7 Best Live Streaming SDKs & APIs: Full Review [2024]

Explore Live Streaming API & SDK

Explore the best live streaming APIs and SDKs you can use for your app, to build high-quality & real-time streaming capabilities.

Live streaming is now a big part of our daily digital lives. 

It simply is changing the way we watch content and talk to each other online. 

And on the other side, the demand for brand-new, interesting and modern live streaming apps is increasing day by day. Consequently, this is a pressure for app developers. Because they need to build unique apps for every project. 

But, if you’d ask us, there is an easy way to face this challenge. True! 

There are pre-built SDKs at the rescue. Developers can use these tools to build apps faster and easier. 

Now the question is, which one should a developer choose? Which is the best one in the market? Is the SDK customizable? Does it have all the features you need for the project? 

To address all these questions, our team went into a 12-day research to test every SDK and find the ins and outs thoroughly. 

The next 5 minutes of this read will give you a clear picture of each SDK and help you choose the right one before you close this tab. 

First, let’s get started with the basics!  

What is a Live Streaming Solution? 

A live streaming solution is a set of tools and services that enable real-time video broadcasting in apps or websites. It typically includes software development kits (SDKs) and APIs designed specifically for live video streaming.

You’ll need these tools to handle tasks like video encoding, transmission, and playback. This makes it easy to add live streaming features to your projects, way faster than you think.

The good news is the SDK provides libraries and samples to make the integration easier. And the great news is – you need not write complex streaming code from scratch. 

With a reliable live streaming solution, you can bring live video features to your apps. In fact, the SDK handles all the important tasks like video encoding and broadcasting, and you need not sweat it developing all by yourself.  

Top 7 Live Streaming SDK & API Providers in 2024

The top 7 best live streaming API & SDK providers are MirrorFly, VideoSDK, Zegocloud, GetStream, 100ms, Agora, and Vonage.

1. MirrorFly – Top Customizable Live Stream Solution

Mirrorfly stands out as a top choice for live streaming SDK and API due to its advanced real-time communication features, offering ultra-low latency for flawless live interactions. It provides highly customization options, allowing developers to tailor the streaming experience to their specific needs.

With MirrorFly’s white-label solution, you can make the live streaming solution your own. You can change how it looks to match your brand – just play around with the logo, colors and features as much as you need. This is the very reason we rank MirrorFly at the top of this list. 

And the best part is, you can deploy your live streaming platform on any server – we mean it. You can host all your data on your own servers or MirrorFly’s multi-tenant cloud servers. Truly, MirrorFly knows its customers better! 

Key Features of MirrorFly Live Streaming Solution

• Collaborative broadcasting
• Emoji
• Analyze & Debug
• RTMP Out
• Virtual Background
• Cross-platform Support
• Whiteboard
• Raise hand
• Backstage Mode
• Record live streams

Pricing

MirrorFly Pricing Models:

• Monthly Subscription:
  • Essentials Plan: $399/month
  • Premium Plan: $999/month
• One-time License:
  • Custom Pricing
  • Requires contacting Sales team for a quotation

 

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2. VideoSDK

Most Flexible Video Live Streaming SDK For Custom Experiences!

VideoSDK is a top solution for tech markets in the USA and India. This SDK works across many programming languages and platforms and is great for any use case. It offers tools to build live streaming apps for web, iOS, and Android. 

Users can record video and audio separately during streams. The platform lets streamers change backgrounds and invite guests. VideoSDK helps creators make advanced apps easily in both countries.

Key Features 

• Multi-streamer support
• Viewer-to-co-host transition
• Adaptive bitrate streaming
• Multi-platform broadcasting
• Browser-agnostic streaming

Pricing

VideoSDK pricing for Interactive Live Streaming:

• Free tier: 10,000 minutes included
• Livestream (Speaker): $0.003 per minute
• Livestream (Viewer): $0.0015 per minute
• Encoding: $0.04 per minute (300 free minutes included)

3. Zegocloud

The Most Reliable Cloud-Based Live Streaming Solution!

ZEGOCLOUD is a powerful live streaming SDK solution that offers high-quality, real-time streaming experiences. The platform features adaptive bitrate streaming and low latency. Most developers around the world find this SDK popular for adding live streaming to apps. 

ZEGOCLOUD provides SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, and React Native and enables building video apps that can handle millions of users. The platform also offers pre-built kits to speed up app development.

Key Features 

• Live video streaming
• Real-time messaging
• Screen sharing
• Recording functionality
• Virtual background support

Pricing

Zegocloud Pricing: 

• Audio: $0.99 per 1,000 minutes
• Video: $3.99 per 1,000 minutes

4. GetStream

The Most Feature-Rich Live Streaming SDK For Rapid Development!

Stream offers flexible video and audio tools for creating live streams. It uses a global edge network for wide-reaching broadcasts. One more highlight of Getstream as a live streaming solution is, users can stream from mobile devices or via RTMP. 

The platform can handle millions of viewers. Stream helps build enterprise-level streaming solutions and simplifies the process, avoiding complex tech details. Plus, users don’t need long development times to create custom streaming apps.

Key Features 

• AI-Driven Image Moderation
• Threaded Conversations
• RTMP In and Out
• WebRTC
• Edge Network

Pricing

Stream’s pricing:

• Video storage: $0.00285 per minute
• Video delivery: $0.0017 per minute

5. 100ms

The Most Globally Accessible Live Streaming Solution!

100ms is a cloud platform for adding video and audio conferencing to apps that provides APIs, SDKs, and a user-friendly dashboard. The platform helps capture, distribute, and record live audio and video content and offers low-latency interactive streaming for millions of users. 

