Jitsi Meet

What is Jitsi Meet?

Jitsi Meet is a free, open-source video conferencing platform that enables secure, encrypted video calls without requiring user accounts or software downloads. Developed by the Jitsi community and now backed by 8×8, Jitsi Meet has become the go-to solution for organizations and individuals seeking privacy-focused video communication. Unlike proprietary platforms, Jitsi can be self-hosted on your own servers, giving complete control over your communication infrastructure and data.

What makes Jitsi Meet exceptional is its commitment to accessibility and privacy. Anyone can start a meeting by simply visiting meet.jit.si and creating a room—no downloads, registrations, or payments required. All calls are encrypted by default, with end-to-end encryption available for additional security. The platform scales from simple one-on-one calls to large conferences with hundreds of participants, making it suitable for personal use, education, healthcare, business meetings, and government communications where privacy matters.

Key Features

• No Account Required: Start or join meetings instantly without registration or software installation
• End-to-End Encryption: Optional E2EE ensures only participants can decrypt communication
• Self-Hosting: Deploy Jitsi on your own servers for complete data sovereignty
• Screen Sharing: Share entire screen, specific windows, or browser tabs with participants
• Live Streaming: Stream meetings to YouTube Live for larger audiences
• Recording: Record meetings locally or to Dropbox (self-hosted: custom storage)
• Breakout Rooms: Split large meetings into smaller discussion groups
• Lobby/Waiting Room: Control who joins meetings with moderator approval
• Virtual Backgrounds: Blur background or use custom images for privacy
• Mobile Apps: Native iOS and Android apps with full functionality

What’s New in Jitsi Meet 2025

• Improved E2EE: Better end-to-end encryption performance and reliability
• Enhanced Noise Suppression: AI-powered background noise reduction
• Speaker Stats: Track speaking time for meeting analytics
• Improved Breakout Rooms: Better management and participant assignment
• Whiteboard Integration: Built-in collaborative whiteboard for visual communication
• Calendar Integration: Connect with Google Calendar and Office 365
• Performance Optimizations: Better handling of large meetings and lower bandwidth usage
• Accessibility Improvements: Enhanced screen reader support and keyboard navigation

System Requirements

Web Browser (Recommended)

• Chrome: Version 80 or later (best performance)
• Firefox: Version 78 or later
• Edge: Chromium-based version 80+
• Safari: Version 14 or later (limited features)
• Internet: 3 Mbps for HD video, 1 Mbps minimum

Desktop Apps

• Windows: Windows 10 or later
• macOS: macOS 10.14 or later
• Linux: AppImage, DEB, RPM packages available

Mobile

• iOS: iOS 12.0 or later
• Android: Android 6.0 or later
• Features: Full video/audio, screen sharing, chat

How to Install Jitsi Meet

1. Use Web Version (Easiest): Visit meet.jit.si in any supported browser. Click “Start meeting” to create a room or enter a room name to join. No installation needed.
2. Download Desktop App: Visit github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet-electron for desktop applications:

   # Windows
   # Download .exe from releases page
   
   # macOS  
   # Download .dmg from releases page
   # Or: brew install --cask jitsi-meet
   
   # Linux
   # Download AppImage, .deb, or .rpm
   # AppImage: chmod +x Jitsi-Meet-*.AppImage && ./Jitsi-Meet-*.AppImage
   # Debian: sudo dpkg -i jitsi-meet-*.deb
   # Fedora: sudo rpm -i jitsi-meet-*.rpm

3. Install Mobile Apps: Download “Jitsi Meet” from App Store or Google Play. Open app and enter room name to join any Jitsi meeting.
4. Self-Host (Advanced): Deploy your own Jitsi server:

   # Quick install on Ubuntu/Debian
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install apt-transport-https
   curl https://download.jitsi.org/jitsi-key.gpg.key | sudo sh -c 'gpg --dearmor > /usr/share/keyrings/jitsi-keyring.gpg'
   echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/jitsi-keyring.gpg] https://download.jitsi.org stable/' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jitsi-stable.list > /dev/null
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install jitsi-meet
   
   # Docker deployment also available
   # See docker-jitsi-meet on GitHub

5. Create Meeting: Enter any room name (or generate random one) to start. Share the room URL with participants—that’s all they need to join.
6. Configure Security: Enable lobby, set passwords, and enable end-to-end encryption in security settings for sensitive meetings.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Completely free with no account required
• Open-source code inspectable by security researchers
• Self-hosting option for complete data control
• End-to-end encryption available for sensitive calls
• Works in browser without downloads
• No participant limits on self-hosted instances
• Active development by dedicated community
• No time limits on meetings
• GDPR and privacy-friendly by design
• Integrates with existing calendar systems

Cons

• Video quality can degrade with many participants
• Less polished UI than commercial alternatives
• Some features require self-hosting
• Limited breakout room features compared to Zoom
• Recording requires configuration on self-hosted
• Support relies on community (no paid support for free tier)

Jitsi Meet vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Jitsi Meet?

Jitsi Meet is ideal for users prioritizing privacy, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness:

• Privacy Advocates: Open-source, self-hostable, encrypted video calling
• Organizations with Data Requirements: Self-host to meet compliance and data residency needs
• Educators: Free unlimited meetings for classes without student accounts
• Healthcare Providers: HIPAA-compliant when self-hosted with proper configuration
• Non-Profits: Enterprise-quality video conferencing at zero cost
• Developers: Customizable platform with APIs for integration

Consider alternatives if: You need polished enterprise features (Zoom), deep Google Workspace integration (Google Meet), or Microsoft 365 integration (Teams).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jitsi Meet really free?

Yes, Jitsi Meet is completely free with no hidden costs. The public instance at meet.jit.si is free to use, and the software itself is open-source. 8×8 offers paid versions with additional enterprise features, but the core platform remains free.

Is Jitsi Meet secure?

Jitsi uses encryption in transit by default. End-to-end encryption (E2EE) can be enabled for additional security. Self-hosted instances give you complete control over security. The open-source code allows security researchers to verify claims.

How many people can join a Jitsi meeting?

The public meet.jit.si instance supports 75-100 participants effectively. Self-hosted instances can scale higher with proper infrastructure. For very large meetings, consider using the YouTube live streaming feature.

Can I record Jitsi meetings?

On the public instance, you can record to Dropbox. Self-hosted instances can be configured for local recording or custom cloud storage. Recording requires moderator permissions.

How do I self-host Jitsi?

Jitsi provides Docker containers and Debian/Ubuntu packages for self-hosting. A basic setup requires a server with good bandwidth, a domain name, and SSL certificate. The Quick Install guide covers single-server deployment in minutes.

Final Verdict

Jitsi Meet represents the best of open-source software—powerful, free, and privacy-respecting. For users and organizations that value data sovereignty and want to avoid vendor lock-in, Jitsi offers enterprise-quality video conferencing without enterprise pricing. The ability to self-host transforms it from a service into infrastructure you control.

While it may lack some polish compared to commercial alternatives, Jitsi’s core functionality is robust and continuously improving. For privacy-conscious individuals, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and any organization with data compliance requirements, Jitsi Meet provides a compelling alternative to proprietary platforms while maintaining the convenience of instant, browser-based video calling.