2 Free & Open-Source Zoom Alternatives
Zoom's free tier caps group meetings at 40 minutes, and per-host pricing adds up for a team that meets often. Self-hosted video conferencing removes both the time cap and the recurring cost — the trade-off is call quality depends on your own server and bandwidth rather than Zoom's global infrastructure.
The best Zoom alternatives
Jitsi Meet
Our top pickOpen sourceSelf-hostedFree, open-source video calls with no account required.
Jitsi Meet is the most approachable option here — you can start a call from a browser with no sign-up, and it's genuinely free whether you use Jitsi's own public server or self-host it for more control and no participant caps.
- No account needed to join or host a call
- Screen sharing, recording, and live streaming
- End-to-end encryption available for smaller calls
- Self-hosted or Jitsi's free public server
BigBlueButton
Open sourceSelf-hostedOpen-source video conferencing built for teaching and training.
BigBlueButton leans into features Zoom charges extra for in education contexts — breakout rooms, polling, a shared whiteboard — making it the stronger pick if your calls are webinars or training sessions rather than quick 1:1s.
- Breakout rooms and multi-user whiteboard
- Built-in polling and presentation tools
- Session recording and playback
- Self-hosted, commonly run alongside LMS platforms
Licensing and pricing models change over time — confirm current terms on each project's own site before making a procurement or compliance decision.
Frequently asked questions
What's the closest free alternative to Zoom?
Jitsi Meet is the simplest match — browser-based, no account needed, no time limit on calls. BigBlueButton is the better fit specifically for webinars, classes, or training sessions that need breakout rooms and polling.
Do I need to self-host to remove Zoom's 40-minute limit?
With Jitsi, no — its free public server has no such cap. Self-hosting either tool mainly buys you more control over data and capacity, not a feature Jitsi's public instance already lacks.
Is call quality as good as Zoom's?
On Jitsi's public server or a well-provisioned self-hosted instance, yes for typical team calls. Quality depends more on your server's bandwidth than with Zoom, since you're not on a globally distributed commercial network.
More free alternatives
Not sure which way to go?
A free Growth Audit can help you weigh self-hosting against the tool you already pay for.