Top 20 Twilio Video Alternatives for 2024

Twilio Video is a live video software development kit (SDK) that enables developers to embed real-time communication in their apps. The tool facilitates it through signaling, user access management, media processing, and delivery. Media exchange occurs directly between peers or through Twilio's servers, depending on the Video Room type.

However, there is a catch. If you want to make something new using Twilio, they don't have any ready-made tools (plugins) that you can use — you need to build everything from scratch. You can host up to 50 people in a room. If you want to add more people, you must integrate Twilio Live into your app [other than the video SDK].

These hiccups make a lot of difference in the quality of your video conferences. Although Twilio's video SDK is still popular (that was until they decided to sunset it), new tools outshine the platform. To fill in the gaps left by Twilio, emerging platforms like Dyte have seized the opportunity to offer a fresh perspective on live video.

If you're still using Twilio and want to opt for something more robust, you should keep reading to discover what you're missing out on by not exploring new options. But, if you want to dive straight into the feature comparison and benchmarking, check out this comparison for Twilio Video vs Dyte.

Twilio Video is shutting down

Yes, Twilio Video is discontinuing its services due to a strategic shift in the company's focus. As part of this strategic move, Twilio has decided to restructure certain units and products, resulting in a 5% reduction in its workforce. While Twilio will be concentrating more on its voice, SMS, and other services, its Programmable Video service will be phased out. Checkout the official announcement by Twilio

Some users have experienced issues with Twilio Video related to insufficient bandwidth. Video tracks may shut off when the user's downlink bandwidth is limited. Additionally, users have reported that audio and video stop functioning after a certain time during a call.

The decision to sunset the Programmable Video service has caught many users by surprise, as they heavily relied on these services. Following the closure of Twilio's live streaming service, customers were directed to Mux for live streaming. The discontinuation of Twilio's Programmable Video SDK has prompted users to migrate to other platforms like Zoom, although they may face challenges such as global latency and limited features. To learn more about Zoom SDK alternatives and limitations.

The sunsetting of Twilio's Programmable Video could potentially impact businesses and developers who rely on this service for real-time communication. However, it's worth noting that Twilio offers a range of other communication services, and alternatives are available in the market, such as Dyte. Here's how you can seamlessly use Twilio Shims to migrate from Twilio Video.

Existing customers can continue to use Twilio Programmable Video until December 5, 2024. However, no new feature enhancements or releases will be offered.

In retrospect, it wasn't too surprising since Twilio's Video SDKs require multiple integrations and additional fees just to build a basic live video app.

So therefore, when searching for Twilio alternatives, there are key Video SDK features to remember that can make your life much easier.

• The SDK should offer collaborative features straight out of the box.
• It should offer pre-built UI elements that you can use to build the interface for your live video solution quickly.
• A single SDK should offer everything you need — from video calling to streaming and everything in between.
• There should be a way for you to check per meeting usage, user on time, interactions, and more advanced analytics.
• The SDK should be able to manage publish/subscribe logic and network degradation in the backend.

With so many video SDKs on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That's why we've rounded up the leading players worth your consideration. So, keep reading to find your perfect Twilio Video alternative.

What are the steps to choose the best Twilio Video Alternative/Replacement?

Finding a good alternative to Twilio Video involves a series of steps designed to ensure that the new solution meets your specific needs in terms of features, scalability, cost, and support. Here's a structured approach to help you find a suitable Twilio Video alternative:

1. Define Your Needs: Identify essential features, integration capabilities, compliance, and security requirements.
2. Research Alternatives: Compile a list of potential alternatives through forums, reviews, and industry sources.
3. Evaluate Pricing: Compare costs, including any hidden fees.
4. Check Reviews: Read user feedback and potentially contact current users.
5. Test Performance and Scalability: Ensure the solution can handle your growth and performance expectations.
6. Assess Support Quality: Look into the support and service level agreements offered.
7. Trial or Demo: Utilize free trials or demos to test the platform’s fit.
8. Review Documentation: Ensure comprehensive and clear documentation is available.
9. Consider Community Support: Check for an active user community or ecosystem.
10. Make a Decision: Choose the best match based on your criteria and long-term strategy.

