Zoom became the default video calling tool during the pandemic, but its free tier restrictions, security history, and meeting fatigue have pushed many users to explore alternatives. Whether you need better integration with your existing tools, stronger privacy, or a different meeting experience, several strong options exist.
Why look for a Zoom alternative?
- Free tier limits — Zoom's free plan caps group meetings at 40 minutes
- Security concerns — Past incidents including Zoombombing and encryption controversies damaged trust
- Subscription fatigue — Paid plans start at $13.33/month per user
- Feature overlap — Many teams already pay for tools that include video calling
- Meeting fatigue — Some alternatives offer asynchronous or shorter meeting formats
Top alternatives
1. Google Meet
Best for: Teams using Google Workspace
Google Meet is built into Google Workspace, making it the natural choice for organizations already using Gmail and Google Calendar. Meetings can be started directly from a calendar event, and recordings save automatically to Google Drive. The free tier allows meetings up to 60 minutes with up to 100 participants.
Pricing: Free for up to 60 minutes. Included with Google Workspace starting at $7.20/user/month.
2. Microsoft Teams
Best for: Organizations using Microsoft 365
Microsoft Teams combines video calling with persistent chat, file sharing, and deep integration with Office apps. For businesses already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams provides unlimited meetings, recording, transcription, and large meeting support at no additional cost. It is the most feature-complete alternative for enterprise environments.
Pricing: Free tier available. Included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $6/user/month.
3. Around
Best for: Teams that want less meeting fatigue
Around takes a different approach to video calls with floating, minimal video bubbles, AI-powered noise cancellation, and automatic meeting notes. It is designed to make meetings feel lighter and less draining. The interface encourages quick huddles over long scheduled meetings.
Pricing: Free tier available. Pro plan at $10/user/month.
4. Whereby
Best for: Simple, no-download video meetings
Whereby runs entirely in the browser with no downloads or accounts required for guests. You get a permanent meeting room URL that you share whenever you need to meet. It is ideal for freelancers, consultants, and small teams who want the simplest possible meeting experience.
Pricing: Free for meetings up to 45 minutes. Pro plan at $8.99/month for up to 100 participants.
5. Jitsi Meet
Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want a free, open-source option
Jitsi Meet is a completely free, open-source video conferencing platform. No account is needed, meetings are encrypted, and you can self-host the entire platform for full control over your data. The interface is simple and functional, and it works directly in the browser.
Pricing: Completely free. Self-hosting costs only your own infrastructure.
Comparison table
| Feature | Zoom | Google Meet | Microsoft Teams | Around | Whereby | |---------|------|-------------|----------------|--------|---------| | Free meeting length | 40 min | 60 min | 60 min | 45 min | 45 min | | Max participants (free) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 25 | 50 | | Browser-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Recording | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid | | Breakout rooms | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | | Virtual backgrounds | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | | End-to-end encryption | Paid | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Our recommendation
If your team already uses Google Workspace, switch to Google Meet — it is included in your subscription and integrates perfectly with Gmail and Calendar. If you are on Microsoft 365, Teams is the obvious choice with unlimited meetings and deep Office integration. For small teams that want a refreshingly simple meeting experience, Whereby lets guests join with just a link and no downloads. For maximum privacy and zero cost, Jitsi Meet is unbeatable.