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Zoom vs BigBlueButton
Zoom vs BigBlueButton
A side-by-side look at Zoom (the paid SaaS) and BigBlueButton (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Zoom | BigBlueButton | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Video meetings, webinars, and events. | Open source web conferencing built for online learning. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | LGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free tier with 40-min group call limit; Pro from $14.99/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 4/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Online classes, webinars and training.
BigBlueButton strengths
- Designed for virtual classrooms with whiteboard and polls.
- Recording, breakout rooms, and captions built in.
- Integrates with Moodle and other LMS.
BigBlueButton weaknesses
- Demanding hardware for self-hosting.
- Setup and maintenance are not beginner-friendly.
- UI feels academic, not corporate.
What's the catch with Zoom?
- Past security incidents and data-handling concerns.
- 40-minute limit on free tier.
- Data travels through Zoom cloud — unacceptable for some regulated use cases.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Zoom: see Zoom alternatives, or learn more about BigBlueButton on its project page.
Other comparisons
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