In today’s digital age, finding the right tool for virtual meetings is crucial. Two popular options are Google Meet and Whereby. Both come with unique features and benefits, making them suitable for different needs.
Google Meet is well-known for its integration with other Google Workspace tools, making it a seamless choice for those already using Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive. It offers features like real-time captions, noise cancellation, and the ability to host large meetings with up to 250 participants. It’s a robust and reliable option for businesses and educational institutions.
On the other hand, Whereby shines with its simplicity and ease of use. There’s no need to download any software; you can start a meeting directly from your browser. Whereby allows for easy customization of meeting rooms and supports up to 50 participants. It’s perfect for small teams and casual get-togethers, offering a user-friendly experience without the need
General Information
Google Meet, developed by Google, was released in 2017. It supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web. This makes it highly versatile for users across different devices.
Whereby, on the other hand, was developed by Whereby and released in 2013. It also supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web platforms, ensuring broad accessibility similar to Google Meet.
Both apps offer robust platform support, making them accessible on a wide range of devices. Google Meet benefits from Google’s extensive ecosystem, while Whereby has been around longer, providing a stable and reliable conferencing solution.
Verdict:
Google Meet is better due to a more recent release date and the same platform availability.
| Attribute |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer/Company | Whereby | |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2013 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web |
Core Features
Google Meet and Whereby both offer HD video quality, ensuring clear and sharp visuals during meetings. This makes both platforms suitable for professional and personal use where visual clarity is important.
In terms of audio quality, both Google Meet and Whereby provide high-quality audio. This ensures that participants can hear each other clearly without significant disruptions or distortions, which is crucial for effective communication.
Both platforms excel in delivering core features that enhance the conferencing experience.
Verdict:
Both Google Meet and Whereby offer HD video and high audio quality. They are equally good in core features.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | HD | HD |
| Audio Quality | High | High |
Interactive demos of Google Meet and Whereby
Google Meet Demo
Whereby Demo
Collaboration Tools
Google Meet and Whereby offer different strengths in collaboration tools.
Google Meet allows up to 100 participants in its free version, while Whereby supports only 4. For paid plans, Google Meet accommodates up to 250 participants, whereas Whereby supports up to 50. Meeting duration on Google Meet is limited to 60 minutes for free users, but Whereby offers unlimited meeting time in its free version.
Both platforms support screen sharing and recording, though recording is available only in paid plans for both. Google Meet offers virtual backgrounds, a feature not available in Whereby.
In summary:
– Participants (Free): 100 vs 4
– Participants (Paid): 250 vs 50
– Meeting Duration (Free): 60 minutes vs Unlimited
– Screen Sharing: Yes vs Yes
– Recording: Yes (paid plans) vs Yes (paid plans)
– Virtual Backgrounds: Yes vs No
Verdict:
Google Meet is better for collaboration tools.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Participants (Free) | 100 | 4 |
| Participants (Paid) | 250 | 50 |
| Meeting Duration (Free) | 60 minutes | Unlimited |
| Screen Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Recording | ✅ Yes (paid plans) | ✅ Yes (paid plans) |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Integration and Compatibility
Google Meet and Whereby are popular conferencing apps with distinct features. Both offer in-meeting chat and file sharing, making communication and collaboration straightforward. However, neither supports breakout rooms or whiteboarding, which might limit some interactive sessions.
Google Meet stands out with its support for polls and Q&A, allowing for more engaging meetings. Whereby lacks this feature. Meeting notes are another area where Google Meet excels, providing a way to document discussions directly within the app, a feature Whereby does not offer.
When it comes to integration, Google Meet is well-integrated with Google Workspace, making it a seamless choice for users of Google’s suite of productivity tools. Whereby does not offer this integration. Neither app integrates with Microsoft 365, which might be a consideration for users of Microsoft’s ecosystem.
Both apps support third-party app integrations and offer API availability, providing flexibility for users to extend functionality and customize their conferencing experience.
In summary:
– In-meeting Chat: Yes vs Yes
– File Sharing: Yes vs Yes
– Breakout Rooms: No vs No
– Polls and Q&A: Yes vs No
– Whiteboarding: No vs No
– Meeting Notes: Yes vs No
– Google Workspace Integration: Yes vs No
– Microsoft
Verdict:
Google Meet is better due to Polls and Q&A, Meeting Notes, and Google Workspace Integration.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| In-meeting Chat | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| File Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Breakout Rooms | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Polls and Q&A | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Whiteboarding | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Meeting Notes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Google Workspace Integration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Microsoft 365 Integration | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Third-party Apps Integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| API Availability | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Security and Privacy
Google Meet and Whereby both offer robust security and privacy features.
End-to-End Encryption: Both Google Meet and Whereby provide end-to-end encryption, ensuring that communications are secure and private.
Password Protection: Both platforms support password protection, allowing hosts to secure meetings with a password to prevent unauthorized access.
Waiting Room: Both Google Meet and Whereby include a waiting room feature, enabling hosts to control who enters the meeting.
Participant Authentication: Both services offer participant authentication, ensuring that only invited individuals can join the meeting.
Data Compliance: Google Meet and Whereby are both compliant with GDPR, adhering to strict data protection regulations to safeguard user information.
In summary, Google Meet and Whereby are closely matched in terms of security and privacy, offering end-to-end encryption, password protection, waiting rooms, participant authentication, and GDPR compliance.
