Software · head to head
Janus Gateway vs Stainless
Janus Gateway
Software
WebRTC gateway and media server for real-time communication
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Stainless
Software
Generates client SDKs, API docs, and MCP servers from an OpenAPI spec
- 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.; Stainless starter and Pro plan prices are not published and require contacting the company.
- They diverge on capability: Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Stainless covers SDK generation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Janus Gateway and Stainless actually diverge.
| Attribute | Janus Gateway | Stainless |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, MacOS, BSD | web, 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 Stainless
- SDK generation
- MCP server generation
- Docs site generation
- Webhooks and streaming support
- Automated unit tests
- Git integration
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Janus Gateway
- API Developmentnot Stainless
- API Gatewaynot Stainless
- API Testingnot Stainless
- API Documentationnot Stainless
- Microservicesnot Stainless
Stainless
- Generating typed SDKs for a public APInot Janus Gateway
- Producing an MCP server from an existing OpenAPI specnot Janus Gateway
- Building an API documentation site alongside client librariesnot Janus Gateway
- Giving open-source APIs a free SDK generation pathnot 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.
Stainless
- Starter and Pro plan prices are not published and require contacting the company.
- The free plan caps APIs at 25 endpoints, which excludes larger production APIs.
- Overage charges apply per SDK/endpoint/month once limits are exceeded, which can make costs unpredictable at scale.
Pricing, plan by plan
Janus Gateway
Free- Open SourceFree
- Core WebRTC gateway
- Community support
Stainless
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 5 generators (SDKs, docs, or MCP servers)
- 5 seats
- APIs with 25 or fewer endpoints
- Starter$undefined/mo
- Unlimited generators
- Expanded seats
- Private SDKs of any size
- Pro$undefined/mo
- Custom enterprise features and pricing
- Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Dedicated support
- SOC 2 compliance reports
- Purchase order/invoicing with negotiable terms
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 Stainless if
- You need sdk generation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, api.
- You also want mcp server generation.
Questions people ask
- Is Janus Gateway or Stainless better?
- Neither clearly leads. Janus Gateway starts at Free and Stainless at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Janus Gateway or Stainless?
- Janus Gateway starts at Free and Stainless at Free.
- Does Janus Gateway or Stainless run on more platforms?
- Janus Gateway runs on Linux, MacOS, BSD. Stainless runs on web, 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 Stainless is typically brought in for.
- What can Janus Gateway do that Stainless cannot?
- Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Media Routing, Video Conferencing, RTP. Stainless covers SDK generation, MCP server generation, Docs site generation, Webhooks and streaming support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Stainless: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?
Yes. The Free plan supports up to 5 generators, 5 seats, APIs with 25 or fewer endpoints, and 100 preview builds per month, with email support.
SourceStainless: Who owns the generated SDK code?
The generated SDK code is owned by the customer and published by Stainless under the Apache 2.0 license.
SourceStainless: What happens if I exceed my plan's endpoint limit?
Customers exceeding their endpoint limits are billed per SDK, per endpoint, per month for the overage.
SourceRelated pages
More on Janus Gateway
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