Jami
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
What it is
Jami is free/libre communication software for private messaging and calls. It includes instant messages, audio and video calls, group chats, and recorded audio and video messages. Users can hold video conferences and create rendezvous points without third-party hosting, as well as share files or screens and stream media. Jami describes its connections as peer to peer, without a server relaying data between users. It states that communications use end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy and comply with the X.509 standard. Multiple devices can be linked to one account, and creating an account does not require personal information. Jami can also function as a regular SIP client. Optional extensions include green screen, watermark, auto answer, local AI transcription, audio filters, and video segmentation. Those extensions are unavailable to iOS users, and Jami notes that features vary by client. Listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, along with API and extension support. The project is led by Savoir-faire Linux Inc. and supported by a global community of free software contributors.
For and against
For
- Free/libre software with no stated feature limits
- Communications use end-to-end encryption
- Account creation does not require personal information
- Supports calls, group chats, and video conferences
- Can operate as a regular SIP client
Against
- Extensions are unavailable to iOS users
- Features vary by client
The verdict
Jami brings messaging, calls, conferences, and sharing together in a peer-to-peer communication application. Check client-specific feature availability, particularly if you need its optional extensions on iOS.
Who it suits
Jami may suit people seeking private messaging and calls across desktop and mobile devices without creating an account with personal information. It also supports group communication, file sharing, and SIP use.
Plans and prices
Jami
Unlimited file size · speed · bandwidth · features
Read 14 Oct 2026 · jami.net
On the record
- Account privacy
- Creating a Jami account requires no email address or phone number; account keys are stored on the user's device.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- API and SDKs
- The project documents D-Bus, JNI, Node.js, REST and a Python wrapper; its documentation says the Node.js and REST APIs may be out of date.docs.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Audio and video messages
- Jami can record and send audio or video messages.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Conferencing
- Jami supports video conferences and rendezvous points without third-party hosting.jami.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Developer architecture
- Jami separates a daemon/library from platform clients and exposes DBus, libwrap, JNI and REST interfaces for automation, headless servers and custom interfaces.dl.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The documentation includes setup, user manuals, FAQs, feature matrices, server guidance, developer APIs, build instructions and extension manuals.docs.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Jami states that its communications use end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy and comply with the X.509 standard.jami.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Extensions
- Jami supports installable .jpl extensions and provides an extension SDK; iOS does not support these extensions.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Feature availability
- Jami notes that features vary by client.docs.jami.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- File sharing
- Users can exchange files and media directly between Jami peers.docs.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Funding and ownership
- Crunchbase lists Savoir-faire Linux as a private, for-profit company and does not display a disclosed funding total.crunchbase.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Instant messaging
- Jami supports text chats, group chats, message history, read receipts and delivery notifications.docs.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Jami is an official GNU package released under GNU GPL version 3 or any later version.docs.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: Linux setup
- A 2026 Linux Mint report describes native installation and backup-import problems requiring multiple package variants and advanced troubleshooting.forum.jami.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: migration and updates
- Users report account-transfer difficulties and update regressions that can require reverting to older versions.chrome-stats.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: reliability and notifications
- Aggregated user reviews repeatedly mention bugs, unstable video calls, delayed or missing messages and notification failures.chrome-stats.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: user interface
- A Hacker News reviewer found navigation and unread-message indicators unintuitive enough that privacy and open source would need to outweigh the UI friction.news.ycombinator.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: video and crashes
- A Linux review found video-call audio inconsistent and reported a screen-sharing crash on Ubuntu 22.04 with AMD integrated graphics.linuxpunx.com.au · read 14 Oct 2026
