Janus vs BigBlueButton
A head-to-head comparison of Janus and BigBlueButton, And what features does Video SDK offer?
Janus is a general-purpose WebRTC server that can be used to build a variety of real-time communication applications, including live video calls and live streams. It is a low-level SDK that gives developers full control over the live video experience.
BigBlueButton is a free and open-source web conferencing system that allows users to host and join video conferences, online meetings, and virtual classrooms. It is a popular choice for educational institutions and businesses, as it offers a wide range of features.
How Video SDK make a difference?
Janus and BigBlueButton are both open-source web conferencing platforms. Janus is primarily a WebRTC server that provides the infrastructure for real-time communication as core functionalities, while BigBlueButton is designed specifically for online learning and virtual classrooms with popular LMS platforms. However, there are some key differences so it's essential to be aware of their limitations and constraints.
Presenting the Video SDK - a robust and user-friendly video conferencing SDK that offers an extensive array of features, including chat, polls, break-out rooms, streaming capabilities, and RTMP out. It's the perfect solution for businesses and organizations of any size that require creating top-notch and captivating real-time communication experiences.
Here is a comparison of Video SDK with Janus vs BigBlueButton, and understand why Video SDK emerges as a much better choice for all your requirements.
Features Comparison : Janus vs BigBlueButton vs Video SDK
features | Janus | BigBlueButton | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Participants (Including Hosts) | ✕ Janus supports 2 participants only. | ✕ Upto 100 Participants Only | ✓ VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants |
Ease of SDK Integration | ✕ Very Complex Integration takes 6+ months | ✕ Complex Integration | ✓ VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration |
Adpative Audio/Video Quality | ✕ Janus not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | ✓ Available | ✓ VideoSDK provides best adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall/Private-Network | ✕ No | ✕ 3rd Party Deployment | ✓ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | ✕ Not available | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | ✕ Not available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | ✕ Not available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available (No need for manual config.) |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | ✕ In Janus collaborative features is not available. | ✓ Available | ✓ VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | ✕ Separate integration | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Easy Integration |
Webhooks | ✕ Not Provide | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
Pricing Model | ✓ Usage Based | Monthly Price | ✓ Pay-as-You-Go Plan |
Interactive Live Streaming | ✓ Janus supports interactive live streaming. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming |
Cloud Recording | ✓ Janus offers cloud recording capabilities. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities |
Interactive Whiteboard | ✕ Janus not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature |
Multi-platform | ✕ Janus not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | ✓ VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach | |
Interactive Participant Support | ✕ No Support | ✕ Upto 100 | ✓ Upto 5,000 |
Mobile Browser Support | ✕ Limited (iOS not supported) | ✕ Limited | ✓ Video support 91% mobile browsers |
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity | ✓ Janus supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | ✓ Janus is dependent on open source. | ✕ No | ✕ VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.) | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.) | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Full HD Recording | ✕ Janus not supports full HD recording. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK supports full HD recording |
Open Source Templates | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK rely on open source templates |
Full Custom roles | ✕ Janus not offer support for custom roles. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles |
HLS Streaming | ✕ Janus not supports HLS streaming. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming |
Cost-effective | ✕ Janus not is cost effective. | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK is Cost Effective |
Prebuilt SDK | ✕ No | ✕ Separate SDK | ✓ VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration |
Fully Customizable UI | ✕ Low Customization | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI |
Metaverse Platform Support | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform |
Session Analytics | ✕ Not Comprehensive | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer session analytics option |
Data Tracks | ✕ Not Documented | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK offer track data option |
features | Janus | BigBlueButton | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Participants (Including Hosts) | ✕ Janus supports 2 participants only. | ✕ Upto 100 Participants Only | ✓ VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants |
Ease of SDK Integration | ✕ Very Complex Integration takes 6+ months | ✕ Complex Integration | ✓ VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration |
Adpative Audio/Video Quality | ✕ Janus not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | ✓ Available | ✓ VideoSDK provides best adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall/Private-Network | ✕ No | ✕ 3rd Party Deployment | ✓ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | ✕ Not available | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | ✕ Not available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | ✕ Not available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available (No need for manual config.) |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | ✕ In Janus collaborative features is not available. | ✓ Available | ✓ VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | ✕ Separate integration | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Easy Integration |
