How it works.

What is a room?

A persistent, named space you own, with a unique URL slug such as theprytaneum.com/meet?room=thursday-group and a password shared only with your guests. The room exists as long as your subscription is active. Nothing inside is recorded.

How do I create a room?

From your dashboard. Pick a display name and a URL slug. The password is auto-generated and baked into the shareable link. You don't set it yourself.

How do I share my room with guests?

Click Copy Link on the room card. The link contains the room slug and password. Anyone who has it can join. Treat it like a key. Regenerate it if you need to revoke access.

How do I start a session?

Click Start on the room card. You go straight into the call, no lobby, no fields to fill. Your display name comes from the top of your dashboard. Guests already in the room see you arrive.

Can I change my room name?

Yes. Click Edit on the room card and update the display name. The URL slug cannot be changed after creation.

How do I revoke access to my room?

Click New Link on the room card. A new password is generated and the old one stops working immediately. Anyone currently in the room is disconnected. Share the new link only with the people you want in.

How many rooms can I have?

The Personal plan includes 1 room. Additional plans with more rooms are coming.

What happens if I disconnect during a call?

A 30-minute grace timer starts. Guests stay in the room. Reconnect before it expires and the session continues. Don't return in time and everyone is disconnected.

What if I am late to my own session?

Guests can join before you arrive, but they wait. If no host joins within 5 minutes of the first guest entering, everyone is disconnected. Arrive before that window closes and the session proceeds normally.

How long can a session run?

With you present, up to 4 hours. Without a host, the limit is 2 hours from when you left, or from when the first guest arrived if you never joined.

Can a room run without me being present?

Yes. Set a recurring scheduled window or open the room on demand for a fixed period. Guests join freely during the active window.

What is a scheduled window?

A recurring time slot on a room, such as every Thursday 18:00–20:00. During that window the room is open to anyone with the link. Outside it, normal host-presence rules apply.

How do I set a schedule?

Click Schedule on the room card. Pick the days, start and end times, and your timezone. The schedule takes effect immediately and repeats weekly until you clear it.

What is an open session?

A one-time opening from the dashboard. Choose a duration between 30 minutes and 2 hours. The room opens immediately and closes when the time runs out, or when you click Close to end it early. Useful for when you can't attend but want the group to meet.

What do guests see if they arrive outside a scheduled window?

The lobby shows the next scheduled session time and a message that the room is not currently open. They cannot enter until the window opens or a host arrives.

If I join my room outside a scheduled window, can guests join too?

Yes. Your presence opens the room for 4 hours regardless of the schedule. When you leave, the 30-minute grace period applies.

Who can remove a disruptive participant if the host is not there?

Nobody, currently. In a hostless window all participants have equal standing. If moderation matters for a session, the host should be present.

Do I need an account?

No. You need only the link your host shared with you. Open it, enter a display name, and you are in.

What do I enter in the lobby?

Just your name. The password is in the link and filled in automatically. No password field.

What if the host is not there when I arrive?

If there is an active scheduled window, you join straight away. If not, a 5-minute timer starts when the first guest joins. If the host doesn't arrive in time, everyone is disconnected.

What if the room is outside its scheduled hours?

If the host is already in the call, join straight away. Otherwise the lobby shows the next scheduled session and won't let you in until then.

What if the host leaves during the call?

Without an active scheduled window, a 30-minute grace period starts. Host returns in time, the session continues. If not, you are disconnected. With an active window, the 2-hour hostless limit takes over instead.

What does end-to-end encrypted mean?

Your video and audio are encrypted on your device before they leave it. The room password is the encryption key, shared only among participants in that room. The server relays the streams but cannot read them. We cannot see or hear your calls.

Is anything recorded or stored?

No. No recording, no transcription, no stored call content. We hold your account information and room configuration, nothing else.

What browsers are supported?

Chrome, Firefox, and Safari 15.4 or later. End-to-end encryption requires insertable streams. If your browser doesn't support this, you will see an error rather than joining with weakened security.

How do I sign up?

Go to theprytaneum.com/signup. Enter a display name, email, and password. A verification email will arrive; click the link in it to activate your account, then log in.

I did not receive a verification email. What now?

Check your spam folder. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and try again. Email delivery can be delayed. If the problem persists, contact support.

How do I reset my password?

Go to theprytaneum.com/forgot-password, enter your email, and a reset link will arrive. The link expires after 1 hour. Resetting your password logs you out of all other sessions.

What happens to my rooms if I cancel?

Your rooms remain in the database during the subscription grace period. If you do not renew, access is suspended. Slug release policy for lapsed accounts is not yet finalised.

Who runs this?

The Prytaneum is an independent, self-funded service based in the EU. No venture capital, no advertising model, no data harvesting. Subscriptions are the only revenue.

Is there a mobile app?

Not yet. The meet page works in a mobile browser on Chrome or Firefox, though it is optimised for desktop. A native app is on the roadmap.