What is the difference between Jitsi and Webex?

Jitsi is best for Anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing, while Webex is best for Enterprise teams wanting Cisco-grade video conferencing. Jitsi starts at Free and Webex starts at Free.

Is Jitsi or Webex cheaper?

Jitsi starts at Free and is free. Webex starts at Free with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Webex?

Both Jitsi and Webex offer free tiers.

Jitsi vs Webex

Jitsi is free, open-source video meeting solution with no account required and self-hosting option, while Webex is cisco's video conferencing platform with meetings, messaging, calling, and webinars. Jitsi is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Jitsi is built for anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing, whereas Webex targets enterprise teams wanting cisco-grade video conferencing.

At a glance

	Jitsi	Webex
Best for	Anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing	Enterprise teams wanting Cisco-grade video conferencing
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	✓	—
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	✓	—
E2E Encryption	✓	—
HD Video	—	✓
No Account Needed	✓	—
Open Source	✓	—
Self-Hosted	✓	—
Translation	—	✓
Webinars	—	✓
Whiteboard	—	✓

Jitsi

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
The core product is free with no paywalled essentials

Weaknesses

May lack some advanced features
Self-hosting is free but requires server maintenance and DevOps knowledge
Self-hosting requires Linux admin skills and ongoing server maintenance
Call quality depends heavily on participants' internet connections

Try Jitsi → Full review

Webex

Strengths

Includes HD Video as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows
Infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming and visual thinking
Free for 40-min meetings — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Established product with 19+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Enterprise-focused design means the interface can feel heavy for smaller teams
Call quality depends heavily on participants' internet connections
Overkill for freelancers or small teams who need something lightweight

Try Webex → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Both Jitsi and Webex are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.

Feature gaps: Jitsi offers E2E Encryption, No Account Needed and Open Source that Webex lacks. Webex brings HD Video, Translation and Webinars that Jitsi does not have.

Team fit: Jitsi is geared toward any size teams, while Webex is aimed at enterprise teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Open source: Jitsi is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Webex is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: Jitsi's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development. Webex's biggest strengths are: includes hd video as a core feature, purpose-built for video conferencing workflows. infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming and visual thinking.

Watch out for: With Jitsi, users commonly note that may lack some advanced features. With Webex, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose Jitsi if...

You need a tool built for anyone wanting free, open-source video conferencing
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need E2E Encryption and No Account Needed
You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development
Your team size fits the any size profile Jitsi is designed for

Choose Webex if...

You need a tool built for enterprise teams wanting cisco-grade video conferencing
You specifically need HD Video and Translation
You care about infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming and visual thinking
Your team size fits the enterprise profile Webex is designed for
The free tier works for you: free for 40-min meetings