Since the Covid-19 pandemic, video communication has gained popularity across the globe. Most established companies, businesses, and startups took the opportunity by delivering video chat apps to serve online dates, business meetings, friendly calls, and so on. To rush the app launch and avoid costly development, brands turned to video conferencing APIs and SDKs. However, choosing the right video conferencing software takes time and effort. This post will guide you through the best video calling and conferencing APIs and SDKs to make your job easy.

What are Video Calling APIs and SDKs?

An SDK (Software Development Kit) is a set of development tools that help build an app for any specific platform. An SDK comes with a library of functionalities, features, and visual editors (graphic layouts) to develop video calling apps in a short time. The software development kit helps minimize the time used to develop every feature from scratch. SDKs integrate services for video game consoles, hardware tools, software frameworks, operating systems, and other development platforms.

An API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface that enables different sorts of software to communicate to exchange data. Simply, it provides the technical infrastructure for various tools to communicate and build an app, which is a video conferencing app. Most tech organizations have built APIs for their customers to interact with their websites seamlessly from anywhere.

What Benefits Can You Get from APIs and SDKs?

Building video chat applications requires a lot of resources, money, and time. If you want to launch your video communication system quickly, a good video calling API can do a lot for you. This section will discuss the benefits of utilizing video call APIs and SDKs.

1. Helps Save Business Resources

The good thing about using a video call service API is that it enables developers to concentrate more on app development than chat solutions. Using APIs helps you save a lot on hiring and training new resources from scratch. Well, we can all agree that video chat APIs help in boosting business productivity. It smooths the app development process and helps you focus on core business functionalities.

2. Enhances Fast Software Development

Technology has been growing fast, and everyone wants quick interactions and results. It is essential for your video app to flexible and adaptable. While holding conversations, some organizations may prefer laptops and desktops—however, people like different things, and some will choose mobile devices because of their flexibility. A good functioning video chat app can accommodate all kinds of requirements.

3. Engage Seamlessly Using Webcam

The best way to engage with customers remotely is by using a webcam. For this process, you will require a video SDK. However, you might also need some extra properties to live stream your video. The business can engage directly with their customers through the webcam during the process. Instead of face-to-face customer visits, online visits can be achieved within minutes. This will save a lot of time and resources. You can instantly start remote sales practices when implementing a video sale tool.

4. Multiple Language Support

When hosting a video chat and there is a risk of a language barrier, the subtitle program will be your saver. The subtitle program solves all language issues with video call SDK integration. The tools have multilanguage support, which is a big plus. You can easily reach customers living in different countries.

5. Ultimate Control to the Entire Video Call

SDKs empower their users by offering more freedom and control of the conversation. You can mute the video or blur the faces. Besides, you can change the background for a more formal look, all with just a few clicks. The sales team can bring the entire office to their home and engage with customers and leads—no need to leave home to increase sales.

Video Calling and Conferencing APK/SDK Checklist

Once you know the available video conferencing API solutions, there are things you have to keep in mind before making the final decision. Here is a guide to help you choose the best video call API for your business app.

1. Features

First, the video calling and conference API/SDK has to offer the features you require. If it doesn’t have what you need, it will be pointless to buy it. However, ensure there is a balance between benefits and costs. The must-have video call SDK features include:

· AR masks/beautification

· Call access management

· Background replacement/blur

· Peer-to-peer and group video calling

· Mute and camera toggle buttons.

2. Compatibility

Compatibility includes support for different mobile application frameworks, on-premise deployment, specific browsers, and devices. When it comes to device compatibility, the more of them a video chat SDK supports – the larger the target audience you reach.

For browsers, safari and chrome take 85% of the market. Cross-platform framework support is another great feature of a video calling API for your video chat app startup. On-premise deployment is great for companies with stringent security requirements: medical centers, nuclear power plants, and government agencies.

3. Performance

Performance is all about how the SDKs work on specific platforms. It includes:

Stability. Apart from how smooth the video looks, the video performance has to be lag-free. This causes hardware-related (an underpowered CPU or a slow camera) and lack of customization.

FPS. Frames-per-second is a metric used to see how smooth your video looks. Choose a from 30 FPS and above for better results.

Long-term performance. Users should be able to see your video chat or conferencing application for an extended period without encountering performance breakdowns. No user will use the application if it keeps breaking down every second.

4. Technical Support

This is an important consideration to keep in mind. The video API provider should be there to assist you in case their SDK gets some bugs. They should be able to fix all your issues within a short period. Before investing in the software, review the reviews to see what other users say about customer support.

