LiveKit
Open-source WebRTC media server and cloud platform for voice, video and AI agents.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android, Self-hosted
Is LiveKit free?
Yes, free and open source
- Free plan:
- $0/month Build plan
- License:
- Apache-2.0
Checked on LiveKit's site Nov 8, 2026
Full LiveKit pricing and plansSwitch from LiveKit to
All 6- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About LiveKit
LiveKit is an open-source real-time media stack. At its core is an Apache-licensed WebRTC server (SFU) written in Go, with client SDKs for web, iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native, Unity and more. On top of it sits the Agents framework for building voice AI assistants in Python or Node.js, with turn detection, interruption handling, telephony through SIP and phone numbers, and an inference gateway for speech and language models. You can self-host everything, or use LiveKit Cloud, which adds global hosting across many regions, agent deployment, observability and analytics. OpenAI uses LiveKit Cloud for ChatGPT's voice mode, which has made it a default choice for voice AI startups, but it is still used for ordinary video calls, livestreams and robotics video. The cloud has a free Build tier, then monthly plans plus per-minute usage. Developers who want full control or no vendor lock-in can run the open-source server themselves.
Best for: Teams building voice AI agents or video apps who want an open-source stack with an optional managed cloud.
LiveKit pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from LiveKit's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0/month Build plan | Nov 8, 2026 | livekit.io |
| Paid plans | From $50/month | Nov 8, 2026 | livekit.io |
Pros and cons
What works
- Apache-2.0 server you can self-host
- Agents framework with turn detection and telephony
- SDKs for most web, mobile and game platforms
- Free cloud tier with no credit card
Why people leave
- Product focus has moved strongly towards voice AI agents
- Self-hosting at scale means running your own WebRTC infrastructure
- Cloud costs stack several per-minute charges per session
LiveKit vs Daily, Agora and 100ms
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | LiveKit | Daily | Agora | 100ms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | From $50/month | $0.004 per participant minute after free minutes | $0.59 per 1,000 RTC minutes | $0.004 per participant minute |
| Free plan | $0/month Build plan | Yes, 10,000 participant minutes/month | Yes | 10,000 conferencing minutes/month |
| Open source | Yes | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Self-hosted | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Top LiveKit alternatives
See all 6- 1DaDaily68.8
Managed WebRTC with HIPAA BAAs and Pipecat, if you'd rather not run any media servers.
- 2
Agora64.8Proprietary global network with a large free allowance and conversational AI tools.
- 3
100ms61.8Managed video SDK with a prebuilt UI for classes, telehealth and live events.
- 4
Stream54.4Adds full chat, feeds and moderation alongside video calling.
- 5
Sendbird52.6Chat-first platform with calling for apps where messaging matters most.
Why people left LiveKit
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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LiveKit: common questions
What is LiveKit?
LiveKit: Open-source WebRTC media server and cloud platform for voice, video and AI agents. Best for teams building voice AI agents or video apps who want an open-source stack with an optional managed cloud. Available for Web, iOS and Android, and you can host it yourself.
Is LiveKit free?
Yes. LiveKit is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
How much does LiveKit cost?
LiveKit is free and open source. Free plan: $0/month Build plan; Paid plans: From $50/month. Checked on LiveKit's own site, November 2026.
Is LiveKit open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at livekit/livekit. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does LiveKit run on?
LiveKit is available for Web, iOS, Android and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to LiveKit?
The highest-ranked LiveKit alternatives right now are Daily, Agora and 100ms. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
LiveKit vs Daily: what's the difference?
LiveKit is free and open source; Daily is free with paid plans. Verified prices: LiveKit From $50/month, Daily $0.004 per participant minute after free minutes. LiveKit is open source and Daily is not. Both run on Web, iOS and Android.