Video conferencing is essential for remote work, online education, and staying connected. While Zoom remains popular, numerous alternatives in 2026 offer comparable or better features with more generous free tiers, enhanced privacy, or unique capabilities for different use cases.
Best Zoom Alternatives for Video Meetings in 2026
1. Google Meet
Google Meet offers free 60-minute meetings with up to 100 participants. Integration with Google Calendar and Gmail makes scheduling seamless. Features include live captions, noise cancellation, and virtual backgrounds.
2. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams provides free video meetings with 100 participants for 60 minutes. It combines chat, file sharing, and video in one platform, integrating with Microsoft 365 for comprehensive collaboration.
3. Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is completely free and open-source with no account required. Start meetings instantly with just a link. Self-hosting options provide complete privacy control for security-conscious organizations.
4. Cisco Webex
Webex offers free meetings with 100 participants for 40 minutes. Enterprise features include AI transcription, meeting insights, and robust security. Particularly strong for business environments.
5. Discord
Discord supports video calls with up to 25 participants, screen sharing, and persistent chat channels. It’s free and works well for communities, gaming groups, and informal team communication.
6. Whereby
Whereby offers browser-based meetings requiring no downloads. Free meetings support 100 participants for 45 minutes. Custom room URLs make it professional for client calls.
7. Skype
Skype provides free video calls with up to 100 participants and 24-hour meeting duration. Features include real-time translation, meeting recording, and phone calling with Skype Credit.
8. Around
Around focuses on reducing video fatigue with floating video bubbles and automatic audio management. It’s designed for teams who spend significant time in video calls.
9. Gather
Gather creates virtual spaces where participants move avatars to join conversations naturally. Free for up to 10 concurrent users, it’s perfect for social events and casual team interaction.
10. RingCentral Video
RingCentral Video offers free unlimited meetings up to 50 minutes with 100 participants. AI features include meeting transcription and insights, with phone integration for business users.
Choosing Based on Your Needs
Google Workspace users should default to Google Meet. Microsoft 365 organizations benefit from Teams integration. Privacy-focused users will appreciate Jitsi’s open-source approach. Social gatherings work well with Gather’s unique format.
Related Communication Tools
Video meetings are just one part of remote collaboration. Explore Slack alternatives for team messaging, check out Loom alternatives for async video communication, and discover Microsoft Office alternatives for document collaboration alongside your video calls.
Conclusion
These Zoom alternatives in 2026 offer excellent video conferencing without Zoom’s limitations. Many provide longer free meeting times, unique features, or better privacy options, making professional video communication accessible to everyone.