Software · head to head
Janus Gateway vs PubNub
Janus Gateway
Software
WebRTC gateway and media server for real-time communication
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
PubNub
Software
Realtime communication platform for chat, IoT, and live data apps
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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.; PubNub free plan storage history is limited to 7 days, which is short for apps needing longer message retention.
- They diverge on capability: Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Janus Gateway and PubNub actually diverge.
| Attribute | Janus Gateway | PubNub |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, MacOS, BSD | web, ios, android, api |
| Founded | 2010 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 PubNub
- Pub/sub messaging
- Presence tracking
- Message persistence
- Serverless Functions
- File sharing
- Encryption and access controls
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Janus Gateway
- API Developmentnot PubNub
- API Gatewaynot PubNub
- API Testingnot PubNub
- API Documentationnot PubNub
- Microservicesnot PubNub
PubNub
- Building realtime chat applicationsnot Janus Gateway
- Streaming live IoT sensor datanot Janus Gateway
- Adding presence indicators to collaborative appsnot Janus Gateway
- Running edge logic with serverless Functions on realtime eventsnot Janus Gateway
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
PubNub
- Free plan storage history is limited to 7 days, which is short for apps needing longer message retention.
- MAU-based pricing means costs scale directly with user growth, which can be less predictable than flat message-based pricing.
- Pro-tier custom pricing above 50,000 MAU requires contacting sales rather than self-serve checkout.
Pricing, plan by plan
Janus Gateway
Free- Open SourceFree
- Core WebRTC gateway
- Community support
PubNub
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 200 MAU or 1M transactions
- 1GB data storage (7 days)
- 5 test Serverless Functions
- Starter$98/month
- 1,000 MAU included
- User management
- Insights
- Pro$undefined/month
- Custom MAU packages
- Volume discounts
- Enterprise-scale configurations
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 PubNub if
- You need pub/sub messaging.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, ios, android, api.
- You also want presence tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Janus Gateway or PubNub better?
- Neither clearly leads. Janus Gateway starts at Free and PubNub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Janus Gateway or PubNub?
- Janus Gateway starts at Free and PubNub at Free.
- Does Janus Gateway or PubNub run on more platforms?
- Janus Gateway runs on Linux, MacOS, BSD. PubNub runs on web, ios, android, api.
- 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 PubNub is typically brought in for.
- What can Janus Gateway do that PubNub cannot?
- Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Media Routing, Video Conferencing, RTP. PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Presence tracking, Message persistence, Serverless Functions.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
PubNub: What does PubNub cost?
PubNub offers a free plan for up to 200 MAU or 1 million transactions, a Starter plan at $98/month for 1,000 MAU, and custom Pro pricing for larger volumes, e.g. around $550/month for 10,000 MAU.
SourcePubNub: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?
Yes, the free plan supports up to 200 monthly active users or 1 million transactions, includes 1GB of data storage retained for 7 days, and requires no credit card.
SourcePubNub: How is usage metered?
PubNub bills primarily by Monthly Active Users, defined as a unique user who connects at least once in a billing cycle; messages are bundled into MAU pricing with no separate per-message fees, and overage is billed proportionally.
SourceRelated pages
More on Janus Gateway
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