Video Editor SDK Performance Benchmark: Top SDKs Compared for 2025

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TL;DR

• Banuba consistently delivers the most balanced performance across export speed, real-time FPS, AR effects, and device coverage.

• Meishe stays reliable at 1080p but doesn’t scale as broadly.

• BytePlus supports high-end formats but its performance varies by device class.

• Agora is built for live workflows rather than full editing pipelines.

• Perfect Corp focuses on high-fidelity beauty AR and depends more heavily on strong hardware.

1. Export Times vs. Resolution (720p → 4K)

Banuba

Banuba shows the most efficient high-resolution export performance in the comparison. In an 8-second near-4K test, Banuba exported in ~3 seconds, outperforming Meishe’s 5 seconds, which illustrates strong optimization around hardware encoders. Banuba also scales sensibly: it unlocks QHD and 4K on modern devices and automatically lowers resolution on older ones to maintain speed.

Meishe (Meicam)

Meishe handles 4K input but limits exports to 1080p, keeping results predictable. In the same 4K scenario, export times were noticeably slower. This controlled envelope works for typical Full HD workflows but is less flexible for higher-end requirements.

BytePlus

BytePlus supports 540p–4K and high frame rates, but export performance depends more on device capability. While the tech behind TikTok suggests strong optimization, no concrete numbers are published for direct comparison.

Agora

Agora is optimized for real-time streaming, not offline exporting. Its real-time 1080p60 output is stable, but it’s not built for editing timelines or heavy post-processing.

Perfect Corp

Perfect Corp uses GPU acceleration effectively, especially on desktop systems. On mobile, export speed varies depending on available hardware capabilities.

Export Performance comparison

2. Real-Time FPS With Filters, Transitions, and LUTs

Banuba

Banuba maintains 30+ FPS on mid-range devices even with AR effects, segmentation, and beautification enabled. High-end devices often reach 60fps. This stability stems from predictable CPU/GPU balancing and optimized shaders, helping previews remain responsive across most hardware tiers.

Meishe

Meishe handles standard edits smoothly and maintains 30fps previews, though heavier AR workloads are not its core focus.

BytePlus

BytePlus delivers strong FPS with effects, but performance varies with device capability. On high-end phones, it stays smooth; on weaker hardware, quality may automatically scale down.

Agora

Agora’s real-time pipeline prioritizes stable streams by adjusting resolution dynamically. It generally maintains ~30fps rather than optimizing for editing workloads.

Perfect Corp

Perfect Corp achieves solid real-time beauty AR on modern hardware but may need to simplify effects on lower-end devices.

Real-Time FPS & Preview Stability

3. CPU/GPU Usage and Hardware Optimization

Banuba

Banuba uses hardware encoders and spreads work efficiently between CPU and GPU. It scales effect complexity intelligently on weaker devices, helping avoid excessive load or thermal throttling. Its decision to drop legacy 32-bit and ultra-low-end CPUs reduces unpredictable behavior.

Meishe

Meishe uses GPU shaders and hardware encoders but depends more on developer-side tuning to maintain performance on weaker phones.

BytePlus

BytePlus adapts quality based on hardware capability and can offload complex templates to the cloud, though this introduces variability across devices.

Agora

Agora keeps CPU load light by using efficient codecs and adjusting complexity in real time.

Perfect Corp

Perfect Corp leans heavily on GPUs and AI accelerators. When hardware isn’t available, performance drops, requiring fallbacks or cloud processing.

Hardware Optimization & Efficiency Comparison

4. Performance on Low-End vs High-End Devices

Banuba

Banuba provides clear device-tier guidelines and supports roughly 80% of the smartphone market. Mid-range devices typically sustain 25–30fps with AR, and high-end devices unlock full resolution and smoothest performance. This predictable scaling reduces guesswork for developers.

Meishe

Meishe is widely deployed across OEM devices and performs reliably for core editing, but its export cap and lack of explicit device-tier recommendations limit flexibility.

BytePlus

BytePlus adapts aggressively to device capabilities, which allows broad support but results in more variation in user experience. High-end phones see the best results.

Agora

Agora scales quality to maintain stability even on older devices, though this is designed for live video rather than editing timelines.

