Top pick: Jitsi Meet. Switching saves about $170 USD a year.
$169.92 USDa year
≈$242.25 CAD (converted from USD)
Every pick below has a free version.
3 alternatives
The editor’s first choice for most people switching.
Best for quick open-source video calls with no account
Free and open source, runs in any browser and needs no account. The hosted service at meet.jit.si is free, and self-hosting takes server work.
Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.
Best for browser meetings if you already use Google
Needs a Google account to start a meeting. Free group meetings are limited to 60 minutes and 100 invitees. Runs in the browser and in mobile apps. Free version: Free group meetings last up to 60 minutes with 100 invitees. Recording, polls and breakout rooms need a paid plan.
Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
Best for classes and webinars you host yourself
Open-source virtual classroom with LMS integrations such as Moodle and Canvas. You must run your own server or buy hosting from a provider, so it suits schools more than casual calls.
Sponsor this page: $149 for 30 days. Sponsors appear above the ranking, labeled; the ranking itself is not for sale.
How each alternative covers what people use Zoom for. Numbers link to editor notes.
| Feature | Jitsi Meet | Google Meet | BigBlueButton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meetings | |||
| Video meetings with screen sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Group meetings longer than 40 minutes | YesNote 1A server you run sets its own time limit | PartialNote 2Free group meetings stop at 60 minutes; 1:1 and mobile calls have no limit | YesNote 3A server you run sets its own time limit |
| Breakout rooms | Yes | NoNote 4Paid Workspace plans only | Yes |
| Output | |||
| Meeting recording | PartialNote 5Self-hosted servers need Jibri; the public service can stream to YouTube | NoNote 6Recordings and transcripts need a paid plan | YesNote 7Sessions can be recorded and played back from the server |
| Accessibility | |||
| Live captions | PartialNote 8Live transcription needs extra server components when self-hosted | PartialNote 9Live captions are listed on the product page; not checked for every language | PartialNote 10Captions come from plugins or typed captions; no built-in live transcription |
| Engagement | |||
| Polls and whiteboard | PartialNote 11Polls are built in; the whiteboard needs setup on self-hosted servers | NoNote 12Polls need a paid plan; no whiteboard is listed | YesNote 13Polling and a multi-user whiteboard are built in |
| AI | |||
| AI meeting summaries | NoNote 14Not part of the open-source release | NoNote 15Not listed for free accounts | NoNote 16Not built in |
| Parity score | 64% | 29% | 79% |
Not covered by any free alternative yet: Live captions, AI meeting summaries. See all feature gaps
Switching saves about $170 USD / ≈$242 CAD (estimated from the USD price) a year. Prices checked ; ≈ means converted from USD.
Based on Zoom Pro, per user. Price source. USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.
Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.
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Zoom is a product of Zoom Communications, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Zoom: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, iOS, Android.