Jitsi vs Daily.co
Jitsi is free, open-source video meeting solution with no account required and self-hosting option, while Daily.co is video calling API and SDK for building custom video experiences in web and mobile apps. Jitsi is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Jitsi is built for anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing, whereas Daily.co targets developers wanting to embed video calls in their app.
| Feature | Jitsi | Daily.co |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Custom UI | — | ✓ |
| E2E Encryption | ✓ | — |
| No Account Needed | ✓ | — |
| Open Source | ✓ | — |
| Recording | — | ✓ |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
| Transcription | — | ✓ |
| Video API | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Both Jitsi and Daily.co are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.
Feature gaps: Jitsi offers E2E Encryption, No Account Needed and Open Source that Daily.co lacks. Daily.co brings Custom UI, Recording and Transcription that Jitsi does not have.
Team fit: Jitsi is geared toward any size teams, while Daily.co is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Jitsi is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Daily.co is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Jitsi's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development. Daily.co's biggest strengths are: includes video api as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows. includes recording as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows.
Watch out for: With Jitsi, users commonly note that may lack some advanced features. With Daily.co, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
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
- Your team size fits the any size profile Jitsi is designed for
choose Daily.co if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting to embed video calls in their app
- You specifically need Custom UI and Recording
- You care about includes recording as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Daily.co is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for 2k min/day
frequently asked
What is the difference between Jitsi and Daily.co?
Jitsi is free, open-source video meeting solution with no account required and self-hosting option, while Daily.co is video calling API and SDK for building custom video experiences in web and mobile apps. Jitsi is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Jitsi is built for anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing, whereas Daily.co targets developers wanting to embed video calls in their app.
Should I use Jitsi or Daily.co?
Jitsi gives you open source and self-hosting; Daily.co is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?
When should I choose Jitsi over Daily.co?
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; Your team size fits the any size profile Jitsi is designed for.
When should I choose Daily.co over Jitsi?
Choose Daily.co if Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting to embed video calls in their app; You specifically need Custom UI and Recording; You care about includes recording as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows; Your team size fits the small teams profile Daily.co is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for 2k min/day.
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