Ranked 5 of 8 in best video conferencing software
Open source under LGPL-3.0 and built for virtual classrooms, with a self-hosted server. It needs an IT team to run it, and it fits business meetings less well than Zoom or Jitsi Meet.
Best for Self-hosted virtual classrooms
About BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a web conferencing system built for virtual classrooms. Its site describes it as open-source virtual classroom software developed for virtual learning and education. Its GitHub description calls it a complete web conferencing system, so participants reach a session through the browser.
The code is published on GitHub under the LGPL-3.0 license. Because it is a server, a school or organization must install, host and update it, so it asks more of an IT team than hosted services such as Zoom. Its focus on education and self-hosting makes it a fit for schools, universities and training providers that want control over their classes and data.
Key features
- Open source, LGPL-3.0 licensed
- Virtual classroom features
- Self-hosted server
- Browser-based participation
Strengths
- Open source under LGPL-3.0 and self-hostable
- Built for virtual classrooms and education
- Participants join from a web browser
Limits
- Running the server needs an IT team
- Designed for classes, so it fits business meetings less well
Where BigBlueButton ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Video conferencing software | 5 of 8 | 84.5 | Self-hosted virtual classrooms |
Questions about BigBlueButton
- Is BigBlueButton free?
- BigBlueButton can be used without paying: Free and open source; you pay for your own hosting. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is BigBlueButton open source?
- Yes. BigBlueButton publishes its source code under the LGPL-3.0 license.
- Which platforms does BigBlueButton support?
- BigBlueButton is available on: Web, Self-hosted.
- What is BigBlueButton best for?
- Self-hosted virtual classrooms. In our ranking of video conferencing software it is number 5 of 8 with a score of 84.5.
- What are the best alternatives to BigBlueButton?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Jitsi Meet, Google Meet.