10 Best Video Conferencing APIs in 2023

The shift towards online collaboration and the increased demand for cloud office services nowadays has led to the growth of the Real-Time Communication industry. Online meetings have become a standard for efficient business operations and no doubt will always in demand as the hybrid work model, with a blend of remote and in-person work continue.

So is there the best API to choose when building your own app? We have selected top 10 video conferencing APIs in 2023 that cater to a diverse range of needs, providing you with a comprehensive guide to make an informed decision.

What is a Video Conferencing API?

A Video Conferencing API is a set of protocols and tools that allows developers to integrate video conferencing functionality into their applications, websites, or services. This API enables seamless communication between different software systems, allowing developers to leverage existing video conferencing infrastructure and features without building them from scratch.

Due to the limited application scenarios of APIs, another crucial option to consider when selecting a video conferencing product is the Video Conferencing SDK. Unlike APIs, which offer higher-level abstractions and simplicity, SDKs provide a lower-level abstraction, granting more control and extensive customization options. The choice between an API and an SDK depends on the specific requirements and preferences, ensuring that the selected solution aligns with the unique needs of the development project.

What are the Benefits of Using a Conferencing API?

Using a conferencing API offers several benefits, including:

1. Ease of Integration: Conferencing APIs are designed to be easily integrated into existing applications, reducing development time and effort.
2. Feature-rich: Conferencing APIs often come with a range of features such as real-time video, audio, screen sharing, and more, providing a comprehensive solution for communication.
3. Reduced Maintenance: With a conferencing API, maintenance and updates are often handled by the API provider, reducing the burden on developers.
4. Faster Development: APIs offer pre-built functionalities, accelerating the development process and enabling quicker time-to-market for applications.
5. Reliability: Reputable conferencing APIs are built to provide reliable and stable communication services, enhancing the overall user experience.
6. Security: Many conferencing APIs come with built-in security features, ensuring that communication is conducted in a secure and encrypted manner, protecting user data and privacy.

Must Have Features in a Video Conferencing API

When considering a Video Conferencing API, several features are essential to ensure a comprehensive and reliable solution. Here are some must-have features:

1. Real-Time Video and Audio Communication: The API should provide robust support for real-time video and audio streaming to facilitate effective communication.
2. Screen Sharing: Enable users to share their screens during video conferences, enhancing collaboration for presentations, demonstrations, or remote assistance.
3. Chat and Messaging: Include text-based chat functionality to allow participants to communicate via messages during video conferences.
4. Recording and Playback: Provide the capability to record video conferences for later play back or archival purposes.
5. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with various platforms, including web browsers, mobile devices, and desktop applications, for a seamless user experience.
6. Multi-Participant Support: Support multiple participants in a single video conference, allowing group discussions and collaboration.

Top 10 Video Conferencing APIs & SDKs you should try in 2023

Tencent RTC Conference SDK

Tencent RTCConference is a product suitable for multi-person audio and video conversation scenarios such as business meetings, webinars, and online education. By integrating this product, you can add room management, member management, screen sharing, and other functions to your App in just three steps within a day, quickly launching your business.

Highlights:

1. Robust Conference Functionality: The solution offers an extensive suite of features, including room management, screen sharing, participant control, microphone management, and essential beauty filters, among others.
2. Swift SDK Integration into Existing Systems: Open-source components with user interfaces are provided, allowing for easy integration and customization of audio and video rooms with minimal code modifications.
3. Tailored Layout Customization: Users can establish their application's brand and style with the provided SDKs or utilize UIKits as templates to suit their preference.
4. Cross-Platform Meeting Flexibility: Seamlessly compatible with multiple platforms and devices such as iOS, Android, Web, Windows, and Electron, the solution enables users to conveniently engage in meetings through various methods.
5. Global Deployment and Compliance: Serving users from over 200 countries and regions, the conference solution is GDPR compliant, ensuring a global reach.
6. Outstanding performance in all network conditions: Sustains tens of millions of concurrent requests with at least 99.9% service availability guaranteed by SLA. Based on smart algorithms, Tencent RTC supports smooth interactive calls even under a packet loss rate of 70%.
7. Data Security & Compliance: Certified with ISO27017/27018/27701, CSA STAR, NIST CSF, ensuring global standards.

Zoom Meeting SDK

The Zoom Meeting SDK allows you to showcase the recognizable Zoom meeting and webinar interface within your application or website.

Highlights:

1. Multi-platform Support: The SDK offers extensive compatibility across various platforms, including web, iOS, Android, Electron, Linux and more.
2. Customizable UI Elements: Zoom offers a custom UI to make sure users can customize the user interface (UI) elements to align with the branding and design preferences of the application.
3. Direct access to raw data: Enables a data channel for custom communication needs, allowing the exchange of messages and information.

