Best Self Hosted Alternatives to FreeConferenceCall.com

Jitsi Meet is an open source video conferencing application built on WebRTC, designed for secure, scalable meetings in the browser and on mobile devices. It can be used as a standalone meeting app or embedded into other products via SDKs.

Key Features

• Browser-based video meetings with modern WebRTC support
• Mobile applications for Android and iOS
• Screen/content sharing for presentations and collaboration
• In-meeting chat including private conversations
• Meeting controls such as raise hand, reactions, and polls
• Virtual backgrounds and common conferencing UX features
• Integration options via web and native SDKs

Use Cases

• Team video meetings with screen sharing and chat
• Hosting community calls, workshops, and webinars
• Embedding video meetings into an existing web or mobile application

Limitations and Considerations

• End-to-end encryption is available but may limit some features depending on configuration and client support

Jitsi Meet is a strong choice for organizations that want full control over video conferencing while keeping an easy, browser-first user experience. Its ecosystem and SDK support also make it well-suited for product teams building custom video experiences.

BigBlueButton is an open-source virtual classroom and web conferencing system designed primarily for online teaching and learning. It provides real-time collaboration tools for instructors and learners, with features tailored to classroom workflows.

Key Features

• Real-time audio and webcam video with selectable quality levels
• Screen sharing for presenters
• Slide and document presentation with whiteboard annotations
• Multi-user whiteboards for collaborative activities
• Public and private chat
• Breakout rooms for small-group work
• Polling and in-session feedback tools (such as hand raise)
• Shared notes for group collaboration
• Session recording and playback
• Learning analytics visible to moderators via a Learning Analytics Dashboard

Use Cases

• Live online classes, lectures, and seminars
• One-to-one tutoring and office hours
• Group collaboration sessions using breakout rooms and shared whiteboards

BigBlueButton is a feature-rich, education-focused conferencing platform that goes beyond general-purpose video meetings by emphasizing engagement, facilitation, and classroom-oriented tooling. It is widely used and commonly integrated into learning management systems for delivering virtual instruction at scale.

Spacebar is a free and open source communication platform that reimplements Discord’s core user experience as a self-hostable, full-stack system. It aims for compatibility with Discord clients and bots while providing control over configuration, theming, and deployment.

Key Features

• Discord-compatible API behavior to reuse many existing clients and bots with minimal changes
• Real-time text chat with gateway-style events
• Voice and video calling via WebRTC
• Built-in content delivery (CDN-style) for media and attachments
• Admin dashboard and configurable limits for communities and deployments
• Theme system and design customization
• Plugin/extension approach for adding functionality
• Decentralization-oriented design goals to reduce single points of failure

Use Cases

• Host a Discord-like community server for a company, school, or gaming group
• Run a private collaboration chat with full control over data retention and policies
• Provide a compatible backend for custom clients, integrations, or bots

Limitations and Considerations

• Compatibility with all Discord features and third-party clients/bots may vary due to ongoing reimplementation work

Spacebar is a strong option for teams and communities that want a familiar Discord-style experience while retaining control over hosting, customization, and platform behavior. It is especially appealing when Discord API compatibility and real-time communication features are key requirements.

Chitchatter is an open-source, browser-first communication tool that enables private, peer-to-peer chat and media streaming directly between participants without requiring an API server. It emphasizes end-to-end encryption, ephemeral messaging, and decentralized connectivity for private conversations. (github.com)

Key Features

• Peer-to-peer browser communication with TURN fallback for reliable connectivity. (github.com)
• End-to-end encrypted text, audio, and video using WebRTC-based peer connections. (github.com)
• Ephemeral message handling: message content is not persisted to disk and is cleared when leaving a room. (github.com)
• File sharing with client-side encryption; transfers are encrypted and the room name functions as the key. (github.com)
• Screen sharing, multi-peer rooms (limited by browser peer capacity), direct messaging, and conversation backfilling for late joiners. (github.com)
• Embeddable via iframe and implemented as a modern web app (Vite + TypeScript + React tooling indicated in the repository). (github.com)

