OSI-licensed only · self-hostable

Open-Source Zoom Alternatives (2026)

Zoom is video meetings with screen sharing, chat, recording and large rooms. Open-source alternatives let you host meetings on your own infrastructure, which matters for privacy, cost and control.

Every project below is under an OSI-approved licence we checked in the repository: Apache-2.0, LGPL-3.0, MIT or AGPL-3.0. LiveKit is a platform for building meeting features rather than a finished meeting app, and Element Call and MiroTalk have dual-licence options noted in their entries.

Licences checked against each repository on November 7, 2026.

What you're replacing

  • •Video meetings with screen sharing
  • •In-meeting chat, reactions and polls
  • •Recording and large-room support
  • •Embedding meetings in your own product

At a glance

ToolBest forLicenceRuns as
Jitsi MeetThe most straightforward self-hosted meeting appApache-2.0Docker
BigBlueButtonVirtual classrooms and webinarsLGPL-3.0Server
GaleneLight server for small and medium meetingsMITServer
MiroTalk P2PPeer-to-peer calls you can start fastAGPL-3.0Docker
Element CallFederated, encrypted group calls on MatrixAGPL-3.0Server
Nextcloud TalkCalls and chat inside NextcloudAGPL-3.0Server
LiveKitBuilding video into your own appApache-2.0Docker

1. Jitsi Meet

Apache-2.0

Best for: The most straightforward self-hosted meeting app

Describes itself as a collection of open-source projects for deploying video conferencing with state-of-the-art quality. Supports content sharing, raise hand, reactions, private chat and polls, with Debian packages and a Docker setup.

Strengths

  • + Browser and mobile apps
  • + Debian packages and Docker
  • + Web and native SDKs for embedding

Trade-offs

  • − Setup follows the Jitsi handbook, with Debian and Docker routes
  • − Advanced setups mean building components from source
RepositoryWebsite

2. BigBlueButton

LGPL-3.0

Best for: Virtual classrooms and webinars

An open-source virtual classroom with real-time audio, video, slides, whiteboard, chat, polls, breakout rooms and recording. Installs on Ubuntu 22.04 with bbb-install.sh.

Strengths

  • + Whiteboard, polls and breakout rooms
  • + Recording and playback
  • + Learning analytics dashboard

Trade-offs

  • − Built for teaching more than casual calls
  • − Installs on Ubuntu 22.04
RepositoryWebsite

3. Galene

MIT

Best for: Light server for small and medium meetings

A fully-featured videoconferencing system that is easy to deploy and requires very moderate server resources, written in Go with an SFU design. Groups and user accounts with permission levels.

Strengths

  • + Low server resource needs
  • + Simple Go binary
  • + MIT licence

Trade-offs

  • − Groups are set up through definition files
  • − Fewer features documented than larger platforms
RepositoryWebsite

4. MiroTalk P2P

AGPL-3.0

Best for: Peer-to-peer calls you can start fast

Open-source peer-to-peer WebRTC video conferencing you can self-host in minutes. Offers screen sharing, recording, chat, file sharing, a whiteboard, OIDC and an embeddable widget. Runs with Node.js or Docker Compose.

Strengths

  • + Fast to deploy
  • + Chat, whiteboard and file sharing
  • + Embeddable widget

Trade-offs

  • − Peer-to-peer design suits small groups
  • − CodeCanyon commercial licences exist alongside AGPL
RepositoryWebsite

5. Element Call

AGPL-3.0

Best for: Federated, encrypted group calls on Matrix

Group calls powered by Matrix, described as decentralised and federated video conferencing. Calls are end-to-end encrypted and scale through a LiveKit server.

Strengths

  • + Federation across Matrix servers
  • + End-to-end encrypted calls
  • + Self-hosting guide in repo

Trade-offs

  • − Dual-licensed with a paid Element Commercial License
  • − Needs a MatrixRTC transport (LiveKit)
RepositoryWebsite

6. Nextcloud Talk

AGPL-3.0

Best for: Calls and chat inside Nextcloud

A video and audio conferencing app for Nextcloud with private, group and public calls, screen sharing, file sharing and federated chats.

Strengths

  • + Works with Files, Calendar and Contacts
  • + Password-protected public calls
  • + Federated chats

Trade-offs

  • − Requires a Nextcloud server
  • − A TURN server may be needed behind firewalls
RepositoryWebsite

7. LiveKit

Apache-2.0

Best for: Building video into your own app

An open-source platform for building voice, video and physical AI agents, with a scalable WebRTC SFU, SDKs for many platforms, end-to-end encryption and SIP telephony. Deploy with Docker images or Helm charts.

Strengths

  • + Scalable SFU in Go
  • + SDKs for web, mobile and desktop
  • + Docker and Helm deployment

Trade-offs

  • − A platform for developers, not a ready-made meeting app
RepositoryWebsiteOn TechLogHub

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How to choose

If you need…Start with
A drop-in self-hosted meeting roomJitsi Meet
Online classes or webinarsBigBlueButton
A lightweight server for small teamsGalene
Quick peer-to-peer callsMiroTalk P2P
Federated, encrypted callsElement Call
You already run NextcloudNextcloud Talk
Adding video to your own productLiveKit

Open-source Zoom alternatives: FAQ

Quick answers to common questions

What is the best open-source alternative to Zoom?

Jitsi Meet is the most direct self-hosted replacement for everyday meetings. BigBlueButton suits classes and webinars.

Can I self-host video meetings?

Yes. Jitsi publishes Debian packages and Docker, BigBlueButton has an install script, and Galene runs from a single Go binary.

Is Jitsi really open source?

Yes. Jitsi Meet's repository is under Apache-2.0.

Which option is lightest on server resources?

Galene describes itself as requiring very moderate server resources.

Do these support recording?

BigBlueButton lists recording and playback, and MiroTalk lists recording. Check the docs of other tools for their recording setup.

Maintain an open-source Zoom alternative?

List it on TechLogHub and we'll review it for this page.

Submit a project