Verdict:
Both Google Meet and Whereby are equally strong in Security and Privacy, with identical features and GDPR compliance.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| End-to-End Encryption | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Password Protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Waiting Room | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Participant Authentication | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Data Compliance | GDPR | GDPR |
User Experience
Google Meet and Whereby both offer a high ease of use, making them accessible for users of all skill levels. Google Meet features a clean UI design, while Whereby opts for a simple interface. Both apps support mobile functionality, ensuring users can join meetings on the go.
In terms of accessibility, both Google Meet and Whereby provide robust options, ensuring that all users can participate in meetings without barriers. However, customer support differs between the two. Google Meet offers support via email and phone, providing multiple channels for assistance. Whereby, on the other hand, only offers email support.
Overall, both apps excel in user experience, but they have slight differences in UI design and customer support options.
Verdict:
Google Meet is better due to its additional customer support via phone.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | High | High |
| UI Design | Clean | Simple |
| Mobile Functionality | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Accessibility | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customer Support | Email, Phone |
Pricing
Google Meet and Whereby both offer free tiers, making them accessible for users who need basic conferencing features without cost.
Google Meet provides three paid plans:
– $6/month (Business Starter plan)
– $12/month (Business Standard plan)
– $18/month (Business Plus plan)
Whereby offers a single paid plan at $9.99/month.
Both platforms also provide free trials, allowing users to test premium features before committing to a subscription.
In summary:
– Free Tier Availability: Yes vs Yes
– Paid Plans: $6/month, $12/month, $18/month vs $9.99/month
– Free Trial Availability: Yes vs Yes
Verdict:
Google Meet offers more pricing options and flexibility, making it the better choice.
Performance
Google Meet and Whereby both excel in performance.
Reliability: Both Google Meet and Whereby score high. Users can expect consistent and dependable connections, making them suitable for important meetings.
Latency: Both platforms offer low latency. This ensures smooth communication with minimal delays, which is crucial for real-time interactions.
Resource Usage: Both apps are efficient with low resource usage. They run smoothly on various devices without causing significant slowdowns, making them accessible to a wide range of users.
High Traffic Feedback: Both Google Meet and Whereby receive positive feedback under high traffic conditions. Users report stable performance even during peak usage times, which is essential for large-scale meetings and events.
In summary, Google Meet and Whereby are comparable in terms of performance, offering high reliability, low latency, low resource usage, and positive feedback during high traffic.
Verdict:
Both Google Meet and Whereby perform equally well in terms of performance.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | High | High |
| Latency | Low | Low |
| Resource Usage | Low | Low |
| High Traffic Feedback | Positive | Positive |
Unique Selling Points
Google Meet offers seamless integration with Google Workspace, making it an excellent choice for users already embedded in the Google ecosystem. This integration allows for easy scheduling through Google Calendar, quick access to meetings via Gmail, and the ability to share documents directly from Google Drive. Additionally, Google Meet provides live captions, enhancing accessibility for participants who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Whereby, on the other hand, is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It is a browser-based platform, meaning there is no need to download any software or apps. This makes it particularly user-friendly and accessible for those who may not be tech-savvy. Whereby’s straightforward interface allows users to create and join meetings with minimal effort, making it a convenient option for quick, on-the-go conferencing.
In summary, Google Meet excels with its deep integration into Google Workspace and features like live captions, making it ideal for users who rely heavily on Google services. Whereby stands out for its simplicity and ease of use, requiring no downloads and offering a hassle-free, browser-based experience.
Verdict:
Google Meet is better for seamless Google Workspace integration and live captions. Whereby excels in simplicity and browser-based use.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Key Features and Differentiators | Seamless Google Workspace integration, live captions | Simple, easy-to-use, browser-based |
User Feedback and Reviews
Google Meet and Whereby both receive positive user feedback and reviews, but they cater to slightly different needs.
Google Meet is praised for its integration with Google services and simplicity. Users appreciate how seamlessly it works with other Google tools, making it a convenient choice for those already in the Google ecosystem. However, some users feel it lacks advanced features compared to other conferencing apps. Overall, it scores well for ease of use and integration.
Whereby is highly rated for its simplicity and ease of use. Users love the straightforward setup process and the fact that it offers unlimited meeting duration, which is a significant advantage. However, the free plan is limited to smaller meetings, which can be a drawback for larger groups. Despite this, it scores high for its user-friendly interface and hassle-free experience.
Overall Ratings:
Google Meet: Praised for integration with Google services and simplicity. Some users find it lacks advanced features.
Whereby: Highly rated for simplicity and ease of use.
Pros:
Google Meet: Integration with Google services, ease of use.
Whereby: Simple setup, unlimited meeting duration.
Cons:
Google Meet: Lacks some advanced features compared to competitors.
Whereby: Limited to smaller meetings on free plan.
Verdict:
Whereby is better for simplicity and ease of use, while Google Meet excels in integration with Google services.
| Attribute | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Ratings | Praised for integration with Google services and simplicity. Some users find it lacks advanced features. | Highly rated for simplicity and ease of use |
| Pros | Integration with Google services, ease of use | Simple setup, unlimited meeting duration |
| Cons | Lacks some advanced features compared to competitors | Limited to smaller meetings on free plan |
Final Verdict
Google Meet and Whereby both excel in core features, security, and privacy, offering HD video, high-quality audio, end-to-end encryption, password protection, waiting rooms, participant authentication, and GDPR compliance. However, Google Meet stands out in user experience with additional phone support and offers more flexible pricing options with three paid plans compared to Whereby’s single plan. Overall, Google Meet is the better choice due to its superior customer support and pricing flexibility.
