Janus

Self-Hosted

Open-source WebRTC gateway for real-time video conferencing & communication

Overview

Janus is an open-source WebRTC gateway enabling real-time video conferencing, audio calls, and data sharing. Its modular plugin architecture supports multi-party video rooms, live streaming, and SIP integration. Deployable via Docker or direct server installation, it integrates with web/mobile apps and gives full control over communication data. Ideal for building custom self-hosted solutions, it scales from small team calls to large events using standard WebRTC protocols.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  janus:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: janus
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Modular plugin system (Video Room, Streaming, SIP)
WebRTC protocol support for low-latency communication
Docker deployment for simplified setup
End-to-end encryption for data privacy

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Janus hard to install?

Janus offers official Docker images for easy deployment, but configuring plugins and integrating a frontend requires basic knowledge of WebRTC and server management. Pre-configured setups can simplify this for less technical users.

? Is it a good alternative to Zoom?

Janus is a backend gateway, not a turnkey Zoom alternative. It powers custom video conferencing solutions—pair it with a frontend (e.g., using the Video Room plugin) to build a self-hosted alternative with full data control.

? Is it completely free?

Yes! Janus is open-source under the MIT license, so it’s free to use, modify, and self-host without any subscription fees or hidden costs.

Top Alternatives

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Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Communication - Video Conferencing

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Full data control via self-hosting
⊕ Flexible modular design for custom use cases
⊕ Free & open-source (MIT license)
⊕ Scalable for small teams to large events

Cons

⊖ Requires technical expertise to configure plugins
⊖ No out-of-the-box frontend (needs custom integration)
⊖ Server optimization may be needed for high-traffic scenarios