This streamlined approach helps in making an informed decision by focusing on key factors that influence the suitability and effectiveness of a Twilio Video alternative.

What features to look for in a Twilio Video Alternative?

When searching for an alternative to Twilio Video, it's crucial to consider a range of features that not only meet your current needs but also accommodate future growth and changes in technology. Here are essential features to look for:

1. High-Quality Video and Audio: Ensure the platform supports HD video and clear audio for a seamless communication experience.
2. Scalability: The solution should be able to efficiently scale up or down based on user demand, without compromising performance or increasing latency.
3. Multi-Platform Support: Look for solutions that offer cross-platform compatibility, enabling video communication across various devices and operating systems.
4. Customization and Branding: The ability to customize user interfaces and apply branding is important for creating a cohesive user experience that aligns with your company's identity.
5. Recording and Playback: Recording capabilities are vital for archiving meetings or events. The platform should offer secure storage and easy retrieval of recordings.
6. Screen Sharing and Collaboration Tools: Screen sharing and interactive tools like whiteboards enhance collaboration, making the platform more versatile for various use cases.
7. Security and Compliance: Robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption, and compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) are non-negotiable to protect sensitive information.
8. Reliability and Uptime: The service should have a proven track record of high uptime and reliability, ensuring availability when needed.
9. Global Reach and Low Latency: A network of global data centers helps reduce latency for users worldwide, providing a better overall experience.
10. Customer Support and Community: Access to responsive customer support and a vibrant developer community can be invaluable for troubleshooting and innovation.

Choosing a Twilio Video alternative with these features ensures that you're investing in a robust, future-proof solution capable of delivering high-quality video communication experiences to your users.

Learn more about the must-have features in a Video SDK

The Top 20 Twilio Video Alternatives in 2024

The Top 20 Twilio Video Alternatives are Dyte, Zoom Video SDK, Jitsi, Whereby, EnableX, Vonage Video [TokBox or Opentok], Agora, Mux, AWS Chime SDK, Daily, MirrorFly, SignalWire, Sinch, Apphitect, PubNub, Quickblox, Wowza, Sendbird, Digital Samba, and HippoVideo. Now that we've assessed Twilio Video limitations and what to look for in a Twilio Video alternative, let's check out each of them individually.

1. Dyte
2. MirrorFly
3. Jitsi
4. Zoom Video SDK
5. Whereby
6. EnableX
7. Vonage Video [TokBox]
8. Agora
9. Mux
10. AWS chime
11. Daily
12. SignalWire
13. Sinch
14. Apphitect
15. PubNub
16. QuickBlox
17. Wowza
18. Sendbird
19. Digital Samba
20. HippoVideo

Let's dive into the world of live video-calling experiences and explore some of the top-notch Twilio Video replacements and alternatives.

This section will give you a bird's eye view of each solution and how they stack against Twilio. Our reviews are based on our research and feedback from real users so that you can make an informed decision for your business.

Dyte

Dyte is a great alternative to Twilio Video. It provides a real-time video conferencing SDK that facilitates seamless integration of customized, secured, high-quality live video and voice into your web, mobile, and desktop applications and websites with minimal code.

Their significant advantage is the automated audio/video publishing and subscription logic management, which allows developers to concentrate on designing innovative features that enhance user retention.

Here is a quick overview of Dyte's offerings:

1. Dyte's Core SDKs and prebuilt UI kit components enable the easy creation of fully branded live experiences tailored to the product.
2. Their advanced technology ensures dependable video quality with smart bandwidth switching, minimal lag, and frame drops.
3. Out-of-the-box interactive collaboration features like rich chat, emoji reactions, whiteboard, screen share, and plugins to create engaging events.
4. First-class API support and one-click configuration enable effortless integration of live video into any mobile, web, or desktop application.
5. They provide detailed analytics on video call metrics like participant interactions and duration for data-driven decision-making.
6. Built-in bandwidth management and an automatic publish/subscribe strategy for users.
7. With built-in RTMP, they enable cross-platform streaming to millions of viewers across multiple platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
8. They ensure seamless live audio and video scaling from a few users to over 10,000 with reliable RTMP output.