Use Cases

• Secure ad-hoc conversations between individuals or small groups where no server-side message history is desired (private calls, sensitive discussions). (github.com)
• Temporary collaboration with screen sharing and file exchange without creating accounts or storing data long-term. (github.com)
• Embedding private chat functionality into other web apps via iframe for ephemeral support or short-lived group sessions. (github.com)

Limitations and Considerations

• Multi-peer scalability is constrained by browser peer-connection limits; performance and reliability may degrade with many simultaneous direct connections. (github.com)
• Connectivity relies on public WebTorrent and TURN relay servers when direct peer connections fail; availability or trust in those relays can affect reliability. (github.com)
• There is no built-in persistent message history or centralized moderation/identity system; features like persistent archives, long-term user identity, or enterprise-grade moderation are not provided by default. (github.com)

Chitchatter is a lightweight option for users seeking browser-native, ephemeral, and encrypted peer communication with media and file-transfer capabilities, designed for privacy-focused ad-hoc use. It is distributed as a client-side web application with optional server components for enhanced connectivity and integration. (github.com)

Nextcloud Talk is a privacy-respecting, self-hosted communication platform that combines chat, video conferencing, and webinars in a single Nextcloud app. It supports on-premises deployment and federated collaboration across Nextcloud servers, with end-to-end encrypted calls and deep integration with other Nextcloud apps.

Key Features

• Threaded conversations with AI chat and call summaries
• End-to-end encrypted calls for private communication
• Federated chat and video calls across Nextcloud hubs and servers
• Webinars and presentations with screen sharing and participant controls
• Private, group and public calls with external participants via shareable links
• Tight integration with Nextcloud Files, Calendar and other apps for unified workflows
• Bridging with other networks via Nextcloud Bridging (e.g., IRC, Slack, Teams, Matrix)

Use Cases

• Hybrid teams needing private, on-premises collaboration across chat, calls and webinars
• Environments requiring GDPR/compliance and air-gap/self-hosted deployment
• Organizations collaborating across multiple Nextcloud servers or bridged networks

Limitations and Considerations

• NAT traversal often requires a TURN server for reliable media in restricted networks; behind symmetric NATs this becomes more critical
• Large-scale deployments usually need High Performance Backend (HPB) for thousands of participants; private setups typically handle dozens of calls depending on capacity
• Some advanced features depend on specific server components or configurations and may require additional infrastructure

Conclusion: Nextcloud Talk offers a privacy-first, self-hosted alternative for integrated chat, calls and webinars within the Nextcloud ecosystem. It emphasizes data control, security and federated collaboration, with deployment paths suitable for small teams up to large enterprises.

Briefing is a privacy-focused video group chat application built on open web technologies. It enables secure, direct video conferencing in modern browsers without requiring additional software installation.

Key Features

• Browser-based video group chat using WebRTC
• End-to-end encrypted communication (E2EE)
• Simple invitation links to create and join rooms
• Text chat alongside video calls
• Desktop/screen sharing
• Includes core components needed to run (UI, signaling, and STUN support)
• Designed for customization and white-label deployments

Use Cases

• Private team or community video calls where minimizing data exposure matters
• Embedded video chat rooms for websites, events, or customer sessions
• Self-hosted video meetings for organizations with stricter privacy requirements

Limitations and Considerations

• Real-world reliability and media quality can depend heavily on network conditions and NAT traversal; TURN infrastructure may be required for some environments

Briefing provides a practical, secure foundation for WebRTC conferencing with an emphasis on privacy and simplicity. It is well-suited for both quick ad-hoc meetings and teams looking to customize or embed a video chat experience.

Databag is a fast, lightweight self-hosted messenger designed to run on minimal hardware while still supporting modern messaging features. It is federated, allowing users on different independently hosted nodes to communicate directly with strong cryptographic identities and end-to-end encryption.

