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Last checked October 15, 2026

Best Free Alternatives to Zoom (2026)

Zoom Workplace is the default for scheduled video calls, screen sharing, and recordings. The thing people usually want to ditch is the time limit on free group meetings and the per-user Pro seat.

Small teamsEducatorsEnterprisesPrice checked

What Zoom costs

Zoom Workplace Pro is listed at $15.99 per user/month billed monthly.

An annual rate is also sold. The rendered Zoom page did not expose a reliable annual number in this check, so only the monthly figure is quoted. Basic remains free with meeting limits.

Zoom website·Pricing source

Ranked by Drop-in score

How we rank

#1 is the highest-scoring alternative that is not sponsored. A featured listing, when one is sold, is labeled and sits after #1.

  1. 80
    #1Open source

    Jitsi Meet

    Browser video meetings, Apache-2.0, with a public hosted service.

    Last checked October 15, 2026 · Apache-2.0

    WebiOSAndroidSelf-host
    Cost and detailsMigration guideWebsite
  2. 77
    #2Open source

    BigBlueButton

    An open-source classroom meeting server.

    Last checked October 15, 2026 · LGPL-3.0

    WebSelf-host
    Cost and detailsWebsite
  3. 68
    #3Open source92% of checklist checked

    Nextcloud Talk

    Chat and calls inside a Nextcloud server.

    Last checked October 15, 2026 · AGPL-3.0

    WebiOSAndroidSelf-host
    Cost and detailsWebsite
  4. 54
    #4Open source84% of checklist checked

    Element Call

    Matrix-native video calls with encryption as the default posture.

    Last checked October 15, 2026 · Apache-2.0

    WebSelf-host
    Cost and detailsWebsite

Feature by feature

Full is the whole job. Partial is a real version with a gap. Missing means it does not do this. Not checked counts as zero in the score.

FeatureJitsi Meet#1 · 80BigBlueButton#2 · 77Nextcloud Talk#3 · 68Element Call#4 · 54
Group video meetingsWeight 10FullFullFullFull
Screen sharingWeight 8FullFullFullPartial
In-meeting chatWeight 5FullFullFullPartial
RecordingWeight 7PartialRequires Jibri on a self-hosted setup. Not available as a one-click feature on meet.jit.si.FullPartialNot checked
Breakout roomsWeight 5FullBreakout rooms are included and are less managed than Zoom's.FullMissingMissing
Join in a browserWeight 8FullFullFullFull
Larger meetingsWeight 5PartialPossible when you run the bridge yourself. The public service is not a webinar platform.PartialPartialNeeds the High Performance Backend.Not checked
WebinarsWeight 4MissingMissingMissingMissing
End-to-end encryptionWeight 6PartialEnd-to-end encryption is available for smaller meetings and disables some features.MissingNot checkedFullBuilt on Matrix encryption. Confirm the exact mode for your deployment.
Self-hostingWeight 7FullFullFullFull
Calendar integrationWeight 4PartialPartialIntegrates with learning tools more than with a generic calendar invite.FullMissing
Usable hosted service without running a serverWeight 6FullPartialThird-party hosts exist. There is no official free public room service.PartialMany Nextcloud providers include Talk. You still pick a host.Partial

Real cost

Jitsi Meet

Free tier
meet.jit.si is free. Self-hosting is free. There is no per-seat license.
Hosted plan
No hosted price recorded.
Self-hosting
Moderate. Docker is documented for a small server. Recording (Jibri) and large meetings need more machines. Approximate server cost: $15–40/mo for a small private server. Unverified estimate.

BigBlueButton

Free tier
The software is free. Hosting is not included.
Hosted plan
No hosted price recorded.
Self-hosting
Hard. Official docs expect a dedicated Ubuntu server with substantial RAM. It is a poor fit for a tiny shared VPS.

Nextcloud Talk

Free tier
Free as part of a self-hosted Nextcloud. Nextcloud GmbH sells enterprise subscriptions separately.
Hosted plan
No hosted price recorded.
Self-hosting
Moderate. Install Nextcloud, enable Talk, and add the High Performance Backend only if you need bigger calls. Approximate server cost: $10–30/mo. Unverified estimate.

Element Call

Free tier
The software is free. A public Element Call instance exists; confirm its current limits before you rely on it. Unverified.
Hosted plan
No hosted price recorded.
Self-hosting
Hard. You need a Matrix stack plus the call backend. This is not a single-container Zoom replacement.

Top pair

Move meetings from Zoom to Jitsi Meet

There is no account to import. You replace the meeting link, tell people they can join in the browser, and download any Zoom recording you still need.

Read the migration guide

Questions