Dyte SDK supports multiple platforms, including Flutter, Android (Java/Kotlin), iOS (Objective-C/Swift), React Native, Javascript Core SDK + UI Kit for React JS, Angular, and Web Components for other platforms, and Electron for desktop.

Here's a detailed comparison between Twilio and Dyte SDKs.

Dyte pricing

Dyte's pricing starts with free 10,000 minutes of usage every month, after which users are charged $0.004 per user per minute for product pricing, $0.010 per minute for recordings, and $0.015 per minute for RTMP out.

Users can also estimate their costs. In addition, they offer 24/7 free support to customers via different channels for essential queries, technical heavy lifting, and assistance with big events.

We recently wrote a blog about Twilio video's pricing plans and how they differentiate from Dyte's pricing. Now, since Twilio Video is shutting down, migrating to Dyte could save you up to 40% in costs.

MirrorFly

MirrorFly is an in-app chat, voice, and video call API provider for iOS, Android, Web, and desktop. With their APIs and SDKs, you can easily integrate video calling functionalities and features into your app in < 20 minutes.

They provide features, including HD video and HQ voice, ultra-low latency, a 99.999% uptime SLA, join calls via link, topic-based chat, meeting rooms, conferencing, 100% customization, on-cloud and on-premise hosting, and more. They claim to come provide modern and advanced features with robust security and user privacy compatibility with HIPAA, GDPR, and OWASP.

However, there are certain limitations, as with every other provider. MirrorFly’s limitations are that they don’t allow you to record video calls on your device, and for now, screen sharing is available only for limited tech stacks. And the SDK documentation, with its learning curve, is quite decent in terms of industry standards.

MirrorFly Pricing

MirrorFly offers its pricing in twin modules: SaaS and SaaP (self-hosted). SaaS comes with two plans - Essential at $0.08/user/month and Premium at $0.2/user/month. Whereas their SaaP or self-hosted has a one-time license fee with a white-label solution and lifetime ownership of source codes and SDKs.

Jitsi

Jitsi is a collection of open-source projects that provides the tools to create and implement video conferencing solutions within applications. The platform consists of Jitsi Meet, a client-side JavaScript application that enables users to engage in real-time video chats, collaborate, and screen share.

The platform also includes Jitsi Videobridge, an XMPP server (Prosody) that supports hosting many video conferences.

Jitsi, in a nutshell

Jitsi Videobridge uses WebRTC technology that supports encryption by default. The Jitsi Meet application can be accessed through web browsers or Android/iOS applications.

It is a free and open-source platform that provides end-to-end encryption, allowing users to inspect and modify the code to meet their specific requirements.

Additional setup is required to record calls. Users must either live stream their conference to YouTube and access the recording there or configure Jibri to do so.

Moreover, scalability in terms of participation is still an issue for Jitsi users. The tools still need to master end-point hardware optimization to provide more stability in the video quality. The SDK can’t manage user network changes on its own — you need to configure it in the system manually.

Users also point out issues like jitters during screen sharing or text sharing, as the platform consumes a lot of bandwidth.

Jitsi pricing

Although Jitsi is fully open-source and free for unrestricted use and development, users must obtain their own servers and design their user interface from the ground up. Additionally, product support requires a supplementary fee.

Read more about Jitsi's pricing

Zoom Video SDK

The Zoom Video SDK lets you create tailored video-based applications with their technology. As Zoom's classic client was unsuitable for many customer use cases, the Video SDK was introduced to provide customers with access to the tech behind Zoom.

The SDK delivers video, audio, screen sharing, chat, data streams, and more as a service, allowing you to select the features you want to use. It has server-side APIs and webhooks, giving you complete control. In brief, it lets you design custom video layouts for up to 1,000 participants/co-hosts per session.

