paid plans | Partialthird-party hosting, price set by each provider | YesPro $10.99/mo, Business $13.99/mo per host (3-host minimum) |
| Platforms | Partialweb only, no desktop or mobile app | Partialweb only |
| Hosting / license | Yesopen source (LGPL-3.0), self-hosted or third-party hosted | Noclosed-source, managed service |
| Guest access | Yesruns in the browser, no client to install | Yesbrowser link, no download or account |
| LMS integration | YesMoodle, Canvas, Sakai, D2L, Jenzabar, Schoology | Unknown |
| Classroom tools | Yesmulti-user whiteboard, polling, hand-raise, shared notes, AI smart slides | Unknown |
| Breakout rooms | Yesincluded in the free software | Yesfrom $13.99/mo per host (Business, 3-host minimum) |
| Attendees per meeting | Unknown | Yes4 free, 100 on Pro, 200 on Business |
| Recording and custom branding | Unknown | Yesunlimited recording and branding from $10.99/mo (Pro) |
| Reusable room URLs | Unknown | Yes1 free, 3 on Pro, unlimited on Business |
| Embeddable video API | Unknown | YesWhereby Embedded API/SDK, billed by usage |
| Data control | Yesself-hosted on your own Linux server | Partialvendor-managed; European-owned, GDPR-oriented |
| Support | Partialthrough third-party commercial hosts | Yespriority support on Business |
| Learning curve | Partialmoderate | Yeslow |
| External rating (Capterra) | Yes4.2/5 from 66 reviews | Yes4.5/5 from 117 reviews |
BigBlueButton vs Whereby: pricing
Every tier both tools publish, as we last checked them — not just the entry price.
BigBlueButton
- Self-hosted (open source)Free under LGPL-3.0; requires your own Linux server meeting BigBlueButton's CPU/RAM requirements to self-host reliably.Free
- Commercial hostingThird-party hosted and supported plans sold through bigbluebutton.com and LMS vendors; pricing is set individually by each provider, not published centrally by the core project.Custom
Whereby
- Free1 room URL, 4 attendees per meeting, meetings capped at 30 minutes, 1 host.Free
- Pro3 room URLs, 100 attendees, unlimited meeting duration, custom branding, unlimited recording, background effects, noise reduction.$10.99/mo
- BusinessPer host, 3-host minimum (17% off billed annually); unlimited room URLs, 200 attendees, breakout groups, hybrid meetings, priority support.$13.99/mo
BigBlueButton vs Whereby pricing: which costs less?
BigBlueButton costs less in license fees because the software is free under LGPL-3.0, but its real cost is a Linux server or a third-party host, while Whereby publishes fixed prices of $10.99/month for Pro and $13.99/month per host for Business.
Whereby's free plan covers 1 room, 4 attendees, and 30-minute meetings. Whereby Pro at $10.99/month adds 3 rooms, 100 attendees, unlimited duration, and unlimited recording. Whereby Business is $13.99/month per host with a 3-host minimum, so the smallest Business team pays $41.97/month, or 17% less billed annually. BigBlueButton has no first-party paid plan: commercial hosting is sold by third-party providers through bigbluebutton.com and LMS vendors, and each provider sets its own price.
Which is easier to use, BigBlueButton or Whereby?
Whereby is easier to use, with a low learning curve and guests joining from a browser link with no download or account, against BigBlueButton's moderate learning curve.
Whereby gives each host a permanent room URL, so a guest clicks the same link for every call. BigBlueButton also runs entirely in the browser with no client to install, but instructors have more tools to learn (whiteboard, slide annotation, polling, breakout rooms, shared notes), and someone has to install and run the server or choose a commercial host. Underpowered BigBlueButton servers cause dropped audio and video, so running it well takes real server know-how.
Is BigBlueButton better than Whereby for teaching?
BigBlueButton is better for teaching because it is built for virtual classrooms, with LMS integration for Moodle, Canvas, Sakai, D2L, Jenzabar, and Schoology plus a multi-user whiteboard, polling, and breakout rooms.
BigBlueButton lets instructors launch a session from inside the LMS they already teach in, upload documents for slide annotation, and generate AI smart slides. Whereby's Meetings product is built for calls, coaching, and client meetings, and its breakout groups arrive only on the Business plan at $13.99/month per host with a 3-host minimum. Whereby's separate Embedded API/SDK is used in e-learning apps, but it is a developer product billed by usage, not a ready-made classroom.
