Zoom

Best Zoom Alternatives 2026

Video conferencing and meetings platform. Find free, indie, and cheaper options that work for your team.

Video Conferencing$0 - $27/user/monthUpdated 2026-09

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What is Zoom?

Zoom is a video meeting platform known for reliability and ease of use. The free tier allows unlimited 1:1 meetings but limits group meetings to 40 minutes. Pro starts at $13.33/user/month (billed annually) or $15.99/user/month (billed monthly) for longer meetings and cloud recording.

Key Features

-HD video and audio
-Screen sharing
-Breakout rooms
-Cloud recording
-Webinar hosting
-Whiteboard collaboration

Why Look for Zoom Alternatives?

Zoom's 40-minute limit pushes many teams to upgrade. Some find it overkill for quick calls. Others are looking for better integration with their existing tools or prefer browser-based solutions.

Common Pain Points

  • •40-minute limit on free group calls
  • •Security concerns in the past
  • •Can feel heavy/resource-intensive
  • •Meeting fatigue is real

Best Zoom Alternatives (2)

1
Google Meet

Google Meet

$0

100% savings

Free with any Google account. 60-minute group calls, 100 participants. Unlimited 1:1 calls.

60-min group calls100 participantsScreen sharingLive captions

Best for: Teams already using Google Workspace

Visit Google Meet →
2
Jitsi Meet

Jitsi Meet

$0

100% savings

Open source, no account required. Just share a link. Self-hostable for full control.

No signupUnlimited durationScreen sharingSelf-hostable

Best for: Quick calls with external parties, privacy-focused teams

Visit Jitsi Meet →

Tips for Switching from Zoom

-Google Meet is free with Google Workspace
-Consider if you actually need cloud recording
-For quick internal calls, Slack Huddles might be enough
-Whereby offers simple browser-based rooms

Zoom alternatives: common questions

How do I export my Zoom recordings and meeting data before canceling?+

Go to zoom.us admin dashboard > Recordings to download cloud recordings individually, or use the Zoom API to bulk export them before your account downgrades and auto-deletes cloud storage. You can also export meeting reports, attendee lists, and usage history as CSV files from the Account Management > Reports section.

What do I lose if I switch from Zoom to Google Meet or Whereby?+

You'll lose Zoom's more mature breakout room controls, built-in webinar hosting (Meet requires Google Workspace add-ons, Whereby doesn't support large webinars), and advanced virtual backgrounds/filters. Google Meet has closed most of the gap on breakout rooms and recording for paid Workspace tiers, but free-tier alternatives generally have thinner admin and analytics features.

Is a free video call tool actually enough for a small team of 5-10 people?+

For internal 1:1s and short syncs, yes — Google Meet's free tier (60-minute cap on group calls) or Whereby's free plan (up to 4 participants) covers most daily needs. If you regularly run client calls, webinars, or meetings over 45-60 minutes with more than a handful of people, you'll likely need a paid tier on whichever tool you pick.

Do Zoom alternatives integrate with Slack, Google Calendar, and our CRM?+

Google Meet integrates natively with Google Calendar and Gmail, and has a Slack app for starting calls from channels. Whereby integrates with Google Calendar and Outlook for scheduling but has fewer native CRM integrations than Zoom, so check your specific CRM's app marketplace before switching.

How much will we actually save by switching away from Zoom long term?+

If you're on Zoom Pro at $13.33-$15.99/user/month, switching to Google Meet included in a Google Workspace plan you already pay for effectively costs $0 extra, saving that full amount per user annually. Free tools like Whereby's basic plan save the most for very small teams, but factor in lost features (webinars, larger breakout rooms) that might cost you time or require a different paid add-on elsewhere.

Pro Tips

-Google Meet is unlimited 1:1, 60 min for groups-enough for most meetings
-Jitsi requires no signup-just share a link
-Consider Loom for async video instead of scheduling live meetings

Ready to Switch from Zoom?

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