BigBlueButton

Supports real-time sharing of audio, video, slides (with whiteboard controls), chat, and the screen. Instructors can engage remote students with polling, emojis, and breakout rooms.

LGPL-3.0Chat & calls
GitHub stars
9,241
License
LGPL-3.0
Latest release
v4.0.0-rc.5
7 October 2026
Last commit
8 October 2026
Runs on
Java

Commits per month, last 12 months

1,521 commits

Replaces

Paid products BigBlueButton can stand in for.

How to self-host BigBlueButton

BigBlueButton runs on Java. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Questions

Is BigBlueButton free?

Yes. BigBlueButton is open source under the LGPL-3.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host BigBlueButton?

Yes. BigBlueButton runs on Java. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does BigBlueButton replace?

People use BigBlueButton instead of Google Meet, GoTo Meeting, Webex or Zoom.

Is BigBlueButton still maintained?

The last change to BigBlueButton's code was on 8 October 2026, with 1521 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Communication - Video Conferencing

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.