Is BigBlueButton more private than Whereby?
BigBlueButton gives more control over data because you can self-host it on your own Linux server, while Whereby is a managed service from a European-owned company with GDPR-oriented positioning.
A self-hosted BigBlueButton server runs on infrastructure you control, and its full source code is on GitHub under LGPL-3.0 for review. That control comes with operational work. Choosing a third-party BigBlueButton host moves meeting data to that provider instead. Whereby keeps the infrastructure on its side, which suits teams that want a vendor-managed service and care about European ownership and GDPR.
Strengths and weaknesses
BigBlueButton
Pros
- Free and open source under LGPL-3.0, with full source available on GitHub.
- Purpose-built classroom tools: multi-user whiteboard, breakout rooms, polling, shared notes, AI smart slides.
- Native integration with major LMS platforms (Moodle, Canvas, Sakai, D2L, Schoology).
- Runs entirely in the browser, no desktop or mobile client to install.
Cons
- Self-hosting requires a Linux server with real CPU/RAM headroom for video processing; underpowered servers cause dropped audio and video.
- No single official paid SaaS tier — commercial hosting pricing varies by third-party provider, not standardized.
- Built for classroom teaching, not general business meetings, so it lacks features common in tools like Zoom, such as advanced webinar registration.
Whereby
Pros
- No download or account required for guests to join a meeting from a browser link.
- Permanent, reusable room URLs suit recurring client or coaching calls better than one-off meeting links.
- Separate Embedded API/SDK lets developers add WebRTC video directly into their own apps.
- European-owned with GDPR-oriented positioning, relevant for privacy-conscious teams.
Cons
- Business plan requires a minimum of 3 paid hosts, adding cost for small teams that don't need three seats.
- Free plan caps meetings at 30 minutes and a single room, tighter than some competing free tiers.
- Attendee caps (100 on Pro, 200 on Business) are lower than large webinar-focused platforms.
- Fewer built-in productivity integrations (calendar scheduling, transcription) than Zoom or Google Meet.
Which fits your use case?
| Use case | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| University running courses in Moodle or Canvas | BigBlueButton | BigBlueButton integrates directly into Moodle, Canvas, Sakai, D2L, Jenzabar, and Schoology, so instructors launch a full classroom from inside the LMS. |
| Coach or consultant meeting clients one-on-one | Whereby | Whereby gives each host a permanent room URL and lets clients join from a browser with no download or account, free or from $10.99/month for Pro. |
| School IT team with Linux skills that wants no per-host fees | BigBlueButton | BigBlueButton is free to self-host under LGPL-3.0; the cost is a Linux server with enough CPU and RAM for video processing. |
| Product team adding video calls to its own app | Whereby | Whereby Embedded is a usage-billed API and SDK for building WebRTC video into telehealth, e-learning, and marketplace apps. |
| Small organization with no IT staff | Whereby | Whereby is a managed service with a low learning curve, while BigBlueButton needs a self-hosted Linux server or a third-party commercial host. |
| Training provider that needs breakout rooms on a tight budget | BigBlueButton | BigBlueButton includes breakout rooms in the free open-source software, while Whereby puts breakout groups on Business at $13.99/month per host with a 3-host minimum. |
Neither a match?
Both lists carry verified pricing and honest weaknesses for every option.
Popular comparisons
BigBlueButton vs Whereby: migration FAQ
Should I use BigBlueButton or Whereby?
- Use BigBlueButton if you run online classes from an LMS and can self-host or pay a third-party host; use Whereby if you want a managed meeting service where guests join from a browser link with no download or account.
Is BigBlueButton cheaper than Whereby?
- Yes on license cost — BigBlueButton is free open-source software under LGPL-3.0, while Whereby Pro costs $10.99/month. BigBlueButton still needs a Linux server or a third-party host, and those hosts set their own prices.
Can Whereby replace BigBlueButton?
- Only for simple sessions — Whereby covers browser meetings with up to 200 attendees and breakout groups on its Business plan. BigBlueButton's LMS integration, multi-user whiteboard, polling, and shared notes are not part of Whereby's listed plans.
Is BigBlueButton free?
- Yes — BigBlueButton is free to download and self-host under LGPL-3.0, but you need a Linux server with enough CPU and RAM for video, or a paid third-party hosting provider.
Do guests need an account to join Whereby?
- No — Whereby guests join from a browser link with no app download, plugin, or account. BigBlueButton also runs in the browser with no client to install.