Janus
Janus turns a webcam feed into an animated character for streaming and video calls. Its official page describes creating an avatar from a photo or prompt, then driving its expressions and movement with your camera. The service names Discord, Zoom, Twitch, and YouTube among the places you can use the character.
Create and refine a character
Janus generates a 3D avatar from a photo or prompt. You can start with a selfie or uploaded photo, connect your webcam and microphone, and use the Chrome extension or OBS to broadcast. After creating an avatar, you can change its outfit, hairstyle, accessories, and background.
The publisher describes compatibility with applications that support virtual cameras, including Google Meet and OBS Studio. It lists Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile devices, and recommends a recent Chrome or Chromium-based browser. A standard webcam and microphone are the stated equipment requirements; the FAQ recommends a webcam with at least 720p resolution for the best results.
Understand where processing happens
Janus renders avatars locally in the browser during streaming. The publisher says facial tracking happens in real time and that it does not store webcam footage. This is a description of its streaming process, not a claim that every part of avatar creation stays on your device.
For uploaded avatar photos, Janus says it sends the images to generation providers for processing and does not retain them on its own servers. That distinction matters when choosing between creating an avatar from a photo and streaming with one you have already created.
Compare streaming and creation access
The free tier includes unlimited streaming and 25 signup credits. Credits pay for avatar creation and video generation, with top-ups available when needed. The page distinguishes those creation costs from streaming time, which it says has no session caps.
Janus advertises Pro features including green-screen support, watermark-free output, expression sensitivity controls, and streaming above 60 fps. These are plan features described by the publisher, rather than measured performance on a particular computer.