Alternatives to Galène
A self-hosted WebRTC videoconference server and web client that needs few resources. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Galène
A self-hosted WebRTC videoconference server and web client that needs few resources.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Galène.
Jitsi Meet
Open-source WebRTC video meetings that run in the browser or in mobile apps.
Jitsi Meet is also open-source WebRTC video meetings, adds Android and iOS apps and a public meet.jit.si service, though recording and transcription belong to the paid service.
BigBlueButton
Open-source virtual classroom software for live online teaching, run on your own server.
BigBlueButton is a self-hosted open-source alternative focused on virtual classrooms, with learning platform integrations such as Canvas, but it needs a dedicated server and suits business meetings less.
Nextcloud Talk
Chat, video calls and webinars that run on your own Nextcloud server.
Nextcloud Talk runs chat, calls and webinars on your own server, but it requires a Nextcloud installation and extra server work for reliable video calls.
Zoom
A video meeting platform with desktop, mobile and web apps and a free tier.
Zoom replaces a self-hosted server with a proprietary cloud service that has desktop, mobile and web apps, but free group calls end after 40 minutes.
Google Meet
Google's video meeting service, used in the browser or through mobile apps.
Google Meet is a hosted proprietary Google service used in the browser or mobile apps, with Calendar integration, and free group calls end after one hour.
Whereby Meetings
Browser-based video meetings in a fixed room URL, with no installs required.
Whereby Meetings is a hosted browser service with persistent room URLs and no self-hosting, but the free plan allows 4 attendees and 30 minutes.
Webex
Cisco's collaboration suite for video meetings, calling, team messaging, webinars and whiteboarding.
Webex is Cisco's proprietary hosted suite that adds calling, team messaging and webinars, requires an account, and is largely aimed at enterprises.
GoTo Meeting
A web conferencing service for business video meetings with screen sharing and dial-in audio.
GoTo Meeting is a paid proprietary business service with phone dial-in audio, replacing your self-hosted server with a vendor-run platform after the trial.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Galène as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Jitsi Meet Desktop
Join Jitsi meetings through a desktop application.
Galène replaces a Jitsi server with a lightweight self-hosted WebRTC server used through a web client, without end-to-end encryption.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
FreeSWITCH
A self-hosted software telephony platform for voice, video and chat that runs on commodity hardware.
Mumble
Free open-source voice chat app built for low latency and self-hosting.
Microsoft Teams (free)
The free edition of Microsoft Teams for chat, file sharing and video meetings.
