ownCloud vs Whereby
Both ownCloud and Whereby are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the team collaboration space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
ownCloud
EU- Headquarters
- Nuremberg, DE
- Pricing
- Free / From €5/mo
- Open Source
- Yes
Whereby
EU- Headquarters
- Oslo, NO
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- ownCloud offers a free tier, while whereby offers a free tier. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- ownCloud is open source, meaning you can audit the code, self-host, and avoid vendor lock-in. Whereby is proprietary, which often means a more polished out-of-the-box experience and dedicated support, but less flexibility for customisation.
- Data residency differs: ownCloud hosts data in Germany, EU, while Whereby hosts in EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- ownCloud was founded in 2010, giving it a 3-year head start over Whereby (founded 2013). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: ownCloud offers File sync and share and Collaborative document editing, while Whereby provides No-download browser meetings and Permanent meeting room URLs. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ownCloud | Whereby |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ownCloud | Whereby |
| Pricing | Free / From €5/mo | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Nuremberg, DE | Oslo, NO |
| Data Centers | DE, EU | EU |
| File sync and share | ||
| Collaborative document editing | ||
| Granular permission controls | ||
| Version history and file locking | ||
| LDAP and Active Directory integration | ||
| SAML single sign-on | ||
| Spaces for project-based collaboration | ||
| Desktop and mobile clients | ||
| Infinite Scale microservices architecture | ||
| No-download browser meetings | ||
| Permanent meeting room URLs | ||
| Screen sharing | ||
| Meeting recording | ||
| Breakout groups | ||
| Embedded video API | ||
| Virtual backgrounds | ||
| Whiteboard collaboration | ||
| Calendar integrations |
Pricing Comparison
ownCloud
Free / From €5/mofree / enterprise
Whereby
Freefreemium
Compliance Comparison
ownCloud
GDPRDPA
Whereby
GDPRDPA
Get Started
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How to Choose
You need code transparency or self-hosting
Choose ownCloud
You want a fully managed, turnkey solution
Choose Whereby
ownCloud vs Whereby — FAQ
What is the main difference between ownCloud and Whereby?
Both ownCloud and Whereby are European team collaboration solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: ownCloud is open source while Whereby is proprietary, and ownCloud uses free / enterprise pricing while Whereby uses freemium. ownCloud is headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany, while Whereby is based in Oslo, Norway. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, ownCloud or Whereby?
Both ownCloud and Whereby offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (free / enterprise vs. freemium), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both ownCloud and Whereby GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both ownCloud and Whereby are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.