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APIs · head to head

Janus Gateway vs n8n

Janus Gateway logo

Janus Gateway

APIs

WebRTC gateway and media server for real-time communication

From
Free
Rated
-
n8n logo

n8n

Automation Integration

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Janus Gateway no commercial pricing published; open-source project without official commercial offerings; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, n8n covers Workflow automation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Janus Gateway and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where Janus Gateway and n8n differ
AttributeJanus Gatewayn8n
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsLinux, MacOS, BSDWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
CategoryAPIsAutomation Integration
Founded20102019

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

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
  • Linux support
  • MacOS support
  • BSD support

Only in n8n

  • Workflow automation
  • Visual editor
  • Conditional execution
  • Looping
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • 400+ integrations

Both cover

  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Janus Gateway

  • API Developmentnot n8n
  • API Gatewaynot n8n
  • API Testingnot n8n
  • API Documentationnot n8n
  • Microservicesnot n8n

n8n

  • Building AI agents and workflow automation for technical teamsnot Janus Gateway
  • Visual workflow design with capability to write custom JavaScript or Python codenot Janus Gateway
  • Enterprise deployments with self-hosted or cloud optionsnot Janus Gateway
  • Integrating 500+ pre-built applications with custom API connectionsnot 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

n8n

  • Starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • Starter and Pro tiers restricted to Cloud hosting only, not self-hosted
  • Business tier requires 6 months minimum commitment at €667/month
  • SSO/SAML/LDAP authentication requires Business or Enterprise tier
  • Dedicated support with SLA available only on Enterprise plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Janus Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core WebRTC gateway
    • Community support

n8n

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Free self-hosted version on GitHub
    • Open source
  • Starter$20/month
    • 2,500 workflow executions
    • 5 concurrent executions
    • 2,300 AI credits/month
  • Pro$50/month
    • 10,000 workflow executions
    • 20 concurrent executions
    • 13,700 AI credits/month
  • Business$667/month
    • 40,000 workflow executions
    • Self-hosted option
    • 6 shared projects

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.

Choose n8n if

  • You need workflow automation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
  • You also want visual editor.

Questions people ask

Is Janus Gateway or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. Janus Gateway starts at Free and n8n at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Janus Gateway or n8n?
Janus Gateway starts at Free and n8n at Free.
Does Janus Gateway or n8n run on more platforms?
Janus Gateway runs on Linux, MacOS, BSD. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Janus Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 n8n is typically brought in for.
What can Janus Gateway do that n8n cannot?
Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Media Routing, Video Conferencing, RTP. n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Both handle REST API.

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
n8n: Is there a free version of n8n?

Yes, n8n Community Edition is free and open-source, available for self-hosting on GitHub with unlimited users and workflows.

Source
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
n8n: What is the difference between n8n plans?

Plans differ by monthly workflow executions (2,500 for Starter, 10,000 for Pro, 40,000 for Business), concurrent execution limits, AI credits, and shared project counts.

Source
n8n: Does n8n offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, n8n offers 17% off when billing annually instead of monthly, and provides a Startup Plan at 50% off Business pricing for companies under 20 employees.

Source
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