The best free and open-source Zoom alternative: guests join from a browser link without an account, and you can run it on your own server with no time limits, but the free public service now ends meetings at 95 minutes and the host must sign in.
What it is
Jitsi Meet is open-source video conferencing (Apache 2.0 license) maintained by 8x8, with screen sharing, chat, whiteboards, breakout rooms, lobby and room passwords, and end-to-end encryption options. Use it two ways. The free public service meet.jit.si needs no download and guests join without an account, but since August 2023 the person who starts a room must sign in with Google, GitHub or Facebook, and since October 9, 2026 meetings there are limited to 95 minutes; the same room link cannot be reused right away. Or self-host it on your own server, where there is no time limit unless you set one, at the cost of running and scaling the video bridge yourself. 8x8 also sells it as a hosted service, Jitsi as a Service (JaaS), free for up to 25 monthly active users and then from $99 a month. Web, iOS, Android and a desktop app. Checked November 12, 2026 on jitsi.org (blog and terms) and jaas.8x8.vc.
Best for
- Free calls without buying licenses
- Organizations that want to host video on their own servers
- Developers embedding video in an app
What we like
- Free and open source, self-hostable with no time limit
- Guests join from a browser without an account
- Room passwords, lobby and end-to-end encryption options
- Hosted JaaS option when you do not want to run servers
What to watch
- meet.jit.si now ends meetings at 95 minutes and the host must sign in with Google, GitHub or Facebook
- No support or uptime guarantee on the free public service
- Self-hosting large meetings takes real server and bandwidth work
- Fewer admin, recording and calendar features than paid suites
Where Jitsi Meet ranks
Alternatives and head-to-heads
Work at Jitsi Meet? Claim the listing and put this badge on your site.Claim Jitsi Meet