Softwr

Software · head to head

Stainless vs Janus Gateway

Stainless logo

Stainless

Software

Generates client SDKs, API docs, and MCP servers from an OpenAPI spec

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Janus Gateway logo

Janus Gateway

Software

WebRTC gateway and media server for real-time communication

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Stainless starter and Pro plan prices are not published and require contacting the company.; 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: Stainless covers SDK generation, Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Stainless and Janus Gateway differ
AttributeStainlessJanus Gateway
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
Platformsweb, apiLinux, MacOS, BSD
FoundedUnknown2010

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 Stainless

  • SDK generation
  • MCP server generation
  • Docs site generation
  • Webhooks and streaming support
  • Automated unit tests
  • Git integration

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.

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

Janus Gateway

  • API Developmentnot Stainless
  • API Gatewaynot Stainless
  • API Testingnot Stainless
  • API Documentationnot Stainless
  • Microservicesnot Stainless

Where each one falls short

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

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.

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

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

Janus Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core WebRTC gateway
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Stainless if

  • You need sdk generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want mcp server generation.
Stainless 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 Stainless or Janus Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. Stainless 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, Stainless or Janus Gateway?
Stainless starts at Free and Janus Gateway at Free.
Does Stainless or Janus Gateway run on more platforms?
Stainless runs on web, api. Janus Gateway runs on Linux, MacOS, BSD.
Can I use Stainless for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Stainless best used for?
Stainless is most often used for generating typed sdks for a public api, producing an mcp server from an existing openapi spec, building an api documentation site alongside client libraries, giving open-source apis a free sdk generation path. Of those, generating typed sdks for a public api and producing an mcp server from an existing openapi spec are not what Janus Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can Stainless do that Janus Gateway cannot?
Stainless covers SDK generation, MCP server generation, Docs site generation, Webhooks and streaming support. Janus Gateway covers WebRTC Gateway, Media Routing, Video Conferencing, RTP.

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.

Source
Stainless: 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.

Source
Stainless: 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.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Stainless

More on Janus Gateway

Keep looking

Other head to heads