Eliminate in-person meetings and get several other benefits by using open-source video conferencing software. This guide outlines our pick of the best tools on the market, and you’ll also discover the advantages of using these platforms compared to closed-source video conferencing tools.

Why Should I Use Open-Source Video Conferencing Software?

Open-source video conferencing software can often be more secure than closed-source alternatives. This is especially important when you consider past data breaches on closed-source platforms, such as the exposure of hundreds of millions of Zoom passwords and usernames in April 2020.

While open source isn’t perfect, a larger audience of code inspectors tends to unearth security issues sooner. Contributors can often identify and fix other bugs faster too, although this varies very much from project to project.

Open-source software also lets you have longer video conference calls for free. While not all closed-source software has time limits, much of it requires you to pay for unlimited access. For example, Zoom only lets you talk for up to 40 minutes on a free plan.

Now that we’ve discussed the top benefits of using open-source video conferencing platforms, let’s look at some of the best programs. Below, you’ll find our favorite choices.

Jitsi Meet is a free and user-friendly tool with secure technology. To invite people to a call on Jitsi Meet, you simply need to provide a link that users can access. This lets you hold calls without having to download a separate app.

If you prefer to plan your week in Google Calendar, Jitsi Meet can integrate your meetings within the app, meaning you’ll never lose track of when you should be on a call. This makes it reliable video conferencing software for remote work.

Jitsi Meet supports group video, live chat, screen sharing, streaming, and more. It works best on Google Chrome and has excellent audio and video quality without lag. The platform supports optional end-to-end encryption.

Jitsi Meet has extensions for Slack and Google Chrome. In addition to using the software in your web browser, Jitsi Meet also has mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Download: Jitsi Meet for iOS | Android (Free)

Jami is available on all devices and is completely free. You can easily set up calls with other users and create a username to make sure that others can easily search for you. In addition to video conferencing, you can use Jami to connect with others via instant messaging. So, if you’re looking for an internal communications tool for your workspace, Jami is a great choice.

Because Jami lets you remain anonymous and has end-to-end encryption, it’s a fantastic option if you care about your privacy. Jami also has distributed infrastructure and X.509-compliant user authentication. Moreover, you can use the tool offline.

Jami has no restrictions on features, storage, bandwidth, or users. It is ad-free, stable, and fast. You can donate to the platform if you enjoy using it and want to support the project.

Download: Jami for iOS | Android | Windows | macOS | Linux (Free)

Nextcloud Talk lets you perform video meetings and share your screen, making it an ideal open-source video conferencing platform for many people. The platform is fully self-hosted, meaning that you don’t need to worry about your metadata getting leaked. On top of that, the platform has AES-256-level encryption, offers protection from brute force attacks, and lets you password-protect your calls.

Besides the video conferencing tools, Nextcloud Talk also offers several tools to make meetings more productive and interactive. For example, you can give presentations via the whiteboard feature. You can also use Nextcloud as an alternative to Google Drive and Dropbox; the program lets you store documents, images, and more.

Nextcloud Talk has several other interesting features that can help you get more out of your video conferences. For example, you can create in-chat polls if you need to extract essential information from the other attendees. You can also use two-factor authentication (2FA) to ensure that your calls remain secure.

If you decide to use Nextcloud Talk, you might also want to check out Nextcloud’s other products like Nextcloud Office and Nextcloud Files.

Apache OpenMeetings has two main options for video conferencing: one with just video and another where you can also doodle on a whiteboard. The latter is ideal if you want to host presentations or break down a complex topic for the other call recipients.

Apache OpenMeetings lets you report any potential security threats and makes them visible on its website, along with informing users whether the issue is fixed or not. So, you can decide for yourself whether you want to use Apache OpenMeetings or one of the alternatives we’ve mentioned.

In addition to video calls, you can also use Apache OpenMeetings to host audio-only meetings if you feel that doing so is sometimes necessary. You can use the one-click join feature to access your meetings without needing to download the app. If you need to access your meeting later, you can also use Apache OpenMeetings’ call recording features.