Private video call apps

13 apps, each with a privacy passport

For video calls, the questions are whether the call is end-to-end encrypted and whether guests need an account just to join. Proton Meet and Element Call encrypt every call by default; Jitsi Meet is free and opens in the browser, and BigBlueButton or Galène suit schools and groups that run their own servers.

Leaving one of these?

If you only try two

Privacy passport
Jitsi Meet
Video calls
Our pick
No tracking
Not stated
Open source
Yes
Only you can read it
Partly
No account
Optional
Free
Yes
3 of 5 checks
- Android
- iPhone
- Web
Free, works in the browser, no app needed
Privacy passport
Proton Meet
Video calls
Our pick
No tracking
Minimal
Open source
Yes
Only you can read it
Encrypted
No account
Optional
Free
Free plan
4 of 5 checks
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Web
Encrypted by default, guests need no account

All 13 video call apps

Passes

Works on

13 of 13 apps

Jitsi MeetPick

Service30.1k

Open-source video meetings you join from a link in the browser or app; anyone can also run their own server.

Tracking not stated
Open source
Partly encrypted
Account optional
Free

Android
iPhone
Web

Proton MeetPick

Service

Video meetings from the Proton Mail team, end-to-end encrypted with the MLS standard; guests join without an account.

Minimal tracking
Open source
End-to-end encrypted
Account optional
Free plan

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

Signal

App29.5k

Free messenger where texts, calls and group chats are end-to-end encrypted by default, run by a nonprofit.

No tracking
Open source
End-to-end encrypted
Account needed
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

Jami

App

Peer-to-peer chat and video calls with no central server; your account lives only on your own devices.

No tracking
Open source
End-to-end encrypted
No account
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

Element Call

Service1k

Group video calls on the Matrix network, end-to-end encrypted, that open straight in the browser.

Minimal tracking
Open source
End-to-end encrypted
Account optional
Free

Brave Talk

Service

Video calls from the Brave browser team that start from a link with no sign-up for the free tier.

No tracking
Partly open
Partly encrypted
No account
Free plan

BigBlueButton

Self-hosted9.3k

Open-source classroom and webinar software with whiteboard, breakout rooms and polls, run on your own server.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
Account optional
Free

Galène

Self-hosted1.4k

Small, easy-to-run video conference server for lectures and meetings; one file to install, little to maintain.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
Account optional
Free

MiroTalk P2P

Service4.8k

Browser video calls that connect people directly, peer to peer, with no sign-up; you can also host it yourself.

Tracking not stated
Open source
End-to-end encrypted
No account
Free

Chitchatter

Service2.3k

Peer-to-peer chat and video rooms in the browser; nothing is stored on a server and there are no accounts.

No tracking
Open source
End-to-end encrypted
No account
Free

kMeet

Service

Free video meetings hosted in Switzerland by Infomaniak, with no account needed to start one.

No tracking
Partly open
Partly encrypted
No account
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

Mumble

App8.4k

Low-latency, encrypted voice chat popular with gaming groups; join any server or run your own.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

Nextcloud Talk

Self-hosted2.2k

Chat, calls and screen sharing built into Nextcloud, running on a server you or your organisation control.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
Account needed
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

What to check in video call apps

1 Whether calls are end-to-end encrypted by default, or only when you switch it on
2 Whether guests can join from a link without making an account
3 Whether you can host it yourself for your school, team or family

If you only try two

All 13 video call apps

Jitsi MeetPick

Proton MeetPick

What to check in video call apps

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