Choosing the right online meeting software can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re a developer looking for flexibility and reliable integration. With so many options out there, figuring out which software aligns best with your needs is essential. In this write-up, we’re diving into a comparison between Jitsi and Daily.co — two great choices for developer-friendly conferencing — to make your decision easier.

Whether you’re set on building a video-enabled app, establishing a secure video server, or just need a quick conferencing tool, you’ll save time (and maybe a headache or two) by understanding the core differences and strengths of these platforms.

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Understanding the Basics: What Are Jitsi and Daily.co?

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, it’s key to grasp what each platform brings to the table.

• Jitsi is your go-to open-source video conferencing tool. It offers free hosted services (think meet.jit.si) and lets you self-host. This means you can hack into the code, tweak it to your heart’s content, and run everything on your servers. It’s a hot favorite among those who really value privacy and control.

• Daily.co is a commercial player focusing on APIs to plug video calls straight into apps and websites. It’s built for developers with an eye for scalability, low latency, and handy features like screen sharing and recording — all without the server headache. You lean on their cloud power instead.

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Jitsi vs Daily.co: Key Differences That Matter to Developers

1. Deployment and Hosting

Jitsi
Self-host on your servers or stick with the free meet.jit.si service. When self-hosting, you have full reins over your video environment, data policies, and network setup. Perfect if your project requires heavy-duty privacy and compliance.

• Example: A small tech startup set up a private Jitsi instance behind their firewall to nail those GDPR requirements. With Jitsi Videobridge, they held scalable multi-party calls with minimal delay.

Daily.co
Offers a stress-free, managed service — no servers or scaling for you to fret over. Just integrate via their APIs and get those video calls embedded in your app. Perfect for projects without a strong DevOps team.

• Example: A SaaS platform threw in Daily.co to bring video conferencing into their fold with just a few lines of code, dodging the complexity of handling their own infrastructure.

2. Customization and Extensibility

Jitsi
Being open-source, the sky’s the limit on customization—right from the UI to the backend. Want plugins or integrations? Done. Jitsi’s your canvas if you’re after a personalized touch.

• Step-by-step insight: Need to tweak authentication, alter the web client, or reroute media? Jitsi gives you that freedom.

Daily.co
APIs are where you’ll find customization. From user controls to recording and interfaces, you can embed video with developer tools but without deep backend dives.

• Pro tip: If you want to balance ease with flexibility, Daily.co gives you pre-built UI components and a low-level WebRTC SDK for full custom UI.

3. Features and Developer Tools

Both platforms come with the essentials: video/audio calls, screen sharing, chat, and recording.

Jitsi

• Open-source SDKs for Web, Android, and iOS
• Jitsi Meet API for call embedding on the web
• Goodies like breakout rooms, SRTP encryption, lobby modes, and live streaming integrations
• Backed by an active community and frequent updates

Daily.co

• Straightforward REST API and WebRTC SDKs
• Real-time call stats and analytics
• With recording and cloud storage included
• Option to have dynamic or persistent call rooms
• Supports simulcast video and network quality tweaks for smoother calls

4. Scalability and Performance

This really hinges on how you’re hosting.

• Jitsi: When you’re running it yourself, you might have to configure several Jitsi Videobridge nodes for larger meetings and resilient failover. If poorly set up, performance could stumble, but when optimized, Jitsi can handle hundreds on a call.

• Daily.co: With their cloud auto-scaling, traffic surges are a breeze to manage. You rely on their SLAs, but you don’t have to stress about server hiccups.

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Real-World Use Cases and Experiences

Case Study: Building a Telehealth App

A healthcare startup needed solid and secure video call integration within their app. Daily.co was their go-to, thanks to its managed backend and built-in HIPAA compliance. It helped them meet privacy needs without the hefty setup. They synced video calls with patient data and scheduling using Daily.co’s API.

Case Study: University Online Classes

For an educational institution craving an internal, secure video conference setup, Jitsi was the answer. They hosted in-house, achieving complete control over data and privacy policies. With tweaks to the UI and moderation features, students and teachers enjoyed a slick experience.

