Alternatives to Zoom

The pandemic made Zoom synonymous with video calling, but open-source, privacy-respecting alternatives are plentiful. Some work directly in the browser with nothing to install; others offer dedicated apps with advanced features like screen sharing, virtual whiteboards, and breakout rooms.

Jitsi Meet is probably the most well-known and accessible alternative: just open a link to start an encrypted video call. No registration, no account, no software to download. Free public servers are available, or you can install Jitsi on your own server if you have particular privacy requirements.

For more structured needs — company meetings with dozens of participants or online classes — there are solutions that offer more advanced management tools without compromising on privacy. The right choice depends heavily on your use case: a video call with friends has different requirements from a conference with a hundred people.