Jitsi vs Google Meet: My Honest Experience With Both
Let’s be real—video meetings have become part of everyday life. Whether you’re teaching, working remotely, or catching up with your team, a reliable video conferencing tool makes all the difference.
I’ve used both Google Meet and Jitsi Meet for different projects and clients, and while both have their strengths, they serve different types of users. If you’re stuck choosing between them, this comparison will help you decide based on what actually matters: privacy, features, control, and ease of use.
What Is Jitsi Meet?
Jitsi Meet is an open-source, free-to-use video conferencing platform. The biggest difference? You can self-host it and control everything.
Key Features of Jitsi:
- Unlimited video calls
- No login or account needed
- Screen sharing and chat
- Custom branding and UI control
- YouTube live streaming
- Jibri integration for recordings
- Full control of user privacy and data
And yes—it’s completely free, with no limits.
What Is Google Meet?
Google Meet is a video conferencing tool by Google that’s easy to use and integrates perfectly with Gmail and Google Calendar.
Key Features of Google Meet:
- Quick team meetings
- Client calls
- Screen sharing
- Chatting during calls
- Using virtual backgrounds
- Recording (available with paid plans)
If you’re already using Google Workspace, it’s a no-brainer to try it. But keep in mind—it runs entirely on Google’s servers. That means you don’t have much control over where your data goes.
Privacy & Data Ownership
If privacy is your top concern, Jitsi Meet is the clear winner.
Google Meet, like most commercial tools, runs on third-party infrastructure. Your calls, recordings, and even metadata can pass through Google’s systems.
Jitsi, especially when self-hosted, gives you total control:
- You decide who joins
- You control how data is stored
- No tracking or analytics unless you add it
- End-to-end encryption for peace of mind
For privacy-focused teams, healthcare providers, or educators, this is a huge plus.
Customizations
Jitsi allows you to fully customize branding, meeting logic, and user experience. This is great for startups or SaaS companies that want to integrate video calls into their platforms.
Google Meet, on the other hand, offers limited customization unless you’re using it through Google Workspace Enterprise.
Recording: Google Meet vs Jibri Integration
Recording meetings is a must for many people—whether it’s for online classes, interviews, or documentation.
Here’s the deal:
- Google Meet lets you record, but only if you’re on a paid Workspace plan.
- Jitsi Meet, with the help of Jibri, offers recording capabilities even on a self-hosted setup.
What is Jibri?
Jibri is a companion service for Jitsi Meet that enables:
- Video recording of meetings
- Streaming to YouTube or custom RTMP servers
- Saving recordings in standard MP4 format
Once Jibri is installed, you’ll see a “Start Recording” button in your Jitsi meetings. It’s straightforward and flexible—and no subscription required.
Self-Hosting: Full Control with Jitsi
This is where Jitsi really shines.
With Google Meet, you’re using a product locked inside a platform. No customization. No control over server performance. No way to white-label the experience.
Jitsi Meet gives you:
- The option to install it on your own server
- Full control over design, features, and user limits
- Branding it with your own logo and colors
- Add-ons like password protection, JWT auth, lobby mode, and more
- Compatibility with tools like Jibri, Jigasi, and SIP integration
If you’re a business, agency, or developer looking for full ownership and flexibility, self-hosting Jitsi is a game-changer.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Jitsi Meet | Google Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (fully open-source) | Free (limited) / Paid (for advanced features) |
| Self-hosting | ✅ Yes – complete control over your server | ❌ No – hosted only by Google |
| Privacy & Data Ownership | ✅ Full control (especially when self-hosted) | ❌ Data stored and processed by Google |
| Recording Meetings | ✅ Yes – via Jibri integration (self-hosted) | ✅ Yes – with paid Google Workspace plan |
| Live Streaming | ✅ Yes – via YouTube or RTMP with Jibri | ❌ Not supported |
| Account Required to Join | ❌ No – anyone can join with a link | ✅ Yes – Google account required |
| End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) | ✅ Optional (improving over time) | ✅ Available on supported devices |
| Chat During Meetings | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Screen Sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| UI Customization / White-labeling | ✅ Full control if self-hosted | ❌ Not possible |
| Branding Options | ✅ Fully customizable | ❌ Google-branded only |
| Max Participants (free tier) | No hard limit (depends on server resources) | Up to 100 participants |
| Integration with Other Tools | ✅ Custom integrations possible | ✅ Google Calendar, Gmail, Drive, etc. |
| Open Source | ✅ 100% Open Source | ❌ Proprietary |
| Mobile Apps | ✅ Android & iOS | ✅ Android & iOS |
Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Choose?
If you want ease of use, simplicity, and you’re already using Gmail or Google Workspace, Google Meet will get the job done.
But if you care deeply about privacy, control, customization, and long-term flexibility, Jitsi Meet is an excellent choice—especially when self-hosted with Jibri recording support.
I’ve personally used Jitsi for secure meetings, client demos, and webinars—and with a bit of setup, it outperforms most paid platforms.
Need Help With Jitsi?
If you’re looking to:
- Set up a custom Jitsi server
- Integrate Jibri for recordings
- Jitsi White-label your video platform
- Secure your meetings with custom domains and authentication
We’ve got your back. Get in Touch and let’s build a powerful, private video meeting solution tailored to your needs.