Jitsi Meet for Windows

Free video conferencing app

Jitsi Meet is one of the emerging video conferencing apps today. It is an open-source communication software that is free, easy to use, and requires little to no onboarding. It encrypts all your calls and does not sell your data. As a bonus, you don’t need an account to start using the app.

Simplified video conferencing 

When it comes to video conferencing, Zoom is probably one of the most used. However, if you are thinking of ditching the app—whether it be due to privacy issues or other usage problems—know that there are tons of video-calling tools out there at your disposal. One of those is Jitsi Meet. The app simplifies the process of conducting video conferencing. As noted, the app is easy to use and does not need an account. Starting a conference call is as easy as setting up a meeting and sending the other members a link. 

To begin, head to the Jitsi call page. Once there, you can enter your desired meeting name under the Start a New Meeting text bar. It is recommended to make your meeting name as unique as possible so that it will be easy for others to find your meeting room. You can also add a password to the call to prevent unwanted participants from butting in during your meeting—something that happens a lot in Zoom calls. To do so, just click the "i" icon on the bottom-right corner of the screen and select add password. 

Inviting the other participants to your meeting is also simple. Unlike other video calling apps, such as Skype and Microsoft Teams, your contacts only need to drop the meeting URL in their browser of choice, enter the password—if there is any—and they are good to go. Jitsi made the process even simpler by allowing you to send the link by any means—text, email, and other instant messaging apps. The program can support up to 75 callers at the same time. Plus, there's no time limit for every call. However, the app is prone to glitch issues if there are many participants. A lot of times, users may experience a delay in the audio. 

Other features

Jitsi Meet hosts tons of features that can compete directly even with paid video-conferencing apps. For starters, you can share their screen or record their meeting. You can also switch to a tile view if there are many participants in the call. To do so, you only need to click the four little boxes on the bottom-right corner once the call starts. 

The app also lets you automatically blur your background if you don’t want the other participants to see the room you are in during the call. You only need to select the Blur my Background option from the setting menu—three vertical dots—on the bottom-right corner of your screen. To make your meeting more organized, Jitsi offers a fun solution with its raise/lower your hand tool. If you click the icon, the other participants will see a tiny hand icon on their screen and know that you have something to say. 

Aside from recording your meeting, the app also allows you to livestream them. You can even share a YouTube video with your contacts during the call. If you don’t have a stable connection, you can manage the quality of the video and set it to low bandwidth to prevent the call from being interrupted. This software encrypts all your calls by default, so you are sure that your conversations are safe.

Make the call

All in all, Jitsi Meet is a good alternative to popular video calling apps. It is easy to use and does not require complicated account setup. Moreover, there is no limit to the number of participants. However, a large number of people in a call may cause glitches. A lot of times, there is a delay in the audio and there are also a few connectivity issues.