It is multilingual, supporting seven significant languages and enabling open translation extensibility for global growth and better user experience. However, customization is limited to in-session chat, screen sharing, third-party live streaming, and call layout management. The tool also has a basic bandwidth management feature built in.

Please note that the SDK allows only predetermined roles of hosts and participants, making it difficult for use cases requiring modified permissions for peers. Checkout this in-depth comparison between Zoom vs. Twilio.

Zoom Video SDK pricing

Zoom offers 10,000 free minutes every month, with Zoom SDK pricing starting at $0.31 per user minute after that. In addition, recordings cost $500 per month for 1TB of storage, and telephony costs $100.

Zoom offers four developer support plans: Developer, Bronze, Silver, and Gold for free, $675, $1,300, and $1,900, respectively.

We all have used Zoom video conferencing, but let's face it - Zoom fatigue is real. So, we are presenting a list of video conferencing platforms that are great Zoom alternatives.

Whereby

Whereby is a web-based platform that offers custom meetings through every user's unique, permanent room. With no downloads or registration, guests can quickly join meetings by clicking on the respective link.

Additionally, their Embedded feature provides a simple way to add video chat to your platform, requiring only a few lines of code.

In short, Whereby offers a personalized video interface that allows you to make calls from anywhere, offers data security to an extent, and enables collaboration.

However, there are a few points of concern. We’ve seen users complain about the fact that Whereby allows there to be only 1 host, as everyone has their own unique room, and can only host up to 45-minute meetings in the free tier, which is a big letdown compared to other tools. On top of that, it doesn’t give you access to multiple apps and is often blocked by users due to poor security settings. The tool fares badly when it comes to managing changing network conditions.

Moreover, you cannot use the available screen area properly as there is still scope to enable more integrations during the screen-share mode.

Whereby pricing

Whereby's pricing model begins at $9.99/month and allows for up to 2,000 user minutes that are renewed monthly. If additional time is required, the service charges $0.004 per minute, enabling users to expand their usage as needed easily. These features are available for cloud recording and live streaming users at $0.01 per minute.

All Whereby accounts come with free email and chat support, allowing users to access technical assistance as required.

EnableX

EnableX provides live video, voice, and messaging SDKs as foundational building blocks for creating live application experiences. This communication platform is designed for service providers, independent software vendors (ISVs), system integrators (SIs), and developers.

In a nutshell, EnableX offers a video builder for custom video-calling solutions and live video streams. Its self-service portal provides reporting and live analytics capabilities. It supports major coding languages and allows direct live streaming on apps, websites, YouTube, or Facebook. The tool can’t handle fluctuations in the network.

However, users often suggest EnableX should have a better code structure for easy implementation. Also, there is a lack of UI customization, thus, reducing the branding opportunities for a business, and a lack of editing templates in the API.

EnableX pricing

EnableX has a usage-based pricing model of $0.004 per participant minute for rooms of up to 50 participants. Pricing for over 50 participants is available upon contacting the sales team. Additional charges include recording at $0.10 per participant per minute, transcoding at $0.10 per minute, and storage at $0.05 per GB per month. RTMP streaming incurs a cost of $0.10 per minute.

Vonage Video [TokBox]

Vonage's Video API, TokBox or OpenTok, offers various benefits for organizations that rely heavily on video to conduct their business.

Although TokBox provides fully customizable video solutions that can be embedded directly into applications or websites, there are some drawbacks to using this tool.

For example, the TokBox dashboard is difficult to use and doesn’t feature real-time user usage details. While it works well in many countries, deliverability is a concern in places like South Eastern countries.

On top of that, users often suggest that TokBox can build a better GUI and make written documentation and discovery in the platform easier. In addition, the tool doesn’t manage network changes on its own, requiring you to do the heavy lifting.

