When it comes to making a video call, the main recommendations are Zoom, Skype, or some of the instant messengers on mobile devices, but the truth is that there is life beyond the frontier. One of the best alternatives is Jitsi Meet, which has multiple advantages: Up to 50 participants, you don't need to download software, you don't need to create an account, and something always important, it is free for personal use. If you are thinking about making massive video calls, start here.
Jitsi Meet: Video Calls at a Couple of Clicks
Regardless of the time and space coordinates in which you find yourself, one thing is certain: video calls are here to stay. We have the software, the hardware, and the bandwidth. Cameras keep gaining resolution, and microphones increase their audio quality while maintaining reasonable prices. Of course, there will always be users who, for reasons of habit or privacy, show a natural rejection to video calls, but if you feel you are not part of that group, today we share an option that will allow you to make massive video calls with great ease: Jitsi Meet.
Jitsi Meet is a platform whose roots extend back to 2003, originally developed by Emil Ivov. After some variations, Jitsi Meet ended up in the hands of the Australian company Atlassian, but it was sold to the people at 8x8 in October 2018 (as part of their "retirement" from the enterprise chat market), and since then we can enjoy a very interesting service, free, and extremely easy to use.
The Features of Jitsi Meet
The first advantage to highlight in Jitsi Meet is its zero cost. The free edition enables a maximum limit of 50 participants in a room, which is truly impressive. It includes support for high-definition audio and video (although it will all depend on the connection and the equipment), the possibility for users to share their screens, remote control of other desktops, and integration with Office 365 and Google Calendar (requires an extension).
Do you feel faster with the keyboard or is your microphone not working well? Each room has a traditional chat section. You can also digitally "raise your hand" to ask for attention or conduct a poll. Too much noise? The "mute all" option will be very useful. Is your computer struggling with the stream or the connection causing problems? With the help of a slider, you can adjust the quality on the fly and get a better experience. And the best part: You don't have to download anything..
What about privacy? Jitsi Meet online conversations have acceptable basic security, but end-to-end encryption is in beta. Its operation is limited to browser sessions, and it is possible that certain elements end up disabled (for example, live transmission). The secondary security options are a waiting room and password protection, which we recommend activating.
How to Use Jitsi Meet
- Go to the official page
- Let Jitsi Meet generate a name for your room, or use your own
- Click on Start Meeting
- Authorize the browser for microphone and camera use
- Confirm your name, and enter the session!
That simple. Chat, screen control, and "digital hand" on the left. Camera, microphone, and call drop controls in the center. Security, actions, and sending invitations on the right. The rest is a matter of distributing invitations and adding participants to the conversation. Smartphone and/or tablet users? No problem: Jitsi Meet has apps for Android (through the store or Android APK) and iOS. Although technically they aren't betas, user reviews suggest they are "a work in progress", so to speak.
Conclusion
Is Jitsi Meet the best option for making massive video calls? Almost. End-to-end encryption as beta and certain limitations reported by mobile app users take some points along the way, but we want to highlight (again) its ease of use, and the only piece of software you need to access its main functions is a compatible browser. Try Jitsi Meet for free!
Official site: Click here
Android app: Click here
iOS app: Click here