5. Pricing

Lastly, you must know what you are paying for and whether it is worth it. All businesses have different budgets. It is best to choose a video call API that suits all your requirements and meets your budget needs.

Top 10 Best Video Calling and Conferencing APIs and SDKs

10. MirrorFly

MirrorFly is a customizable video conferencing solution that offers feature-rich video call APIs & SDKs to build an accessible video conferencing platform that can run on different Web, Android, and iOS applications. The video conferencing solution supports 1000+ participants in virtual collaboration. It allows you to host meetings, seminars, webinars, and many events to connect professionals worldwide.

The solution allows you to analyze, manage, and configure the entire conference in real time with video calls. With analysis reports and an insightful dashboard, you can manage and simply thousands of discussions, meetings, and webinars taking place in one place. MirroFlly video call solution has amazing features that will enhance the application’s performance, and it is also embedded with video encoders for better video quality.

Notable features

· Video broadcasting

· Video recording

· In-meeting group and private chat

· End-to-end security

· Whiteboard

· Group video calls and dial-in access to up to 100+ participants.

9. Twilio

Twilio is another video call SDK provider to the global market. It is a flexible solution that allows enterprises and developers to build a video calling app on Android and iOS using WebRTC signaling. Twilio platform uses APIs for any first-party data consumer or any digital channel. With their scalable cloud infrastructure, deployment of video chat on the application is simple, where SDKs help to customize the entire video chat or call apps.

The solution gives you the freedom to engage with your customers anywhere across the world. You can integrate APIs to create solutions for WhatsApp messaging, SMS, voice, video, and email. With flexible workflows, contextual data, and cross-channel communications, you can empower your teams to engage people in a way that will make them feel special.

Notable Features

· Secure media storage

· Record video for future reference

· Group conferencing for up to 50 participants

· Screen sharing

· GDPR compliant

· Supports peer-to-peer communication for up to 4 participants.

8. Comechat

Comechat is a communication platform that delivers a secure, scalable, and easy-to-use solution that drives peer-to-peer engagement for your website. The platform has SDKs designed to help you build your app without wasting time and resources. It is available for Android, iOS, and web platforms; they all work together, making cross-platform easy.

With its intuitive messaging experience, users can do more without leaving your platform. It has a 1-to-1 and group text chat that allows users to send messages in public groups or private or protected conversations. You can send notifications to your application whenever the set events happen using Webhooks and Bots. Overall, it is a great solution for every use case, including dating, social community, marketplace, live stream, Edu-tech, and on-demand.

Notable features

· Voice and video calling

· Typing and reading indicators

· Rich media attachments

· Customer support chat and customer messages

· Online presence indicators

· Webhooks and Bots

· End-to-end encryption

· 92+ integrations.

7.PubNub

PubNub is one of the top-tier data stream networks worldwide, which is much easier to use than other solutions. The video chat solution provides companies with powerful APIs to build robust video chat applications on Android and iOS. PubNub offers security layers and features for a good video chat experience across different platforms.

Its APIs allow users from various locations to connect seamlessly, manage and scale the real-time chat SDK apps and IoT devices. It gives powerful enterprise-grade security standards in any video call app application. Furthermore, PubNub has special features that display other participants’ online and offline statuses.

Notable features

· End-to-end encryption

· Push notification

· Extensive plugins

· Signaling of WebRTC

· Broadcasting messages and transferring metadata before calls.

6. EnableX

EnableX is an excellent solution that helps users build HD video-enabled applications on Android, iOS, and Web applications. You can enjoy an amazing video chat experience with feature-rich SDKs and APIs that offer one-to-one video chats and group video calls. Furthermore, EnableX provides a live interactive broadcast feature to broadcast video live across different devices and live video streaming directly on Facebook, YouTube, and other channels.

It is powered by the world’s only Visual Builder tool, allowing you to design your UI with only a few clicks, drags, and drops. The technology enables users to understand and be understood during an online conversation by interpreting distraction, boredom, joy, sadness, confusion, stress, lethargy, and many more. Use the programming language of your choice to quickly build production-ready video, messaging, and voice applications on the developer-trusted platform.

EnableX has a distinct advantage over its competitors as it provides multiple deployment options, including hybrid, public, private clouds, and on-premise, to meet business goals, security, and compliance requirements.

