The Best European Zoom Alternatives for Video Conferencing

Zoom and Privacy

Zoom has become ubiquitous since the pandemic, but is problematic from a privacy perspective: data is transferred to the US, and there have been several security incidents.

European Video Conferencing Alternatives

Jitsi Meet (IONOS/own instance)

Jitsi Meet is fully open source and can be self-hosted. IONOS and other EU providers host ready-made Jitsi instances.

Advantages:

• No registration necessary
• Open source
• Self-hosting possible
• End-to-end encryption optional

Whereby (Norway)

Whereby offers browser-based video conferencing without app download with EU hosting.

Advantages:

• No account needed for participants
• Simple invitation links
• GDPR-compliant

Nextcloud Talk (Germany)

For companies already using Nextcloud, Nextcloud Talk is the obvious choice – fully integrated.

BigBlueButton (Canada/EU Servers)

BigBlueButton is the preferred open-source solution for educational institutions with extensive collaboration features.

Browser-Based or App?

For occasional users, Jitsi Meet or Whereby is recommended – no installation needed. For companies with regular calls, Nextcloud Talk or a self-hosted Jitsi instance offers more control.

Conclusion

European video conferencing solutions are mature and user-friendly. For privacy-conscious companies, there is no excuse to continue using Zoom.