TokBox pricing

TokBox pricing starts at $9.99 monthly (plus applicable taxes and fees) and includes 2,000 minutes in all plans. They also offer flexibility in designing high-quality video experiences by eliminating bandwidth limitations.

Its core features include video, voice, screen-sharing, signaling and chat, TURN relay, developer portal, management tools, reporting, and use of all SDKs. It supports up to 15,000 participants and 25 active publishers, including multi-party and broadcast use cases.

Read more about TokBox pricing here and compare Tokbox vs Twilio.

Agora

Agora Video SDK helps developers implement video calls and live streams in their websites and iOS/Android applications. It provides APIs and development tools that can be integrated into your applications and web services. In addition, it offers easy customization options that let you play around with the UX.

However, Agora's numerous SDK options with similar titles can get confusing, and the absence of webhooks makes complete workflow integration impossible. Plus, the tool doesn’t automatically manage user bandwidth in case their network goes bust — leaving them with a blank screen.

So, while enterprise developer teams favor Agora for its low-level nature that gives them tons of control, agile development teams prefer Dyte for its live video SDK. Dyte is developed for the developers, by the developers. It is dedicated to providing exceptional end-user experience — the ideal solution for seamlessly integrating a video SDK with minimum time investment.

Agora pricing

The total audio and video usage duration across all projects under the Agora account is calculated at the end of each month. Video usage is divided into four types based on resolution and individually priced.

After subtracting the 10,000 free-of-charge monthly minutes, the remaining usage is multiplied by its corresponding unit price to determine the monthly cost, which can be calculated using the basic formula: monthly cost = audio minutes × audio unit price + video minutes of each type × video unit price of each type.

Standard pricing ($/1,000 participant minutes) is as follows: Audio - $0.99, HD Video - $3.99, Full HD Video - $8.99 2K Video - $15.99 2K+ Video - $35.99

If you're interested in delving deeper, we've written a comprehensive article on Agora pricing that provides an in-depth analysis. Check out the in-depth comparison between Agora vs. Twilio.

Mux

Mux provides developers with an API to incorporate live and on-demand video experiences into their applications. This tool lets users broadcast a real-time session to an audience of millions through live streaming and immediately stream an on-demand version upon completion.

Mux SDK overview

The SDK provided by Mux allows for integrating real-time video and live streams into various applications. For example, developers can utilize it to include live video in web-based, iOS-based, and Android-based applications.

Each call supported by the platform can host up to 100 participants in a real-time WebRTC environment, with each participant streaming video content.

However, users often suggest that Mux can improve its UI significantly by introducing different ways of data presentation, like charts, and making their reports more inclusive.

In addition, the price point for Mux encoding is high, and users recommend having different pricing tiers for encoding videos across different quantities. Also, the tool can’t help automate publish/subscribe strategies, you need to manually make them for each set of users.

Mux pricing

Mux provides a one-time credit of $20 for new registrations and charges $0.004 per minute for real-time video, $0.04 per minute for encoding, $0.003 per minute for storage, and $0.0012 per minute for streaming.

Additionally, the platform offers simulcast capabilities for $0.02 per minute and auto-generated captions at $0.024 per minute after the initial 6,000 minutes.

AWS Chime

AWS Chime is a video conferencing tool for business users, available through Amazon Web Services. In addition to its VoIP calling and video messaging capabilities, Chime includes virtual meetings, allowing users to host or participate in meetings through the platform remotely. It allows users to schedule online meetings and engage with others via audio or visual services.

Quick look at AWS Chime

In brief, Amazon Chime is a video conferencing solution that supports conducting and attending online meetings through its HD video, audio, dial-in numbers, and in-room video conference features.

Amazon Chime also offers collaborative features such as screen-sharing, remote desktop control, and text-based chat for individuals or groups. While Amazon Chime supports audio recording in .m4a format and video recording for screen shares in .mp4 format, it does not provide a way to record attendees. The tool has basic bandwidth management capabilities.

A point worth flagging is that Chime doesn’t have an easy interface, and users have difficulty adapting to its complex structure. User feedback suggests that Chime should be more intuitive in terms of navigation.

