Our verdict: Jitsi Meet is the simplest free way to hold a video call without making everyone install a big client or create an account. The desktop app adds screen sharing with remote control and an always-on-top window, but on the public meet.jit.si server the first person must sign in to start a room.
About Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is an open-source video conferencing platform maintained by the Jitsi team at 8x8, licensed under the Apache License 2.0. Anyone can use the public service at meet.jit.si or run their own Jitsi server.
The Windows app is an Electron wrapper around Jitsi Meet that works with any Jitsi deployment. It adds screen sharing with remote control, an always-on-top mini window, automatic updates and jitsi-meet:// links. Guests join by room name without an account; on meet.jit.si the first participant signs in with Google, GitHub or Facebook, or waits for a moderator.
What it does well
- Any Jitsi server. Use meet.jit.si or point the app at your own Jitsi deployment.
- Screen sharing. Share your screen or a window with the meeting.
- Remote control. Let another participant control your shared screen.
- Always-on-top window. Keep a small video window visible while you work.
- End-to-end encryption (beta). Turn on E2EE for meetings where all clients support it.
Who it is for
Good fit
Quick video calls with people who should not need an account, and teams with their own Jitsi server.
Look elsewhere
Large webinars or companies that need scheduling, recordings and admin controls out of the box.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source
- Guests can join without an account
- Works with self-hosted Jitsi servers
- Remote control during screen sharing
Cons
- Starting a room on meet.jit.si needs a Google, GitHub or Facebook login
- Desktop app adds little beyond the browser version
- End-to-end encryption is still marked beta
How to install Jitsi Meet
Run the installer from the official release. Open Settings in the app to change the server URL if you use your own Jitsi instance instead of meet.jit.si. Allow camera and microphone access when Windows asks.
Questions about Jitsi Meet
Is Jitsi Meet free?
Yes. The app and the public meet.jit.si service are free, and the software is open source under the Apache License 2.0.
Do I need an account for Jitsi Meet?
Guests do not. On meet.jit.si the first person in a room signs in with Google, GitHub or Facebook, or waits for a moderator.
Can I use Jitsi Meet with my own server?
Yes. The desktop app works with any Jitsi Meet deployment; set its address in the app settings.
