Sustainable Substitutes for Video Conferencing

Open-source alternatives to Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams which protect your privacy.

Nextcloud

Nextcloud is a German self-hostable, open-source cloud storage and collaboration platform.

Nextcloud is ad free and does not monetise user-data.
Nextcloud does not track users or sell personal data, ensuring a private and secure experience with optional end-to-end encryption.
Nextcloud’s core software is fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and community-driven development.
Nextcloud is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Nextcloud is designed to be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Nextcloud became the first cloud software platform to earn the Blauer Engel ecolabel, emphasizing environmental responsibility.
Some third party providers offer free plans with up to 5GB of storage. The self-hostable community edition is free and without licensing costs.
Nextcloud allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
Nextcloud syncs files to your device. You can edit files offline, and changes will sync automatically once you reconnect to the internet.
Nextcloud is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and OpenDocument formats.
Website
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OpenTalk

A German GDPR compliant video conferencing service.

OpenTalk is open source under the EUPL (European Public License).
OpenTalk comes with end-to-end encryption and does not engage in data mining for advertising.
OpenTalk does not show ads to its users.
OpenTalk by Heinlein is based in Berlin, Germany.
OpenTalk allows users to join meetings without creating an account or registering.
OpenTalk can be self-hosted, giving full control over data and privacy.
OpenTalk offers a free tier with meetings of up to 30 minutes length and 5 participants.
Website

Jitsi

An open-source video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption, widely used for secure meetings.

Jitsi is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free experience.
Jitsi can be fully hosted on your own servers, giving complete control over data and privacy.
Jitsi does not engage in data mining for ads and comes with end-to-end encryption for calls with two participants.
Jitsi is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance the code.
Jitsi is free to use for everyone, with no participant limits or mandatory fees for basic features.
Jitsi allows anyone to join meetings without registration. Unfortunately, creating a meeting on the public instance (meet.jit.si) now requires a Google, GitHub, or Facebook account. Self-hosted instances can be configured to allow anonymous meeting creation.
Website

Wire

A Swiss secure messaging and video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption.

Wire is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance the code.
Wire is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Wire offers end-to-end encryption for all communications and does not perform data mining for advertisement, ensuring user privacy and security.
Wire can be self-hosted, giving organizations full control over their data and privacy.
Wire offers a free tier, mainly for messaging. For video conferencing one has to opt for one of the paid tiers.
Wire's service is ad-free for all its free and paid tiers, it's funded through enterprise plans.
Website

Whereby

A Norwegian privacy-focused video conferencing tool with no account required.

Whereby is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free video conferencing experience.
Whereby offers end-to-end encryption for small meetings (peer-to-peer), ensuring user privacy and security.
Whereby is based in Norway, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Whereby allows users to join meetings without registration.
Whereby offers a free plan with no participant limits.
Website

How to move away from Big Tech Video Conferencing Tools

Here's a guide on how to easily get away from Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Migrating to an alternative video conferencing tool away from Big Tech services is a straightforward process. Schedule a test meeting with a service of your choice to ensure compatibility with your workflow, and gradually replace your existing tool by updating meeting invitations and integrating the new service with your calendar and collaboration tools.

Most people are easily convinced by showcasing the alternative video service in a test meeting. Provide your collaborators with clear instructions on how to join meetings using the new platform, including any necessary links or setup steps. Explain the reasons for the change, emphasising the benefits of enhanced privacy and data ownership.