In today’s interconnected world, connecting through applications has become necessary in almost all niches. According to current research, the video conferencing marketplace has earned over $13.82 billion in 2023. This means the role of video chat APIs has been revolutionized, opening new gateways for developers. Considering such technical advancements and needs, this guide will highlight the best video chat API for developers planning an app.
10 Video Chat APIs: Developing Communication Apps
Today, beginners and expert developers alike rely on video chatting APIs to add communication features to apps. Believing in smart work instead of hard work, we have listed some top-tier video chat API providers to ease your app development.
1. ZEGOCLOUD
To integrate video chat features in an app, ZEGOCLOUD has the most developer-friendly APIs and SDKs. Using them, developers can add video chat to apps with minimal coding and in as little time as possible. Notably, it aims to provide high-quality videos in your applications by offering 4K resolution. By adding the ZEGOCLOUD API in apps, developers can deliver 300ms ultra-low latency video on average.
Another noticeable fact about this platform is that it supports more than 10,000 participants in a video call. From the developer’s perspective, it has predesigned UIKits and customizable UI components, which you can integrate using dependency management tools. Besides the video chat API, ZEGOCLOUD has many other APIs and SDKs to enhance your app’s communication capabilities.
Key Features
- Enables face beautification for enhanced appearance
- Provides screen share feature for collaboration
- Offers virtual background to alter messy backgrounds
- Monitor call quality to ensure high-quality video streaming
- Allow recording to keep the video archives
Pricing Plans
- Video HD: $3.99 per 1000 minutes
- Video Full HD: $8.99 per 1000 minutes
- Video 2K: $15.99 per 1000 minutes
- Video 4K: $35.99 per 1000 minutes
Website: https://www.zegocloud.com/
2. Agora
The next video chat API provider is Agora, which lets developers embed video in the web, native apps, and mobile applications. Intending to connect people face-to-face, it provides customizable video calling SDKs and APIs. Moreover, it has reliable video quality that ensures a jitter-free, consistent video chat exchange even in an unstable internet connection.
Key Features
- Support screen sharing and interactive whiteboard
- Record calls in the cloud
- Publish multi-camera and microphone stream
Pricing Plans
- Video HD: $3.99/1000 minutes
- Video Full HD: $8.99 per 1000 minutes
Website: https://www.agora.io/en/
3. VideoSDK
If you are a developer looking for a secure video infrastructure, you must stop at VideoSDK, which offers AES-256 transport-level encryption. It supports over 20 frameworks, auto-adjusts stream quality and has auto-connect features that allow users to adjust to different network conditions. Furthermore, it has a customizable UI and template layout to let users set video orientations.
Key Features
- Video recording of up to 1080P quality
- Adaptive bitrate and session analytics
- Virtual backgrounds and multiple grid layouts
Pricing Plans
- Video call: $0.003 per participant minute
Website: https://www.videosdk.live/
4. Sendbird
Integrate Sendbird video chat APIs into your web and mobile application for high-quality video interactions. This platform deploys video chat in your app that connects people with secure infrastructure and is ready to scale. Additionally, it maintains TURN and STUN servers and offers stable transmission, low latency, and 24/7 SLA-based support.
Key Features
- Create rooms for group calls
- View and filter call data
- Video control and call history
Pricing Plans
- Peer-to-peer Price: $0.0014/per minute
- Server-relayed Price: $0.0035/per minute
- Cloud Recording: $0.0059/per minute
Website: https://sendbird.com/
5. Zoom Video SDK
This video chatting API provider is well-known in the communication realm and offers a pre-built video chat user interface. Through its UI Toolkit, developers can also effortlessly add countless scalable video calling features to their apps. In addition, Zoom offers live streaming, live transcription, file transfer, and cloud recording features for Android, iOS, and web applications.
Key Features
- Display 49 users’ videos on a native app
- Background noise suppression
- Audio and video volume control
Pricing Plans
- Free or Contact Zoom API Partner Plan
Website: https://developers.zoom.us/docs/api/rest/zoom-video-sdk-api/
6. GetStream
To empower developers, GetStream offers docs and tutorials that allow them to add video chat to their apps within days. It facilitates APIs and SDKs for leading frameworks, including React, Flutter, Android, React Native, iOS, and Unity. Regarding video chat features, it also provides custom roles and permissions to ensure a smooth experience.
Key Features
- Video call recording transcription
- Background blur and filter effects
- Video optimization by adjusting the resolution
Pricing Plans
- HD Video Call: $1.50/month for 1000 minutes
- Full HD Video Call: $3/month for 1000 minutes
- 2K Video Call: $6/month for 1000 minutes
- 4K Video Call: $12/month for 1000 minutes
Website: https://getstream.io/
7. MirrorFly
Another trustworthy video-calling API provider is MirrorFly, which is known for its customizable UI Kit elements. It provides personalized colors, logos, and typefaces to align the appearance of the video chat app according to your brand requirements. Moreover, it lets app users send and receive files within certain media exchange limitations.
Key Features
- Allow unlimited group and 1:1 calls
- Whiteboard and screen recording controls
- Camera switching and call history
Pricing Plans
- Contact sale or book demo
Website: https://www.mirrorfly.com/
8. Dyte
With its innovative video conferencing API and SDK, Dyte is a good option for considering customizable and interactive video chat in apps. It’s a secure and lightweight video chat API that leverages a no-code UI builder and industry-leading documentation. Furthermore, it facilitates screen sharing and a blank whiteboard for collaboration and brainstorming in video chats.
Key Features
- Auto bandwidth switching
- Virtual backgrounds and reactions
- CC audio transcripts and host controls
Pricing Plans
- Video: $0.004 per user per minute
Website: https://dyte.io/
9. Vonage
The second last reliable video chat API in the list, Vonage, offers fully programmable video chatting APIs to create rich, built-for-purpose communication experiences. Among its video chat feature, you will find group calling and screen sharing options designed to facilitate online collaboration. From the developers’ perspective, it ensures video chats and recordings are encrypted with AES-256 security levels.
Key Features
- Enable chat during the video call session
- Give performance analytics
- Control app layout and display
Pricing Plans
- Video call: $0.00395 per participant/minute
Website: https://www.vonage.com/?bypassgeoloc=true
10. Cometchat
Finally, Cometchat is one of the best video chat API and SDK facilitators, claiming customizable SDKs for communication. Growing businesses choose this solution because of its security, flexibility, and global infrastructure. Despite that, it provides a robust web-socket connection, which means ultra-low latency in video chat sessions.
Key Features
- Stream lectures and webinars online
- Boost 1:1 video call with complete encryption
- Generate a room or dial several contacts
Pricing Plans
- Video Calling: $0.003/user minute
- Voice and Video Call Recording: $0.006/minute
Website: https://www.cometchat.com/
Conclusion
To sum up, this article has listed the top-tier video chatting API providers, their key features, and their pricing plans. Upon reading, developers can decide which platform meets their needs and provides quick video feature integration. However, for further ease of selection, let us remind you that experts suggest using ZEGOCLOUD video chat API.