Present-day customer support for Chime is also not up to the mark, and it takes multiple calls just to resolve a single issue (as reported by users of different review sites).

Learn more about AWS chime vs Twilio.

AWS Chime pricing

Amazon Chime charges $0.0017/user/minute for video calls, $0.0007/message per message sent, $5.00/GB-month for storage, and $0.01 per minute for HD (720p) and $0.0125 per minute for FHD (1080p) for capturing composite media.

Daily

Daily is a platform that provides an SDK to enable developers to integrate real-time video and audio calls directly into their web applications. The SDK simplifies the development process for video call functionality by taking care of common back-end video call use cases across different platforms.

They offer two approaches for building real-time video and audio calls: Daily Client SDKs, which provide the core APIs for creating custom user interfaces, and Daily Prebuilt, a pre-built, embeddable video chat widget that can be easily added to any web application with minimal code.

Daily users' primary complaint is around technical support. The process is slow, and resolving your queries might take a while. Plus, the tool isn’t great when the user’s network conditions change.

Other areas of concern when using Daily include an unstable website during renewals and discontinuity in the video and audio during a conference call.

Daily pricing

It starts at $0.004/participant minute with 10,000 free monthly refreshed minutes. Audio usage is charged at $0.00099/user/minute, streaming at $0.0012/minute, RTMP at $0.015/minute, and recording at $0.01349/GB. Additionally, you receive free email and chat support for all accounts, while advanced support features can be added with add-on packages starting from $250/month.

SignalWire Video SDK

SignalWire Video SDK is a software development kit that provides a number of features for application development. One of its main functionalities is facilitating real-time video communication within applications, and it is compatible with various platforms. This compatibility broadens the potential reach of applications developed with this SDK. Additionally, SignalWire Video SDK offers an opportunity for interface customization, enabling developers to match it with their brand or application's design.

However, there are some limitations to consider. Utilizing SignalWire Video SDK to its full potential requires a degree of technical knowledge in software development. The quality of video communication may vary depending on the user's internet connection, potentially impacting performance. While the SDK is designed for cross-platform use, occasional compatibility issues with certain operating systems or devices may arise. Also, the cost of SignalWire Video SDK could be a potential obstacle for smaller projects or startups. For the most current and detailed information, the official SignalWire website or their support team would be the best sources.

SignalWire Pricing

Pricing for SignalWire Video SDK appears to be tiered and structured based on usage. For example, the price per minute for HD video calls is $0.0060. Other specific pricing tiers can also be found on the official SignalWire website.

Here are a few examples:

• The first 25k units are priced at $0.0045 - $0.0050 each.
• The next 75k units are priced at $0.0044 - $0.0049 each.
• Any units above 100k are priced at $0.0043 - $0.0048 each.

For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing details, it's recommended to visit the official SignalWire website or get in touch with their support team.

Please note that prices may vary depending on the specific features and services you choose to use with the SDK.

Sinch

Sinch Video SDK is a software development kit that provides tools for integrating video communication into applications. It includes basic features such as video and audio communication, screen sharing, recording, and the ability to handle multiple video streams at once. The SDK also offers APIs for customizing the user interface.

However, Sinch Video SDK does have its limitations. A significant level of technical expertise is required to use it effectively. The quality of video communication can be influenced by the user's internet connection, which can impact the user experience. While the SDK is designed to work across multiple platforms, there may be some compatibility issues with certain operating systems or devices. Therefore, while Sinch Video SDK provides a set of tools for developing video communication applications, it does require careful consideration of these factors.

Sinch Pricing

Sinch employs a flexible pricing structure that varies based on geographic location and the features utilized. Therefore, the expenses can fluctuate between different regions and continents depending on the specific functionalities employed. For precise pricing details that cater to your unique needs, it is advisable to make direct contact with their sales department.

Apphitect

Apphitect is a digital solutions provider known for its diverse array of services, including a video SDK. The company has established itself as a significant player in the UAE's tech scene, providing customizable chat solutions that can be integrated into Android, iOS, and web applications.

