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Best Free & Open Source Alternatives to Google Meet

Compare 3 open-source Google Meet alternatives including Jitsi Meet, BigBlueButton and Element Call

If you're looking for the best open-source alternative to Google Meet, Jitsi Meet is a strong place to start. If it doesn't quite fit your needs, there are plenty of other great options worth exploring, including BigBlueButton and Element Call. We've ranked the top alternatives to help you compare your options and find the right fit.

#1 Jitsi Meet

Jitsi Meet

Open-source video conferencing platform — free, secure, and self-hostable.

Jitsi Meet is the most popular open-source video conferencing solution in the world, with nearly 29,000 GitHub stars. It provides high-quality, encrypted video and audio calls directly in the browser without requiring any downloads or account registration. Users simply visit a URL and start a meeting.

Jitsi Meet supports features such as screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, hand raising, chat, polls, live streaming to YouTube, and integration with calendar apps. It scales to handle large meetings and provides end-to-end encryption for small calls. The platform is built on WebRTC and is deeply integrated with the Matrix and Element ecosystem.

Licensed under Apache-2.0, Jitsi Meet can be self-hosted on any server using Docker, and is also available as a free managed service at meet.jit.si. It is maintained by 8x8 and used by millions of users worldwide, making it the go-to open-source alternative to Google Meet and Zoom.

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#2 BigBlueButton

BigBlueButton

Open-source virtual classroom platform built for online education and webinars.

BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system designed specifically for online education and remote learning. It offers a complete virtual classroom experience with video conferencing, shared whiteboards, breakout rooms, polls, presentation mode, annotations, and real-time closed captions, making it far more suited for teaching than general-purpose video tools like Google Meet.

The platform integrates seamlessly with popular Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, Canvas, Sakai, and Schoology. Teachers can set up virtual rooms, manage participants, present slides, run polls, and record sessions for later playback. BigBlueButton supports multi-user shared notes, allowing students to collaborate in real time during a session.

With over 9,000 GitHub stars and an active community, BigBlueButton is deployed at universities, schools, and online learning platforms worldwide. It is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and can be self-hosted on a dedicated server. For teams and schools wanting a privacy-first alternative to Google Meet, BigBlueButton offers a purpose-built solution.

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#3 Element Call

Element Call

End-to-end encrypted group video calling built on the Matrix open protocol.

Element Call is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted video calling application built on the Matrix decentralized communication protocol. Unlike traditional video conferencing tools, Element Call is federated — calls can be made between users on different Matrix homeservers, with no single company controlling the infrastructure.

Element Call uses WebRTC for media transport and the Matrix protocol for signaling, ensuring that calls are end-to-end encrypted by default. It supports group video calls, screen sharing, and is designed to be embedded directly into the Element messaging app, providing a seamless transition from chat to video within the same privacy-respecting platform.

Licensed under AGPL-3.0 and developed by Element (formerly New Vector), Element Call is the video calling component of the broader Matrix ecosystem. It can be self-hosted as part of a Matrix homeserver deployment, giving organizations complete control over their communications infrastructure — making it a compelling alternative to Google Meet for privacy-conscious teams.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any open source alternatives to Google Meet?

Yes, there are 3 open source alternatives to Google Meet. Popular options include Jitsi Meet, BigBlueButton, Element Call. These alternatives are free to use and many offer self-hosting options.

What is the best free alternative to Google Meet?

The best free alternative to Google Meet depends on your specific needs. Jitsi Meet is a popular choice with self-hosting capabilities. All alternatives listed here are open source and free to use.

Can I self-host an alternative to Google Meet?

Yes, 3 of the alternatives listed here can be self-hosted, giving you complete control over your data and privacy.

Why should I switch from Google Meet to an open source alternative?

Open source alternatives to Google Meet offer several advantages: no vendor lock-in, complete data ownership, no subscription fees, the ability to self-host for privacy and security, and active community support. You can also customize the software to fit your specific needs.

Google Meet

Google Meet

Google Meet is a video conferencing service by Google, enabling secure and high-quality video meetings for individuals and teams.

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