Webhooks | ✕ Not Provide | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
Pricing Model | ✓ Usage Based | Monthly Price | ✓ Pay-as-You-Go Plan |
Interactive Live Streaming | ✓ Janus supports interactive live streaming. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming |
Cloud Recording | ✓ Janus offers cloud recording capabilities. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities |
Interactive Whiteboard | ✕ Janus not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature |
Multi-platform | ✕ Janus not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | ✓ VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach | |
Interactive Participant Support | ✕ No Support | ✕ Upto 100 | ✓ Upto 5,000 |
Mobile Browser Support | ✕ Limited (iOS not supported) | ✕ Limited | ✓ Video support 91% mobile browsers |
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity | ✓ Janus supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | ✓ Janus is dependent on open source. | ✕ No | ✕ VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.) | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.) | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Full HD Recording | ✕ Janus not supports full HD recording. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK supports full HD recording |
Open Source Templates | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK rely on open source templates |
Full Custom roles | ✕ Janus not offer support for custom roles. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles |
HLS Streaming | ✕ Janus not supports HLS streaming. | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming |
Cost-effective | ✕ Janus not is cost effective. | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK is Cost Effective |
Prebuilt SDK | ✕ No | ✕ Separate SDK | ✓ VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration |
Fully Customizable UI | ✕ Low Customization | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI |
Metaverse Platform Support | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform |
Session Analytics | ✕ Not Comprehensive | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer session analytics option |
Data Tracks | ✕ Not Documented | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK offer track data option |
Price Comparison : Janus vs BigBlueButton vs Video SDK
features | Janus | BigBlueButton | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount |
Video Conferencing | ✓ Yes |
|
|
Analytics | ✕ No | NA | ✓ VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard |
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Minimum Price for Video Calls | ✕ Separate Charge | Pro plan starts at $149.90 per year per license Additional Pricing (Maximum 25 users per 60 min session):
| $0.002 per participant minutes |
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls | ✕ Not Available | Pro plan starts at $149.90 per year per license Additional Pricing (Maximum 25 users per 60 min session):
| $0.0006 per participant minutes |
Advanced Firewall Control | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control |
Compliance & Privacy | ✕ Janus not provides compliance & privacy support. | ✕ BigBlueButton not provides compliance & privacy support. | ✓ Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
|
Cloud Recording Pricing | ✕ Not Include | Recording storage: $19 per TB per month
(for 25 participants on session) |
|
RTMP Pricing | ✕ Not Included | $2.5 per GB per month |
|
ILS Pricing | Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing | $99 per month
(For Maximum 25 users per 60 min session) |
|
Storage Pricing | High Cost |
|
|
features | Janus | BigBlueButton | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount |
Video Conferencing | ✓ Yes |
|
|
Analytics | ✕ No | NA | ✓ VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard |
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Minimum Price for Video Calls | ✕ Separate Charge | Pro plan starts at $149.90 per year per license Additional Pricing (Maximum 25 users per 60 min session):
| $0.002 per participant minutes |
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls | ✕ Not Available | Pro plan starts at $149.90 per year per license Additional Pricing (Maximum 25 users per 60 min session):
| $0.0006 per participant minutes |
Advanced Firewall Control | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control |
Compliance & Privacy | ✕ Janus not provides compliance & privacy support. | ✕ BigBlueButton not provides compliance & privacy support. | ✓ Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
|
Cloud Recording Pricing | ✕ Not Include | Recording storage: $19 per TB per month
(for 25 participants on session) |
|
RTMP Pricing | ✕ Not Included | $2.5 per GB per month |
|
ILS Pricing | Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing | $99 per month
(For Maximum 25 users per 60 min session) |
|
Storage Pricing | High Cost |
|
|
Support Comparison : Janus vs BigBlueButton vs Video SDK
features | Janus | BigBlueButton | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | ✕ Community Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Cost | Not Available | $149/mo | Free |
Access to Testing | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes, but Additional.
| ✓ Affordable SLA with 99.9% Uptime |
features | Janus | BigBlueButton | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | ✕ Community Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Cost | Not Available | $149/mo | Free |
Access to Testing | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes, but Additional.
| ✓ Affordable SLA with 99.9% Uptime |
Discover why Video SDK is the top choice for customers
“I still remember when I was trying out the product and connected over discord with Arjun Kava, and he immediately responded. It is one of the things that we found less often. The team is super enthusiastic to make the product as next big thing. Easy integration is the beauty of it. Few lines of code and it's done.”
Ankur Chandra ,
Engineering Manager at Fynd
FAQ
