10 Best Video Conferencing APIs & SDKs in 2025

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TL;DR: 

• A video conferencing API lets you access a third-party app from your own. A video conferencing SDK is a ready-made module that you can integrate into your app and get certain features;
• The use cases of a video conferencing SDK/API include remote work, telehealth, eLearning, social media, and virtual events;
• Using a video conferencing SDK lets you save on development, launch faster, get better security, and achieve a more streamlined user experience;
• Some of the top 10 products in this niche are Banuba Face AR SDK, Zoom, Agora, and Zegocloud.

What is a Video Conferencing API & SDK?

Before diving into the specifics, let’s clarify the fundamentals: What are video conferencing APIs and SDKs, and how do they differ?

A video conferencing API (application programming interface) is a set of programming instructions and protocols that allow your app to communicate with external video conferencing services via the internet, typically relying on cloud-based infrastructure. It's ideal if you need quick integration with minimal code, but customization options may be limited.

A video conferencing SDK (software development kit) provides tools and pre-built components (libraries, documentation, and code samples) to embed video conferencing features directly into your app. SDKs enable deeper customization and tighter integration within your application’s native interface and workflows.

Simply put, use an API for quick connectivity with less customization, and choose an SDK if you require extensive control over user experience and integration depth.

Building from Scratch vs. API/SDK Integration 

When considering the integration of video conferencing capabilities, developers typically face two choices: build a solution entirely from scratch or integrate existing APIs and SDKs. 

Developing a fully custom video conferencing app from scratch involves extensive engineering effort, potentially taking up to 6 to 12 months, with costs ranging from $50,000 to over $200,000 depending on complexity, scale, and required functionality. 

On the other hand, integrating pre-built APIs and SDKs can drastically reduce both development timelines and budget, enabling teams to roll out powerful video features in a matter of weeks or even days. And the cost depends on the solution you choose — you can leverage open-source video conferencing APIs.

Video Conferencing API & SDK: Use Cases

Let’s discuss typical use cases to see the growing potential of video calling solutions. 

Remote Work

​​According to Dialpad, 83% of employees spend 1/3 of their workweek on video meetings. Video calls, team meetings, screen sharing, and real-time chat integrated within productivity apps — all these enhance communication and teamwork, resulting in better productivity for 94% of surveyed businesses. 

Online Education

Educational institutions and platforms have embraced video conferencing to support virtual classrooms, webinars, and interactive learning sessions. 

According to a TechValidate survey, 87% of educators and administrators in colleges and universities plan to increase their investments in online collaboration tools. Almost 90% believe video conferencing can help more people get advanced degrees. 

Telehealth 

Healthcare providers utilize video conferencing for telemedicine services, enabling remote consultations and patient monitoring. As of early 2024, 54% of Americans have engaged in telehealth services, with 38% using it for medical or mental health needs. The telehealth industry is expanding at an annual rate of 28.9%, with over 116 million users globally.

Social Apps 

Video conferencing APIs and SDKs power social platforms and entertainment apps, facilitating live streaming, interactive events, and augmented reality (AR) experiences. These technologies enable real-time engagement, enhancing user interaction and content delivery.

Virtual Events

Organizations host virtual events and webinars to reach wider audiences and maintain engagement. Notably, 99% of companies surveyed consider webinars and virtual events an essential part of their marketing strategy.

Benefits of Using Video Conferencing APIs and SDKs

Leveraging APIs and SDKs for video conferencing offers key advantages for developers and businesses:

• Rapid integration: Quickly add advanced video features, shortening development cycles from months to weeks;
• Enhanced UX: Deliver HD video, minimal latency, and interactive collaboration, improving user satisfaction;
• Flexible customization: Easily tailor features and UI to meet specific app requirements and ensure seamless integration;
• Built-in security: Gain robust security features, including encryption and compliance with standards such as HIPAA and GDPR;
• Cost savings: Avoid significant infrastructure and maintenance costs, focusing resources on core functionalities;
• Cross-platform support: Ensure consistent experiences across web, Android, iOS, and desktop platforms.

Top 10 Best Video Conferencing APIs & SDKs in 2025

Here’s an in-depth look at the top 10 APIs and SDKs available today. 

Banuba Video Conferencing SDK

Banuba Video Conferencing SDK stands out as the leading solution for integrating powerful and immersive AR conferencing features into Android, iOS, and web platforms. 

