Jami

What is Jami?

Jami (formerly known as GNU Ring and SFLphone) is a free, open-source, peer-to-peer communication platform that enables secure messaging, voice calls, video calls, and file sharing without relying on central servers. Developed by Savoir-faire Linux and officially recognized as a GNU package by the Free Software Foundation, Jami represents a commitment to software freedom and user privacy in communications technology. First released in 2004 as SFLphone, the project evolved into Ring in 2016 and was rebranded as Jami in 2018, reflecting its mission to bring people together (“Jami” means “gathering” in several languages) through truly decentralized communication.

What distinguishes Jami from other messaging platforms is its distributed hash table (DHT)-based architecture combined with blockchain-based identity management, creating a system where users can register human-readable usernames without central authorities. Unlike traditional apps requiring phone numbers or centralized servers, Jami uses cryptographic identities and peer-to-peer connections to establish communications. The platform supports comprehensive communication features including high-quality video conferencing, screen sharing, group calls, and file transfers—all encrypted end-to-end by default without requiring technical expertise from users.

As an official GNU project, Jami adheres to the strictest standards of software freedom, ensuring users have complete control over their communication tools. The application works on all major platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with feature parity across devices. Jami’s development is supported by the Free Software Foundation along with contributions from a global community of developers dedicated to creating communication tools that respect user freedom and privacy. For users who value both comprehensive features and philosophical commitment to free software principles, Jami offers a rare combination of practical functionality and ideological integrity.

Key Features

• Peer-to-Peer Architecture: Direct encrypted connections between users without centralized servers, ensuring no third party can access your communications or serve as a single point of failure or surveillance.
• Blockchain Username Registration: Register human-readable usernames on the Ethereum blockchain, making it easy for contacts to find you without compromising the decentralized architecture or requiring trusted registries.
• Multi-Party Video Conferencing: High-quality group video calls supporting multiple participants with screen sharing, making Jami suitable for remote work, virtual meetings, and family gatherings with enterprise-level features.
• End-to-End Encryption: All communications encrypted using industry-standard protocols including TLS and SRTP, ensuring messages, calls, and file transfers remain private from interception by ISPs, governments, or hackers.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Native applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS with synchronized conversations and consistent feature sets, enabling seamless communication regardless of device preferences.
• No Phone Number Required: Create accounts without providing phone numbers, email addresses, or any personally identifiable information, protecting your privacy from corporate databases and government surveillance.
• File Sharing: Transfer files directly between users via peer-to-peer connections with no file size limits imposed by server storage, allowing unlimited sharing at speeds limited only by bandwidth.
• Screen Sharing: Share your entire screen or specific applications during video calls for collaboration, remote assistance, or presentations without routing through corporate servers that could record sessions.
• Plugins and Extensions: Support for plugins enabling additional functionality like chatbot integration, advanced media processing, and custom features extending Jami’s capabilities for specific use cases.
• GNU Project Status: Official GNU package status ensures commitment to free software principles, transparent development, and community governance protecting users from corporate capture or proprietary restrictions.

What’s New

Jami continues evolving with regular updates enhancing functionality, performance, and user experience:

• Swarm Technology: New distributed conversation storage technology improving reliability and enabling conversations to persist across multiple devices with better synchronization and offline message support.
• Improved Group Calls: Enhanced multi-party video conferencing with better performance, increased participant limits, improved layout options, and reduced bandwidth consumption for large calls.
• Redesigned User Interface: Modern interface redesign across all platforms with improved usability, better navigation, enhanced accessibility features, and more intuitive controls for non-technical users.
• Better Mobile Performance: Significant optimizations for Android and iOS including reduced battery consumption, faster message delivery, improved notification reliability, and better background operation.
• Enhanced File Transfer: Improved file sharing with better progress indicators, transfer resumption after interruptions, and handling of large files with greater reliability and speed.
• Account Backup and Recovery: New features for backing up and recovering accounts using seed phrases or backup files, making it easier to migrate between devices while maintaining security.
• Audio/Video Quality Improvements: Better codec support, improved adaptive bitrate for varying network conditions, echo cancellation enhancements, and noise suppression for clearer calls.
• Plugin Ecosystem Growth: Expanding plugin marketplace with community-contributed extensions adding features like chatbots, automated responses, integration with other services, and specialized functionality.

