Hubs

Hubs is an open-source, browser-based platform for creating shared 3D spaces that people can join by URL. Rooms support spatialized audio and text chat, and participants can share images, videos, 3D models, and other media. The service can be used for conferences, classes, art showcases, or remote socializing. Spoke, a browser-based scene editor, lets users build environments from 3D models, images, videos, and other assets, with Sketchfab included in its media discovery. Hubs Community Edition can be self-hosted, and administrators can customize an instance, import assets, manage users, and moderate contributed content. Hubs works with VR headsets and can also be explored in 2D on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. An account is not required for general use, though some features require sign-in. Community Edition is free software, but hosting, domain, and email services have separate costs. Its welcome documentation warns that a significant portion of the docs is outdated and identifies Hubs by Mozilla and Hubs Cloud as obsolete.

Hubs offers browser-based shared spaces, a scene editor, and a self-hosted open-source edition. Review the documentation status and account requirements for the features you plan to use.

Hubs may suit groups hosting online gatherings, teaching classes, presenting art, or socializing in shared 3D spaces. It also fits teams prepared to customize and self-host Community Edition.

Overview

Hubs is a browser-based platform for meeting and collaborating in shared 3D spaces. It suits organizers who want a customizable virtual venue for a class, conference, art showcase, or social gathering. Its open-source Community Edition offers control through self-hosting, but operating that instance and working around dated documentation are meaningful tradeoffs.

People can join a room by URL, including as guests, and explore in VR or in 2D on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Rooms combine spatialized audio and text chat with shared media. Invite-only access and persistent rooms make Hubs better suited to planned gatherings than to unrestricted drop-in events.

For a broader comparison of room-based tools, see Virtual Meeting Room Software.

Key features

Shared rooms and media

Rooms support images, videos, 3D models, and other media, as well as screen sharing. That range gives presenters and educators ways to bring visual material into a shared space rather than relying only on voice or text. The stated room capacity is 25 participants, so larger events may need a different arrangement.

Build environments with Spoke

Spoke is a browser-based scene editor for assembling Hubs environments from 3D models, images, videos, and other assets. Its Sketchfab media-discovery integration can help creators find 3D content. This makes Hubs a stronger fit for organizers who want to shape the setting, though it also adds a creation workflow beyond simply opening a meeting room.

Self-hosted administration and privacy

Community Edition administrators can customize an instance, import assets, manage users, and moderate contributed content. The edition’s documentation says its database does not store personally identifying information. Those controls appeal to organizations that want to manage their own environment; they also make hosting and administration the organizer’s responsibility.

Guest access means an account is not needed to use Hubs, although some features require sign-in. The documentation says an email address is the only information required to create an account. That lowers the barrier for guests while preserving account-dependent features for users who need them.

Pricing

Hubs Community Edition: free. The software is open source, but this is a self-hosted plan, not a hosted service with infrastructure included. Hosting, a domain, and email service can add costs.

A Foundation setup guide estimates at least $38 USD per month for its DigitalOcean hosting example, plus domain and possible email-service charges. That estimate is for hosting, not a Hubs subscription price. The same example estimates capacity of 30–60 concurrent users, with lower capacity possible under heavy use; that deployment estimate is distinct from the plan’s stated 25-participant room capacity.

The free edition includes persistent rooms, spatial audio, guest access, screen sharing, and invite-only access. It does not come with mobile apps; mobile use is through a browser. Community support is offered through Discord, with email contact for private questions. The documentation warns that a significant portion is outdated and that Hubs by Mozilla and Hubs Cloud are obsolete, so prospective self-hosters should be prepared to verify setup guidance before relying on it.

Platforms

Hubs is available on the web and supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows environments. It can be explored in 2D on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices, and works with VR headsets. There are no mobile apps, so phone and tablet access is browser-based rather than through a dedicated Hubs application.

Who it's for

Hubs is a sensible choice for educators, event organizers, artists, and community groups that want a shared 3D venue and are willing to manage a self-hosted instance. Its scene editor, media sharing, and administrator controls are most useful when the setting itself matters to the experience.

It is less compelling for teams seeking a turnkey, centrally hosted meeting product, a dedicated mobile app, or a room larger than the stated 25 participants. Self-hosting adds operating costs, and outdated documentation raises the effort required to deploy and maintain the Community Edition.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Open-source Community Edition can be customized and self-hosted, giving administrators control over assets, users, and moderation.
• Pros: Persistent rooms support planned spaces, while guest access lets participants join without first creating accounts.
• Pros: Spatial audio, text chat, screen sharing, and varied shared media serve both presentation and social use.
• Cons: Self-hosting brings separate hosting, domain, and potentially email costs, plus administrator work.
• Cons: The stated room capacity is 25 participants, and the setup guide’s deployment estimate can be lower under heavy use.
• Cons: No mobile apps are provided, and a substantial portion of the documentation is outdated.

Alternatives

• Glue is worth considering for teams that want a free plan with up to 10 team members, 10 team spaces, 30 minutes per session, and 2GB of team file storage; Hubs instead centers on open-source, self-hosted 3D rooms.
• Topia may suit organizers who prefer a free 50-person demo with broadcasting and screensharing limits; Hubs offers an open-source self-hosted option and a stated 25-person room capacity.
• WorkAdventure is an option for groups that can work within its free plan’s 10-user limit and want unlimited duration; Hubs offers persistent rooms and self-hosting.
• Watch2Gether is a more focused alternative for two-person shared viewing on its free Starter plan, which includes 720p streaming and a limited content library.
• Unyted.World is another self-hosted option for readers comparing source-code licensing and per-server pricing.
• Frame may suit someone who wants to begin with a trial limited to eight users; Hubs instead provides a free open-source edition that can be self-hosted.
• RAUM is an alternative for teams considering a paid Professional Plus plan with 12 concurrent users and three workspaces.
• Roomr is another free option for iOS users.

Verdict

Choose Hubs if you want an open-source, customizable 3D meeting space and can take responsibility for hosting and administration. Its persistent rooms, media-rich collaboration, and guest access make it particularly suited to planned classes, showcases, and community gatherings. Look elsewhere if you need a turnkey service, dedicated mobile apps, a larger stated room capacity, or current, dependable setup documentation.