Why people leave 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.
The everyday gripes
- 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.
And the bigger one – where your data actually lives
- 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.
- Encryption is not on by default. Zoom does offer end-to-end encryption, but standard meetings do not use it. Zoom holds the keys, so it can reach the content of a normal call.
- Your calls help the product. Zoom's privacy policy lets it use meeting data to improve its services. The calls you pay for also feed the platform you are calling on.
The good news is that Europe does video calls well. A strong Zoom alternative keeps your meetings under European law, encrypts them properly, and still feels easy for a guest to join. Some are full workplace suites. Others are one clean tool that does calls and nothing else. Here are the three we rate highest, scored on our EuroPoints system and ranked honestly, weaknesses and all.
1. Twake Workplace
Twake Workplace is our top pick, and it earns a perfect EuroPoints score. It is built in Paris by Linagora, fully open-source, independent, and hosted in the EU. Twake Meet handles your video calls, and it sits inside a whole workplace with chat, drive, mail and calendar, so a team can leave several US tools at once.
The honest limitation is that Twake is a full suite. If all you want is a quick call with one guest, it is more than you need, and Whereby below will feel lighter.
Messaging, cloud drive, mail and calendar all live in one open-source platform instead of stitching together separate tools, and self-hosting is a genuine option if you want full control.
The all-in-one scope means individual features like chat or drive can feel less polished than a specialist tool built for just that one job.
| Service | EuroPoints | Tier | Country | From | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twake Workplace | 100 | Certified European | France | Free | Yes |
 Whereby | 66 | Mostly European | Norway | Free | No |
 Jitsi Meet | 52 | Mixed Origins | United States | Free | Yes |
2. Whereby
Whereby is the easiest Zoom swap here. It is a Norwegian tool that runs entirely in the browser, so guests click a link and join with no app to download and no account to make. Each room has its own web address you can reuse, which makes it lovely for regular calls with the same clients or friends.
It scores lower than Twake mainly because the company was acquired rather than staying independent, not because the product is weak. For a normal one-to-one or small group call, it is arguably the nicest option on this page.
There's no app to download for guests – click a link and you're in a call – and permanent room links make it easy to reuse the same meeting space every time.
It's pivoted hard toward an API and embedded product for other businesses, so the standalone consumer app gets less attention and fewer new features than it used to.
3. Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is the free, open-source option. You can open a browser, start a meeting in seconds, and share the link, with no account for anyone. It is fully open-source, and a technical team can run it on their own European server and own every part of it.
The catch is that Jitsi is developed by a US company, 8x8, so the public hosted version does not sit under European law by default. Use a European-hosted instance, or self-host it, and you get the openness with the jurisdiction sorted too.
There's no account, no app download and no time limit to start a call – just share a link – and self-hosting your own instance is a genuine option if the US-hosted version doesn't sit right with you.
The hosted meet.jit.si service runs on US infrastructure under a US-owned parent company, so it scores far lower here than a fully self-hosted instance would.
The verdict
For a whole team ready to leave several US tools at once, Twake is the switch, and it tops our score for good reason. If you just want the simplest possible video call, Whereby is the one to send people, with no app and no account. And if you are technical, or want it free and open, Jitsi Meet lets you run your own meetings on your own terms. Any of the three keeps your calls in European hands, which is the whole point.
Frequently asked questions
Is Twake free to use?
Yes. Twake has a free plan you can start on, and the whole platform is open-source, so you can also run it yourself at no licence cost. Paid plans add more storage and admin controls for larger teams.
Do participants need an account to join a call?
Usually not. With Whereby and Jitsi, guests click a link and join straight from the browser, with no account needed. Twake Meet works the same way for invited guests, while the host has an account.
Are these as good as Zoom for a normal video call?
For a standard call with a few people, yes. Screen sharing, chat and gallery view are all there. Zoom still leads on very large webinars and some advanced features, but most people never touch those.
Which option is best for a small business?
Twake, in most cases. You get video meetings plus chat, drive and mail in one European suite, so you replace several tools at once. If you only need calls and want the least setup, Whereby is the simpler pick.
Is Zoom banned in Europe?
No. Zoom is not banned, and you can use it legally across Europe. The concern is about data. Because Zoom is a US company, some organisations, especially in the public sector, worry that US law can reach meeting data, and a few have moved to European tools for that reason.
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