Twillo Video Rooms SDK

A Twilio Video Room is a computational resource that offers Real-time Communications (RTC) services to client applications through a set of APIs.There are 4 types of room provided: WebRTC Go Rooms, P2P Rooms (Peer-to-Peer), Group Rooms, and Small Group Rooms.

Highlights:

1. Versatility Across Multiple Scenarios: With various room types, it can cater to different developer needs.
2. Virtual Backgrounds: Enhance your video tracks with features like virtual backgrounds and background blurring.
3. Recording Rules API: Twilio allows you to take control of recording preferences for participants and tracks in your Video Rooms using the Recording Rules API.

Agora Live Video Calling & Video Chat SDK

Agora offers cross-platform solutions like Video UI Kit, App Builder, and extensions (including recording, analytics, etc.) to help accelerate your application development process.

Highlights:

1. Stable Video Quality: Agora's video chat API guarantees reliable video quality, devoid of interruptions, jitters, and delays, even in adverse network conditions. 
2. Global Scalability: Easily scale your application from one-on-one interactions to serving millions of users.
3. Multi-Track Video: The support for multiple audio and video tracks enables the process of publishing various camera or microphone streams instantly.

Vonage Video API

Formerly TokBox OpenTok, Vonage video API offers a rich set of live video features to meet the diverse needs of users.

Highlights:

1. Advanced Insights API: This API help you utilize usage and Quality of Service (QoS) data to boost customer engagement, optimize operations, and maximize return on investment (ROI).
2. Experience Composer API: A cloud service powered by APIs that allows you to capture the complete experience of your web application.
3. Video Chat Embeds: Integrate video call in your website with 1 line of code and is compatible across multiple web browsers.

Daily.co Prebuilt & Client SDKs

Daily provides mainly 2 types of solutions: Prebuilt API is for users who want to embed video feature in their apps asap, and Client SDKs gives users access to call primitives, which means you can have full control of every element of the video call feature in your app.

Highlights:

1. HIPAA Compliance for healthcare: Daily.co provides HIPAA-compliant recording and text chat features to ensure your apps meet regulatory requirements and safeguard user privacy and sensitive information.
2. Localized interfaces: video room’s language can be adjusted to user’s preference easily using the provided programming language method.
3. Built-in bandwidth management: This capability ensures that the video communication adapts to varying network conditions, optimizing the use of available bandwidth.

Sinch Voice & Video SDK

Sinch Video SDK enables calls from app to app or from app to a local phone number, users can establish calls with this SDK and no need for additional integration.

Highlights:

1. Global Connection: Sinch Video API leverages regional data centers across the globe, ensuring a robust and reliable global reach for seamless communication.
2. Flash Call Verification: Enhancing security measures, Sinch integrates Flash Call Verification along with efficient fallback methods to drive down costs and boost conversion rates.
3. Number Masking: Prioritizing privacy, Sinch Video API anonymizes numbers during conversations, providing an additional layer of security for users.

Jitsi Meet API

Jitsi is an open-source video conferencing solution, and its API, Jitsi Meet, allows developers to integrate Jitsi's video capabilities into their applications.

Highlights:

1. Open Source Flexibility: Jitsi Meet is an open-source platform, providing flexibility for customization and integration according to your specific needs.
2. No Account Required: Simplify the user experience with no account creation necessary. Participants can join meetings instantly without the hassle of login credentials.
3. End-to-End Encryption: Ensure secure and private communication with end-to-end encryption, safeguarding your meetings from unauthorized access.

Whereby Embedded

Whereby's API allows developers to embed video conferencing directly into their websites or applications, providing a simple and customizable solution.

Highlights:

1. Waiting Rooms: Waiting Rooms feature provides the host with control over participants joining a call. It allows the host to manage entry, deciding who can join the call and when.
2. Custom room settings: With the Whereby Embedded API, you can take advantage of custom room settings to tailor the recording and branding configurations for different rooms within your account.
3. Secure and Private Meetings: Whereby API is GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001 certified, and it allows meetings with password protection and you have control over who can join, enhancing privacy and confidentiality.

EnableX Video API

EnableX Video API serves perfectly for online conferencing. All the add-ons such as whiteboard, screen-sharing and UI SDKs are built for video conferencing purpose.

Highlights:

1. Scalability: Single room can host up to 500 participants in video meetings and 1000 participants in webinar.
2. PSTN Integration: allows users to make calls between VoIP networks and traditional landline or mobile phone networks.
3. Breakout Rooms: The meeting host or moderator can split up a big group and organize subgroups to achieve more focused discussions.

Conclusion

Having read this blog, we hope you've gained valuable insights in choosing suitable video conferencing APIs in 2023. Each API brings its own strengths to the table, tailored to meet different needs and preferences, but among these options, Tencent RTC is a standout choice, providing a comprehensive suite of features, support across multiple platforms, and a strong commitment to security.

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