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APIs · head to head

Janus Gateway vs Mambu

Janus Gateway logo

Janus Gateway

APIs

WebRTC gateway and media server for real-time communication

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mambu logo

Mambu

APIs

Composable cloud core banking platform used by banks, lenders and fintechs in 65-plus countries

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Janus Gateway has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Janus Gateway no commercial pricing published; open-source project without official commercial offerings; Mambu pricing is entirely unpublished, and as subscription and usage-based fees scale with a bank's book of business, total cost at scale is hard to forecast before a detailed vendor conversation.
  • They diverge on capability: Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Mambu covers Composable engine architecture.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Janus Gateway and Mambu actually diverge.

Attributes where Janus Gateway and Mambu differ
AttributeJanus GatewayMambu
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, MacOS, BSDWeb, API
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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 Janus Gateway

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

Only in Mambu

  • Composable engine architecture
  • Deposits and lending core
  • Cloud-native SaaS delivery
  • Marketplace of connectors
  • Multi-country regulatory support
  • API-first orchestration

What people use each for

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

Janus Gateway

  • API Developmentnot Mambu
  • API Gatewaynot Mambu
  • API Testingnot Mambu
  • API Documentationnot Mambu
  • Microservicesnot Mambu

Mambu

  • A digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratchnot Janus Gateway
  • A lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products fasternot Janus Gateway
  • An established bank doing incremental core modernisation rather than a full monolithic core replacementnot Janus Gateway
  • A fintech in an emerging or regulated market needing pre-built compliance configuration across many jurisdictionsnot Janus Gateway

Where each one falls short

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

Janus Gateway

  • No commercial pricing published; open-source project without official commercial offerings
  • Community-supported only; no vendor commercial support or SLA available

Mambu

  • Pricing is entirely unpublished, and as subscription and usage-based fees scale with a bank's book of business, total cost at scale is hard to forecast before a detailed vendor conversation.
  • A core banking implementation is a multi-year, high-switching-cost commitment regardless of vendor, and Mambu is no exception; a wrong initial configuration choice is expensive to unwind.
  • Composability is a genuine strength but also means more integration and configuration decisions fall to the bank's own team or system integrator, versus a more opinionated, less flexible fixed-core alternative.
  • As cloud-hosted core banking infrastructure, a bank is trusting Mambu's own uptime and security posture for its most business-critical system, concentrating operational risk in one vendor relationship.
  • Newer entrants such as Thought Machine and 10x Banking compete directly on similar composable positioning, so Mambu's tenure advantage is real but narrowing as competitors mature.

Pricing, plan by plan

Janus Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core WebRTC gateway
    • Community support

Mambu

On request
  • Mambu$undefined/year
    • Subscription pricing, structured by modules and usage
    • Exact rates not published, custom quote required

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Mambu if

  • You need composable engine architecture.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want deposits and lending core.
Mambu review

Questions people ask

Is Janus Gateway or Mambu better?
Neither clearly leads. Janus Gateway starts at Free and Mambu at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Janus Gateway or Mambu?
Janus Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Janus Gateway and On request for Mambu.
Does Janus Gateway or Mambu run on more platforms?
Janus Gateway runs on Linux, MacOS, BSD. Mambu runs on Web, API.
Can I use Janus Gateway for free?
Yes. Janus Gateway has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mambu starts at On request.
What is Janus Gateway best used for?
Janus Gateway is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Mambu is typically brought in for.
What can Janus Gateway do that Mambu cannot?
Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Media Routing, Video Conferencing, RTP. Mambu covers Composable engine architecture, Deposits and lending core, Cloud-native SaaS delivery, Marketplace of connectors.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Janus Gateway: How much does Janus Gateway cost?

Janus Gateway has no pricing model; it is a free open-source WebRTC server developed by Meetecho. The general-purpose server is available for download at no cost. There are no subscription tiers or commercial licensing fees.

Source
Mambu: Is Mambu on-premise or cloud?

Cloud-native SaaS delivery, not an on-premise installation.

Janus Gateway: Is Janus Gateway supported commercially?

Janus Gateway is community-supported open-source software with no official commercial support or SLA from the vendors. While Meetecho developed the project, users must rely on community documentation and forums for assistance.

Source
Mambu: Does it publish pricing?

No, pricing is subscription-based, structured by modules and usage, but not published publicly.

Mambu: How many countries does it operate in?

It is used by banks, lenders and fintechs across more than 65 countries.

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