Is plugNmeet a BigBlueButton alternative?

Yes. plugNmeet is an open-source virtual classroom that speaks the BigBlueButton API, so many BigBlueButton integrations can switch over. It adds optional AI (Gemini), attendance rules for Moodle, encryption, phone dial-in and native embedding under your brand.

Are BigBlueButton and plugNmeet both free?

Yes, both are open source. Hosting, set-up and support are services you agree with your partner.

Can I switch from BigBlueButton to plugNmeet later?

Often yes. plugNmeet speaks the BigBlueButton API, so many BigBlueButton integrations can keep working [7].

Which one works in Moodle?

Both. BigBlueButton is a standard activity in the Moodle™ software; plugNmeet has its own plugin [5][6].

Which AI does plugNmeet use?

Gemini from Google. The AI features are optional.

plugNmeet: Open-Source BigBlueButton Alternative

MynaParrot provides plugNmeet and also offers BigBlueButton. We recommend either, depending on your situation.

Looking for a BigBlueButton alternative? Compare plugNmeet and BigBlueButton: features, Moodle integration, AI with Gemini, privacy and cost model. Try both.

Short answer

plugNmeet is a modern open-source BigBlueButton alternative if you want optional AI captions, live translation and summaries (powered by Gemini), attendance rules for Moodle completion, or the classroom embedded in your own site under your brand.
BigBlueButton is best if your teachers already know it from Moodle and you want the long-established classroom with no change for them.

Feature comparison

	BigBlueButton	plugNmeet
Licence	Open source (LGPL-3.0) [1]	Open source (MIT) [2][3]
Whiteboard, screen sharing, breakout rooms, polls	Yes	Yes [2]
Recordings	Yes, with MP4 download [4]	Yes, MP4 [2]
Live streaming	RTMP	RTMP and WHIP [2]
In Moodle	Standard Moodle activity [5]	Plugin in the Moodle plugins directory [6]
Other platforms	Chamilo, Greenlight and other BigBlueButton integrations	WordPress and Joomla plugins; other platforms through LTI [2][3]
AI captions, translation, summaries	Not part of this offer	Optional, powered by Gemini from Google
Attendance towards Moodle completion	Possible with a Moodle setting your partner turns on	Completion rules (time attended, participation) [6]
Optional end-to-end encryption	Not part of this offer	Yes [2]
Phone dial-in (SIP)	Not part of this offer	Yes [2]
Your branding	Your logo and colours	Yes, including native embedding in your site [2]
Moving from one to the other	Moving to BigBlueButton means setting up a BigBlueButton server [1] and connecting your platform through its standard integration, such as the Moodle activity [5]	Speaks the BigBlueButton API, so many integrations can switch over [7]

Privacy and data location

Both are self-hostable: recordings and chat stay on the server that runs them, in the country you choose. MynaParrot hosting is the usual option; your partner can also host on servers you choose. plugNmeet adds optional end-to-end encryption [2]. If you turn on plugNmeet's AI features, they use Gemini from Google; your partner explains the data terms before you switch them on.

Cost model (no prices)

Both are free open-source software. You pay hosting, set-up, training and support, agreed with your partner. Optional AI features use a third-party AI provider; usage may be billed separately.

When to choose the other option

Choose BigBlueButton if your institution has standardised on it, you rely on BigBlueButton apps such as Greenlight or Chamilo's videoconference plugin, or you don't want teachers to learn a new interface.
Choose plugNmeet if you need AI captions or translation in the room, attendance rules in Moodle, encryption, phone dial-in, or a branded classroom inside your own website.

FAQ

Is plugNmeet a BigBlueButton alternative?: Yes. plugNmeet is an open-source virtual classroom that speaks the BigBlueButton API, so many BigBlueButton integrations can switch over. It adds optional AI (Gemini), attendance rules for Moodle, encryption, phone dial-in and native embedding under your brand.
Are BigBlueButton and plugNmeet both free?: Yes, both are open source. Hosting, set-up and support are services you agree with your partner.
Can I switch from BigBlueButton to plugNmeet later?: Often yes. plugNmeet speaks the BigBlueButton API, so many BigBlueButton integrations can keep working [7].
Which one works in Moodle?: Both. BigBlueButton is a standard activity in the Moodle™ software; plugNmeet has its own plugin [5][6].
Which AI does plugNmeet use?: Gemini from Google. The AI features are optional.

Try plugNmeet live Talk to a partner

Sources

BigBlueButton install docs: https://docs.bigbluebutton.org/administration/install
plugNmeet home (features, E2EE, SIP, RTMP/WHIP, MP4, branding, embed): https://www.plugnmeet.org/
plugNmeet server (MIT) and plugins: https://github.com/mynaparrot/plugNmeet-server · https://github.com/mynaparrot
BigBlueButton customisation (MP4): https://docs.bigbluebutton.org/administration/customize
BigBlueButton Moodle integration: https://bigbluebutton.org/moodle-integration/
Moodle Plugins, mod_plugnmeet: https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_plugnmeet
plugNmeet, migration from BigBlueButton: https://www.plugnmeet.org/docs/tutorials/migration-from-bbb

Last checked: 15 Oct 2026

This website uses BigBlueButton and is not endorsed or certified by BigBlueButton Inc. BigBlueButton and the BigBlueButton Logo are trademarks of BigBlueButton Inc. Moodle™ is a registered trademark of Moodle Pty Ltd. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Jitsi are trademarks of their respective owners. MYNAPARROT SL is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organisations. Comparisons are based on public information checked on 15 Oct 2026 and may change.

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