Hubs

Overview

Hubs is a browser-based platform for gathering in shared 3D spaces, with access by URL and support for both VR and 2D browsing. It suits organizers who want to shape their own virtual venue, especially through a self-hosted Community Edition. Its combination of open-source customization and media-rich rooms is appealing, but self-hosting has real costs and the documentation warns that much of its guidance is outdated.

Rooms can serve conferences, classes, art showcases, or remote social gatherings. Participants can communicate through spatialized audio and text chat while sharing images, videos, 3D models, and other media. Guest access means joining does not require an account, though some features require sign-in; an email address is sufficient to create one.

Hubs is open source, and Community Edition administrators can customize an instance, import assets, manage users, and moderate contributed content. The Community Edition documentation says its database does not store personally identifying information. Room access is invite-only, and rooms are persistent, which favors planned spaces over open drop-in gatherings.

Compare it with other options in our Virtual Meeting Room Software list.

Key features

Rooms for shared media

Hubs supports screen sharing, spatial audio, text chat, and shared media in a room with a stated capacity of 25 participants. That ceiling makes it a better fit for classes, small conferences, and focused group sessions than for large events. The Foundation's DigitalOcean hosting example estimates 30–60 concurrent users, with lower capacity possible under heavy use; that deployment estimate does not override the plan's 25-participant room limit.

Build a custom venue with Spoke

Spoke is a browser-based scene editor for assembling Hubs environments from 3D models, images, videos, and other assets. Its Sketchfab integration helps discover media for scenes. This gives organizers a way to tailor a venue to an event or class, though it asks for more preparation than a conventional video meeting room.

Community Edition administration

Self-hosting gives administrators control over instance customization, assets, users, and contributed-content moderation. That control is valuable for organizations with specific venue or administration needs, but it also makes hosting and upkeep their responsibility. The Foundation directs users to Discord for community support and offers email contact for private questions.

Pricing

Hubs Community Edition

Hubs Community Edition costs nothing and is open source. It includes self-hosting, persistent rooms, spatial audio, guest access, screen sharing, and a 25-participant room capacity. There are no mobile apps; mobile access is through the browser. The free price is for the software, not the infrastructure: hosting, domain, and email service have separate costs.

A Foundation setup guide estimates at least $38 USD per month for its DigitalOcean hosting example, plus domain and possible email-service charges. It estimates 30–60 concurrent users for that deployment, potentially fewer under heavy use. This is a hosting example, not a Hubs subscription price, and actual capacity depends on use. The practical trade-off is clear: Community Edition avoids a software subscription but requires a self-hosted setup and ongoing hosting expenditure.

Platforms

Hubs supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted deployments. It works with VR headsets and can also be explored in 2D on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. There are no dedicated mobile apps, so mobile use depends on the browser.

Who it's for

Hubs is best suited to organizers who want a customizable, persistent virtual venue and are willing to manage or arrange self-hosting. Teachers, conference hosts, art exhibitors, and remote social groups can use its shared 3D scenes and media tools to give a gathering more spatial character than a standard call. Invite-only access and a 25-person room capacity favor controlled, modest-sized sessions. It is a weaker fit for teams seeking a turnkey service, a dedicated mobile app, or current, dependable setup guidance.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Open-source customization: Community Edition administrators can tailor the instance and manage users, assets, and contributed content.
• Purpose-built shared spaces: Persistent rooms, spatial audio, screen sharing, and media support give events and classes more than a basic voice or video call.
• Guest participation: Joining does not require an account, reducing friction for invited participants.
• Multiple ways to explore: VR headset support sits alongside 2D access from computers, tablets, and mobile browsers.

Cons

• Self-hosting adds cost and work: The software is free, but hosting, domain, and possibly email services cost extra; administrators must run the instance.
• Room size is limited: The stated cap of 25 participants constrains larger meetings, regardless of the higher concurrent-user estimate for one hosting example.
• Documentation needs caution: The welcome page warns that a significant portion is outdated and says Hubs by Mozilla and Hubs Cloud are obsolete.
• No dedicated mobile apps: Mobile access is browser-based, which may not suit users looking for an app-based experience.

Alternatives

Choose WorkAdventure if a freemium option with a free plan limited to 10 users and unlimited duration better suits your group; its listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows.

Topia may suit organizers who want a free DEMO tier with 50-person capacity, or a PRO plan priced at $4 a month, billed at $4 per user per month.

Samudaia is another free option, billed Free during early access with a team-sized workspace; paid plans for large organizations are in development.

Consider flat.social for a browser-based free plan capped at five people at once, with unlimited session length, spatial audio and video rooms, custom maps and look, and an embed button.

Glue offers a free tier for teams needing up to 10 members and 10 team spaces, with 30-minute sessions and 2GB of team file storage.

RAUM is an option for buyers considering a paid Professional Plus plan at €99 a month when billed annually, with 12 concurrent users, three workspaces, and a 100-user maximum.

Overte is a free alternative for users on Windows or Linux.

Unyted.World is another option for web and iOS users.

Verdict

Choose Hubs if you want an open-source, customizable 3D venue for invite-only gatherings and can take responsibility for self-hosting. Its strongest case is the mix of persistent rooms, shared media, and administrator control without a software subscription. Look elsewhere if you need a managed setup, room capacity beyond 25, dedicated mobile apps, or documentation you can rely on as current.