Google Meet Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Google Meet is a natural choice if you live in Gmail and Google Calendar, but it isn't the only way to run a client call, a team catch-up or an online class. Some people want different features, some want more privacy, and some simply meet clients who prefer another tool.

Here are ten Google Meet alternatives in no particular order, listed alphabetically. I've put the familiar names next to smaller, independent and open source options, because a lighter tool is often all a freelancer or small team needs. The descriptions come from each tool's own website and directory listings. For a wider view, my guide to video conferencing software covers the category in more depth.

Video meeting apps at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site says there's a permanent free version, or that it's free and open source to use. Trial only means a free trial but no ongoing free plan. Free versions often limit meeting length or the number of guests, so check the details on each site before you rely on one.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
BigBlueButton	Open source virtual classroom	Online teaching with whiteboards, polls and breakout rooms	Yes
Brave Talk	Private browser video calls	Quick private calls with no account to join	Yes
Element	Encrypted chat and calls	End-to-end encrypted messaging with built-in calls	Yes
Jitsi Meet	Open source video meetings	Instant meetings from a link, or self-hosted	Yes
Livestorm	Browser meetings and webinars	Client meetings that sometimes grow into webinars	Yes
Microsoft Teams	Chat, calls and meetings	Teams already working with Microsoft apps	Yes
Webex	Video meetings platform	Meetings with whiteboards, breakout rooms and noise cancellation	Yes
Whereby	Browser meeting rooms	A permanent room link for small, short meetings	Yes
Zoho Meeting	Online meetings and webinars	Businesses already using other Zoho apps	Yes
Zoom	Video meetings platform	Familiar meetings that most clients know how to join	Yes

Ten video meeting tools instead of Google Meet, alphabetically

BigBlueButton

Best for: Tutors, trainers and course creators who want a virtual classroom with a whiteboard, polls and breakout rooms.

Brave Talk

Best for: Small, private catch-ups where guests can join from a browser link without creating an account.

Element

Best for: Privacy-minded teams who want encrypted chat and calls in one open source app built on the Matrix network.

Jitsi Meet

Best for: People who want a simple open source meeting room they can use online or host on their own server.

Livestorm

Best for: Businesses that run both meetings and webinars and want registration and replays in the browser.

Microsoft Teams

Best for: Businesses that already use Microsoft apps and want chat, calls and meetings in one familiar place.

Webex

Best for: Teams who want a long-established meetings tool with whiteboards, breakout rooms and noise reduction built in.

Whereby

Best for: Freelancers and coaches who like having the same meeting room link every time, with guests joining in a browser.

Zoho Meeting

Best for: Small businesses that run parts of their work on Zoho apps and want meetings and webinars from the same family.

Zoom

Best for: Anyone who meets lots of different clients and wants a tool most people have used before.

What to look for in a video meeting tool

Every tool here will put faces on a screen. The real differences show up in the little things that make a meeting smooth for you and your guests. These are the points I'd check.

• How guests join: in a browser from a link, or only after installing an app or creating an account.
• Meeting length and guest limits on the version you'll use.
• Screen sharing, a whiteboard, chat and breakout rooms if you run workshops.
• Recording, captions and transcripts, and where those files are kept.
• Calendar integration, so invites carry the meeting link automatically.
• Privacy and encryption, especially if you discuss client or health information.

Questions to ask before you swap meeting apps

• Who am I mostly meeting: my own team, clients, students or a mix?
• Do my clients' companies block certain meeting apps on work laptops?
• Will I need webinars or registration pages as well as everyday meetings?
• Do I want the same room link every time, or a fresh link for each call?
• How important is it that guests don't need an account?
• Does it work well on a phone for people joining on the move?

Which kind of meeting app suits your business

• Browser meeting rooms suit coaches, consultants and freelancers who want clients to click a link and join.
• All-in-one workplace apps suit teams who chat and share files all day and meet in the same place.
• Meeting and webinar platforms suit businesses that run events, demos and training sessions.
• Open source and encrypted tools suit privacy-minded teams and anyone who'd like to host their own server.
• Virtual classroom tools suit tutors and trainers who need whiteboards, polls and breakout groups.

If you also run online events, my guide to webinar software goes into registration pages, replays and more.

Switching video call tools without confusing clients

1. Update the meeting link in your booking page, email signature and calendar templates.
2. Run a short test call with a friend on both a laptop and a phone.
3. Send regular clients a quick note with the new link and how to join.
4. Keep your old tool available for a few weeks for anyone who still has an old invite.
5. Check your recording and transcript settings before an important call, not during it.

Mistakes to avoid with a new meeting tool

• Assuming every guest can install software. Many work laptops won't allow it.
• Forgetting the free version's time limit and getting cut off mid-call.
• Recording a client without telling them first.
• Leaving the waiting room or lobby switched off on public links.
• Using a different tool for every client, so you're never sure which link goes where.

Why a smaller video call app can suit you well

Smaller and open source meeting apps tend to focus on doing a few things simply. Many let guests join from a browser with no account, and some can be hosted on your own server for extra privacy.

Before you settle on a smaller tool, check that it's still actively developed, read what recent users say, and run a test call with someone on a slow connection. If you'd like notes taken for you, my guide on free AI note takers for meetings is a helpful extra.

Do you make a video meeting or webinar tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Before you settle on a new meeting app

Shortlist two tools that match how you meet people. Run a real call in each with a client or colleague, on a laptop and a phone. Keep the one where joining took the fewest clicks and the sound stayed clear, then update every place your meeting link appears.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use instead of Google Meet?

There are browser meeting rooms, all-in-one workplace apps, meeting and webinar platforms, encrypted chat apps with calls, and open source tools you can host yourself. The right type depends on who you meet and how.

Is there a free alternative to Google Meet?

Yes. Every tool on this list has a free version or is free and open source, according to its own site. Free versions often limit meeting length or the number of guests, so check before you rely on one.

Which meeting tools let guests join without an account?

Several browser-based tools let guests join straight from a link. Check each tool's joining instructions, because the rules can differ for hosts and guests.

Can I host my own video meeting server?

Yes. Some open source meeting tools can run on your own server. It gives you more control, but someone needs to install, update and look after it.

Do I need a separate tool for webinars?

Not always. Some meeting tools also handle webinars with registration and replays. If events are a big part of your business, a dedicated webinar platform may suit you better.