4 Best Zoom Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 14 min read
Zoom is a popular tool for any team needing reliable video meetings. While it offers a free tier (40-min meetings, 100 participants), its paid plans start at $13.33/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 4 best Zoom alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 4
- Free alternatives: 4 (Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Jitsi Meet)
- Open-source options: Jitsi Meet
- Best overall: Google Meet
- Best free: Google Meet
Why Look for Zoom Alternatives?
People commonly look for Zoom alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Zoom has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $13.33/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: 40-min limit on free and security concerns are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Zoom overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom | ✓ 40-min meetings, 100 participants | $13.33/user/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Any team needing reliable video meetings |
| Google Meet | ✓ 60-min meetings, 100 participants | $7/user/mo (Workspace) | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Google Workspace users |
| Microsoft Teams | ✓ Free with basic features | $4/user/mo | ⭐ 4.1 | No | Organizations using Microsoft 365 |
| Jitsi Meet | ✓ Completely free | Free | ⭐ 4.1 | ✓ Yes | Privacy-conscious users wanting free video meetings |
| Whereby | ✓ 1 room, 100 participants | $8.99/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Client-facing and small team meetings |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Google Meet
Google's video conferencing tool integrated with Workspace.
Google Meet is Google's video conferencing platform, integrated with Google Calendar and Workspace. It offers a clean, simple interface and is available directly in web browsers without any download. Meet is included with Google Workspace subscriptions.
Pros
- ✓ No download needed
- ✓ Google integration
- ✓ Good quality
- ✓ Free tier generous
Cons
- ✗ Fewer features than Zoom
- ✗ Requires Google account
- ✗ Limited customization
- ✗ No free recording
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft's integrated communication and collaboration platform.
Microsoft Teams is an all-in-one communication platform that combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and app integration. Deeply integrated with Microsoft 365, Teams is the default choice for organizations already using Microsoft's ecosystem and is the most widely used business communication tool globally.
Pros
- ✓ Included with Microsoft 365
- ✓ Full-featured free tier
- ✓ Great video meetings
- ✓ Deep Office integration
Cons
- ✗ Can be slow
- ✗ Complex interface
- ✗ Resource heavy
- ✗ Confusing navigation
Jitsi Meet
Free, open-source video conferencing platform.
Jitsi Meet is a free, open-source video conferencing platform that requires no account to start a meeting. It can be used directly through meet.jit.si or self-hosted for complete control. Jitsi is popular among privacy-conscious users and organizations wanting to avoid vendor lock-in.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ No account needed
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Quality can vary
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No scheduling
- ✗ Fewer integrations
Whereby
Browser-based video meetings with no downloads required.
Whereby (formerly appear.in) offers simple, browser-based video meetings. Its key selling point is that participants don't need to download anything or create accounts — they just click a link. Whereby is popular for client-facing meetings and small team calls.
Pros
- ✓ No downloads needed
- ✓ Simple to use
- ✓ Custom room URLs
- ✓ Good for clients
Cons
- ✗ Limited free features
- ✗ Smaller meetings
- ✗ Fewer features
- ✗ Less reliable for large groups
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
Google Meet — Google Workspace users
Best Free Alternative:
Google Meet — 60-min meetings, 100 participants
Best Open-Source Alternative:
Jitsi Meet — Privacy-conscious users wanting free video meetings
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Zoom?
The best free alternative to Zoom is Google Meet, which offers 60-min meetings, 100 participants.
Is there an open-source alternative to Zoom?
Yes! Jitsi Meet is open-source alternative to Zoom that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Zoom?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Jitsi Meet. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $4/mo.
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