Key Features

• Federated messaging between accounts on different nodes
• Public/private key based identity that is not tied to a hosting domain
• End-to-end encryption for sealed topics so the server admin cannot read content
• Topic-based threads to organize conversations by subject
• Unlimited participants in group threads
• Low-latency push using WebSockets (avoids polling)
• Optional audio and video calls using WebRTC (requires STUN/TURN for NAT traversal)
• Multi-factor authentication via TOTP
• Mobile push notifications (UnifiedPush, FCM, APN)

Use Cases

• Private family or small-community messaging on a personal server or low-power device
• Federated messaging between multiple organizations without a central provider
• Secure group threads for projects where message privacy is required

Limitations and Considerations

• WebRTC calls typically require configuring a STUN/TURN relay to work reliably behind NAT

Databag focuses on efficiency and decentralization while keeping the deployment simple enough for home servers. It fits best for users who want federated communication, end-to-end encryption, and optional calling without heavy infrastructure.

Galene is a self-hosted WebRTC videoconferencing system designed to be easy to deploy while using moderate server resources. It is well-suited to both one-to-many sessions like lectures and traditional team meetings, using an SFU-style architecture for scalable media forwarding.

Key Features

• Multi-party audio and video with arbitrary numbers of streams
• Text chat, user status indicators (for example “raise hand”), and moderation tools
• Screen and window sharing, including sharing multiple windows
• Recording to disk and media streaming from local files
• Built-in TURN server and robust ICE handling with automatic flow restarts
• Codec support including VP8/VP9 (with SVC and simulcast), partial H.264 support, and preliminary AV1 support
• Bandwidth estimation and congestion control for low-latency sessions
• Administrative HTTP API for managing groups and users
• Password-based and token-based (OAuth2-style) authorization options
• Support for WHIP protocol

Use Cases

• University lectures, seminars, and tutorials with large audiences
• Team meetings with screen sharing and moderation controls
• Hosting community or academic conferences with multiple sessions

Limitations and Considerations

• No end-to-end encryption: media is decrypted and re-encrypted by the server, so the server must be trusted
• Many-to-many meetings scale quadratically with participant count, so capacity planning matters for larger interactive groups

Galene provides a practical WebRTC conferencing stack that prioritizes deployability, performance, and operational simplicity. It is especially strong for lecture-style sessions and lightweight deployments that still need modern conferencing features.

La Suite Meet is an open source video conferencing application designed for browser-based meetings with strong performance and modern collaboration features. It is built on top of LiveKit to provide reliable real-time audio/video and scalable large meetings.

Key Features

• Browser-based video meetings with LiveKit-powered real-time media
• Optimized for stability in large meetings (100+ participants)
• Multiple simultaneous screen-sharing streams
• Non-persistent secure meeting chat
• Meeting recording support
• Transcription and meeting summaries (beta)
• Telephony integration
• Authentication and access control for secure participation
• Customizable frontend styling

Use Cases

• Internal meetings for organizations that need a self-controlled conferencing stack
• Large webinars or all-hands meetings requiring stable performance at scale
• Secure video calls with access control and optional recording/transcription

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced features (such as recording and transcription) may have limited installation/operations documentation depending on your deployment
• End-to-end encryption is listed as a planned feature rather than generally available

La Suite Meet is a practical choice for teams that want a modern video conferencing experience with a web client and a scalable media backend. It fits especially well in environments needing tighter control over authentication, access, and deployment options.

Apache OpenMeetings is an open source web conferencing and groupware platform for running online meetings in the browser. It combines real-time audio/video, chat, whiteboards, and file collaboration with administrative controls for users, rooms, and organizations.

Key Features

• Web-based audio/video conferencing with multiple modes (audio+video, audio-only, video-only, picture-only)
• WebRTC screen sharing with selectable desktop/window and quality options
• Meeting recording with downloadable MP4 output
• Multi-whiteboard with drawing tools, document import, and save/restore of whiteboards
• In-room file explorer with drag-and-drop, private and room-scoped public storage
• User, group, and room management, including multi-organization support
• Integrated messaging and contacts, plus meeting planning with calendar invites and secure room links
• Polls and voting with result visualization
• Backup and restore of user-generated content

Use Cases

• Hosting internal team meetings with screen sharing and recordings
• Running online classes, workshops, or interviews using whiteboards and document sharing
• Providing a self-managed web meeting solution integrated with existing user/group structures

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires an external media server component (Kurento) for real-time media streaming features

Apache OpenMeetings is a strong fit for organizations that need a full-featured, browser-based conferencing system plus collaboration tools like whiteboards, file management, and scheduling. It is especially useful when you want centralized control over rooms, users, and recorded content.