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 7/8/10/11 (64-bit recommended)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD processor
• RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB recommended for video calls)
• Storage: 200 MB available space
• Webcam and microphone for video/voice calls

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.14 or later
• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon (M1/M2)
• RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB recommended)
• Storage: 200 MB available space
• Camera and microphone for multimedia features

Linux

• Distribution: Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, Fedora 32+, Arch, and others
• Processor: Any modern 64-bit processor
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB available space
• Qt libraries required (usually pre-installed)

Mobile

• Android: Android 5.0 or later
• iOS: iOS 11.0 or later
• Storage: 100 MB minimum
• Camera and microphone for calls and video features

How to Install Jami

Windows Installation

1. Visit the official Jami website at jami.net
2. Navigate to the Download section
3. Download the Windows installer (.exe file)
4. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard
5. Launch Jami after installation completes
6. Create a new account or import an existing one
7. Optionally register a username on the blockchain for easier discovery

# Using Windows Package Manager (winget)
winget install SavoirFairLinux.Jami

# Verify installation by launching Jami from Start Menu

# Download page: https://jami.net/download-jami-windows/

macOS Installation

1. Visit jami.net and download the macOS version
2. Open the downloaded DMG file
3. Drag Jami to your Applications folder
4. Launch Jami from Applications
5. Grant necessary permissions for camera and microphone when prompted
6. Set up your account and start communicating

# Using Homebrew
brew install --cask jami

# Launch Jami
open -a Jami

# Update Jami
brew upgrade --cask jami

Linux Installation

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install jami

# Or add official repository for latest version
sudo sh -c "echo 'deb https://dl.jami.net/ubuntu_20.04/ ring main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jami-main.list"
wget -qO- https://dl.jami.net/jami.pub.key | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt update
sudo apt install jami

# Fedora
sudo dnf install jami

# Arch Linux (AUR)
yay -S jami-qt

# Flatpak (universal)
flatpak install flathub net.jami.Jami

# Launch Jami
jami
# or
flatpak run net.jami.Jami

Mobile Installation

1. Open Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS)
2. Search for “Jami – Free and Private Sharing”
3. Tap Install or Get to download the app
4. Open Jami and create a new account
5. Securely save your account export/backup
6. Register a username if desired for easier contact discovery
7. Start adding contacts by sharing your Jami ID or username

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive Feature Set: Full-featured communication platform rivaling commercial alternatives with messaging, voice, video, group calls, screen sharing, and file transfer all in one application.
• True Decentralization: Genuine peer-to-peer architecture without central servers eliminates surveillance chokepoints, corporate control, and single points of failure that compromise other platforms.
• Username System: Blockchain-based username registration provides human-readable identities while maintaining decentralization, solving the usability problem of long cryptographic identifiers.
• GNU Project Status: Official recognition by the Free Software Foundation ensures philosophical commitment to user freedom, transparent governance, and protection from proprietary capture or restrictive licensing.
• Cross-Platform Excellence: Native applications for all major platforms with consistent features and synchronized conversations enable seamless communication across Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
• Video Quality: High-quality video conferencing with support for multiple participants makes Jami suitable for professional use, remote work, and family calls with clarity comparable to commercial alternatives.
• Active Development: Regular updates and improvements from dedicated development team backed by Savoir-faire Linux ensures continuous enhancement and long-term sustainability.

