Janus

Turn a webcam into a live animated character for streams and calls

Beginner
Screenshot of Janus, Turn a webcam into a live animated character for streams and calls

What is Janus?

Janus is an animate face tool that turns a webcam into a live animated character for streams and calls. Janus converts a webcam into a live 3D character rendered locally in the browser as Gaussian splats, letting creators stream or join calls as an avatar on Twitch, YouTube, Discord, Zoom, Meet and OBS.

Janus is a browser based character animation tool that turns a webcam feed into a live 3D avatar. A photo or a text prompt generates the character, and from that point the avatar mirrors the user's facial expressions and head movement in real time. The rendered character can then be pushed into Twitch, YouTube, Discord, Zoom, Google Meet or OBS, either through a Chrome extension or by exposing the output as a virtual camera. The pitch is anonymity with personality: a streamer can stay fully expressive on camera without showing an actual face. The technical approach is what separates Janus from cloud rendered avatar services. Avatars are represented as Gaussian splats and rendered locally in the browser, so no cloud server sits between the webcam and the stream. Janus lists 1080p or better output, near instant loading after the first use, and no session caps or time limits on streaming. Facial tracking runs on the device and the company states that webcam footage is not stored, and that uploaded photos are only passed to image generation providers in transit rather than kept on Janus servers. A modern Chrome or Chromium browser and a 720p webcam are the stated requirements, and Mac, Windows, Linux and mobile devices are all supported. The audience is mostly live creators and remote workers: streamers who want a persona without a face reveal, VTuber style channels, content creators producing video without appearing on camera, and people in calls who would rather appear as a character than a webcam feed. Avatars stay editable after creation, so outfits, hairstyles, accessories and backgrounds can be swapped for different scenes. Janus sits in the same territory as VTuber rigging software and cloud avatar platforms, but trades deep rigging control for a fast photo to avatar path and local rendering. Pricing reflects that model: streaming is free and unlimited, while avatar creation and video generation consume credits. Pro at $4.99 per month adds 60fps or higher streaming, green screen background removal, the full style and accessory library, watermark free output, expression sensitivity controls and 120 monthly credits. Anyone expecting scripted animation timelines or studio grade rigging should look elsewhere; this is built for live, camera driven performance.

How do you use Janus?

  1. 1Create an account and collect signup credits
    Sign up on the Janus site to receive the 25 free credits that cover initial avatar and video creation, with unlimited streaming included from the start.
  2. 2Generate a character from a photo or prompt
    Take a selfie or upload a photo, or describe a character in a prompt, and let Janus build the 3D avatar. Uploaded images are used in transit and not stored.
  3. 3Refine the look
    Adjust outfit, hairstyle, accessories and background so the character matches the channel or the meeting you plan to join.
  4. 4Connect webcam and microphone
    Grant camera and mic access in a recent Chrome or Chromium browser. Facial tracking starts immediately and the avatar mirrors your expressions locally.
  5. 5Broadcast with the extension or OBS
    Send the avatar to Twitch, YouTube, Discord, Zoom, Google Meet or any app that accepts a virtual camera, using the Chrome extension or OBS.
  6. 6Upgrade when you need pro output
    Switch to Pro for 60fps streaming, green screen background removal, the full accessory library, watermark free export and expression sensitivity controls.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Avatars render locally in the browser, so streaming does not depend on cloud servers or a high end GPUAI
  • Free tier includes unlimited streaming time, with credits only spent on avatar creation and video generationAI
  • Works across Twitch, YouTube, Discord, Zoom, Google Meet and OBS, including any app that accepts a virtual cameraAI
  • Avatars remain editable after creation, so outfits, hair, accessories and backgrounds can change per sceneAI
  • Stated privacy model: webcam footage is not stored and uploaded photos are not kept on Janus serversAI

Cons

  • Quality and frame rate are tied to the local device and browser, so older machines may struggle despite the no hardware claimAI
  • Pro is required for 60fps, green screen and watermark free output, which undercuts the free tier for serious streamersAI
  • Browser based rendering works best in Chrome or Chromium, so Safari and other browsers are a weaker fitAI
  • Avatar creation is credit based, so heavy experimentation with characters costs money beyond the monthly allowanceAI
  • Facial tracking drives expression only; there is no body motion capture or full body animation describedAI

How much does Janus cost?

Free trial

No separate trial is needed: the free tier provides unlimited streaming plus 25 credits for avatar creation and video generation, and additional credits can be topped up at any time.

Learn more

Pricing

Free plan at $0 per month with unlimited streaming, 25 signup credits, optional top ups and no subscription requirement. Pro costs $4.99 per month and adds 60fps or higher streaming, green screen support, all styles and accessories, no watermarks, expression customization and 120 monthly credits.

Learn more

Integrations

Output reaches Twitch, YouTube, Discord, Zoom and Google Meet, and OBS Studio is supported, along with any application that accepts a virtual camera through the Chrome extension.

Features

Real time facial tracking from a standard webcam, photo or prompt to 3D avatar generation, local browser rendering as Gaussian splats at 1080p or higher, near instant avatar loading, unlimited streaming sessions, editable outfits, hairstyles, accessories and backgrounds, plus Pro extras: 60fps streaming, green screen background removal, expression sensitivity tuning and watermark free output.

Frequently asked questions about Janus

  • How much does Janus cost?
    Free plan at $0 per month with unlimited streaming, 25 signup credits, optional top ups and no subscription requirement. Pro costs $4.99 per month and adds 60fps or higher streaming, green screen support, all styles and accessories, no watermarks, expression customization and 120 monthly credits.
  • Does Janus offer a free trial?
    No separate trial is needed: the free tier provides unlimited streaming plus 25 credits for avatar creation and video generation, and additional credits can be topped up at any time.
  • How do you use Janus?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Create an account and collect signup credits 2. Generate a character from a photo or prompt 3. Refine the look 4. Connect webcam and microphone 5. Broadcast with the extension or OBS 6. Upgrade when you need pro output.
  • What platforms does Janus support?
    Janus is available on Web App, MacOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS.
  • What does Janus integrate with?
    Output reaches Twitch, YouTube, Discord, Zoom and Google Meet, and OBS Studio is supported, along with any application that accepts a virtual camera through the Chrome extension.
  • What are the limitations of Janus?
    Quality and frame rate are tied to the local device and browser, so older machines may struggle despite the no hardware claim. Pro is required for 60fps, green screen and watermark free output, which undercuts the free tier for serious streamers. Browser based rendering works best in Chrome or Chromium, so Safari and other browsers are a weaker fit.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

Web AppMacOSWindowsLinuxAndroidiOS

Pricing

FreemiumSubscription