Jitsi Meet

Overview

Jitsi Meet is a free and open source video conferencing application built on WebRTC. Originally developed by the Jitsi team and now maintained under 8x8, it remains a fully open source, community-driven project. Jitsi Meet works entirely in the browser with no software installation required, and can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure for complete control over meeting data.

The hosted public instance at meet.jit.si is free to use with no account, though it enforces a 5-minute time limit for meetings with more than 5 participants. Self-hosted deployments have no such restrictions.

Key Features

• No account required — Start or join meetings instantly via browser without registration
• Self-hosting — Deploy on your own Linux server using the official Debian/Ubuntu packages or Docker image
• End-to-end encryption — E2EE available for meetings with up to 35 participants (requires Chromium-based browser)
• Video meetings — HD video and audio; participant limits depend on server capacity when self-hosted
• Screen sharing — Share entire screen or a specific application window
• Live streaming — Stream meetings directly to YouTube Live
• Recording — Record meetings locally or to Dropbox (self-hosted deployments with Jibri)
• Embeddable — Integrate into websites and apps via the Jitsi Meet API and IFrame API
• Lobby and moderation — Waiting room, mute controls, participant kick, and password-protected rooms

Use Cases

• Privacy-conscious teams — Self-hosted deployments keep all meeting data on infrastructure you control, with no third-party data sharing
• Open source communities — Free community calls with no time limits or per-seat costs
• Education — Online classes with no student account requirements and no advertising
• NGOs and nonprofits — Secure coordination without subscription costs

Who It’s For

Jitsi Meet suits individuals, teams, and organizations that need video conferencing without subscription fees, vendor lock-in, or data sovereignty concerns. It is particularly strong for technically capable teams willing to self-host, and for communities that need occasional calls on the public instance at no cost.

For organizations that need guaranteed uptime and support, 8x8 offers a managed Jitsi-as-a-Service product. For casual or infrequent use, the public instance at meet.jit.si works immediately with no setup.