Cons

• Username Registration Costs: Registering a blockchain username requires a small Ethereum transaction fee (gas), which can be confusing and costly during network congestion, though accounts work fine without usernames.
• Connection Complexity: Peer-to-peer architecture sometimes struggles with NAT traversal and restrictive networks, occasionally resulting in connection failures or inability to reach contacts behind certain firewalls.
• Smaller User Base: Limited adoption compared to mainstream platforms means fewer people you know will already use Jami, requiring convincing friends and colleagues to try new software.
• Resource Consumption: Maintaining peer-to-peer connections and participating in DHT can consume more bandwidth and battery compared to centralized server-based messaging apps optimized for mobile.
• Learning Curve: Concepts like Jami IDs, blockchain usernames, and account backups may confuse non-technical users accustomed to simpler phone-number-based registration systems.

Jami vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Jami?

Jami is ideal for:

• Free Software Advocates: Users committed to software freedom principles who want communication tools that respect the Four Freedoms and are officially recognized by the Free Software Foundation as meeting ethical standards.
• Remote Workers and Teams: Professionals seeking privacy-respecting alternatives to Zoom or Teams with comparable video conferencing features including screen sharing and group calls without corporate surveillance.
• Privacy-Conscious Families: Families wanting to stay connected through video calls and messaging without subjecting personal conversations to data mining, advertising profiling, or corporate database storage.
• Decentralization Enthusiasts: Users who philosophically support peer-to-peer technology and want to experience comprehensive decentralized communications that demonstrate alternatives to centralized corporate platforms.
• Linux Users: Open-source enthusiasts running Linux who want native applications that integrate well with their operating system while maintaining privacy and supporting free software principles.
• International Communicators: People with contacts across different countries who need reliable, free communication without international calling fees, message limits, or restrictions based on geography.

Jami may not be ideal for:

• Large Organization Teams: Businesses requiring enterprise administration, centralized management, compliance features, detailed analytics, or integration with corporate IT infrastructure will find Jami lacks necessary enterprise tools.
• Non-Technical Users: People intimidated by concepts like Jami IDs, blockchain registration, or account backups may find the learning curve steeper than phone-number-based apps like WhatsApp.
• Users Needing Reliability Guarantees: Those requiring enterprise-grade SLAs, guaranteed uptime, or professional support contracts for business-critical communications should consider commercial solutions with support agreements.
• People With Restrictive Networks: Users on corporate or university networks with aggressive firewalls that block peer-to-peer protocols may experience frequent connection failures and poor reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Do I need to pay for registering a username on Jami?

Registering a human-readable username on Jami requires a small Ethereum blockchain transaction fee (gas) because usernames are recorded on the Ethereum blockchain to ensure they’re globally unique without central registries. The cost varies based on Ethereum network congestion, typically ranging from a few cents to several dollars. However, you don’t need to register a username to use Jami—accounts work perfectly fine with just your Jami ID (a cryptographic hash). Usernames simply make it easier for contacts to find and add you by searching for a readable name instead of sharing long hexadecimal IDs. If you decide to register a username later, you can do so anytime from your account settings. Many users start with just their Jami ID and only register usernames once they’re committed to using Jami regularly.

Question 2: How does Jami compare to Zoom or Microsoft Teams for video meetings?

Jami provides comparable video conferencing quality to commercial alternatives like Zoom or Teams with multi-party calls, screen sharing, and chat features suitable for professional meetings. The key differences are philosophical and architectural: Jami is peer-to-peer meaning calls connect directly between participants without routing through corporate servers that could record sessions, while Zoom and Teams use centralized servers. This gives Jami superior privacy but can sometimes result in connection challenges on restrictive networks. Jami lacks enterprise features like meeting recording, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and administrative controls that businesses might require. For small team meetings, family calls, or privacy-conscious professionals, Jami works excellently. For large corporate deployments requiring IT management and compliance features, commercial platforms may be more appropriate despite privacy compromises.

Question 3: Can I use the same Jami account on multiple devices simultaneously?