PlugNMeet is an open-source, self-hosted web conferencing system that provides scalable, customizable WebRTC meetings powered by a Go backend. It combines real-time audio/video, collaboration tools, recording and broadcasting, and an AI meeting agent for transcripts, translations, and summaries.

Key Features

• High-performance Go backend designed for horizontal scaling and low resource usage
• WebRTC-based real-time audio/video with simulcast and dynacast for adaptive streaming and support for H264, VP8, VP9, and AV1 codecs
• AI Meeting Agent offering real-time transcription, live spoken translations, automated summaries and action items, exposed via an artifacts API
• Collaboration tools including a shared whiteboard, collaborative notepad, polls, breakout rooms, and screen sharing
• Recording and broadcasting: reliable MP4 recording, RTMP/RTMPS broadcasting and RTMP/WHIP ingress for production tools
• Flexible integration via APIs and SDKs (JavaScript, PHP) and plugins for popular platforms for white-label deployment
• Deployable with Docker and docker-compose; integrates with LiveKit, Redis, NATS and MariaDB/MySQL for production environments

Use Cases

• Host virtual classrooms and remote learning with recordings, whiteboard collaboration, and LTI integration for LMS
• Run webinars or hybrid events with live broadcasting, MP4 archive recording, and adaptive streaming for diverse network conditions
• Embed white-label video meetings and AI-driven meeting intelligence into SaaS products or corporate intranets

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires a separately deployed LiveKit instance and supporting services (Redis, NATS, MariaDB/MySQL) for full production functionality
• Advanced AI features may need additional service configuration or external models/providers and can increase resource usage
• Office file rendering in the whiteboard relies on optional tools (libreoffice, mupdf-tools) and extra system dependencies

In summary, plugNmeet is a full-featured, extensible web conferencing stack suitable for organizations that need a self-hosted, AI-enabled meeting platform with recording and broadcasting capabilities.

OpenTalk is an open-source video conferencing platform designed for data protection and digital sovereignty. It provides a full-featured meeting experience for organisations, with SaaS hosting in German data centers and a community/enterprise on‑premises distribution for private operation.

Key Features

• WebRTC-based real-time audio/video (LiveKit/RTC components used in the stack) with support for screen sharing and staged media controls.
• Moderator and workshop tools: breakout rooms, subroom audio, talking-stick, prepared polls, audit-proof voting and participant management.
• Persistent features: meeting recording (open .webm format), storage management, streaming and download of recordings.
• Collaboration tools: integrated chat, interactive whiteboard, meeting minutes and Etherpad/space-deck integrations for synchronous work.
• Telephony & SIP support: telephone dial-in and SIP integration for participants without web clients.
• Authentication and identity: Keycloak / OIDC integration for single sign-on and enterprise identity flows.
• Componentised, container-first deployment: provided ot-setup templates use Docker and Docker Compose; uses PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, Redis and S3-compatible object storage for state and media.

Use Cases

• Public sector and education: GDPR-focused remote teaching, council meetings and secure workshops requiring audit-capable voting and logging.
• Business collaboration and workshops: interactive workshops with breakout rooms, whiteboards and synchronized notes for cross-team facilitation.
• Hosted service or private cloud: run as a managed SaaS or deploy via provided setup templates to operate in an organisation's trusted data center.

Limitations and Considerations

• Default community deployment targets single-server/container setups; large-scale, highly available or Kubernetes-based clusters and advanced enterprise features require the Enterprise offering and additional orchestration.
• Keycloak is the primary supported authentication provider in current documentation, which may require additional integration work for organisations using other IdP systems.

OpenTalk combines a modern feature set for meetings and workshops with an open-source, privacy-first architecture. It is intended for organisations that need GDPR-aligned hosting options and the ability to operate or extend the platform within their own infrastructure.