Perfect Corp

Best on mid- to high-end devices, with simplified modes required on lower-end hardware.

Low-End vs High-End Device Handling Comparison

5. Real-World Testing

Benchmark data shows Banuba exporting near-4K video noticeably faster than Meishe and maintaining stable FPS with AR across mid-tier devices. Perfect Corp demonstrates strong GPU-assisted performance, and BytePlus inherits optimizations from TikTok, though its device-by-device differences can be more pronounced. Hands-on testing remains essential for final evaluation.

Platform Fit & Use Case Alignment Comparison

Methodology

This benchmark is based on documented performance data, real-world examples, and vendor-provided technical specifications. The analysis draws directly from measurable figures such as export times, supported resolutions, and real-time FPS published in official materials, including Banuba’s near-4K export benchmark and device-tier guidelines, Meishe’s export limitations, BytePlus/TikTok technical capabilities, Agora’s real-time performance parameters, and Perfect Corp’s GPU-assisted workflows.

To maintain fairness, each SDK was evaluated only on verifiable information: supported resolutions, encoding behavior, FPS stability with effects, hardware acceleration methods, and device-level scaling strategies. No assumptions were made beyond what was stated in the source materials.

Because not all vendors publish equivalent benchmark data, comparisons emphasize consistency, breadth of device support, and documented performance rather than speculative estimates. This creates a balanced view that reflects real-world behavior while highlighting where performance differences are explicitly measurable.

Conclusion

When viewed across all major performance factors — export speed, real-time FPS, hardware efficiency, and behavior on both low- and high-end devices — Banuba video editor SDK shows the most consistent, broadly applicable performance profile. It handles high-resolution exports efficiently, keeps AR effects smooth on mid-range hardware, and offers clear guidance for maintaining stability across device tiers.

Other SDKs perform strongly within their specific niches, but Banuba stands out as the most balanced option for general-purpose mobile video editing, especially when effects and speed both matter.

Reference list

Banuba. (n.d.). Banuba Video Editor SDK vs Meishe/Meicam SDK. https://www.banuba.com/meishe-sdk-alternative

Banuba. (2023). Video Editor SDK v1.22: Improved trimming, QHD support, and analytics.
https://www.banuba.com/blog/video-editor-sdk-v1.22-improved-trimming-qhd-support-and-analytics-for-everyone

Banuba. (n.d.). Technical Info: Banuba Video Editor SDK.
https://www.banuba.com/hubfs/B2B%20official%20documents/Tech_info/Technical_info_Banuba_Video_Editor_SDK.docx.pdf

IMG.LY. (2025). Best Video SDKs for Mobile Apps – 2025 comparison & developer guide.
https://img.ly/blog/best-video-sdks-for-mobile-applications-a-comprehensive-comparison-for-developers/

Dyte. (2024). Top 10 Video SDK Platforms for Flutter.
https://dyte.io/blog/video-sdks-flutter-apps/

Agora. (n.d.). Delivering excellence: The critical elements of high-quality live video.
https://www.agora.io/en/blog/the-critical-elements-of-high-quality-live-video/

NVIDIA. (2024). Perfect Corp delivers personalized digital beauty experiences using NVIDIA TensorRT and NVENC.
https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/spotlight-perfect-corp-delivers-personalized-digital-beauty-experiences-using-nvidiatensorrt-and-nvenc/

Banuba. (2023). We tested the best camera SDKs for mobile AR apps.
https://www.banuba.com/blog/best-camera-sdks

Banuba. (2024). 7 best mobile video editing SDKs: Feature-by-feature comparison.
https://banuba.medium.com/7-best-mobile-video-editing-sdks-feature-by-feature-comparison-1b3519c8592

Banuba. (2025). Best face tracking SDKs for real-time video conferencing in 2025.
https://www.banuba.com/blog/best-face-tracking-sdks-for-real-time-video-conferencing-in-2025

Banuba. (2024). 7 proven video call APIs & SDKs for short video apps like TikTok.
https://www.banuba.com/blog/best-live-video-call-api-sdk

Banuba. (2024). Video Editor SDK v1.46.0: Finger drawing & updated UI.
https://www.banuba.com/blog/video-editor-sdk-v1.46.0-finger-drawing-updated-ui