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Galene

galene.org

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Spec score 8.1 #11 of 22 in Web Conferencing Software

What it is

Galene is a free videoconference system with a browser client and self-hosted server, designed for lectures, conferences, and tutorials as well as meetings. Its server handles audio and video streams, multiple codecs, simulcast, and scalable video coding for VP8 and VP9. In the browser, participants can chat, share screens or windows, blur backgrounds, use activity detection and moderation, and transfer files peer to peer. The client can also broadcast audio and video from files on disk. Authentication options include usernames and passwords or token authorization, and an HTTP administrative API manages groups and users. Galene supports WHIP and lists an RTMP frontend for OBS Studio, an experimental SIP bridge, LDAP integration, and a sample third-party authorization server. Traffic is encrypted and authenticated between senders and the server, and between the server and receivers; however, media is decrypted by the server, so the system does not provide end-to-end encryption. The project estimates about 300 lecture participants per CPU core, or around 20 participants in a many-to-many meeting on one core. Its default client does not contact third-party servers or CDNs.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Galene is a low-resource videoconference system with a web client and server, designed for lectures, conferences and tutorials and also suitable for meetings.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Free plan
YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · galene.org
Integrations
Galene lists an RTMP frontend usable with OBS Studio, an experimental SIP bridge, an LDAP integration and a sample third-party authorization server.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Privacy
The FAQ says the default client does not contact third-party servers or CDNs because its third-party assets are bundled with Galene.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Support
The Galene mailing list is for both user questions and development discussions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
APIs and protocols
Galene provides an HTTP administrative API for managing groups and users and supports the WHIP protocol.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Authentication
Built-in authentication options include username and password and token authorization; external token servers can support other setups.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Broadcasting
The client can broadcast video and audio from on-disk files.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Browser support
The FAQ says the project aims to support recent browsers implementing WebRTC and lists Chrome, Firefox and Safari with documented feature caveats.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Capacity
The site estimates about 300 participants per CPU core for lectures and around 20 participants in a single many-to-many meeting on one core.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Encryption
Traffic is encrypted and authenticated between sender and server and between server and receiver, but media is decrypted by the server, so Galene does not provide end-to-end encryption.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Security review
Galene says it underwent a security review by Radically Open Security funded by NLnet.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Video and audio
The server supports arbitrary numbers of audio and video streams, multiple codecs, simulcast and scalable video coding for VP8 and VP9.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org
Web client
The browser client supports conferencing, text chat, sharing screens and windows, background blur, activity detection, moderation and peer-to-peer file transfer.Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org

Plans and prices

Free and open source Free MIT licence · self-hosted videoconference server Read 4 Oct 2026 · galene.org

Every Galene plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source under the MIT licence
  • Browser client includes moderation and file transfer
  • Supports WHIP and an administrative API
  • Default client avoids third-party servers and CDNs

Limits

  • Media is decrypted by the server
  • No end-to-end encryption
  • Many-to-many estimate is around 20 participants per core

Who it suits

Galene may suit organizations or individuals who can self-host and need conferencing for lectures, conferences, tutorials, or meetings. Its APIs, protocols, and listed integrations may also fit setups requiring those connections.

Verdict

Galene offers a self-hosted conferencing system with browser-based collaboration features and an administrative API. Its server-side media decryption is an important limitation for teams requiring end-to-end encryption.

Where Specifiction places it

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