Jami vs Element Call
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Zoom. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Jami
Fully peer-to-peer calls with no server at all.
Jami is a GNU project for calls and messaging that works peer-to-peer and end-to-end encrypted, with no central server to run or trust. It is the most decentralized option — private by design, at the cost of some polish for large group meetings.
Element Call
Decentralized, end-to-end encrypted calls on the Matrix network.
Element Call is a native Matrix video-conferencing app: end-to-end encrypted by default, federated across Matrix homeservers, and free to use or self-host. It is the best fit for teams that want secure, decentralized calls with no single company controlling the infrastructure — calls can even happen between users on different homeservers.
Side by side
| Jami | Element Call | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 90 | 89 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free / open-source | Free / open-source (use element.io or self-host with a Matrix homeserver) |
Jami edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Jami
Strengths
- +Fully peer-to-peer — no server to run
- +End-to-end encrypted by design
- +Cross-platform
Trade-offs
- −Less turnkey for big group meetings
- −Smaller ecosystem than Jitsi
Element Call
Strengths
- +End-to-end encrypted and decentralized (Matrix + LiveKit)
- +Federated — call across different homeservers
- +Use free online or self-host for full control
- +No account lock-in to a single provider
Trade-offs
- −Self-hosting means running a Matrix homeserver and LiveKit backend
- −Younger and less turnkey than Jitsi for large calls
- −Ecosystem is smaller than mainstream conferencing tools
Facts verified 2026-07-12. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.