Core Features:

• Real-time video calls with robust multi-party support;
• Advanced AR features, including:
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Face masks and beauty filters
  • Multi-face detection
  • AI-powered beautification
• HD video support;
• Highly detailed rendering thanks to 3,308 face mesh vertices;
• Extensive catalog of ready-to-use AR effects and assets;
• GDPR-compliant data handling, optional HIPAA-ready setup, and basic accessibility support;
• Comprehensive documentation and easy-to-use SDK for rapid and easy integration.

“Banuba’s SDK was by far the most developer-friendly AR solution we tested. We had multi-party calls with live filters running at 30+ FPS on mid-tier Android devices in no time. Face tracking held up even in poor lighting and partial occlusion. Just note: on low-end devices, heavy effects may impact frame rate. Web support is solid via WebAssembly, though older browsers might struggle. Overall — smooth integration, great docs, and powerful AR.” — Alex M., Lead Mobile Engineer

Banuba’s unique AR-enhanced video conferencing features helped a social AR game, Hyperspeed, get higher user engagement and 50k+ downloads. And the professional video conferencing app VROOM managed to get 30% more MAUs and 54% more sign-ups after integrating Banuba's SDK.

Banuba Video Conferencing SDK is perfect for social and entertainment apps, remote collaboration tools needing immersive interaction, telehealth and wellness apps enhancing patient engagement, and virtual events and webinars seeking innovative audience interaction.

It offers a customizable pricing model based on usage and project requirements.

Pros: 

• Powerful AR features; 
• Cross-platform compatibility;
• Fast & easy integration; 
• Great for engagement-heavy apps; 
• GDPR & HIPAA-ready.

Cons: 

• May run slower on low-end devices.

Zoom Video SDK

Zoom's Video SDK enables developers to build custom video-based applications using Zoom's core technology on Web, Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.

Core features:

• High-quality video and audio with minimal delay;
• Screen sharing and live chat functionalities;
• Data streams for real-time collaboration;
• Fully GDPR & HIPAA compliant;
• Built-in live captioning (including real-time AI captions);
• Screen reader support;
• WCAG 2.1 aligned in UI/UX practices;
• Customizable UI components.

Zoom's reliable infrastructure, a comprehensive feature set, and scalability can be a perfect choice for enterprise applications and educational platforms. However, support costs can be quite high, and it offers limited customization compared to competitors.

This video conferencing SDK offers 10,000 free session minutes per month and a pay-as-you-go pricing thereafter.

Pros: 

• Reliable infrastructure; 
• Cross-platform; 
• Live captioning; 
• Enterprise-grade security.

Cons: 

• Limited customization; 
• Higher support costs.

3. Zegocloud

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ZEGOCLOUD offers a comprehensive video calling SDK designed for high-quality, real-time communication for web, Android, iOS, Windows, and native applications. 

Core Features:

• Real-time voice and video communication;
• Live streaming capabilities;
• Screen sharing and whiteboard features;
• AR stickers and beautification options;
• 4K video support;
• GDPR-compliant;
• Basic accessibility features (captions);
• Ultra-low latency. 

Its flexible integration options and a rich feature set with AR capabilities are perfect for social, entertaining, telehealth, and educational solutions looking for interactive features. 

The pricing varies based on the feature set. 

Pros: 

• Ultra-low latency;
•  AR stickers;
•  4K video;
•  Scalable for social & live apps.

Cons: 

• Complex pricing;
•  Less formal support for compliance.
  
  

Agora Video SDK

Agora provides a robust SDK for real-time video and audio communication, supporting a wide range of use cases from one-on-one calls to large-scale broadcasts. It's available for Web, Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.

Core features:

• High-quality video and audio streaming;
• Real-time messaging and recording;
• GDPR-compliant and HIPAA-ready setup available for enterprise;
• Closed captioning supported via third-party integration;
• Global low-latency infrastructure;
• Screen sharing and collaboration;
• Multiple audio and video tracking.

Agora is known for its strong developer community on Slack, Stack Overflow, and GitHub. It's an excellent solution for large-scale virtual events and webinars, gaming applications with real-time communication, and telehealth platforms requiring reliable video calls.

Agora SDK offers the pay-as-you-go model with the first 10,000 minutes free each month and $0.0265 per minute thereafter.

Pros: 

• Strong community; 
• Low latency; 
• HIPAA-ready; 
• Great scalability.

Cons: 

• Complex API structure; 
• Usage costs can rise quickly.
  
  

Daily.co Video API

Daily.co offers a developer-friendly API for integrating video and audio calls into web, iOS, and Android applications, emphasizing ease of use and scalability.

