I need a video conferencing tool that offers virtual backgrounds and does not use high CPU.

If low CPU usage + virtual backgrounds are your priorities, I’d look at these:

1. Zoom — strongest fit. In a recent comparative test, Zoom used the least CPU and memory while applying virtual backgrounds, while maintaining a steady 18 fps in the test. www.zoom.com Zoom can also use GPU acceleration for virtual-background processing on supported hardware.support.zoom.com
2. Google Meet — a good lightweight option, especially on newer hardware. Meet explicitly uses the GPU for video encoding/decoding and visual effects, which can reduce CPU pressure.support.google.com
3. Microsoft Teams — supports custom virtual backgrounds and has relatively modest baseline requirements, but background effects use AI processing on your device.support.microsoft.com
4. Cisco Webex — supports virtual backgrounds, but Cisco explicitly notes that the feature increases CPU usage, so I wouldn't choose it specifically for minimizing CPU load.help.webex.com

My pick: Zoom, particularly if your computer is older or you multitask during calls.

If you tell me your computer model/CPU (e.g., Dell laptop with Intel i5-8250U) and whether you need free or paid, I can narrow it down to the best option for your hardware.

If low CPU usage is the priority, I’d shortlist these:

• Google Meet — A strong choice for lower-powered machines. Meet automatically adjusts quality based on device performance and uses the GPU to accelerate video encoding/decoding and visual effects. Visual effects, including backgrounds, work best on newer CPUs/GPU-equipped systems.Google Support
• Microsoft Teams — Supports custom virtual backgrounds and background blur. Microsoft says the current Teams client uses 50% less memory than previous versions, and it supports graphics hardware acceleration.Microsoft+1
• Zoom — Excellent virtual-background support, but the background feature can be relatively demanding, particularly when using background removal without a green screen. Zoom explicitly notes that these configurations require more system resources.Zoom

My practical recommendation

If your computer is older or has a weaker CPU, I'd start with Google Meet, using a static image background rather than blur or more advanced effects. If you need a dedicated meeting app with extensive background controls, Zoom is worth considering, especially if you have a reasonably modern CPU/GPU.

If you tell me your computer model/CPU and RAM (e.g., “Dell laptop, Core i5, 8 GB RAM”), I can narrow this down to the option likely to put the least load on your machine.

If your priority is virtual backgrounds with low CPU usage, look for tools that use GPU acceleration, cloud processing, or efficient background segmentation rather than doing everything on the CPU. These are good options:

My shortlist for a lower-powered computer

1. Google Meet — a good choice if you want minimal installation and your account supports cloud-based effects.Google Help
2. Zoom with a static image background or blur — avoid video backgrounds if CPU is a concern.Zoom
3. Webex with GPU acceleration enabled — useful if your machine has supported graphics hardware.Webex Help Center

Tips to reduce CPU usage

• Use a static image background instead of a moving/video background.Zoom
• Turn on hardware/GPU acceleration if available.Webex Help Center
• Lower camera resolution from 1080p to 720p if your laptop struggles.
• Close browser tabs and apps that use video (streaming, screen recorders, games).

If you tell me your computer model, CPU, RAM, and operating system (Windows/Mac/Linux), I can narrow this down to the best-performing option.

Running AI-powered virtual background segmentation (separating you from your room without a physical green screen) is heavily taxing on processing power. If your CPU is spiking, standard software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams without hardware acceleration will quickly bog down your system.[zoom.com](https://www.zoom.com/en/products/virtual-meetings/features/backgrounds-filters/)

To keep your CPU cool and usage low, the best approach isn't just choosing a specific app—it's combining a lightweight platform with the right technique.

• Zoom (Using a Physical Green Screen) : While standard Zoom virtual background processing can be a CPU hog on older machines, checking the "I have a green screen" box in settings completely changes the math. Instead of using heavy AI machine learning to guess your edges frame-by-frame, it simply keys out a solid color, dropping your CPU load drastically.[zoom.com](https://www.zoom.com/en/products/virtual-meetings/features/backgrounds-filters/)
• Google Meet : Generally runs lighter in-browser than standalone desktop apps like Teams, and its background blur/swap features are heavily optimized for web deployment. However, it still benefits from good lighting so the browser doesn't over-work its rendering engine.
• OBS Studio + Virtual Camera : If you have an older GPU (NVIDIA or AMD), you can use OBS with a dedicated hardware encoder (NVENC) or a simple Chroma Key filter. This offloads the background processing almost entirely from your CPU to your graphics card's dedicated video encoder chip.[zoom.com](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swapNJCFfH4)

To help narrow this down, could you tell me:

• Are you using a physical green screen (or willing to put up a solid-colored sheet/wall)?
• Are you on a laptop or desktop , and does it have a dedicated graphics card (like NVIDIA/AMD) or just integrated graphics?

I can tell you how to configure the exact settings to get your CPU usage as close to zero as possible.

If your priority is virtual backgrounds with low CPU usage, I’d look at tools that support hardware acceleration and avoid heavy AI/video effects.

Good options

My shortlist for a low-power laptop

1. Zoom — likely the best balance of virtual backgrounds and efficiency. Zoom notes that virtual backgrounds without a green screen and video backgrounds require more system resources, so use a still image background for the lightest load.Zoom
2. Google Meet — good if you prefer no desktop app and mostly attend meetings.
3. Microsoft Teams — good if your workplace already uses it.

Settings that reduce CPU usage

• Use a static image background instead of a moving/video background.Zoom
• Turn off HD video if your laptop struggles; higher video quality can increase CPU and bandwidth usage.Zoom
• Prefer apps that use GPU acceleration when available. Webex, for example, can offload virtual background processing to supported GPUs.Webex Help Center
• Avoid extra effects like avatars, beauty filters, and lighting enhancements.

If you tell me your computer model, CPU (e.g., Intel i5, Apple M1, Ryzen), RAM, and operating system, I can suggest the lightest option for your hardware.

Running virtual backgrounds on a video conferencing tool requires client-side AI or machine learning segmentation (differentiating your body from the background), which inherently takes a toll on your CPU/GPU.[forum.cloudron.io](https://forum.cloudron.io/topic/6642/jitsi-high-cpu-usage-in-client-s-pc)

To keep CPU usage as low as possible, your best approach is using Background Blur instead of a full image/video background (which drastically reduces rendering math), ensuring hardware acceleration is turned on in your browser/app, and using a physical green screen if possible.[forum.cloudron.io](https://jitsi.support/wiki/jitsi-virtual-background-setup/)

The best options for keeping CPU overhead low include:

• Jitsi Meet via Jitsi – An open-source, browser-based tool that doesn't force heavy desktop software installations. If you use Background Blur rather than a custom image, it runs smoothly via WebRTC with minimal resource overhead, provided you use an optimized browser like Chrome or Edge with hardware acceleration enabled.[forum.cloudron.io](https://jitsi.support/wiki/jitsi-virtual-background-setup/)
• Zoom via Zoom – Surprisingly, Zoom has some of the most heavily hardware-accelerated background rendering available. If you check the box for "I have a green screen" in your video settings (even a cheap fabric green backdrop behind you), Zoom stops using intensive AI CPU-segmentation to cut you out, dropping your CPU utilization significantly.
• Discord via Discord – For casual or smaller group calls, Discord's video/voice chat uses lightweight WebRTC rendering. Turning on background blur here consumes fewer system resources than enterprise suites like Microsoft Teams.

To help narrow this down, do you know if your computer has a dedicated graphics card (GPU) or are you running purely on integrated graphics/older CPU ? Also, is this for work/enterprise use or casual calls?