notanothertool

Google Meet vs Jitsi

Google Meet is video conferencing built into Google Workspace with screen sharing, recording, and live captions, while Jitsi is free, open-source video meeting solution with no account required and self-hosting option. Jitsi is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Google Meet is built for google workspace users who need simple video calls, whereas Jitsi targets anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing.

FeatureGoogle MeetJitsi
Free tier available
Open source
Captions
E2E Encryption
No Account Needed
Open Source
Recording
Screen Sharing
Self-Hosted
Workspace Integration

Pricing: Both Google Meet and Jitsi are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.

Feature gaps: Google Meet offers Captions, Recording and Screen Sharing that Jitsi lacks. Jitsi brings E2E Encryption, No Account Needed and Open Source that Google Meet does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target any size teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Open source: Jitsi is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Google Meet is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: Google Meet's biggest strengths are: screen sharing built into every call with no plugins or extensions needed. includes captions as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows. Jitsi's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development.

Watch out for: With Google Meet, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Jitsi, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

choose Google Meet if

  • You need a tool built for google workspace users who need simple video calls
  • You specifically need Captions and Recording
  • You care about includes captions as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows
  • The free tier works for you: free for 60-min group calls

choose Jitsi if

  • You need a tool built for anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing
  • You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
  • You specifically need E2E Encryption and No Account Needed
  • You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development

frequently asked

What is the difference between Google Meet and Jitsi?

Google Meet is video conferencing built into Google Workspace with screen sharing, recording, and live captions, while Jitsi is free, open-source video meeting solution with no account required and self-hosting option. Jitsi is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Google Meet is built for google workspace users who need simple video calls, whereas Jitsi targets anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing.

Should I use Google Meet or Jitsi?

Jitsi gives you open source and self-hosting; Google Meet is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?

When should I choose Google Meet over Jitsi?

Choose Google Meet if You need a tool built for google workspace users who need simple video calls; You specifically need Captions and Recording; You care about includes captions as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows; The free tier works for you: free for 60-min group calls.

When should I choose Jitsi over Google Meet?

Choose Jitsi if You need a tool built for anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need E2E Encryption and No Account Needed; You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development.

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