Is Webex Free? The 40-Minute Limit and Other Catches

Webex is Cisco's video meeting and messaging platform. A lot of people only meet it when a client or partner sends a Webex invite, but it's a solid choice for your own calls too. The free plan covers short meetings well. The 40-minute cap and a recording quirk are the two things to know before you rely on it for client work.

What Webex Free includes

Feature	Webex Free
Number of meetings	Unlimited
Meeting length	Up to 40 minutes each
Attendees	Up to 100 per meeting
Recording	Local recording to your computer
Messaging	Unlimited
AI Assistant	Not on the free plan

That's a usable plan for coaching check-ins, quick client updates and short team calls. Unlimited meetings means you can run as many as you like, as long as each stays under the time limit.

The catch: the 40-minute limit

Every meeting on Webex Free is capped at 40 minutes. For a discovery call or a weekly stand-up, that's usually enough. For workshops, training sessions or long client strategy calls, it isn't, and you'll need to either start a second meeting or upgrade.

A simple way to work with it: plan your agenda to finish a few minutes inside the limit, and send a second meeting link in advance if you think you'll run over. People find a planned second link far less awkward than being cut off mid-sentence.

The recording quirk most people miss

Webex's help centre says that for free users, recording is only available from the desktop app. You can't record if you start a meeting from the web app on a Chromebook. And free users record locally, to their own computer, rather than to the cloud.

Local recordings have one more limitation worth knowing. Webex says panels such as the chat and participants panels aren't included in the recording when you record to your computer. If you need the chat for your notes, copy it before you close the meeting.

What upgrading adds

Webex's plans page sets out the upgraded plans above Free, and lists the AI Assistant on its Enterprise plan. Its help pages also describe what hosts can do with recordings saved to the cloud: share and download them from User Hub, view and edit transcripts, and organise recordings into chapters so viewers can find the part they need. Check the plans page for which of these each plan includes before you upgrade.

If your calls regularly run past 40 minutes, or you want transcripts without extra tools, that's the point to look at an upgrade.

How to start using Webex Free

1. Sign up for Webex Free with your email address.
2. Download the Webex desktop app, so you can record when you need to.
3. Schedule a meeting and send the link to your attendees.
4. Keep an eye on the time, and have a second link ready for longer sessions.
5. To record, start the recording from the desktop app; it saves to your computer.

Webex vs the other free meeting tools

Most free meeting plans have a time cap of some kind, so the choice often comes down to which app your clients already use and what each free plan includes. My comparison of Webex and Zoom looks at the two side by side, and if your business runs on Microsoft 365, my page on whether Microsoft Teams is free explains what Teams gives you without upgrading.

Joining someone else's Webex meeting

If you only need Webex because a client uses it, you don't have to think about plans at all. Accept the invite, join from the link and, for the best experience, use the desktop app rather than the browser.

Tips for running better free Webex calls

• Send the agenda in the invite. With 40 minutes, a clear plan keeps everyone on track.
• Test your audio on the desktop app first. It's also the only place free users can record.
• Save recordings somewhere safe. Local files live on your computer, so move them to your cloud storage after the call.
• Use messaging for follow-ups. Unlimited messaging means you can share notes and links with attendees after the meeting.

Is Webex Free good enough for webinars?

For a short, informal webinar of up to 100 people, it can be. The 40-minute cap is the deciding factor: a short talk with a few questions at the end fits, a long training session doesn't. If you run regular webinars, record from the desktop app and plan to cut the recording into short clips for social media afterwards, so one session keeps working for you long after the call ends.

For anything with registration pages, branded invitations or large audiences, look at Webex's upgraded plans or a dedicated webinar tool instead.

One last practical point: because free meetings are capped per meeting rather than per day, you can run back-to-back calls all day on Webex Free. Leave a few minutes between them, and give each meeting its own link so nobody joins the wrong call.

My verdict

Webex is free, and Webex Free is a good fit for short meetings with up to 100 people. The 40-minute cap is the main limit, and the recording rules are the hidden one: desktop app only, saved to your computer, without the chat panel. If most of your calls are short, stay on free; if they regularly run long or you need transcripts, upgrade.

Frequently asked questions

Is Webex free?

Yes. Webex Free includes unlimited meetings up to 40 minutes each, up to 100 attendees per meeting, local recording and unlimited messaging.

How long can a free Webex meeting last?

Up to 40 minutes per meeting on Webex Free.

Can I record on Webex Free?

Yes, locally to your computer. Webex says free users can only record from the desktop app, and can't record from the web app on a Chromebook.

How many people can join a free Webex meeting?

Up to 100 attendees per meeting.

Does Webex Free include the AI Assistant?

No. Webex lists the AI Assistant on its upgraded plans, not on Webex Free.