BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is an open-source virtual classroom software designed specifically for online education, enabling educators to engage students through real-time sharing of audio, video, slides, whiteboard, chat, and screen. Developed by the Technology Innovation Management program at Carleton University in 2007, it has been integrated into major learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Moodle Cloud, Sakai, Jenzabar, D2L, and Schoology, collectively serving over 75% of the global LMS market. Key Features and Functionality: - Media Sharing: Facilitates real-time sharing of audio and video, with options for low, medium, and high-resolution video. - Content Sharing: Supports uploading and presenting documents in formats like PDF, Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. - Interactive Tools: Includes a multi-user whiteboard, breakout rooms for group collaboration, shared notes, polling, and the ability to share external videos. - Communication: Offers public and private chat functionalities, along with features like hand-raising and emojis to enhance interaction. - Recording: Allows recording of sessions (excluding shared videos) for later playback. - Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with major LMS platforms and supports Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) for broader compatibility. - Accessibility: Provides support for JAWS screen reader and live closed captioning to ensure inclusivity. - Mobility: Operates on desktop, laptop, and mobile devices using HTML5, compatible with iOS 12.2+ and Android 6.0+. Primary Value and User Solutions: BigBlueButton addresses the unique challenges of online education by offering a platform tailored for virtual learning environments. Its comprehensive suite of tools fosters collaboration, engagement, and effective communication between educators and students. By integrating seamlessly with existing LMS platforms, it simplifies the virtual classroom setup, allowing educators to focus on delivering quality education. The software's open-source nature ensures continuous improvement and adaptability to the evolving needs of the educational community.
Average Rating: 4.2/5.0
Total Reviews: 27
How Do G2 Users Rate BigBlueButton?
- Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
Who Is the Company Behind BigBlueButton?
- Seller: BigBlueButton
- Year Founded: 2008
- HQ Location: N/A
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LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
3 employees on LinkedIn®
Who Uses This Product?
- Top Industries: Higher Education
- Company Size: 52% Medium, 44% Small
What Do G2 Reviewers Say About BigBlueButton?
AI-generated summary from verified user reviews
Pros
- Users appreciate the effective breakout rooms in BigBlueButton, enhancing interaction in virtual learning environments.
- Users appreciate the ease of use with BigBlueButton's minimalist interface and helpful online resources.
- Users appreciate the strong virtual classroom features of BigBlueButton, enhancing interactive teaching and training sessions effectively.
- Users appreciate the navigation ease of BigBlueButton, finding it reliable and intuitive for interactive learning environments.
- Users value BigBlueButton for its reliability, ensuring seamless experiences in virtual classrooms and interactive sessions.
Cons
- Users find the difficult setup of BigBlueButton challenging, especially non-IT users facing technical hurdles.
- Users find the difficulty in setup and resource requirements for BigBlueButton challenging, especially for non-technical users.
- Users find the high bandwidth requirement of BigBlueButton challenging, impacting usability and performance expectations.
- Users find BigBlueButton not user-friendly, especially for non-IT users due to complex setup and outdated interface.
What Are Recent G2 Reviews of BigBlueButton?
"BigBlueButton’s Reliable, Interactive Virtual Classroom for Online Learning"
Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars
— nidhi p.
"BigBlueButton strikes a great balance between secure and collaboration enabling smooth teamwork"
Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars
— Verified User in Information Technology and Services