Core Features:

• Real-time video and audio communication;
• Screen sharing and chat functionalities;
• ​​HIPAA support available on paid plans;
• Supports captions and transcription features;
• Recording options and breakout rooms.

The simple integration with minimal code, large-scale interactive streams, and flexible pricing are a great choice for startups, SMEs, and educational platforms. However, some users reported sound quality and lag issues.

Daily.co Video API offers 10,000 free minutes per month and $0.004 per participant minute thereafter. 

Pros: 

• Simple to set up; 
• Fast backend integration;
• HIPAA on paid plans.

Cons: 

• Limited visual customization; 
• Sound lag reported by some users.
  
  

Jitsi Meet API (Open Source)

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Jitsi Meet is a free, open-source video conferencing solution that allows developers to integrate secure video meetings into their applications on the web, iOS, and Android.

Core Features:

• End-to-end encrypted video calls;
• Screen sharing and chat functionalities;
• Customizable UI and meeting controls;
• HD audio with Opus;
• Document editing via Etherpad. 

It's a win-win option for businesses seeking self-hosted solutions and requiring complete control over video conferencing features. However, customization may require more development efforts. Despite a strong community, it offers limited official support compared to commercial solutions. 

Pros: 

• Free & open-source;
• Fully customizable;
• Privacy-focused.

Cons: 

• No official support; 
• Requires technical expertise.

Twilio Video SDK

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Twilio's Video SDK offers programmable video capabilities, allowing developers to build customized video applications on Android, iOS, and web. 

Core features:

• Programmable video with flexible APIs
• Multi-party calls and recording;
• Dominant speaker detection;
• HIPAA-ready (requires BAA with Twilio);
• GDPR-compliant;
• Network quality indicators;
• Screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and noise cancellation;
• Video rooms with up to 50 participants and a file-sharing feature. 

Go for it if you require tailored video experiences, but keep in mind that customization requires extensive coding.  

The cost is $0.004 per participant per minute with a pay-as-you-go model. 

Pros: 

• Highly customizable; 
• Reliable infra;
•  HIPAA-ready; 
• Developer tools.

Cons: 

• Steep learning curve; 
• No native captioning.

Vonage Video API (formerly TokBox)

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​​Vonage's Video API provides a WebRTC-based platform for embedding live video into applications on web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. 

Core features:

• HD video conferencing with screen sharing;
• Cloud recording and archiving;
• HIPAA & GDPR compliant;
• AI tools for video and audio effects;
• Strong security and compliance measures;
• Profound reporting and usage insights. 

The Voyage's Video API offers usage-based pricing with specific rates available upon request. 

Pros: 

• Enterprise-grade compliance; 
• AI tools; 
• Broad platform support.

Cons: 

• Pricing on request; 
• Less startup-friendly.
  
  

100ms Video SDK

Source

100ms provides a robust platform for building live video applications on web, Android, iOS, React Native, and Flutter. 

Core features:

• Real-time video and audio conferencing;
• Interactive live streaming;
• Screen sharing, recording, and whiteboard;
• Virtual backgrounds and breakout rooms;
• Polls, quizzes, and emoji reactions;
• HIPAA-ready as a paid add-on;
• GDPR-compliant;
• Post-call transcription and AI-generated summaries;
• RTMP input and output.

The solution offers 10,000 free conferencing and streaming minutes every month with the pay-as-you-go model. However, there are additional costs for compliance and premium support. 

It’s an excellent choice for large-scale events and webinars. 

Pros: 

• Interactive tools; 
• AI summaries; 
• HIPAA as add-on.

Cons: 

• Pricy premium features; 
• Learning curve for complex events.

Daily.co Video SDK

Daily.co offers a flexible and scalable cross-platform video SDK that enables developers to integrate real-time video and audio calls into their applications.  

Core Features:

• Real-time video and audio communication;
• Screen sharing, chat, and breakout rooms;
• Recording and real-time transcription;
• HIPAA support available on paid plans;
• Customizable UI components;
• Global mesh network ensuring low latency;
• Security features include end-to-end encryption.

It's an excellent choice for large-scale webinars, virtual conferences, healthcare applications requiring HIPAA compliance, and educational platforms with real-time interaction.

The pricing starts at 10,000 free minutes monthly and follows the usage-based model. 

Pros: 

• Easy to use; 
• Cross-platform SDKs; 
• HIPAA support on premium.

