OpenTalk

German open-source video meetings from the Heinlein group (mailbox.org). Breakout rooms and moderation tools.

Video meetings

OpenTalk cloud

Hosting: EU-hosted SaaS Reviewed

German EUPL video conferencing as hosted SaaS.

FES Scores 9

Pillar	Criterion	Score	Evidence
Easy	Day-one UX Can non-technical staff use it without a project?	4	Browser-based meetings for non-technical users. Source
Easy	Operate Admin burden, updates, backups and language coverage.	4	Cloud removes most ops; on-prem exists too. Source
Easy	Integrate SSO, mail/CalDAV, APIs and common NGO connectors.	3	Fits German public-sector stacks; SSO on enterprise. Source
Fair	Lock-in / exit Can you leave with your data in open formats, at known cost?	3	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): EU SaaS usually allows export, but remapping integrations still costs effort. Source
Fair	Sovereignty EU legal entity, EU hosting, and exposure to extra-EU lawful access?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): EU legal entity + EU-hosted SaaS offering. Source
Fair	Openness Open source or open standards? Are independent implementations possible?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): license classified as open-source family. Source
Secure	IT security Authentication, encryption, patch cadence and independent audit.	4	Security-conscious German vendor. Source
Secure	User security 2FA, roles, phishing resistance and safe defaults.	4	Moderation and waiting rooms. Source
Secure	Personal data GDPR fit: DPA, residency, sub-processors and Schrems II posture.	5	German GDPR and EUPL transparency. Source

Indicative scores from public information — how we score.

Hosting: Self-hosted Reviewed

On-premise OpenTalk for organisations that want full control.

FES Scores 9

Pillar	Criterion	Score	Evidence
Easy	Day-one UX Can non-technical staff use it without a project?	3	Needs a short pilot for hosts and AV setups. Source
Easy	Operate Admin burden, updates, backups and language coverage.	2	Self-host ops and scaling. Source
Easy	Integrate SSO, mail/CalDAV, APIs and common NGO connectors.	3	LDAP/OIDC on enterprise builds. Source
Fair	Lock-in / exit Can you leave with your data in open formats, at known cost?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): self-host + open-source path supports exit with your data. Source
Fair	Sovereignty EU legal entity, EU hosting, and exposure to extra-EU lawful access?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): EU vendor software; you choose EU infrastructure when self-hosting. Source
Fair	Openness Open source or open standards? Are independent implementations possible?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): license classified as open-source family. Source
Secure	IT security Authentication, encryption, patch cadence and independent audit.	4	Depends on your hardening. Source
Secure	User security 2FA, roles, phishing resistance and safe defaults.	3	Room roles are strong when configured. Source
Secure	Personal data GDPR fit: DPA, residency, sub-processors and Schrems II posture.	5	Data never leaves your network by default. Source

Indicative scores from public information — how we score.