8x8
Whereby
| Feature | 8x8 | Whereby |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $8.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | small-teams, consultants, telehealth-providers, embedded-video-apps |
| Founded | 1987 | 2013 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Browser Based | ✗ | ✓ |
| Permanent Rooms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screen Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recording | ✗ | ✓ |
| Breakout Groups | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embeddable Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 8x8 Pros
- Unlimited international calling
- Strong contact center features
- Good uptime and reliability
- Compliant for healthcare and finance
✗ 8x8 Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Support can be slow
- Pricing not transparent
✓ Whereby Pros
- No downloads or plugins required for anyone
- Permanent meeting room URLs
- Embeddable video API for custom integrations
- Clean and minimal interface
✗ Whereby Cons
- Limited to 200 participants on highest plan
- Fewer features than Zoom or Teams
- Recording only available on paid plans
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. Whereby targets small teams and consultants and leads with browser-based and permanent-rooms.
On pricing, Whereby is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $8.99/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $19.009999999999998/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Whereby has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. 8x8 requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Whereby offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while 8x8 takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.