Jitsi Meet is an open-source video conferencing platform built on WebRTC that enables secure, high-quality audio and video calls without requiring software installations. Designed for both end-users and developers, it offers a browser-based interface that works across all modern platforms while providing robust options for embedding into web applications or self-hosting on-premises. The project, originally developed by the Jitsi community and now maintained by 8x8, prioritizes privacy, scalability, and extensibility — making it ideal for organizations seeking control over their communication infrastructure without sacrificing user experience.
Its architecture supports SFU (Selective Forwarding Unit) for efficient media routing, and it scales from small team meetings to enterprise deployments. With built-in support for mobile apps, web SDKs, and integration with authentication providers like Google, GitHub, and Facebook, Jitsi Meet is a versatile alternative to proprietary video conferencing tools. Whether you’re looking for a ready-to-use service at meet.jit.si or want full control via Docker or Debian packages, Jitsi Meet provides a complete stack for real-time communication.
What You Get
- Cross-platform browser support - Works in all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) without plugins; no downloads required to join meetings.
- Mobile applications - Official native apps for Android (Google Play and F-Droid) and iOS with full feature parity including chat, reactions, and virtual backgrounds.
- Web and native SDKs - Embed video conferencing directly into web or mobile applications using Jitsi’s JavaScript SDK and native iOS/Android libraries.
- HD audio and video - Supports high-definition streaming with adaptive bitrate, noise cancellation, and automatic gain control for professional-quality calls.
- Content sharing - Share your screen, presentations, or files during meetings with real-time synchronization and annotation support.
- Raise hand and reactions - Non-verbal communication features like emoji-based reactions and raise-hand functionality to manage participant engagement.
- Private chat - End-to-end encrypted private messaging during meetings with support for group and one-on-one conversations.
- Polls - Create and conduct live polls during meetings to gather feedback or make decisions in real time.
- Virtual backgrounds - Apply custom or preloaded virtual backgrounds to maintain privacy or branding during video calls.
- Self-hosting via Docker and Debian - Deploy your own instance using official Docker Compose configurations or Debian packages for full control over data and infrastructure.
- Jitsi as a Service (JaaS) - Enterprise-grade hosted solution with branding, scaling, and monitoring handled by 8x8 for organizations that want Jitsi’s power without operational overhead.
Common Use Cases
- Building a secure internal communication platform for remote teams - Organizations replace Zoom or Teams with a self-hosted Jitsi instance to ensure data residency and compliance, using LDAP/SSO authentication and encrypted media streams.
- Integrating video conferencing into a learning management system (LMS) - Universities and e-learning platforms embed Jitsi’s Web SDK to enable live lectures, office hours, and group study sessions directly within their course portals.
- Developing a branded video solution for customer support - Companies use the Jitsi SDK to add one-click video chat buttons in their help portals, with custom logos and domain branding for a seamless user experience.
- Creating scalable video meetings for 100+ participants - Enterprises deploy Jitsi’s SFU-based architecture to host large webinars and town halls with low latency and high reliability, leveraging Docker clusters on AWS or Azure.
- DevOps teams managing video infrastructure across hybrid clouds - Infrastructure engineers use the official Docker Compose setup to automate deployment of Jitsi components (Jicofo, Jigasi, Prosody) with Let’s Encrypt certificates and load balancers.
- Privacy-conscious users avoiding cloud platforms - Individuals and small groups use meet.jit.si or self-hosted instances to avoid data tracking, with end-to-end encryption enabled for sensitive discussions.
Under The Hood
Jitsi Meet is a cross-platform video conferencing solution designed for seamless communication across web, iOS, and Android environments. It emphasizes modular architecture and native integration to support a wide range of deployment scenarios while maintaining a consistent user experience.
Architecture
Jitsi Meet follows a layered, component-based architecture that promotes separation of concerns and modularity across platforms.
- The system uses React and React Native as core UI frameworks, enabling shared logic between web and mobile interfaces
- A clear division exists between presentation, business logic, and data layers to support scalable development
- Extensive use of platform-specific modules allows deep native integration without sacrificing cross-platform compatibility
Tech Stack
Jitsi Meet is built using modern JavaScript and TypeScript ecosystems with a strong emphasis on cross-platform support.
- The primary tech stack includes TypeScript, React Native, and React for both web and mobile interfaces
- Relies on a suite of third-party libraries such as @jitsi/js-utils and lib-jitsi-meet for media and communication handling
- Build processes leverage Metro, Webpack, and Gradle to support React Native and web development workflows
- Comprehensive testing infrastructure includes Mocha, WebdriverIO, and CI/CD pipelines for end-to-end and unit testing
Code Quality
Code quality in Jitsi Meet is generally solid, with a focus on reliability and maintainability through testing and linting.
- The codebase includes extensive test coverage across multiple components and platforms, ensuring robust behavior
- Type safety is enforced through TypeScript, reducing runtime errors and improving developer confidence
- Linting and build tooling are consistently applied to maintain code style and prevent common issues
- Some inconsistencies in code style and legacy patterns are present, indicating areas for potential improvement
What Makes It Unique
Jitsi Meet distinguishes itself through its extensibility and unified development model across multiple platforms.
- Its modular architecture enables flexible deployment and customization for diverse use cases and environments
- Deep native integration with mobile platforms allows for performance optimizations not typically found in web-based solutions
- The open-source nature and plugin ecosystem support extensive customization without compromising core functionality