Around vs Whereby: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editorยท12 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Around and Whereby in 2026, Whereby is the stronger choice for small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-download video meetings due to no account needed to join. Around excels for remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence with minimal screen real estate. Around offers Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation starting at $9/user/mo with a free plan. Whereby provides Permanent room links, No downloads required, Integrations from $6.99/user/mo with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Whereby delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 78/100. Around and Whereby compete in the video conferencing segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading video conferencing tools include Zoom, Google Meet, Webex. Around serves 200K+ users globally (founded 2020) while Whereby reports 7M+ active users (founded 2013).

Around vs Whereby at a Glance

Around
Whereby
Starting Price
$9/user/mo
$6.99/user/mo
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
User Rating
4.3/5
4.4/5
Best For
Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on vide...
Small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-dow...
Users
200K+
7M+
Founded
2020
2013
hiltonsoftware Score
69/100
78/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ”ด
Around
Video Conferencing
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐Ÿšช
Whereby
Video Conferencing
78
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Around and Whereby?

Around and Whereby differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Whereby leads in 7 of 7 categories.

AroundWhereby
83Ease of Use83
75Features78
70Value for Money74
63Customer Support67
58Integrations68
61Scalability67
72Learning Curve73

What are the pros and cons of Around vs Whereby?

Around
+Minimal screen real estate
+Fun social feel for teams
-Niche interface may not suit all
-Smaller user base
Whereby
+No account needed to join
+Permanent, branded room links
-Limited to smaller meetings
-Fewer features than Zoom

Which is better, Around or Whereby?

After evaluating Around and Whereby across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Whereby earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 78/100 versus Around at 69/100. Whereby stands out for "no account needed to join" and "permanent, branded room links". Around delivers competitive advantages in "minimal screen real estate", making Around a viable alternative.

Both Around and Whereby offer free plans. Around paid plans start at $9/user/mo while Whereby begins at $6.99/user/mo. ROI depends on which features justify upgrading.

Bottom line: Choose Around for remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence. Choose Whereby for small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-download video meetings. Both Around and Whereby are established video conferencing platforms.

CHOOSE AROUND IF:

Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence.

CHOOSE WHEREBY IF:

Small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-download video meetings.

Around vs Whereby: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Around better than Whereby in 2026?
Whereby outperforms Around in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 78/100 compared to 69/100. Around excels in Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation, making Around the better choice for Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence. Whereby is the stronger option for Small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-download video meetings due to no account needed to join. For teams needing permanent room links, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Whereby.
How does Around pricing compare to Whereby in 2026?
Around starts at $9/user/mo and includes a free plan. Whereby starts at $6.99/user/mo and offers a free plan. Around includes features like Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation. Whereby provides Permanent room links, No downloads required, Integrations. Around serves 200K+ users while Whereby serves 7M+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Around and Whereby?
Around specializes in Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation, earning a 69/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Whereby focuses on Permanent room links, No downloads required, Integrations, scoring 78/100. Around is best for Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence. Whereby is best for Small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-download video meetings. Both Around and Whereby serve the Video Conferencing market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Around to Whereby?
Migrating from Around to Whereby is possible since both operate in the Video Conferencing space. Export data from Around and verify Whereby import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation (Around) versus Permanent room links, No downloads required, Integrations (Whereby). Running both Around and Whereby in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Around or Whereby better for small business?
Both Around and Whereby offer free plans. Around (69/100) is ideal for Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence. Whereby (78/100) fits Small teams and freelancers wanting simple, no-download video meetings. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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