While Zoom is unquestionably the biggest name in videoconferencing, its free tier has some limitations—particularly the 40-minute time cap on group meetings. The good news is that several excellent platforms offer generous free plans capable of handling everything from brief check-ins to extended sessions.
Ready to explore other options? Check out these free Zoom alternatives.
Google Meet
If you’re already embedded in the Google ecosystem, Google Meet is about as convenient as it gets.
Joining meetings is straightforward, accessible via a web browser without needing software downloads, or through dedicated mobile apps.
Its free tier supports up to 100 participants in a meeting and group sessions up to an hour in length.
For one-on-one meetings, the time limit is 24 hours—though, if you’re holding 24-hour meetings . . . seek help.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is more than just a meeting tool, and while its full suite of features might seem overwhelming if you only require video calls, the free tier offers a nice set of meeting capabilities.
Access is provided through web, desktop, and mobile applications, and you can host meetings with up to 100 participants for an hour.
Beyond meetings, the free plan includes unlimited chat and file sharing integrated within the Teams environment, making it a good option for groups looking for a legit collaborative platform. Features like screen sharing, customizable backgrounds, and the unique Together Mode, which places participants in a shared virtual setting, are available.
And for some reason, Teams lets you hold 30-hour one-on-one meetings—outdoing Google by an extra six hours. Again: Don’t be crazy.
Jitsi Meet
As a truly free option, Jitsi Meet is a compelling alternative to providers with both free and paid tiers.
This platform offers encrypted communication and notably does not require user accounts for hosting or joining meetings.
While there’s no set user limit, Jitsi matches the 100 participants that the other freebies offer. There are no arbitrary time limits on meeting duration.
Standard features like screen sharing, chat, virtual backgrounds, and polling are included, while an option for end-to-end encryption adds another layer of security. And if you’re looking for even more control, Jitsi Meet can also be self-hosted.
Zoho Meeting
Finally, consider Zoho Meeting, which allows meetings with up to 100 participants for up to an hour, putting it on par with Google Meet and Microsoft Teams in terms of basic capacity.
The service includes essential meeting features like screen sharing, chat functionalities, virtual backgrounds, and whiteboarding.
While Zoho Meeting is particularly attractive if you’re already using other Zoho products, it also stands alone as a capable option for anyone seeking a reliable free meeting platform outside of the Google or Microsoft spheres.
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