The Best 8 Free and Open Source Web Conferencing Software Solutions
Now, let us discuss in detail what these software packages hold for the institutions, businesses, and organizations and what their features are.
1. BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a leading free and open source web conferencing software system that supports the online learning facility. It is based on the GNU/Linux operating system and runs on Ubuntu 16.04. The stable version 2.0-RC11 of this Java-based software program holds software license as per LGPL.
Highlights:
- BigBlueButton software offers tailor-made tools for teachers to share their slides, audio, video, chat and desktop with students.
- Live whiteboard is made available for presenters and groups with the ability to zoom, highlight, draw and write on presentations.
- No limit is set to share the number of webcams in a session. They limit just by the bandwidth.
- The software works for the benefits of schools and aims at meeting WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards.
(Source: BigBlueButton)
2. OpenMeetings
OpenMeetings, the open source software, is used for online training, presenting, web conferencing, document editing, user desktop sharing, and collaborative whiteboard drawing. Its Red5 media server based software works on HTML5 and Flash. This MySQL supported and Apache License 2.0 based software got its stable version 4.07 is available in 31 languages.
Highlights:
- OpenMeetings software has been downloaded over 250,000 times.
- It facilitates four options for audio/video functions: audio + video, audio-only, video-only and picture-only.
- It supports recording meeting sessions and downloading them as AVI/FLV files.
- It provides screen sharing facility as well.
- Advanced file explorer and the moderating system facilitate in all meeting rooms.
- Multi-Whiteboard and Chat facility is available with a full range of tools and documents inside.
(Source: OpenMeetings)
3. ezTalks Cloud Meeting
The cloud-based video conferencing system ezTalks offers small & medium-sized businesses and large enterprises an exceptional platform to communicate as well as collaborate online. The ezTalks support Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and iPad applications. It facilitates HD video conferencing with different plans and packages.
Highlights:
- The ezTalks software provides free software hosting up to 100 participants.
- The software incorporates HD video and audio, an innovative whiteboard and cross-platform chatting system.
- It supports playback, recording, and scheduling features to allow the users to share video and audio recordings and send them reminders about upcoming meetings or webinars.
- An unlimited number of live webinars, multiple presenters, webinar cloud storage, custom registration page and screen sharing with co-annotation are some additional features the software supports.
(Source: ezTalks Cloud Meeting)
4. Jitsi
The multi-platform video conferencing platform – Jitsi is 100% free and open source. It supports web platform, Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Android platforms and hosts Jitsi Meet and Jitsi Videobridge as its most aspiring video conferencing projects.
Highlights:
- Jitsi software supports attended and blind call transfer facility.
- Auto re-connect, auto answer, auto forward call recording facility makes it very usable software.
- The software provides instant messaging encryption with OTR, Direct media connection establishment with the ICE protocol, File transfer for XMPP, AIM/ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, YIM, IPv6 support for SIP and XMPP and many other features.
- Jitsi Videobridge provides group video support.
(Source: Jitsi)
5. Mconf
Mconf is an open-source and free web conferencing system that is an advanced and more customized version of BigBlueButton. It holds GNU's General Public Licensing 3.0. Mconf-Live, Mconf-Web, and Mconf-Mobile are the three most crucial component of Mconf project.
Highlights:
- Mconf supports document sharing procedure where users are free to share any document materials and any member of the community can access these documents.
- The users can also tag and version the documents so that one can easily search for them later on.
- The software lets you create an account, join a meeting, share your meeting session, customize the things and access your meeting room.
- The software enables the users to download the presentation and copy the chat to the clipboard.
- Here, users can share multiple cameras.
(Source: Mconf)
6. Jami
Jami is a free and open source web conferencing and instant messaging software for individuals as well as the industries. This universal communication tool works on Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X, iOS and Android platforms and holds GNU General Public License.
Highlights:
- Jami software is SIP-compatible software with OpenDHT support.
- It facilitates instant messaging and an unlimited number of calls.
- It provides multi-channel audio support, 'Flac' and 'Vorbis' ringtone support, multiple audio codecs support, TLS and SRTP support and DTMF support.
- Locale settings are available in the following languages: French, English, Russian, German, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and Vietnamese.
- It offers end-to-end encryption used for chat, video and voice facility.
(Source: Jami)
7. Linphone:
GNU (GPL) General Public Licensed - Linphone is a free voice over IP softphone widely used for Voice over IP, instant messaging, video conferencing. Initially, the Linux was the base for developing Linphone, but now it also works on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and mobile phones running Windows Phone, iOS or Android.
Highlights:
- Linphone software offers an easy-to-use graphical interface.
- It provides advanced calling features like HD video calls with video preview, audio conference calls and call transfer & multi-call management (pause and resume).
- The software facilitates enhanced audio and video quality.
- It provides enhanced instant messaging experience.
- It assures absolute security with audio and video encryption and end-to-end encryption for messaging.
(Source: Linphone)
8. Riot:
Riot is an open source and free instant messaging and web conferencing software relying on Matrix protocol. It is licensed as per Apache License 2.0 and is available as a web application and desktop apps for all the major operating systems and as a mobile app for Android and iOS.
Highlights:
- Riot software's design associates with the Matrix React SDK, i.e., a React based software development kit for easy and secure development of the Matrix client.
- It facilitates custom communication that is more than just a simple chat.
- It lets the users configure servers quickly, and they are extendable with advanced features like anti-virus and custom behaviour.
- The ability of the software of bridging up other communications into the app through the Matrix such as IRC, Slack, and Telegram, etc., is excellent.
- The Google Play Downloads record of the app is over 100,000 times.
(Source: Riot)
ClickMeeting, Join.me, Gotowebinar, Bigmarker, HighFive, MyOwnConference, UberConferences, Dead Simple Screen Sharing and Readytalk are other popular video and web conferencing software programs that are highly attracting the web and video users for their personal and business usage. Users are required to investigate about the best software program and utilize it to meet their purpose.
If you are not satisfied with the free software options you have, you try the commercial ones for more advanced features and usability. Zoom is one of the most recognized commercial software solutions that meet a business's web conferencing requirements to the best. Now, let us explore more about it.
Zoom
Founded in 2011, Zoom is one of the most sought after video conferencing portal that focuses on flawless video, clear audio and instant sharing. Here you get the options for both i.e. to join a meeting or host a meeting with video on/off and screen sharing facility. Zoom conferencing solutions include HD video, collaboration for chats, meetings, and video webinars.
(Source: Zoom)
Features:
- Zoom software system is capable of hosting video conferences with up to 100 video participants.
- It is a cloud-hosted and open-API based software that supports Mac, web-based, Android, and iPhone/iPad devices.
- The stable version 2.5 of the software is available for free with basic features and the premium version can be obtained with some extended features.
- The software allows the developers to create their own stack solutions using voice, video, and screen sharing APIs.
- 323/SIP Connectors allows the users to communicate with their tablets, mobiles, and desktop devices with a single touch.
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