Free web
Free source (opens in a new tab)
Monthly
For: Trying avatars
Limits
- Unlimited streaming
- 25 free credits on sign-up
Includes
- Top up credits anytime
- No subscription required
VideoDocumented overviewLast checked Oct 1, 2026
Janus: Pricing, Features & Best Use Cases
Browser-based real-time avatar tool that turns a webcam feed into an animated character for streams and video calls.
Our take: Janus suits streamers, anonymous creators and remote workers who want a webcam-driven animated avatar in the browser for Discord, Zoom, Twitch, YouTube or OBS, with unlimited free streaming.
Main limitation: Free gives only 25 sign-up credits for avatar creation, Pro features such as green screen and 60fps+ are paid, and the Pro monthly price is not shown.
Is Janus right for you?
Janus suits streamers, anonymous creators and remote workers who want a webcam-driven animated avatar in the browser for Discord, Zoom, Twitch, YouTube or OBS, with unlimited free streaming. Based on the vendor's documentation, not on a hands-on test.
Best for: Streamers
Also a good fit for
- Creators who want anonymity
- Remote workers
Consider another tool if free plan gives 25 sign-up credits for avatar creation
Or if
- Pro monthly price not shown on the page
- Green screen and 60fps+ are Pro features
Janus in the news
Headlines from US outlets, selected automatically — not endorsements. Updated Oct 2, 2026
Economy is healthy and that is transcending AI spend, says Janus Henderson's Michael Contopoulos (opens in a new tab)- Janus Henderson's Richard Clode on mega cap earnings (opens in a new tab)
- Despite higher energy prices, there's an opportunity in travel stocks, says Janus' Jeremiah Buckley (opens in a new tab)
Janus pricing and usage limits
Prices checked Oct 1, 2026 on the official US pricing page. Official pricing ↗ Prices and limits change often.
Free access and trial conditions
Free: $0/month, unlimited streaming, 25 sign-up credits.
Pro: 7-day trial.
Paid plans: what changes as you upgrade
Pro web
See official pricing source (opens in a new tab)
Monthly
Ongoing price not displayed
For: Creators wanting pro features
Limits
- 7-day trial shown
Includes
- 60fps+ streaming
- Green screen support
2 more
- All styles and accessories
- No watermarks
Usage caps, credits and extra costs
Credit top-ups; prices not shown.
Not stated.
What is Janus, and how does it work?
Janus is a real-time character animation platform. It generates a 3D avatar from a photo or prompt and animates it from webcam facial expressions, rendering in the browser at 1080p+. The avatar can be used on Discord, Zoom, Twitch, YouTube, Google Meet and OBS via a Chrome extension or virtual camera. A Free plan includes unlimited streaming and sign-up credits; Pro adds extra features.
What you provide and what you get back
You provide
- Webcam feed
- Photo or text prompt for the avatar
You get back
- Real-time animated avatar
- Virtual camera output for streams and calls
Where you can use it
- Platforms
- Web
- Account
- Required
- Resolution
- 1080p+
- Streaming
- Unlimited on Free
- Pro
- 60fps+, green screen, no watermarks
- Integrations
- Discord, Zoom, Twitch, YouTube, OBS
Where Janus is most useful
Scenarios are worked out by our editors from the documentation; the actual result depends on your input and plan.
Streaming without showing your face
- Who
- Streamers
- You provide
- Webcam and a character
- Expected result
- Anonymous live stream
- Plan needed
- Free
- Limitation
- Pro for green screen and 60fps+ source (opens in a new tab)
Video calls with a character avatar
- Who
- Remote workers
- You provide
- Webcam in a video call
- Expected result
- Avatar in Zoom or Meet
- Plan needed
- Free
- Limitation
- Needs virtual camera setup source (opens in a new tab)
Content creation
- Who
- Creators
- You provide
- Photo or prompt
- Expected result
- Generated avatar videos
- Plan needed
- Free credits then top-ups
- Limitation
- Credits limit creation source (opens in a new tab)
Janus features and their limits
Webcam-driven real-time avatar
Animates an avatar from your webcam. Expressive presence without showing your face.
Avatar from photo or prompt
Makes an avatar from a photo or prompt. Custom character.
1080p+ in-browser rendering
Renders 1080p+ locally in the browser. Low lag.
Chrome extension and OBS support
Works via Chrome extension and OBS. Broadcast anywhere.
Janus: strengths and limits
Where Janus is strong
- Free plan with unlimited streaming Stream as long as you like documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Avatar renders locally during streaming per the FAQ Fits many tools documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Works with Discord, Zoom, Twitch, YouTube and OBS No cloud lag documented source (opens in a new tab)
- No watermarks on Pro Pay only if needed documented source (opens in a new tab)
Limitations to check before paying
- Free plan gives 25 sign-up credits for avatar creation Little room for avatar experiments documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Pro monthly price not shown on the page Cannot compare cost documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Green screen and 60fps+ are Pro features Pro-only polish documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Needs a webcam Camera required documented source (opens in a new tab)
How to use Janus for streaming as an animated avatar
Set up Janus
- Open janus.cam and start for free
- Take a selfie or upload a photo
- Connect webcam and microphone
- Use the Chrome extension or OBS
Example: streaming as an animated avatar
- Create an avatar from a photo
- Start streaming
- Choose OBS as the source
- Go live
Review and export the result
- Check expressions track your face
- Confirm the virtual camera shows in your app
Janus API
API access and separate billing
Janus has no public API in its official documentation. No API documented.
Privacy, data use and commercial rights
Summarized from the vendor's current policies; this is not legal advice and a vendor's badge is not an independent audit.
How your inputs and outputs are handled
Webcam footage is not stored; images used to create an avatar are only used in transit.
Not stated.
No webcam footage stored.
Commercial use and plan restrictions
Not stated.
Best Janus alternatives for different needs
"Better suited" is based on documented features and pricing, not on a head-to-head test.
Synthesia: better suited to
Runway: better suited to
Kling AI: better suited to
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Janus FAQ
Is Janus free?
Yes: $0 per month with unlimited streaming and 25 credits. source (opens in a new tab)
Does Janus store my webcam video?
No, facial tracking happens locally and footage is not stored. source (opens in a new tab)
Which platforms work?
Discord, Twitch, YouTube, Zoom, Google Meet, OBS and virtual-camera apps. source (opens in a new tab)
What does Pro add?
60fps+ streaming, green screen, all styles and no watermarks. source (opens in a new tab)
Sources and review methodology
Official sources and verification dates
- Janus homepage homepage · checked Oct 1, 2026
- Janus pricing (same page content) pricing · checked Oct 1, 2026
- janus.cam policy · checked Oct 1, 2026
Not verified: Pro price; Credit top-up prices; Training use.
How we documented and maintain this page
Every fact about Janus above comes from the 3 official pages listed here, last compared on Oct 1, 2026; we have not run Janus ourselves, so it has no editorial score. How we check and re-check pages.
Article updated Oct 2, 2026; prices checked Oct 1, 2026. Outbound links to vendors are plain links; we do not earn commissions. How we review · Report an error