European alternatives to Zoom
The video-calling app that became a verb in 2020, now a broad meetings platform. It's a publicly-traded US company under the CLOUD Act; end-to-end encryption exists but isn't the default.
Company information about Zoom
- Company
- Zoom Video Communications Inc.
- Headquarters
- San Jose, United States
- Founded
- 2011
- Data jurisdiction
- United States
- Ownership
- Publicly traded
- GDPR
- No
- Open source
- No
- Infrastructure
- Mixed infrastructure
Why people switch away from Zoom
It falls under US law
Zoom is a US company. Under the CLOUD Act, American authorities can compel access to your meetings, recordings and chat logs, wherever they are stored.
Settled FTC deception charges
Zoom paid $85 million in a 2021 settlement after the FTC alleged it had falsely advertised meetings as end-to-end encrypted for years.
A privacy U-turn on AI training
Zoom rewrote its terms in 2023 to allow training AI on customer audio, video and chat content, reversing course only after a swift public backlash.
Everyday annoyances
- 40 minutes and you are cut off. The free plan ends group calls at 40 minutes. The timer runs out mid-conversation, and everyone has to leave and rejoin.
- Guests have to download the app. First-time guests are often pushed to install the Zoom app before they can join. That is friction the person you invited did not ask for.
- The interface keeps growing. Zoom has added feature after feature over the years. Most people use a small part of it and still hunt for the button they need.
- Recording storage runs out. Cloud recording space is tight on the lower plans. You fill it quickly, then juggle downloads or pay for more room.
- Uninvited guests can drop in. Zoom-bombing is still a risk. Without careful settings, a stranger can find a call and disrupt it.
Looking for a curated recommendation? Read our full guide → Best Zoom alternatives
European alternatives to Zoom
Norwegian browser-based video conferencing tool founded as appear.in inside Telenor. No app download needed, permanent room links, and a clean API for embedding video into products.
Open-source browser-based video conferencing with no account or download needed. Originally founded in France, now owned by US company 8x8. Self-host for full data sovereignty.
Want more options? Browse all European Video conferencing alternatives →
People also replace
Webex 
Skype 
Google Meet 
Microsoft Teams Start somewhere.
Switching everything overnight is not realistic. Start where it matters most: your email, your cloud storage, your business tools. Replace one thing at a time.
The European Alternative already exists.
Pick Europe.
Why avoid United States-owned services?
CLOUD Act
Forces US companies to hand over data stored anywhere in the world upon government request, including data on European servers.
FISA Section 702
Authorises mass surveillance of non-US persons using data held by US tech platforms, without a warrant or notification.
GDPR vs US law conflict
EU courts have repeatedly found that US surveillance law conflicts with European fundamental rights. Schrems I and II both invalidated EU-US data transfer agreements.