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Easy-to-use video conferencing app designed for both professionals and project team members

Easy-to-use video conferencing app designed for both professionals and project team members

Vote: (436 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Jitsi

Version: 2.10.5550

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac Android

Vote:

Program license

(436 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Jitsi

2.10.5550

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac Android

Pros

  • Free and open source development
  • Strong encryption measures and privacy policy
  • Works directly through your web browser

Cons

  • Some issues with bandwidth stability
  • Only lets you share single windows on your screen

Zoom may be the software du jour for video conferencing, but Jitsi Meet is positioned to give it some stiff competition. And at a glance, these two platforms seem largely identical. Jitsi Meet is completely free to use and can be employed without even needing to download software to your computer. That web-based SaaS model means you can hop in and out of a call on practically any device and in practically any situation.

Getting up and running with Jitsi Meet is very simple. All you have to do is press a button either in the software or the web portal and come up with a name to launch your meeting. Joining an existing meeting or inviting a user to your meeting is similarly as easy. An office with a minimal understanding of technology should be able to get Jitsi Meet up and running with practically no need for onboarding.

Functionally, Jitsi Meet's interface isn't that different from that of Zoom. But it distinguishes itself through its impressive encryption techniques. Ironically, one of the biggest advantages of this platform isn't about what Jitsi Meet does right but more about what Zoom does wrong. All of the information that travels across your Jitsi Meet call it encrypted. Just as important, they have a policy in place to never sell user data. In a market where tech businesses are increasingly operating at a loss but making up the difference by selling information, that's a big deal.

And while it's designed for ease of use, there are some smartly practical features in place here. The ability to set a password eliminates the risk of unwanted pranksters interrupting your meetings, and you can send all of your invites out privately if you're looking to maintain a greater sense of privacy in your call. What's especially cool is how Jitsi Meet manages this level of security without the need for especially bulky software. The program itself is functionally identical to the web portal in most ways, and users can enter a call by just entering a URL into their browser window.

Jitsi Meet further distinguishes itself from the competition in just how flexible it is. There are no limitations on the length of a call, and up to 75 participants can be present at a time. Fortunately, Jitsi Meet lets you employ a tile layout so you can get a full look at the virtual meeting room while still being able to keep your eyes primarily focused on the speaker.

The deeper feature set here is a little lean, but it's functional and does a good job of covering all of the basics. Simple navigation tools let you flip between views with a single click - a valuable addition for meetings with multiple speakers or those that rely heavily on virtual materials like slides and diagrams. And if you haven't yet had time to convert your spare bedroom into an at-home office, you can easily blur the background and save yourself some professional embarrassment.

Jitsi Meet is designed to work in close conjunction with DropBox, and you can really benefit from connecting the two together. This DropBox integration presents you with an easy means to share any materials you might have on your computer, and it can also be used to set up a live screen share and automatically save it in your cloud archives.

If you're worried about the privacy of your information, Jitsi Meet is a no-brainer. While it may not have the brand recognition of Zoom, it accomplishes most of the same tasks just as well and comes with the added bonus of protecting your privacy. And since it's completely free to use, your whole office can give it a spin before committing fully to the platform.

Pros

  • Free and open source development
  • Strong encryption measures and privacy policy
  • Works directly through your web browser

Cons

  • Some issues with bandwidth stability
  • Only lets you share single windows on your screen