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Step-by-Step Guide: Integrating Video Calls with Jitsi vs Daily.co

Adding a Video Call with Jitsi

1. Use the Jitsi Meet API: Easy-peasy with an iframe or dive deeper with the lib-jitsi-meet SDK.
2. Set Meeting Parameters: Name rooms, distinguish user roles, and toggle features like chat and recording.
3. Optional Self-Hosting: You can set up Jitsi on your server using Docker images or official packages.
4. UI Customization: Change up the interface using React or plain old JavaScript to fit your brand.
5. Deploy and Test: Ensure the setup handles your expected user load smoothly.

Adding a Video Call with Daily.co

1. Sign Up for Daily.co: Grab those API keys from their dashboard.
2. Create Call Rooms with the REST API: Flexibly set up rooms per session or keep them around.
3. Use JavaScript SDK or React Hooks: Slot video calls into your app with easy-to-use components.
4. Add Event Listeners: Monitor participant actions, errors, or network statuses.
5. Handle Recording and Screensharing: Go for client options or use webhook triggers.

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Security and Privacy Considerations

Jitsi
Your data, network layers, and encryption are all under your command when you self-host. It supports end-to-end encryption, but it’s up to you to configure it right. With an open codebase, security audits are doable, but be ready to keep your infrastructure tightly secured.

Daily.co
Delivers TLS encryption and secure audio/video stream handling. The platform meets standard compliance requirements, reducing your security burden but relying on their trustworthy service.

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Pricing and Support

Jitsi
Absolutely free if you use the public server and open-source if you self-host. Community support and documentation have your back.

Daily.co
Comes with usage-based pricing plans and offers a free trial. Paid plans unlock features like call recordings and custom branding. Support varies from do-it-yourself documentation to enterprise-level help.

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Which One Should You Choose? Summary for Developers

Aspect	Jitsi	Daily.co
Hosting	Self-host or public free	Managed cloud service
Customization	Full backend and frontend customization	API and UI component customization
Development focus	Open-source flexibility	Quick integration via SDKs
Privacy & Security	Full control when self-hosted	Compliant, encrypted managed service
Scalability	Dependent on your setup	Cloud auto-scaling with uptime SLAs
Pricing	Free/open-source, infra costs	Usage-based pricing
Ideal for	Privacy-focused, customizable solutions	SaaS apps, quick integrations

Go with Jitsi if you need everything under your control and don’t mind running your own servers. But if you’re after quick, low-maintenance integration and scalability, Daily.co might be your better bet.

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Conclusion

Deciding between Jitsi and Daily.co boils down to your project priorities. Both rock in online meeting software, yet each serves distinct developer needs. Jitsi owns the customization and privacy space thanks to its open-source architecture. Daily.co stands out as the developer-friendly platform with easy API hooks and solid scalability.

You’re now better poised to choose the platform that matches your workflow—whether you’re after a tailor-made self-hosted option or a cloud-hosted, seamless API experience.

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Ready to sprinkle video conferencing into your app or project? Give Jitsi Meet’s public instance a whirl at meet.jit.si or see what Daily.co’s API can do for you at daily.co. Combine the best bits from each to nail your developer workflow and create the calling experience you envision.

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FAQs

1. What is the main difference between Jitsi and Daily.co?
   Jitsi offers self-hosted open-source video conferencing, while Daily.co provides managed API-driven video calls for easy embedding.

2. Is Jitsi suitable for developers new to video conferencing?
   Yes, it has a gentle learning curve and plenty of documentation for beginners.

3. Does Daily.co support real-time collaboration features for developers?
   Yes, with real-time event APIs and interactive video capabilities.

4. How do security and privacy compare between Jitsi and Daily.co?
   Jitsi gives you full control when self-hosted; Daily.co follows standard encryption and compliance best practices.

5. Which platform is better for scaling video call applications?
   Daily.co typically offers easier scalability through managed cloud services.

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Author’s Note: I’ve worked with multiple online meeting software platforms over 5 years in software development and integration. This article reflects hands-on experience and research to give you a trustworthy guide.