The solution is in fact super-easy to integrate into your apps and the platform allows customization of stream layouts and quality. It combines ease of use with powerful features for real-time communication.

Key Features 

• Global server network
• Low latency streaming
• High-quality video/audio
• Interactive widgets
• Call-to-action buttons

Pricing

100ms pricing:

• Base rate: $0.004 per participant per minute

6. Agora

Highly Engaging SDK For Social Streaming Experiences!

Agora is a popular live streaming SDK with low latency and high-quality audio/video. It integrates voice, video, recording, and messaging into apps. The SDK supports iOS, Android, and web development. 

The platform handles 50 billion minutes of streaming monthly across 200 countries and is widely used in gaming for its stability. It offers premium features like AR masks and real-time analytics. Agora auto-scales to prevent downtime as apps grow. It provides high-quality video conferencing with intelligent routing.

Key Features 

• Automatic subtitles/captions
• Multi-platform streaming
• Global network coverage
• Live-chat integration
• Premium add-ons (effects, AR masks)

Pricing

Agora pricing details:

• Audio calls: $0.99 per 1,000 participant minutes
• HD Video: $3.99 per 1,000 participant minutes
• Full HD Video: $8.99 per 1,000 participant minutes

7. Vonage

Highly Engaging SDK For Social Streaming Experiences!

Vonage offers a comprehensive live streaming API solution and provides powerful stream APIs and detailed documentation. The platform supports iOS, Android, and web development. Vonage allows integration of high-quality streaming into existing apps plus it offers customization options for video quality and frame rate. 

The platform includes performance analysis tools and security measures. Vonage promises scalability for various participant needs. However, some users may find customization and integration challenging.

Key Features 

• Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android, web)
• Customizable video quality and resolution
• Real-time streaming capabilities
• Performance analysis tools
• Scalable infrastructure

Pricing

Vonage pricing details:

• Basic plan: $9.99 per month
• Free minutes: 2,000 across plans
• Additional minutes: $0.00395 per minute per participant
• Recording: $0.10 per minute
• HLS streaming: $0.15 per minute

How Do You Choose The Right Live Streaming SDK?

There are several factors you need to consider when choosing the best in-app live streaming API for your platform. But you need not sweat this. We’ve prepared a checklist you could use when choosing the service.

1. Should run on every device

The API you choose should work on many different devices. It has to run well on phones, computers, and tablets, so that your app users will be able to access your live streams, as per their convenience. 

Just to emphasize, a good API will work on both Apple and Android systems.

2. Quality is important

Everyone loves to watch live streams that play in great quality. This means, you must choose an API that delivers clear picture and sound quality. It should work well even when internet connections are slow. 

Look for APIs that can change video quality based on internet speed. This helps viewers watch your stream without problems, even if their internet isn’t very fast.

3. Must perform with any size of audience

Your API should be able to grow with your needs. It should work well whether you have only a few viewers or a big crowd of followers. Check if your API can handle a sudden increase in the viewer count. You never know when your streams will go viral! 

4. Include essential and modern features 

Look for useful features in the API. Some solutions come with a lot of features, most of which are simply crap. Choose essential features like options to choose video quality and the ability to replay past streams. Sometimes, you will also need features that indicate how many people are watching your streams. 

Plus, you must also not compromise on recording features which lets you save videos for later or make money out of it. In a nutshell, the more useful features an API has, the more you can do with your live stream.

5. Keeps every stream & everyone safe

The API should keep your content and your users’ information safe. Ensure the SDK you choose has encryption features. A lot of hackers out there would want to dodge into your streams and do things you’d rather not prefer.  This is why we insist you to put security a priority when choosing the SDK. Besides, you’ll definitely need a secure live streaming SDK to keep your viewers’ personal information private. They trust in you and give them your details, and it is your responsibility to keep their data safe. 

6. Is easy to integrate

You are going to have questions setting up the API. Check if there’s a team ready to help you when you really need them. See if there’s a community built around the API to offer advice when you are stuck. 

7. Streams like a rockstar

The API should work fast and smoothly. It should handle many users without slowing down even if they are in different parts of the world.  Good performance equals to your viewers having a better experience watching your stream.

8. Must be a good deal for the money

You need to keep things within your budget – that’s important. Collect a list of API providers and compare their prices. Check if you’re getting good value for your money. Sometimes, paying a bit more can get you better features or support. But make sure you’re not paying for things you don’t need.

9. Is easy to use

The API should be easy to set up and use. Look for providers that offer good examples and tutorials. Check if they have tools to help you get started quickly. An easy-to-use live streaming API can save you a lot of time and frustration.

10. Loved by users

Read what other people say about the API. Pay attention to both good and bad comments. User reviews can give you real-world information about how well the API works.

Think about all these points and then decide up on the API you’ll sign up for. Take your time to compare different options before making a choice. 

How to Build a Live Streaming App with MirrorFly Live Streaming SDK?

Building a live streaming app is easy with MirrorFly Live Streaming SDK. It offers a complete package of APIs and SDKs for creating custom streaming platforms. You get over 1000 features to make your streams interactive and engaging. MirrorFly is fully customizable, letting you add your own branding and logo. 

You can host it on your own servers or use MirrorFly’s cloud hosting. The solution gives you full access to the source code, so you can change anything you need. MirrorFly works with different tech stacks to fit your needs and budget. If you need help, you can even hire MirrorFly’s team to build your app. This makes MirrorFly a top choice for businesses wanting to create their own live streaming apps with full control.

Want more details about the SDK? 

Contact our team of experts today!