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API Management · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Janus Gateway

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

API Management

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Janus Gateway logo

Janus Gateway

API Management

WebRTC gateway and media server for real-time communication

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer; Janus Gateway janus Gateway is open source (GPLv3) and ships with no hosted SaaS from Meetecho; production deployments require self-managing STUN/TURN and signalling infrastructure.
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and Janus Gateway actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Janus Gateway differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayJanus Gateway
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
PlatformsAWS CloudLinux, MacOS, BSD
Founded20062010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

Only in Janus Gateway

  • WebRTC Gateway
  • Media Routing
  • Video Conferencing
  • RTP
  • SRTP
  • REST API
  • Linux support
  • MacOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot Janus Gateway
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Janus Gateway
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Janus Gateway
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Janus Gateway
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Janus Gateway

Janus Gateway

  • API Developmentnot AWS API Gateway
  • API Gatewaynot AWS API Gateway
  • API Testingnot AWS API Gateway
  • API Documentationnot AWS API Gateway
  • Microservicesnot AWS API Gateway

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

Janus Gateway

  • Janus Gateway is open source (GPLv3) and ships with no hosted SaaS from Meetecho; production deployments require self-managing STUN/TURN and signalling infrastructure.

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

Janus Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core WebRTC gateway
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway review

Choose Janus Gateway if

  • You need webrtc gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, MacOS, BSD.
  • You also want media routing.
Janus Gateway review

Questions people ask

Is AWS API Gateway or Janus Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Janus Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or Janus Gateway?
AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Janus Gateway at Free.
Does AWS API Gateway or Janus Gateway run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Janus Gateway runs on Linux, MacOS, BSD.
Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AWS API Gateway best used for?
AWS API Gateway is most often used for fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint, rest and http api management with throttling and keys, websocket apis for real-time clients, private apis reachable only inside a vpc. Of those, fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint and rest and http api management with throttling and keys are not what Janus Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that Janus Gateway cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Media Routing, Video Conferencing, RTP.
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