To help you do this, you can use open-source video conferencing software. These tools are free and provide features like screen sharing, host controls, live-streaming, and mobile access. Here are five open-source video conferencing tools you can use for your next video call.
1. Jitsi Meet
Jissi Meet is a free video collaboration tool that allows you to hold video conferences using easy-to-use and highly secure technology. Using Jitsi Meet, you can provide invitees with the link to access meetings on the website. It supports group video, live chat, screen sharing, streaming, and more.
The software does not require installation, a browser add-on, or registration on any website, so it is more private and secure. It works best on Google Chrome and has excellent audio and video quality without lag.
Jitsi Meet integrates with Google Calendar, Microsoft, and Slack, so you can schedule meetings just like you would with any video conferencing platform.
2. Apache OpenMeetings
Apache OpenMeetings is an open-source video conferencing software that has four options of video/audio function. Audio+Video, video only, audio-only, and picture only. When video conferencing, you can change the video/audio quality and choose multiple camera resolutions.
With Apache OpenMeetings, you can send messages to users about scheduled meetings, and invitees can get emails right to their inboxes. Its other features include multi-whiteboard, user and room management, plan meetings with integrated calendar, conduct polls and surveys, private message center, and back up user-generated data in a single zip file.
You can record your video conferencing sessions, and download them as AVI/FLV files, and watch them in the integrated drag and drop file explorer. It does not lose the quality of the videos.
3. Jami
Jami is free video-conferencing software that allows you to get on a conference call in less than a minute and start collaborating. You can make audio calls, screen share, send files, and group chat on one platform.
Jami is a unique video communication tool that is completely decentralized, which means that there are no servers to store conversations or user data. It has end-to-end encryption, distributed infrastructure, X.509-compliant user authentication, and you can use it offline.
Jami has no restrictions on features, storage, bandwidth, number of accounts, or users. It is ad-free, stable, fast, and runs on Linux, Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS.
4. Nextcloud Talk
Nextcloud Talk is a free open-source video conferencing software that enables you to do online meetings, web conferencing, and screen sharing. As it is self-hosted, there is no leak of metadata, and the video calls are also encrypted. You can also use video verification to identify a caller.
As part of Nextcloud Talk, you can use Nextcloud Whiteboard to give presentations, brainstorm ideas, take notes, upload images, and more. All files created with the whiteboard are saved alongside your regular files, making it easy to share them with others.
5. BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing software built for teachers that helps create a cohesive online classroom experience. It integrates with learning management systems like Moodle and Canvas.
Other than being a remote learning solution, it also offers video conferencing. Once you log in, you can share your screen in real-time and collaborate using various tools like whiteboards, files, and shared notes. It has a clean, professional interface with secured end-to-end encryption to ensure participants’ security and privacy. To use BigBlueButton, you don’t have to download it.
Manage Your Video Meetings
You can use open-source video conferencing software to manage your video calls efficiently. Check out the above software for more productive video meetings.
