Jitsi Meet vs BigBlueButton: Open Source Video Conferencing
Jitsi Meet vs BigBlueButton: Open Source Video Conferencing
Both are mature, open source video conferencing platforms — but built for different audiences. Jitsi Meet is a general-purpose Zoom replacement. BigBlueButton is purpose-built for online education. Here's how they compare.
Quick Verdict
Choose Jitsi Meet for general video meetings, quick calls, and team communication. Choose BigBlueButton for online classes, webinars, and educational environments.
The Comparison
| Feature | Jitsi Meet | BigBlueButton |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | General meetings | Education/training |
| Max participants | 75-100 (practical) | 100-150 |
| Screen sharing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recording | ✅ | ✅ |
| Breakout rooms | ✅ | ✅ |
| Whiteboard | Basic | ✅ (best) |
| Polls | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hand raising | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shared notes | ✅ (Etherpad) | ✅ (built-in) |
| No account needed | ✅ (join via link) | Requires login |
| Lobby/waiting room | ✅ | ✅ |
| E2E encryption | ✅ | ❌ |
| SIP/phone dial-in | ✅ | ✅ |
| LMS integration | ❌ | ✅ (Moodle, Canvas, etc.) |
| Presentation mode | Basic | ✅ (PDF upload, annotations) |
| Multi-user whiteboard | ❌ | ✅ |
| Stack | Java, JavaScript (Oce Oce) | Java, JavaScript |
| License | Apache 2.0 | LGPL-3.0 |
| RAM for 50 users | 4-8 GB | 8-16 GB |
| Setup complexity | Medium | Higher |
When to Choose Jitsi Meet
- General team meetings and video calls
- Quick, no-account-needed video calls
- Integration with Mattermost or Matrix
- E2E encryption is needed
- Lower server requirements
- Simpler setup and maintenance
When to Choose BigBlueButton
- Online classes and training
- Presentation-heavy meetings (PDF upload, annotations)
- LMS integration (Moodle, Canvas, Schoology)
- Collaborative whiteboard sessions
- Breakout rooms for group work
- Educational institutions
The Bottom Line
Jitsi Meet is the Zoom replacement. BigBlueButton is the Zoom-for-education replacement. For general business meetings, Jitsi is simpler and lighter. For teaching and training, BigBlueButton's educational features (whiteboard, presentations, LMS integration) are unmatched.
Compare video conferencing tools on OSSAlt — features, capacity, and deployment options side by side.