Apache OpenMeetings review
A broad open-source meeting suite for teams that need whiteboards on their own infrastructure.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Apache OpenMeetings is open-source, self-hosted web conferencing software for organizations that want online meetings alongside collaborative whiteboards. It combines audio and video conferencing, screen sharing, session recording with MP4 downloads, chat, private messaging, file management, calendars, polls, document imports, and room administration. Browser-based access, mobile availability, source and binary releases, and installation on an organization’s own infrastructure make it a fit for teams that need control over how their meeting environment is deployed.
Its ecosystem fit is a notable strength. OpenMeetings provides REST and SOAP integration APIs and connects with Moodle, Drupal, Joomla, and Sakai. The platform also includes a file explorer with private and public drives, calendar-based meeting scheduling, and document import to whiteboards. These capabilities position it as a meeting hub that can support learning, collaboration, and managed rooms rather than as a standalone canvas tool. Organizations already working with the listed learning management and content platforms may find that breadth relevant.
The trade-off is focus. OpenMeetings brings whiteboards into a wider conferencing and collaboration suite, with multi-whiteboard sessions and diagramming support, but its whiteboard workflows are less specialized than those of a product built primarily around visual collaboration. Self-hosting also places infrastructure and operational responsibility with the organization. Choose OpenMeetings when integrated meetings, whiteboards, APIs, recording, and deployment control matter together. A dedicated whiteboard product is a better direction for teams whose primary requirement is deeper visual-workflow tooling rather than a broader conferencing environment.
Apache OpenMeetings pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Combines video, audio, screen sharing, recording, chat, and whiteboards
- Supports document imports, multi-whiteboard sessions, and private messaging
- Offers REST and SOAP APIs plus Moodle, Drupal, Joomla, and Sakai integrations
- Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires organizations to manage their own infrastructure
- Whiteboard workflows are less specialized than a dedicated whiteboard product
- The feature set is broader than teams seeking only focused visual collaboration
Apache OpenMeetings fact sheet, pricing and score →
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