BigBlueButton vs Neko: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Zoom. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
| BigBlueButton | Neko | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Video Conferencing | Video Conferencing |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| GitHub stars | ~5k | ~9k |
| Tech stack | Java, HTML5, WebRTC | Go, WebRTC, GStreamer |
| Replaces | Zoom | Zoom |
Neko has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
BigBlueButton
Education-focused video conferencing, an alternative to Zoom.
ℹ️ BigBlueButton isn't installed with a single-container docker-compose: bigbluebutton/bbb-install isn't a real Docker image (bbb-install.sh is a bash script), and the officially supported production install uses that script on Ubuntu. A full, community-maintained Docker deployment exists (bigbluebutton/docker on GitHub) that generates its own multi-container docker-compose, but it isn't this single-service one.
Pros
- Built specifically for education: collaborative whiteboard, breakout rooms and class recording
Things to consider
- Production installation is more complex than a simple docker-compose
Neko
Shared streaming virtual browser, for watch parties and collaboration.
Pros
- A unique use case Zoom doesn't cover well (a real shared browser)
Things to consider
- Not a general substitute for work video calls
Key features
BigBlueButton
- Multi-user collaborative whiteboard
- Breakout rooms
- Polls and class recording
Neko
- Real-time shared browser
- Built-in voice and text chat
- Ideal for watch parties or remote tech support
Already know which one you prefer?
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