Around vs Daily.co: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Around and Daily.co is a common decision for video conferencing buyers in 2026. Both Around and Daily.co are established players, founded in 2020 and 2016 respectively. Around serves 200K+ users while Daily.co has 300K+ developers users globally. Around differentiates with floating bubble ui and screen sharing, while Daily.co leads with video api and audio api. In this head-to-head comparison, Daily.co earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 92/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🔴
Around
Video Conferencing
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
🔵
Daily.co
Video Conferencing
92
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Around
Daily.co
Starting Price
$9/user/mo
$0.004/participant/min
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
Users
200K+
300K+ developers
Founded
2020
2016
Rating
4.3/5
4.6/5
Best For
Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on vide...
Developers embedding video calling and conferencin...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

AroundDaily.co
90Ease of Use92
94Features93
95Value for Money99
82Customer Support93
84Integrations91
87Scalability94
90Learning Curve90

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Around
+Minimal screen real estate
+Fun social feel for teams
-Niche interface may not suit all
-Smaller user base
Daily.co
+Best-in-class video API for developers
+Generous free tier
-Developer-focused, not end-user product
-Requires coding to use
AI Verdict

After comparing Around and Daily.co across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Daily.co takes the lead with a score of 92/100 versus Around's 86/100. Daily.co's key advantages include "best-in-class video api for developers" and "generous free tier". That said, Around has its own strengths — particularly "minimal screen real estate" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Both Around and Daily.co offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. Around's paid plans start at $9/user/mo while Daily.co begins at $0.004/participant/min. Evaluate which paid features — Noise cancellation, Team spaces (Around) vs Recording, Transcription (Daily.co) — justify upgrading for your team.

Bottom line: Choose Around if you need remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence. Go with Daily.co if your priority is developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Both are strong video conferencing tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE AROUND IF:

Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence.

CHOOSE DAILY.CO IF:

Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Around better than Daily.co in 2026?
Daily.co scores 92/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Around's 86/100. Around stands out for "minimal screen real estate" and is best for Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence. Daily.co is known for "best-in-class video api for developers" and suits Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Around and Daily.co?
Both offer free plans. Around starts at $9/user/mo and Daily.co at $0.004/participant/min. When comparing value, consider that Around (founded 2020, 200K+ users) includes features like Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation. Daily.co (founded 2016, 300K+ developers users) offers Video API, Audio API, Recording. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Around and Daily.co?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Around excels at Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation, while Daily.co focuses on Video API, Audio API, Recording. Around's main advantage is "minimal screen real estate", though some users note "niche interface may not suit all". Daily.co's strength is "best-in-class video api for developers", but "developer-focused, not end-user product" can be a drawback. Both serve the Video Conferencing market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Around to Daily.co?
Switching between Around and Daily.co is possible since both operate in the Video Conferencing space. Before migrating, export your data from Around and check Daily.co's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Floating bubble UI, Screen sharing, Noise cancellation (Around) vs Video API, Audio API, Recording (Daily.co). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Around or Daily.co?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. Around is ideal for Remote teams wanting a less formal, always-on video presence, while Daily.co fits Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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