Free & open source alternatives to Zoom

4 free video conferencing apps to use instead of Zoom

The best free alternative to Zoom is Jitsi Meet. No 40-minute limit, and participants don't need an account.

Other great options: Google Meet, Microsoft Teams (free) and BigBlueButton.

Quick pick: For meetings with no time limit and nothing to install, use Jitsi Meet. For online teaching, use BigBlueButton.

Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.

Official ways to use Zoom for free

Zoom Basic plan is free, with group meetings capped at 40 minutes.

Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.

4 best alternatives to Zoom

Jitsi Meet

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (100/100)30,210

Open sourceEasy to use

No 40-minute limit, and participants don't need an account.

Open-source video meetings with no 40-minute cap: open a link and you're in. You can self-host it on your own server.

No time limit on meetings
Participants don't need an account
Self-host so data stays in-house

Platforms: Web · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted

Jitsi Meet details Official website ↗

Google Meet

Notes & teamwork

FreemiumEasy to use

Nothing to install and has live captions; group calls are limited to 60 minutes.

Free video meetings with a Google account, right in the browser with nothing to install.

No install, automatic captions
One-on-one calls up to 24 hours

Platforms: Web · Android · iPhone

Google Meet details Official website ↗

Microsoft Teams (free)

Notes & teamwork

FreemiumEasy to use

Meetings of up to 100 people; group calls are limited to 60 minutes.

Free version of Teams for individuals and small groups, with chat and video meetings for up to 100 people.

Meetings for up to 100 people, with group chat

Platforms: Web · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone

Microsoft Teams (free) details Official website ↗

BigBlueButton

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (85/100)9,271

Open sourceTechnical setup

Built for online classes: whiteboard, breakout rooms and Moodle integration.

Open-source virtual classroom with whiteboard, breakout rooms, polls and recording. Integrates with Moodle.

Built for teaching: whiteboard, breakout rooms, attendance
Integrates with Moodle and Canvas

Platforms: Self-hosted

BigBlueButton details Official website ↗

Quick comparison

App	Type	Platforms	Ease of use	GitHub stars
Jitsi Meet	Open source	Web, Android, iPhone, Self-hosted	Easy to use	30,210
Google Meet	Freemium	Web, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	—
Microsoft Teams (free)	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	—
BigBlueButton	Open source	Self-hosted	Technical setup	9,271

Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Zoom?

The most popular picks are Jitsi Meet, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams (free) and BigBlueButton. For meetings with no time limit and nothing to install, use Jitsi Meet. For online teaching, use BigBlueButton.

What can I use for free video meetings longer than 40 minutes?

Jitsi Meet has no time limit. Google Meet allows one-on-one calls of up to 24 hours, while calls with 3 or more people are capped at 60 minutes.