Beyond Google Meet: Top Alternatives for Private Calls and Large Events

Google Meet has its limitations, especially when it comes to private calls and scalability. The free tier caps group calls at an hour, and even with a paid subscription, Workspace offers no real upgrade path to hosting a 500-person webinar without bolting on a separate tool.

This is where alternative video calling platforms come in. Jitsi Meet, for example, is fully open-source and free to use on its public server. It doesn't ask guests to create an account before joining a call, making it ideal for private conversations. However, the hosted version caps out around 75 participants.

Another option is Proton Meet, which encrypts audio, video, screen shares, and chat end-to-end using the open MLS protocol. It doesn't require an account to join a call, but the free tier caps sessions at an hour with up to 50 attendees.

For larger events, Livestorm is built for marketing and sales teams running lead-generation webinars. It offers registration pages, audience engagement tools, and analytics that standard video calls can't provide.