Cons: 

• Limited UI control; 
• Captioning features need improvement.

How to Choose the Right Video Conferencing API or SDK

The choice might be tough, so here’s a checklist for selecting the best video conferencing API or SDK to match your needs:

• Identify core project needs: scale, platform, AR features, recording, screen sharing, etc.
• Assess integration complexity and quality of developer resources. Is there a strong community? Are there guidelines and documentation available? 
• Evaluate pricing structures against your budget constraints.
• Verify customization capabilities and UI flexibility.
• Prioritize solutions with robust security and compliance standards.
• Conduct real-world testing for latency and performance in target locations.

Common Challenges and Best Practices

Integrating video conferencing APIs and SDKs comes with distinct challenges, but knowing best practices helps ensure a successful implementation. Consider these key issues and recommendations to enhance the user experience:

• Handling network variability and latency — Use adaptive streaming techniques and global infrastructure solutions to maintain consistent call quality across various network conditions.
• Managing multi-party video calls and synchronization — Opt for solutions that handle synchronization efficiently, maintaining audio-video consistency even in large conferences.
• Ensuring privacy and data security — Choose APIs and SDKs with built-in end-to-end encryption, secure authentication protocols, and compliance with industry standards (HIPAA, GDPR).
• Optimizing for mobile devices and low bandwidth — select platforms that optimize performance through adaptive bitrate technology and lightweight, efficient codecs to ensure quality on mobile and lower-bandwidth connections.
• Customizing UI and UX — Look for highly customizable SDKs that let developers seamlessly integrate conferencing features into existing apps, matching the brand identity and user expectations.
• Leveraging AR features for engagement — Augmented reality features such as virtual backgrounds, AR masks, and beauty filters enhance user interaction and increase engagement. Solutions like Banuba's Video Conferencing SDK provide advanced AR capabilities, helping apps stand out with engaging, interactive experiences.

Conclusion

The right video conferencing API or SDK can transform user experiences in remote work, education, telehealth, and virtual events. Among the top solutions reviewed, Banuba Video Conferencing SDK stands out, providing powerful AR features for uniquely immersive interactions.

Explore Banuba’s AR Conferencing and evaluate other solutions to find the perfect fit for your project.

Reference List

Acrobits. (n.d.). Why video conferencing will be more important. Acrobits. https://acrobits.net/blog/unified-communications/why-video-conferencing-will-be-more-important/

Banuba. (2024, February 1). How to integrate a video conferencing API into your app. https://www.banuba.com/blog/video-conferencing-api-integration

Cleveroad. (2023, May 9). How to build a video conferencing app from scratch. https://www.cleveroad.com/blog/how-to-build-a-video-conferencing-app/

Daily.co. (n.d.). Video SDK overview. https://www.daily.co/products/video-sdk/

Daily.co. (n.d.). Reviews of Daily.co video SDK. G2. https://www.g2.com/products/daily-co-daily/reviews

Dev Technosys. (2024, January 5). How to build a video conferencing app – A complete guide. https://devtechnosys.com/insights/build-a-video-conferencing-app/

ElectroIQ. (2024). Virtual events statistics. https://electroiq.com/stats/virtual-events-statistics/

Jitsi. (n.d.). Jitsi Meet. https://jitsi.org/jitsi-meet/

Mastermind Behavior. (2024, February 14). Telehealth statistics in 2024. https://www.mastermindbehavior.com/post/telehealth-statistics

Precedence Research. (2024). Video conferencing market size, share, growth 2023–2032. https://www.precedenceresearch.com/video-conferencing-market

The Business Research Company. (2024). Telehealth global market report 2024. https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/telehealth-global-market-report

Twilio. (n.d.). Video SDK overview. https://www.twilio.com/docs/video/overview

ZebraCat. (2023). 40+ key video conferencing statistics. https://www.zebracat.ai/post/video-conferencing-statistics#stronghardware-amp-equipment-trendsstrong

ZEGOCLOUD. (n.d.). Developer documentation. https://www.zegocloud.com/developers

Earon, S. A. (n.d.). The value of video communications in education [White paper]. Zoom Video Communications. https://explore.zoom.us/docs/doc/The%20Value%20of%20Video%20Communications%20in%20Education.pdf

Zoom. (n.d.). Video SDK. https://www.zoom.com/en/video-sdk/

100ms. (n.d.). 100ms live video SDK. https://www.100ms.live/

Agora. (n.d.). Video call SDK. https://www.agora.io/en/products/video-call/