Free video conferencing is easy to find, but every free plan limits something. Group meetings usually stop on a timer of 40 to 60 minutes, chat apps tend to keep free video to one-on-one calls, and a few browser options drop the timer but keep groups small. Choose by call length and headcount.
How long can a free video call run before it cuts you off, and how many people can be on it? Those two questions decide which free meeting app works for you, and the answers differ more than most people expect.
Below are eight free options, in no particular order and unranked, because a weekly one-to-one and a fifty-person team update need different tools. Each line states the free plan's limits as the vendor lists them, as of Nov 2026, so you can see where the wall is before you hit it.
Where free video calls get cut off
There are two walls, and they catch different people. The first is the timer. Free group meetings on the big suites stop at a set point, and the vendors don't agree on where: one stops at 40 minutes, others at 60. A client call that runs over, or a team session that drifts, ends mid-sentence and everyone has to rejoin.
The second wall is headcount. Team chat apps often include video on their free plans, but it's one-on-one only, so the moment a third colleague wants to join, you're stuck. Free browser calls with no timer tend to keep the group very small instead.
Neither wall is a reason to rule a tool out. They're reasons to check two things before you send the invite: how long the call will run, and who'll be on it.
Free tiers at a glance
| Tool | Kind of app | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Brave Talk | Browser calls | Small private calls with no login or download |
| Chanty | Team chat with calls | Tiny teams mixing chat, tasks and one-on-one calls |
| Google Meet | Browser meetings | Group meetings for anyone with a Google account |
| Jitsi Meet | Open source meetings | Calls with no account, hosted or on your server |
| Microsoft Teams (free) | Chat plus meetings | Communities that chat and meet in one app |
| Pumble | Team chat with calls | Team chat with one-to-one voice and video |
| Webex | Full meeting suite | Short group meetings with whiteboards and noise removal |
| Zoho Meeting | Meetings and webinars | Moderated meetings with screen sharing and a whiteboard |
In no particular order: eight free ways to meet on video
Brave Talk
Best for: Private calls straight from the browser with no login or app, free for up to 4 people; the vendor says it collects no data, and recordings and passcodes need Premium.
Chanty
Best for: Small teams of up to 5 members wanting chat, built-in tasks and unlimited one-on-one audio and video calls; video on free stays one-on-one, and storage is capped per team.
Google Meet
Best for: Anyone with a Google account who wants browser meetings: free group calls run 60 minutes with up to 100 people, while recording, live streaming and dial-in sit on higher plans.
Jitsi Meet
Best for: Calls with no account and no app, from open source software the vendor calls fully encrypted; run your own server for control, or use the public service under its terms.
Microsoft Teams (free)
Best for: Groups and communities who want chat plus meetings that guests can join without an account, the vendor says; free meetings stop at 60 minutes and 100 participants.
Pumble
Best for: Startups and non-profits wanting team chat with no cap on team size, by the vendor's account, plus 1:1 voice and video; group meetings and screen sharing need the next tier.
Webex
Best for: Meetings with whiteboards and noise removal on the free tier, the vendor says, with each meeting capped at 40 minutes and 100 attendees, and recording saved locally only.
Zoho Meeting
Best for: Hosts who need screen sharing, a whiteboard and moderator controls in a free tier; meetings stop at 60 minutes and 100 participants, and cloud recording isn't included.
Three kinds of limit, and who each one hurts
A timer on group meetings
Webex, Google Meet, Zoho Meeting and Microsoft Teams (free) all allow sizeable groups on free, then stop each meeting on a clock. They suit stand-ups, quick client check-ins and anything you can keep tight. Long workshops are where they pinch, and the free tiers also keep cloud recording, dial-in or extra storage back for higher plans.
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No sign-up, small or self-run
Brave Talk starts a call from the browser with no login, and its page describes free calls with no limit on number or length, kept to a small group. Jitsi Meet needs no account either; the public service runs under its own terms, and its home page news says meetings there are now limited to 95 minutes. Hosting it yourself removes that, and hands you the server.
Chat apps with one-to-one video
Pumble and Chanty are team chat apps first, with video calling built in. On their free plans that video is one-on-one only, which is ideal for quick conversations between two colleagues and no good for a team meeting. One of them also caps its free team size, so it's best for very small groups.
If you need more than any free tier gives, our comparison of video conferencing tools for businesses covers the fuller plans, and this list of other meeting apps worth a look has more options outside the big names.
Honest advice for choosing a free meeting app
Start with the call you hold most often, not the biggest one you might hold some day. If it's two people talking, a chat app's one-to-one video or a small browser call is all you need, and you won't think about limits again. If it's a team or client group, pick a suite with a group cap that fits and plan meetings that finish before the timer does.
If your calls regularly run long and you've got the skills, an open source tool on your own server is the way to avoid a vendor clock. Most people don't need that. They need to know where their free plan stops, and to keep the agenda inside it.
Before you send the invite
- Time it. Compare the agenda with the free plan's meeting cap and leave a few minutes spare.
- Count the guests. Check the group limit, and whether free video on a chat app is one-on-one only.
- Think about guests without accounts. Some tools let people join from a link; others want a sign-in first.
- Decide about recording. If you need a replay, check whether free recording is local only or missing entirely.
- Test on the real plan. Run a short call on the same free tier, with the same devices, before it matters.
Do you make video conferencing software with a free plan? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the best free video conferencing software for long meetings?
Look for a tool with no timer on free, or one you host yourself. Most big suites stop free group meetings at 40 to 60 minutes, so long workshops are better suited to a no-timer browser option or a self-hosted open source tool.
Can more than two people join a free video call?
Yes, on most meeting apps. Free group meetings on the big suites take up to 100 people. The exception is team chat apps, where free video is often one-on-one only.
Do guests need an account to join a free video meeting?
Not always. Several tools let guests join from a link in the browser, and some need no account at all. Check the joining rules before a client call, so nobody's stuck at a sign-in screen.
Can I record meetings on a free plan?
Sometimes, with limits. Some free tiers save recordings to your own computer only, while others keep recording for higher plans. If a replay matters, check the free column before the meeting.
Is open source video conferencing really free?
The software is free to use, but self-hosting means supplying and maintaining your own server. Public hosted versions run under their own terms, which can include time limits.
What happens when a free meeting hits its time limit?
The meeting ends for everyone, and you'll need to start a new one and send people the link again. Plan to finish a few minutes early, or pick a tool whose cap fits your agenda.
