Free Alternatives to Zoom
No Subscription Needed
Stop paying $15.99/month for Zoom. These free and open-source alternatives give you the core features without the subscription.
Zoom became synonymous with video calls during 2020, but at $13.33/month for the Pro plan, it competes with free alternatives that cover most use cases. Google Meet is free for up to 60-minute calls with 100 participants and integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar. Microsoft Teams is free with chat, file sharing, and 60-minute video calls. Jitsi Meet is an open-source option that requires no account and can be self-hosted. For most personal and small-team video calling, the free tiers of Google Meet or Teams are sufficient. Zoom's paid features — longer meetings, cloud recording, webinars — are valuable for specific professional use cases but unnecessary for the vast majority of users who just need to hop on a video call.
The following free and open-source alternatives have been evaluated for features, usability, and long-term viability. Each one eliminates the $$15.99/month subscription cost while keeping the core functionality you need.
How Much You Save
Switching to a free alternative saves you $191.88/year — $575.64 over 3 years
Zoom costs
$191.88/yr
3-year cost
$575.64
Free alternative
$0
Free Alternatives Comparison
Free / Open Source
| Tool | Match | Pricing | Platform | Offline | OSS | Ownership | Migration | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jitsi Meet Best free alternative | 65% | Open Source | WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidWebSelf-hosted | — | ✓ | Full ownership | Easy |
Best free alternative
Detailed Alternatives
Best free alternative
A free, open-source video conferencing tool.
Editor's Note
Jitsi Meet is a solid free alternative for smaller meetings with privacy focus.
What you gain
- +Free and open source
- +No account needed
- +Self-hostable
- +End-to-end encryption
What you lose
- −Meeting reliability
- −Advanced features
- −Large meeting support
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free alternatives to Zoom any good?
Yes, many free alternatives to Zoom are excellent. Jitsi Meet is used by millions of people and offers most of the core features that Zoom provides, without any cost.
What is the best free alternative to Zoom?
The best free alternative depends on your needs. Jitsi Meet is the most popular free option that can replace Zoom for most users. It has an active community and regular updates.
Is free software safe to use?
Free and open-source software is often safer than proprietary alternatives because the code is publicly auditable. Many of the alternatives listed above are open source, meaning their code is transparent and community-reviewed.
Will I lose features by switching to a free alternative?
You may lose some advanced or niche features, but free alternatives cover the core functionality most users need. The trade-off is worth it for the cost savings — $191.88/year that stays in your pocket.
Can I switch back to Zoom if I don't like the free alternative?
Absolutely. Most free alternatives can export your data in standard formats, making it easy to switch back or try another option. There's no lock-in with free software.
Related Free Alternatives
Ready to stop paying for Zoom?
These free alternatives let you own your tools without spending a dime.