Home / Alternatives to Google Meet / Google Meet vs Jitsi Meet

Google Meet vs Jitsi Meet

A side-by-side look at Google Meet (the paid SaaS) and Jitsi Meet (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.

Google Meet Jitsi Meet
Tagline Meetings embedded in Google Workspace. Open source video meetings you can self-host or use free.
License Proprietary SaaS Apache-2.0
Pricing Free (time-limited for groups); full access with Workspace. Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan
Self-host option No Yes — difficulty 3/5
Hosted cloud available Yes (only option) Yes
Desktop apps Varies by product Web only
Mobile apps Official apps typically available iOS, Android
Ad slot — between tables

Best for

Instant browser meetings with no Google account.

Jitsi Meet strengths

  • Free public instance (meet.jit.si) with no sign-up.
  • Self-hostable for privacy.
  • Webhook and SDK integrations available.

Jitsi Meet weaknesses

  • Tuning a self-hosted instance for scale takes ops work.
  • Advanced features (e2ee, breakouts) evolving.
  • No native desktop app.

What's the catch with Google Meet?

  • Tied to Google account ecosystem.
  • Free tier has 60-minute limit on group calls.
  • Privacy concerns for non-Workspace users.

Still unsure?

Check the full list of alternatives to Google Meet: see Google Meet alternatives, or learn more about Jitsi Meet on its project page.