LiveKit vs Janus
A head-to-head comparison of LiveKit and Janus, And what features does Video SDK offer?
Livekit is a collection of SDKs that enables the integration of live video and audio into your native applications. It offers various notable features, including live streaming, in-game communication, video calls, and more. Livekit utilizes a modern, end-to-end WebRTC stack to deliver seamless and high-quality real-time communication experiences.
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.
How Video SDK make a difference?
Livekit and Janus are both real-time communication platforms, each with its unique strengths and applications. Livekit is a platform designed for building real-time video and audio applications, while Janus is a WebRTC server designed for building real-time multimedia communication applications. 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 LiveKit vs Janus, and understand why Video SDK emerges as a much better choice for all your requirements.
Features comparison : LiveKit vs Janus vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | Janus |  VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Participants (Including Hosts) | âś• LiveKit supports limited participants. | âś• Janus supports 2 participants only. | âś“ VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants |
Ease of SDK Integration | âś• Development is moderately tough | âś• Very Complex Integration takes 6+ months | âś“ VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration |
Adpative Audio/Video Quality | âś• LiveKit not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | âś• Janus not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | âś“ VideoSDK provides best adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall/Private-Network | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | âś• Limited to host & participant roles | âś• Not available | âś“ VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | âś“ Available | âś• Not available | âś“ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | âś• Not Available | âś• Not available | âś“ Available (No need for manual config.) |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | âś• In LiveKit collaborative features is not available. | âś• In Janus collaborative features is not available. | âś“ VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | âś• Not Available | âś• Separate integration | âś“ Easy Integration |
Webhooks | âś• Not Available | âś• Not Provide | âś“ Available |
Pricing Model | âś• Subscription based | âś“ Usage Based | âś“ Pay-as-You-Go Plan |
Interactive Live Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports interactive live streaming. | âś“ Janus supports interactive live streaming. | âś“ VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming |
Cloud Recording | âś“ LiveKit offers cloud recording capabilities. | âś“ Janus offers cloud recording capabilities. | âś“ VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities |
Interactive Whiteboard | âś• LiveKit not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś• Janus not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś“ VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature |
Multi-platform | âś• LiveKit not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś• Janus not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś“ VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach |
Interactive Participant Support | âś• LiveKit provides limited support for interactive participants. | âś• No Support | âś“ Upto 5,000 |
Mobile Browser Support | âś• LiveKit offers limited support for mobile browsers. | âś• Limited (iOS not supported) | âś“ Video support 91% mobile browsers |
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity | âś“ LiveKit supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ Janus supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | âś“ LiveKit is not dependent on open source. | âś“ Janus is dependent on open source. | âś• VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Full HD Recording | âś• LiveKit not supports full HD recording. | âś• Janus not supports full HD recording. | âś“ VideoSDK supports full HD recording |
Open Source Templates | âś• LiveKit not heavily rely on open source templates. | âś“ Yes | âś“ VideoSDK rely on open source templates |
Full Custom roles | âś• LiveKit offer limited support for custom roles. | âś• Janus not offer support for custom roles. | âś“ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles |
HLS Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports HLS streaming. | âś• Janus not supports HLS streaming. | âś“ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming |
Cost-effective | âś• LiveKit is not cost effective. | âś• Janus not is cost effective. | âś“ VideoSDK is Cost Effective |
Prebuilt SDK | âś• LiveKit not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration |
Fully Customizable UI | âś• LiveKit not allows for a customizable UI. | âś• Low Customization | âś“ VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI |
Metaverse Platform Support | âś• LiveKit not support Metaverse platform. | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform |
Session Analytics | âś• LiveKit not offer session analytics option. | âś• Not Comprehensive | âś“ VideoSDK offer session analytics option |
Data Tracks | âś• LiveKit not offer data tracks option. | âś• Not Documented | âś“ VideoSDK offer track data option |
features | LiveKit | Janus | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Participants (Including Hosts) | âś• LiveKit supports limited participants. | âś• Janus supports 2 participants only. | âś“ VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants |
Ease of SDK Integration | âś• Development is moderately tough | âś• Very Complex Integration takes 6+ months | âś“ VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration |
Adpative Audio/Video Quality | âś• LiveKit not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | âś• Janus not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | âś“ VideoSDK provides best adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall/Private-Network | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | âś• Limited to host & participant roles | âś• Not available | âś“ VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | âś“ Available | âś• Not available | âś“ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | âś• Not Available | âś• Not available | âś“ Available (No need for manual config.) |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | âś• In LiveKit collaborative features is not available. | âś• In Janus collaborative features is not available. | âś“ VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | âś• Not Available | âś• Separate integration | âś“ Easy Integration |
