# LiveKit / Jitsi

Realtime voice and video you host. LiveKit and Jitsi are Apache-2.0. SMS still needs a carrier — this page does not pretend otherwise.

**Replaces:** Twilio

**Tier:** Medium

## Problem

Twilio meters voice, video, and SMS by the minute and the segment. LiveKit is Apache-2.0 WebRTC rooms. Jitsi is Apache-2.0 meetings. Neither is an SMS gateway: self-hosting SMS still requires a carrier, a SIM gateway, or a provider you pay. n8n can fan out the webhooks you already have.

## Stack

- [LiveKit](https://livekit.io) — Apache-2.0 realtime voice and video
- [Jitsi](https://jitsi.org) — Apache-2.0 meetings
- [n8n](https://n8n.io/) — Webhooks and notification routing — not an SMS carrier

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Twilio voice / video / SMS (small team) | $2,400 | LiveKit or Jitsi; SMS still via a carrier |

**About $2,400 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

Placeholder: LiveKit server (or Jitsi) plus TURN if you need it. SMS is not a Railway one-click. Notification workflows can sit on /stacks/n8n-automation.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/livekit-comms?from=%2Fstacks%2Flivekit-comms.md)

[n8n + Postgres for notification workflows](https://c17.io/stacks/n8n-automation)

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Twilio realtime with LiveKit (preferred) or Jitsi.

Do not claim a self-hosted SMS replacement. SMS needs a carrier, a GSM modem, or a paid gateway.
- LiveKit: server + keys, bind HTTP/WebRTC. Jitsi if the job is a meeting room, not an SDK.
- Webhook fan-out can live on /stacks/n8n-automation. Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.
```

## FAQ

### Can I drop Twilio SMS?

Not with open source alone. You still buy segments from a carrier or a gateway. This page replaces Programmable Voice/Video. Keep a thin SMS provider if you must send texts.

### LiveKit or Jitsi?

LiveKit if you are embedding rooms in an app. Jitsi if people just need a meeting URL.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/livekit-comms