Best Open-Source Video Chat Software 2026: 7 Options Compared

Open-source video chat covers two needs that are easy to confuse: a service you can join from a link, and software you run on your own server. Jitsi Meet (Apache-2.0) is the classic link-based option, and its public server now limits meetings to 95 minutes from October 9, 2026, while a self-hosted copy has no such cap. BigBlueButton (LGPL-3.0) is built for classes, with whiteboards, breakout rooms and polls, and lists no prices. Element (AGPL-3.0, with a paid commercial option) brings video into Matrix-based chat. Nextcloud Talk-style calls come with a Nextcloud server you already run, and Linphone (GPL-3.0) is a SIP softphone for video calls over standard telephony. Jami (GPL-3.0) is peer-to-peer without a central server, and Signal (AGPL-3.0) gives private one-to-one and group calls inside its messenger. The work is operational: video needs bandwidth, TURN servers for strict networks, and updates. If that is not appealing, use the public Jitsi server or Signal and keep self-hosting for when you outgrow them.

Jitsi Meet

Apache-2.0 meetings from a link with no account; public server limits meetings to 95 minutes from October 9, 2026. Self-host to remove the cap.

Price: Free (free; meetings on meet.jit.si limited to 95 minutes from October 9, 2026) (Jitsi Meet pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Web browser, Self-hosted. Apache-2.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 30.2k GitHub stars · latest release stable/jitsi-meet_11248 (Sep 14, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Ad-hoc meetings.

BigBlueButton

LGPL-3.0 platform built for teaching, with whiteboard, breakout rooms and recording. Free to self-host; commercial hosting is sold by third parties.

Price: Free (Free to self-host; commercial hosting is sold by third parties and bigbluebutton.org lists no prices) (BigBlueButton pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Self-hosted, Web browser. LGPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 9.3k GitHub stars · latest release v4.0.0 (Oct 14, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Online classes.

Worth knowing: Aimed at teaching: built into Canvas, Moodle Cloud and Schoology.

Element

AGPL-3.0 Matrix client with chat and calls; the server suite community edition is free, and a paid commercial license exists.

Price: Free (Element Server Suite Community: free front end and back end) (Element pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted. AGPL-3.0, GPL-3.0 or a paid commercial license (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 13.6k GitHub stars · latest release v1.12.33 (Oct 27, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Teams who want chat plus calls.

Worth knowing: Enterprise is priced per seat but the figure is not published.

Nextcloud

AGPL-3.0 server whose Talk app adds chat and calls to file sharing. The server is free to self-host.

Price: Free (Community server is free to self-host and the Nextcloud-branded desktop and mobile apps are free); paid from EUR 71.29 per user/year (Enterprise Standard at 100 users, 100-user minimum) (Nextcloud pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted, Desktop app, Mobile app. AGPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 37.3k GitHub stars · latest release v33.0.10 (Oct 15, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Offices already running Nextcloud.

Linphone

GPL-3.0 open-source softphone for SIP voice and video calls, with desktop and mobile apps. Needs a SIP account or server.

Price: Free (free open-source softphone) (Linphone pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Linux, Windows, macOS. GPL-3.0 (or paid proprietary license) (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 512 GitHub stars · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: SIP phone systems.

Worth knowing: Softphone client only: you still need a SIP server.

Jami

GPL-3.0 peer-to-peer calling and messaging without a central server, on desktop and mobile. Call quality depends on both networks.

Price: Free (Free open-source peer-to-peer calling and messaging app) (Jami pricing, checked 2026-10-24).

Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. GPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 44 GitHub stars · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Serverless private calls.

Worth knowing: License verified from the repository LICENSE/COPYING file on GitHub on 2026-10-24; platforms listed from project knowledge, not re-verified on the project site.

Signal

AGPL-3.0 messenger with free voice and video calls on phone and desktop. Reaches only Signal users.

Price: Free (Free for everyone with no ads; nonprofit funded by grants and donations) (Signal pricing, checked 2026-10-24).

Platforms and license: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux. AGPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 16.6k GitHub stars · latest release v8.32.0 (Oct 20, 2026) · last commit Oct 26, 2026

Best for: Private family and friends calls.

Which one to pick

• You run a school or training course: BigBlueButton
• You want a link anyone can open: Jitsi Meet
• You want chat and calls on your own server: Element
• You want no central server at all: Jami