The six options
| Option | Monthly cost | Your data location | Branding | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. meet.jit.si | Free | 8x8’s public service | None | None |
| 2. 8x8 JaaS | Per active user | 8x8’s infrastructure | Yes | Low |
| 3. Managed hosting | Provider plan | Provider’s servers | Usually | Low |
| 4. DIY on a VPS | Server only | Your VPS | Full | High |
| 5. Cloud marketplace image | Cloud + image fee | Your cloud account | Varies | Medium |
| 6. One-click into your cloud | Your cloud bill + one-time features | Your cloud account | Full | Low |
1. meet.jit.si
The free public instance. Great for quick calls. No control over data, branding, uptime or limits, and not suitable to build a business on.
2. 8x8 JaaS
Hosted Jitsi from the company that develops it, billed per monthly active user with per-minute recording and transcription fees. See JaaS vs self-hosted.
3. Managed Jitsi hosting
Hosting companies run Jitsi for you on their servers, usually for a monthly fee by server size, with support included. Simple, but the server and recordings live on their infrastructure, and moving away means migrating.
4. Do it yourself on a VPS
The cheapest monthly bill and complete control. You handle the install, SSL, firewall, authentication, recording, upgrades and incidents. Our Docker guide and troubleshooting pages are written for this path.
5. Cloud marketplace images
Pre-built images or templates on cloud marketplaces launch a Jitsi server in your account. They save the install, but you usually still wire up DNS, certificates, recording storage and upgrades yourself, and some add an hourly software fee.
6. One-click deployment into your own cloud
What our platform does. You connect your AWS account, choose a size and domain, and it provisions everything with Terraform and Ansible in 10 to 20 minutes: instance, security groups, Elastic IP, SSL, and optional recording to your S3 bucket, transcription, branding and JWT. You own the server; AWS bills you directly; features are one-time licenses.
How to decide
- Casual, occasional calls: meet.jit.si.
- Small or unpredictable usage, no ops at all: JaaS.
- You want someone else’s server and a monthly plan: managed hosting.
- Lowest bill and you enjoy operations: DIY.
- You want ownership, your brand and your data, without the setup: one-click in your own cloud.