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Video Conferencingdocker-readypermissive-licenseOpen-Core🟢 Lightweight · ~256MB

OpenVidu: Open-Core alternative to Twilio Video in 2026

OpenVidu simplifies integrating WebRTC video calls into your own applications, with high-level SDKs and a self-hostable server, as an alternative to Twilio Video or the Zoom SDK.

Core is open source, but advanced features or enterprise support may be behind a paid tier — check the license.

Alternative to Twilio Video
License Apache-2.02.1k starsWebsite GitHub Repository

Audit Snapshot

View notes →

  • License — Matches GitHub

  • GitHub — Active

  • Latest release — v3.9.0 · 14 days ago

  • Docker Compose — Partial

  • Production — Not production-tested by AltFreeStack

OpenVidu vs. Twilio Video

Pros

  • Faster to integrate than building on raw WebRTC

Things to consider

  • Scaling to real production needs additional architecture (media nodes)

Quick Docker installation guide

Copy this docker-compose.yml, adjust the example passwords and run docker compose up -d on your server. See the full step-by-step guide →

💡 Official SaaS or self-hosted with AltFreeStack?

  • On the official cloud: a recurring monthly fee and usage limits on Twilio Video.
  • On your own VPS: the core is free to self-host on your own server — no more monthly SaaS fee, though some advanced features stay behind a paid plan.
docker-compose.yml
version: "3.9"
services:
  openvidu:
    image: openvidu/openvidu-server:3.9.0
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "4443:4443"
    environment:
      - OPENVIDU_SECRET=change-me-super-secret
      - OPENVIDU_DOMAIN_OR_PUBLIC_IP=localhost # CHANGE THIS TO YOUR DOMAIN
volumes: {}

🚀 Deploy in 1 command

Recommended for beginners

Copy this single command and paste it into your freshly created VPS's console (Vultr, DigitalOcean...). It downloads the script, prints it to your screen so you can see exactly what it's about to do (never a blind direct pipe), and only then installs Docker if needed, writes the files with secrets already generated, and starts everything — no nano, no pasting code blocks.

curl -sSL ".../api/deploy?stack=openvidu" -o deploy.sh && cat deploy.sh && bash deploy.sh
See what this script does →

This docker-compose corresponds to an actively maintained project — last commit 2 days ago.

This docker-compose not working for you? Report it on GitHub →

Technical profile

License
Apache-2.0
Category
Video Conferencing
Replaces
Twilio Video
Tech stack
JavaWebRTC

Under the hood

Database

None / File-based

Language

Java

Platforms

Web

Key features

  • High-level SDKs for web and mobile
  • Session recording included
  • Deploy with a single container to get started

Preview

OpenVidu interface preview

Public image provided by OpenVidu on its own website.

💾 Backups in 3 steps (Day 2)

As long as the ./data folder (the "volume" mapped into the container) exists on your server, your data survives any restart or container update — that's the only thing you need to back up.

1. Create a compressed backup on the server

tar -czvf backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz ./data

2. Download it to your computer

From your computer's terminal (not your server's):

scp root@YOUR_IP:~/app/backup-*.tar.gz ./

3. Restore in case of emergency

tar -xzvf backup-file.tar.gz
🌐 Connect your domain with free SSL

Step 1 — Set up the DNS

In your domain registrar's dashboard (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy...), create a record:

Type
A
Name/Host
@ (root domain) or a subdomain, e.g. app
Content/Value
Your server's public IP

Wait 5 to 15 minutes for the record to propagate across the internet.

Step 2 — Automatic reverse proxy with Caddy

One single file, no Nginx config or manual certificates — Caddy issues and renews Let's Encrypt HTTPS on its own.

Create a file called Caddyfile:

yourdomain.com {
    reverse_proxy localhost:4443
}

Start Caddy with this command (pulls the image and runs it in the background):

docker run -d -p 80:80 -p 443:443 --name caddy --restart always -v $PWD/Caddyfile:/etc/caddy/Caddyfile -v caddy_data:/data caddy