Jitsi Meet vs Zoom
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Jitsi Meet is a free and open-source video conferencing platform that allows users to hold secure, simple, and scalable video conferences. It can be used as a standalone app or embedded in web applications, providing a flexible and customizable solution for video conferencing needs.
Zoom is a video communications platform known for reliable, low-latency video calls that scale from one-on-one meetings to large webinars and virtual events. It became a household name during remote-work adoption and remains a default choice for external client calls and conferences. Beyond core meetings, the Zoom Workplace suite bundles team chat, whiteboarding, and Zoom Phone for VoIP calling, positioning it as a broader collaboration platform rather than just a meetings app. AI Companion, Zoom's built-in assistant, provides meeting summaries, smart chapters, and follow-up task suggestions automatically after calls end.
Free for meetings up to 40 minutes; paid plans start at $13.33/user/month.
- Free and open-source
- Highly customizable and scalable
- End-to-end encryption for secure communication
- Easy to use and integrate with existing systems
- Very reliable connection quality
- Simple, familiar interface
- Strong webinar features
- Good screen sharing and annotation
- Limited support for older browsers and devices
- May require technical expertise for customization and integration
- Limited features in the free version
- Free plan 40-minute limit on group calls
- Additional cost for Phone and Webinar add-ons
- History of past security/privacy scrutiny
What reviewers say
Jitsi Meet Reviews
No reviews yet.
Zoom Reviews
4.0 (2)Works, with some caveats
Zoom is solid overall, though it's not perfect. On the plus side, strong webinar features. That said, additional cost for phone and webinar add-ons, which held us back from rating it higher.
Highly recommend Zoom
Zoom has quickly become part of our daily workflow. Good screen sharing and annotation. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
More alternatives & similar tools
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Alternatives to Zoom
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataZoom offers a polished, reliable experience with strong webinar tools but costs beyond the free tier, while Jitsi Meet is free, open‑source, and highly customizable but requires technical effort.
Key differences
- •Pricing model – Zoom freemium then paid per user; Jitsi Meet completely free and self‑hosted.
- •Deployment – Zoom is cloud SaaS; Jitsi Meet must be self‑hosted.
- •Security – Jitsi provides end‑to‑end encryption; Zoom has had past privacy scrutiny and relies on cloud security.
- •Webinar capacity – Zoom supports up to 50,000 view‑only attendees; Jitsi caps at 75 participants total.
Pricing & value
Jitsi Meet is free and open‑source; Zoom requires paid plans after 40‑minute limit for groups.
Ease of use / learning curve
Zoom’s familiar UI and 24/7 paid support make onboarding quicker than self‑hosting Jitsi.
Features & depth
Zoom includes AI meeting summaries, Phone VoIP, and large‑scale webinars; Jitsi lacks these advanced features.
Integrations & ecosystem
Zoom lists native Slack, Google Calendar, Salesforce integrations; Jitsi only mentions generic calendar/CRM hooks.
Collaboration
Zoom offers built‑in whiteboard, annotation, and screen sharing; Jitsi provides basic screen share and chat only.
Scalability
Zoom supports webinars up to 50,000 view‑only attendees; Jitsi caps at 75 participants per conference.
Support
Zoom provides 24/7 support on paid plans; Jitsi relies on community forums and documentation.
Security & privacy
Jitsi offers end‑to‑end encryption by default; Zoom has a history of security/privacy scrutiny.
Migration / lock‑in
Jitsi’s open‑source code can be self‑hosted and modified; Zoom locks users into its cloud platform.
Choose Jitsi Meet if…
Tech‑savvy teams or educators wanting a free, customizable solution they can host themselves.
Choose Zoom if…
Enterprises needing reliable large webinars, phone integration, and premium support.
Common questions
Can I run Zoom on my own servers?
No, Zoom is a cloud SaaS service; self‑hosting is not offered.
Is there a cost to use Jitsi Meet for 100 participants?
Jitsi Meet is free, but you must provide your own hosting infrastructure for any number of participants.
Which platform provides stronger encryption for meetings?
Jitsi Meet provides end‑to‑end encryption by default; Zoom does not offer built‑in E2EE.