{"data":{"slug":"livekit","name":"LiveKit","tagline":"Apache-2.0 realtime rooms, SFU, and agents","category":"comms","categoryName":"Comms","url":"https://livekit.com","github":"https://github.com/livekit/livekit","pricing":"open-source","hook":"LiveKit is the Apache-2.0 realtime stack OpenAI used for ChatGPT Advanced Voice.","whatsGood":"Apache-2.0 server and CLI. Rooms, SFU, agents, egress. Self-host the media server — that is the free path. SDKs for web, iOS, Android, and agents.","theCatch":"Self-hosting an SFU is ops-heavy. Cloud pricing was unverified, so no Cloud Build $0 claim and no monthly allowance numbers. Do not assume Cloud is free.","verdict":"Apache-2.0 voice/video/agent runtime. Self-host is the free path; Cloud is unverified.","addedAt":"2026-09-03","featured":false,"domain":"Comms","subSpecialty":"Realtime","capabilities":["webrtc","rooms","realtime"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Go","Multi-platform"],"licenseModel":"Apache-2.0","githubStars":20674},"related":[{"slug":"chatwoot","name":"Chatwoot","tagline":"MIT-core support inbox you can self-host for $0/agent"},{"slug":"socket-io","name":"Socket.IO","tagline":"MIT realtime library with fallbacks, not a hosted product"},{"slug":"plunk","name":"Plunk","tagline":"AGPL-3.0 transactional email, workflows, and broadcasts"},{"slug":"centrifugo","name":"Centrifugo","tagline":"Apache-2.0 Go realtime server binary, not in-process Socket.IO"},{"slug":"liveblocks","name":"Liveblocks","tagline":"Hosted collab rooms; Free $0 pauses at the cap"}],"links":{"self":"/api/gems/livekit","html":"/gems/livekit","markdown":"/gems/livekit.md","category":"/api/gems?category=comms","categoryPage":"/stacks/comms"}}