Webhooks | âś• Not Available | âś• Not Provide | âś“ Available |
Pricing Model | âś• Subscription based | âś“ Usage Based | âś“ Pay-as-You-Go Plan |
Interactive Live Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports interactive live streaming. | âś“ Janus supports interactive live streaming. | âś“ VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming |
Cloud Recording | âś“ LiveKit offers cloud recording capabilities. | âś“ Janus offers cloud recording capabilities. | âś“ VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities |
Interactive Whiteboard | âś• LiveKit not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś• Janus not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś“ VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature |
Multi-platform | âś• LiveKit not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś• Janus not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś“ VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach |
Interactive Participant Support | âś• LiveKit provides limited support for interactive participants. | âś• No Support | âś“ Upto 5,000 |
Mobile Browser Support | âś• LiveKit offers limited support for mobile browsers. | âś• Limited (iOS not supported) | âś“ Video support 91% mobile browsers |
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity | âś“ LiveKit supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ Janus supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | âś“ LiveKit is not dependent on open source. | âś“ Janus is dependent on open source. | âś• VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Full HD Recording | âś• LiveKit not supports full HD recording. | âś• Janus not supports full HD recording. | âś“ VideoSDK supports full HD recording |
Open Source Templates | âś• LiveKit not heavily rely on open source templates. | âś“ Yes | âś“ VideoSDK rely on open source templates |
Full Custom roles | âś• LiveKit offer limited support for custom roles. | âś• Janus not offer support for custom roles. | âś“ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles |
HLS Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports HLS streaming. | âś• Janus not supports HLS streaming. | âś“ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming |
Cost-effective | âś• LiveKit is not cost effective. | âś• Janus not is cost effective. | âś“ VideoSDK is Cost Effective |
Prebuilt SDK | âś• LiveKit not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration |
Fully Customizable UI | âś• LiveKit not allows for a customizable UI. | âś• Low Customization | âś“ VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI |
Metaverse Platform Support | âś• LiveKit not support Metaverse platform. | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform |
Session Analytics | âś• LiveKit not offer session analytics option. | âś• Not Comprehensive | âś“ VideoSDK offer session analytics option |
Data Tracks | âś• LiveKit not offer data tracks option. | âś• Not Documented | âś“ VideoSDK offer track data option |
Price Comparison : LiveKit vs Janus vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | Janus | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | âś• LiveKit not offer the volume discount. | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount |
Video Conferencing |
| âś“ Yes |
|
Analytics | âś“ Free | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard |
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio | âś“ Yes | âś“ Yes | âś“ Yes |
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Minimum Price for Video Calls | $0.02 per participant minute | âś• Separate Charge | $0.004 per participant minutes |
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls | $0.005 per participant minute | âś• Not Available | $0.001 per participant minutes |
Advanced Firewall Control | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control |
Compliance & Privacy | âś• LiveKit not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś• Janus not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś“ Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
|
Cloud Recording Pricing | No accurate data available | âś• Not Include |
|
RTMP Pricing | No accurate data available | âś• Not Included |
|
ILS Pricing |
| Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing |
|
Storage Pricing | No accurate data available | High Cost |
|
features | LiveKit | Janus | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | âś• LiveKit not offer the volume discount. | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount |
Video Conferencing |
| âś“ Yes |
|
Analytics | âś“ Free | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard |
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio | âś“ Yes | âś“ Yes | âś“ Yes |
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Minimum Price for Video Calls | $0.02 per participant minute | âś• Separate Charge | $0.004 per participant minutes |
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls | $0.005 per participant minute | âś• Not Available | $0.001 per participant minutes |
Advanced Firewall Control | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control |
Compliance & Privacy | âś• LiveKit not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś• Janus not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś“ Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
|
Cloud Recording Pricing | No accurate data available | âś• Not Include |
|
RTMP Pricing | No accurate data available | âś• Not Included |
|
ILS Pricing |
| Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing |
|
Storage Pricing | No accurate data available | High Cost |
|
Support Comparison : LiveKit vs Janus vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | Janus | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | âś“ Yes | âś• Community Support | âś“ Yes |
Cost | Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan | Not Available | Free |
Access to Testing | âś• No | âś“ Yes | âś“ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | âś• No | âś“ Yes | âś“ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | âś• Only accounts having Enterprise plan | âś“ Yes | âś“ Affordable SLA with 99.9% Uptime |
features | LiveKit | Janus | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | âś“ Yes | âś• Community Support | âś“ Yes |
Cost | Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan | Not Available | Free |
Access to Testing | âś• No | âś“ Yes | âś“ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | âś• No | âś“ Yes | âś“ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | âś• Only accounts having Enterprise plan | âś“ Yes | âś“ 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
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