Jami review (2026): is it any good?
Peer-to-peer encrypted chat, calls and video conferences
Jami report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for private peer-to-peer calls and chat
Jami is a free, end-to-end encrypted messenger for chat and calls on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with no paid plans. It is closer to a messenger than a team chat suite, with no admin console or channels listed and only a first preview of a web version.
Who Jami is for
- Fits if you want private calls and chat without an account on a company server
- Works for a small group on mixed Windows, Mac, Linux and phone devices
Who Jami is not for
- Not for you if you need channels, a directory or an admin console, as none are listed
- Skip it if you want a mature browser version, since the web version is a first preview as of September 2026
- Too light for company rollouts, as it is closer to a messenger than a workspace
- Watch out: the project runs on donations and is a GNU project of Savoir-faire Linux
Why Jami gets a 3.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree with no paid plans; the project asks for donations instead.
- AFree plan and trialEntirely free, and the site says there are no limits on file size, accounts or storage.
- CFeaturesChat, group chat, audio and video calls and multiple devices per account. No admin console, directory or channels are listed, which most team chat tools have.
- BEase of useNo rating on record, but it is a program you install and use with nothing to set up.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. Only a first preview of a web version, and no integrations listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Jami's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/jami#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/jami.svg" alt="Jami: 3.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Jami stands among team communication apps
Jami's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 67 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 60 of 75) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Jami has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 76 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Jami’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 58 of 75, level with 17
- AFree plan and trialAbove 60 of 75, level with 15
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75, level with 61
- BEase of useAbove 58 of 75, level with 11
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 9 of 75, level with 41
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 team communication apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Jami, or make your own?
Keep it
Jami is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 67 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Video calls.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
What this rests on. Jami’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Jami?
Jami is free software for private messaging, audio and video calls, and group chats. It is peer-to-peer, so data does not pass through a central relay server, and an account needs no personal information. It runs on desktop and mobile systems and can be linked across several devices.
Worth knowing
- The site lists no admin console, directory or team workspace features such as channels; it is closer to a messenger than a team chat suite.
- The vendor lists a first preview of Jami Web as of September 2026, so there is no mature browser version.
- The project is funded by donations and is a GNU project of Savoir-faire Linux.
Key features
- Instant messaging and group chats
- Text chat with individuals and groups, plus audio and video message recording.
- Audio and video calls
- One-to-one calls with screen sharing and media streaming, including video conferences and rendezvous points that need no third-party hosting.
- Peer-to-peer design
- Jami says it needs no server to relay data between users and uses end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy.
- Multiple devices per account
- Several devices can be linked to one Jami account, and no personal information is required to create it.
- Extension platform and SIP
- A built-in extension platform adds features, and Jami can also act as a SIP client.
Jami pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Jami is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | No paid plans. The site says there are no limits on file size, accounts or storage, and asks for donations. |
Read from jami.net on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Jami before you buy.
Jami alternatives
- Jami vs Matrix
Free
- Jami vs Signal
Free
- Jami vs Element
Free plan
- Jami vs Wire
Free plan · from €7.45/mo
- Jami vs Mattermost
Free plan
Common questions
Is Jami open source?
Yes. Jami is open source, according to its own site.
Is Jami end-to-end encrypted?
Jami describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.