Notable features

· Customizable UI

· Upfront, one-time payment

· Fully customizable for any feature and functionality

· End-to-end encryption

· Screen-sharing and file-sharing feature

· 2000+ participants accommodation.

5. QuickBlox

If you need a perfect API platform for multiparty video conferencing, QuickBlox is your best bet. QuickBlox solution provides a developer toolkit to integrate video calling features into any app. It offers many facilities, including session creations, receiving callbacks, and much more. It is an API that is utilized by enterprise-grade and social networking applications.

The software can be deployed in your private cloud or local on-premise service –host the software whenever you need it. It complies with GDPR and HIPAA, meeting the highest security and regulatory compliance level. QuickBlox is trusted and valued by many in the world, including finance and banking, healthcare, marketplaces and E-commerce, education and coaching, and social networking.

Notable features

· End-to-end encryption

· Video/voice calling

· It contains ready-to-go modules such as push notifications

· Offers real-time chat features

· Features core WebRTC technology for a secure peer-to-peer connectivity

· On-premises or QuickBlox hosting

· Real-time instant messaging.

4. Vonage

With Vonage software, you can power your customer experiences and connect employees anytime, anywhere, on any device. Vonage is considered one of the famous Paas companies to build video conferencing apps on Android, iOS, and Web applications. They have powerful video chat SDKs, APIs, and customized video calling apps that improve the user experience daily.

Voyage is embedded with WebRTC and improved features to make the video call experience standard across platforms. The good thing about the Vonage API platform is that it offers global performance and scale for voice, video, SMS, and social messaging communication channels.

Notable features

· Supports one-to-one chat and groups chats

· Effortless integration across any platform

· Highly scalable

· Telephony interoperabilities and WebRTC integration

· Video/voice calling with conferencing

· Broadcast messaging option

· Screen sharing and exchange of data during the live session.

3. Agora

Agora is a unique live video calling and chat SDK with the potential for customization. Its video SDK makes it easy to embed real-time video chat into the web, mobile, and native apps. The video call solution delivers one-to-one and group video calls on different applications and platforms.

Agora’s voice calling API allows you to integrate quality, stutter-free online voice chat into your app and makes it simple to add new features like noise cancelation, 360-degree surround sound, voice effects, and active speaker recognition. The video calling SDK offers complete control over the experience you create.

Moreover, Agora has interactive live streaming SDKs that make it simple for you to build apps with live audio and video streaming that creates deeper connections and more revenue opportunities. Still, Agora’s Real-Time Messaging SDK uses an intelligent network to transmit messages simultaneously to many channels.

Notable features

· End-to-end encryption

· One-to-one video calls

· Group chat video calls

· Video & audio call recording

· Live interactive video streaming

· Real-time messaging.

2. Apphitect IM

Apphitect is a trusted and reliable video call SDK and video call API provider in the market. It is embedded with incredible features to establish good connectivity among different devices. The robust solution can build a video chat app for Android and iOS to enable HD multiparty conference calling.

It is built in a secure cloud environment that enables enterprises and individuals to make video calls faster without worrying about unauthorized access. With this solution, you can connect through crystal clear voice with anyone from anywhere around the world, thanks to its one-to-one voice calling feature.

Notable features

· One-to-one voice calling and cross-platform calling

· Backup and storage

· Voice and video call recording

· Cross-platform messaging

· File and image sharing

· One-to-one chat or group chat

· Push notifications.

1. Sinch

Sinch is a cloud communication company that connects businesses to their customers via APIs. It makes the engagement between a business and its customers better. The solution gives an enriched video call API experience that runs the application with real-time communication – messaging, voice, and video. Furthermore, the platform empowers WebRTC and VoIP to add communication to real-time chat applications.

This video call SDK provides peer-to-peer support with advanced features that improve the experience. The platform has a special feature that allows you to pause your stream and continue after you are done with whatever distracted you. It is a flexible software that is compatible across any platform.

Notable features

· Flexible SDK

· On cloud hosting infrastructure

· Easy integration

· Peer-to-peer communication

· Compatible across any platform

· Extensive program documentation

· Pause and resume the stream

· Screenshot.

Wrapping Up

After reading our post, we hope you have found the best video calling and conferencing API and SDK solution for your business or organization. Also, we hope you understand the relevant aspects of video chat SDK and APIs. If you plan to build a chat messaging app, use a good API that suits your business requirements. So, wait no more! Conduct market research, select your best API depending on needs, and start the app development process. All the best!