Yes, Jami supports using the same account across multiple devices including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. To add your account to a new device, you can either scan a QR code from an existing device running Jami, or export your account as a backup file (with password protection) and import it on the new device. Once added, your account works independently on each device—contacts, conversations, and settings synchronize through Jami’s Swarm technology. Messages are delivered to all your connected devices, and you can start conversations on one device and continue on another. However, keep in mind that because Jami is peer-to-peer, your devices need internet connectivity to synchronize. Account management is more complex than centralized apps where everything automatically syncs through company servers, but provides better privacy and control.

Question 4: Is Jami secure enough for sensitive business or personal communications?

Jami implements strong cryptographic protections including end-to-end encryption for all communications using industry-standard protocols like TLS and SRTP. The peer-to-peer architecture eliminates central servers that could be hacked, legally pressured, or used for surveillance, making Jami architecturally more resistant to mass surveillance than centralized alternatives. As an official GNU project, Jami’s open-source code can be audited by security researchers, and the project has undergone security reviews. However, being a smaller project with fewer resources than commercial alternatives like Signal means it receives less extensive professional security auditing. For most business and personal use cases involving privacy from corporate tracking or general surveillance, Jami provides excellent protection. For extremely high-stakes communications involving sophisticated adversaries, consider your specific threat model and potentially combine Jami with other security measures like VPNs and secure devices.

Question 5: Why does Jami sometimes fail to connect to my contacts?

Connection issues in Jami typically result from Network Address Translation (NAT) and firewall configurations that make peer-to-peer connections challenging. When both participants are behind restrictive NATs, corporate firewalls, or carrier-grade NAT (common on mobile networks), establishing direct connections can fail. Jami uses various NAT traversal techniques and DHT-based peer discovery to work around these issues, but they don’t always succeed depending on network configuration severity. Enterprise and university networks often block peer-to-peer protocols entirely. If you experience consistent connection problems, try testing with both parties on the same local network, configuring port forwarding on your router, ensuring you’re using the latest Jami version with improved NAT traversal, or switching to a different network. The Jami team continually works on improving connection reliability, with each update typically enhancing NAT traversal capabilities.

Final Verdict

Jami stands out as one of the most complete and philosophically coherent decentralized communication platforms available, combining comprehensive features with genuine commitment to software freedom principles. As an official GNU project, Jami represents not just a privacy tool but an ideological statement about what communication technology should be—user-controlled, transparent, and free from corporate surveillance. The platform delivers on its promises with true peer-to-peer architecture, strong encryption, and feature parity with commercial alternatives including multi-party video conferencing, screen sharing, and cross-platform support. For users who value both practical functionality and ethical technology development, Jami offers a rare combination that few alternatives can match.

The platform’s greatest strengths lie in its balanced approach to decentralization and usability. While other peer-to-peer platforms sacrifice convenience for ideological purity, Jami provides blockchain-based username registration that solves the usability problem of long cryptographic identifiers without compromising the serverless architecture. The high-quality video conferencing with multiple participants makes Jami suitable for real work and family connections, not just text chat between privacy enthusiasts. Regular development updates, professional backing from Savoir-faire Linux, and active community support demonstrate long-term commitment and sustainability that many idealistic projects lack. The cross-platform native applications ensure Jami works reliably across different operating systems with consistent user experiences.

Jami is best suited for free software advocates, privacy-conscious families, remote workers seeking ethical alternatives, and anyone who wants to support decentralized communication technology without sacrificing essential features. While occasional connection issues and smaller user base present challenges, the tradeoff is worthwhile for users who understand that genuine privacy requires architectural changes, not just corporate promises. If you believe in software freedom, want video conferencing without corporate surveillance, or seek to demonstrate that decentralized alternatives can rival centralized platforms, Jami deserves your attention and support. It’s not perfect—NAT traversal challenges and username registration complexity exist—but as a complete, actively developed, philosophically consistent free software communication platform, Jami represents one of the strongest arguments that ethical technology can be both principled and practical.