Daily.co vs Jitsi Meet: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Daily.co and Jitsi Meet is a common decision for video conferencing buyers in 2026. Jitsi Meet has been in the market since 2003, giving it a 13-year head start over Daily.co (founded 2016). Daily.co serves 300K+ developers users while Jitsi Meet has 20M+ users globally. Daily.co differentiates with video api and audio api, while Jitsi Meet leads with no account required and self-hostable. In this head-to-head comparison, Daily.co earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 92/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🔵
Daily.co
Video Conferencing
92
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
🟡
Jitsi Meet
Video Conferencing
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Daily.co
Jitsi Meet
Starting Price
$0.004/participant/min
Free
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
Users
300K+ developers
20M+
Founded
2016
2003
Rating
4.6/5
4.3/5
Best For
Developers embedding video calling and conferencin...
Privacy-conscious teams wanting free, open-source ...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Daily.coJitsi Meet
92Ease of Use89
93Features92
99Value for Money87
93Customer Support79
91Integrations82
94Scalability91
90Learning Curve86

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Daily.co
+Best-in-class video API for developers
+Generous free tier
-Developer-focused, not end-user product
-Requires coding to use
Jitsi Meet
+Completely free
+No account needed
-Quality drops in large meetings
-Limited enterprise features
AI Verdict

After comparing Daily.co and Jitsi Meet across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Daily.co takes the lead with a score of 92/100 versus Jitsi Meet's 86/100. Daily.co's key advantages include "best-in-class video api for developers" and "generous free tier". That said, Jitsi Meet has its own strengths — particularly "completely free" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Both Daily.co and Jitsi Meet offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. Daily.co's paid plans start at $0.004/participant/min while Jitsi Meet begins at Free. Evaluate which paid features — Recording, Transcription (Daily.co) vs End-to-end encryption, Screen sharing (Jitsi Meet) — justify upgrading for your team.

Bottom line: Choose Daily.co if you need developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Go with Jitsi Meet if your priority is privacy-conscious teams wanting free, open-source video conferencing. Both are strong video conferencing tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE DAILY.CO IF:

Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications.

CHOOSE JITSI MEET IF:

Privacy-conscious teams wanting free, open-source video conferencing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Daily.co better than Jitsi Meet in 2026?
Daily.co scores 92/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Jitsi Meet's 86/100. Daily.co stands out for "best-in-class video api for developers" and is best for Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Jitsi Meet is known for "completely free" and suits Privacy-conscious teams wanting free, open-source video conferencing. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Daily.co and Jitsi Meet?
Both offer free plans. Daily.co starts at $0.004/participant/min and Jitsi Meet at Free. When comparing value, consider that Daily.co (founded 2016, 300K+ developers users) includes features like Video API, Audio API, Recording. Jitsi Meet (founded 2003, 20M+ users) offers No account required, Self-hostable, End-to-end encryption. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Daily.co and Jitsi Meet?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Daily.co excels at Video API, Audio API, Recording, while Jitsi Meet focuses on No account required, Self-hostable, End-to-end encryption. Daily.co's main advantage is "best-in-class video api for developers", though some users note "developer-focused, not end-user product". Jitsi Meet's strength is "completely free", but "quality drops in large meetings" can be a drawback. Both serve the Video Conferencing market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Daily.co to Jitsi Meet?
Switching between Daily.co and Jitsi Meet is possible since both operate in the Video Conferencing space. Before migrating, export your data from Daily.co and check Jitsi Meet's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Video API, Audio API, Recording (Daily.co) vs No account required, Self-hostable, End-to-end encryption (Jitsi Meet). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Daily.co or Jitsi Meet?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. Daily.co is ideal for Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications, while Jitsi Meet fits Privacy-conscious teams wanting free, open-source video conferencing. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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