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 | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of participants (Including hosts) | ✕ Limited | ✕ 2 Participant Only | ✓ Up to millions of viewers |
Ease of SDK Integration | ✕ Development is moderately tough | ✕ Very Complex Integration takes 6+ months | ✓ Avg. integration takes only 2 weeks |
Adpative audio/video quality | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available |
Works behind the Firewall, Private Network | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | ✕ Limited to host & participant roles | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | ✓ Available | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Separate integration | ✓ Available |
Webhooks | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not Provide | ✓ Available |
Pricing Model | ✕ Subscription based | ✓ Usage Based | ✓ Usage based |
Interactive Live Streaming | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Cloud Recording | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Interactive Whiteboard | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Multi-platform | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Interactive Participant Support | ✕ Limited | ✕ No Support | ✓ Up to 5,000 |
Mobile browser support | ✕ Limited | ✕ Limited (iOS not supported) | ✓ 90% |
Automatic audio / video degrade, re-connectivity | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audio & Video powered by AI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API for building specific features such as collaborative games, polls etc | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API to build social features such as merging rooms, battles, coins, gifts sending etc | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Full HD recording | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Open source templates | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Full Custom roles | ✕ Limited | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
HLS Streaming | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Cost-effective | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Prebuilt SDK | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Fully customizable UI | ✕ No | ✕ Low Customization | ✓ Yes |
Metaverse platform support | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Session analytics | ✕ No | ✕ Not Comprehensive | ✓ Yes |
Data Tracks | ✕ No | ✕ Not Documented | ✓ Yes |
features | LiveKit | Janus | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of participants (Including hosts) | ✕ Limited | ✕ 2 Participant Only | ✓ Up to millions of viewers |
Ease of SDK Integration | ✕ Development is moderately tough | ✕ Very Complex Integration takes 6+ months | ✓ Avg. integration takes only 2 weeks |
Adpative audio/video quality | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available |
Works behind the Firewall, Private Network | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | ✕ Limited to host & participant roles | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | ✓ Available | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not Available | ✓ Available |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Separate integration | ✓ Available |
Webhooks | ✕ Not Available | ✕ Not Provide | ✓ Available |
Pricing Model | ✕ Subscription based | ✓ Usage Based | ✓ Usage based |
Interactive Live Streaming | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Cloud Recording | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Interactive Whiteboard | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Multi-platform | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Interactive Participant Support | ✕ Limited | ✕ No Support | ✓ Up to 5,000 |
Mobile browser support | ✕ Limited | ✕ Limited (iOS not supported) | ✓ 90% |
Automatic audio / video degrade, re-connectivity | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audio & Video powered by AI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API for building specific features such as collaborative games, polls etc | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API to build social features such as merging rooms, battles, coins, gifts sending etc | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Full HD recording | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Open source templates | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Full Custom roles | ✕ Limited | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
HLS Streaming | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Cost-effective | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Prebuilt SDK | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Fully customizable UI | ✕ No | ✕ Low Customization | ✓ Yes |
Metaverse platform support | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Session analytics | ✕ No | ✕ Not Comprehensive | ✓ Yes |
Data Tracks | ✕ No | ✕ Not Documented | ✓ Yes |
Price Comparison : LiveKit vs Janus vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | Janus | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Video Conferencing |
| ✓ Yes |
|
Analytics | ✓ Free | ✕ No | ✓ Free |
Separate pricing for video and audio | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Free 10,000 minutes every month | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Minimum price for video calls | $0.02 per participant minute | ✕ Separate Charge | $0.002 per participant minute |
Minimum price for audio-only calls | $0.005 per participant minute | ✕ Not Available | $0.0006 per participant min |
Advanced Firewall Control | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Free |
Cloud recording pricing | No accurate data available | ✕ Not Include |
|
RTMP pricing | No accurate data available | ✕ Not Included |
|
ILS pricing |
| Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing |
|
Storage pricing | No accurate data available | High Cost |
|
features | LiveKit | Janus | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Video Conferencing |
| ✓ Yes |
|
Analytics | ✓ Free | ✕ No | ✓ Free |
Separate pricing for video and audio | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Free 10,000 minutes every month | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Minimum price for video calls | $0.02 per participant minute | ✕ Separate Charge | $0.002 per participant minute |
Minimum price for audio-only calls | $0.005 per participant minute | ✕ Not Available | $0.0006 per participant min |
Advanced Firewall Control | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Free |
Cloud recording pricing | No accurate data available | ✕ Not Include |
|
RTMP pricing | No accurate data available | ✕ 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 | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | ✓ Yes | ✕ Community Support | ✓ Yes |
Cost | Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan | Not Available | Free |
Access to Testing | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK. |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | ✕ Only accounts having Enterprise plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Inexpensive SLA with 99.9% uptime |
features | LiveKit | Janus | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | ✓ Yes | ✕ Community Support | ✓ Yes |
Cost | Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan | Not Available | Free |
Access to Testing | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK. |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | ✕ Only accounts having Enterprise plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Inexpensive 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