The Apphitect video SDK is one of the many tools offered by the company. It allows developers to incorporate video, voice, and messaging features into pre-existing apps. This is particularly useful for businesses looking to enhance their communication capabilities without starting from scratch.

However, despite its extensive feature set, the Apphitect video SDK does have its limitations. One potential drawback is its focus on comprehensive solutions, which might not appeal to businesses seeking more straightforward, less feature-heavy options. Additionally, implementing such an extensive range of features could potentially increase the complexity and development time of an app project. Furthermore, while Apphitect's video SDK is often listed among the top providers, there are numerous competitors in this space offering similar services, some of which may cater better to specific niche requirements.

Apphitect Pricing

Apphitect video SDKs are not readily available online. The company seems to offer a customizable solution, which suggests that the cost likely varies depending on the specific needs and requirements of each client.

PubNub

PubNub's Video SDK is a tool that comes with a variety of features for real-time video communication within applications. These features include real-time data streaming, scalability with data centers globally, automatic encryption for security, presence detection for identifying active users, channel multiplexing for multi-channel subscriptions, and storage and playback for past message retrieval. It also offers access management controls.

On the other hand, PubNub's Video SDK also has some downsides. The cost may escalate depending on the scale of usage, which might not be as economical as other options in the market. The extensive features can be complex and pose challenges for those new to real-time technologies. Customization could be limited despite the myriad of features provided. Additionally, for aspects such as video recording or SIP interconnectivity, PubNub relies on third-party services, which might not sit well with some users. As with any tool, it is crucial to evaluate if it fits your specific project needs before deciding.

PubNub Pricing

PubNub's pricing can vary based on the scale of use. They offer a free plan for 200 Monthly Active Users (MAUs) and under. There's also a starter plan priced at $49 per month for up to 1,000 MAUs. For larger audiences, they have custom pricing options available. All PubNub SDKs are free and open-source MIT licensed. However, when you move your application to production and scale it for a larger audience, there may be costs involved.

It's important to note that the final cost can depend on many factors, and it's advisable to reach out to PubNub directly for the most accurate information

QuickBlox

QuickBlox is a cloud-based communication backend that provides an SDK (Software Development Kit) to help developers integrate video calling, instant messaging, and push notifications into their applications. It's compatible with iOS, Android, and the web, which means it can facilitate the development of applications that operate seamlessly across different devices and operating systems.

However, there are several limitations that could potentially overshadow its features. First, the complexity of implementing QuickBlox Video SDK could be daunting, especially for novices or developers unfamiliar with video technologies. It may require a steep learning curve and considerable time investment before one can fully utilize its capabilities. Second, while QuickBlox does offer a free tier, accessing more advanced features, such as support for an increased number of users and messages, comes at additional costs. The pricing structure could be prohibitive for some, particularly small businesses or individual developers. Furthermore, QuickBlox's documentation has been reported by some users to be lacking in depth and clarity. This can make the SDK more challenging to use, as developers may struggle to find the information they need to troubleshoot issues or understand how to use certain features.

QuickBlox Pricing

QuickBlox's Video SDK pricing varies. The 'Basic' plan is free, catering to 500 users for a month. The 'Starter' plan supports 10,000 users for 3 months. The 'Growth' plan is for 25,000 users over 6 months. Custom needs can be met with the 'HIPAA Cloud' and 'Enterprise' plans, supporting up to 20,000 users. While video calling minutes don't incur additional charges, extensive use of the platform could lead to substantial costs. A separate subscription is required for the video conferencing solution.

Wowza

The Wowza Video SDK, while it has been around for a while and maintains a certain level of popularity, has its highs and lows. The SDK does offer a range of features, such as live streaming and video-on-demand capabilities. It also supports 4K Ultra HD streaming and playback, which is a plus in today's high-definition world. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

In terms of limitations, the Wowza Video SDK can be quite complex to set up and use. It requires a fair amount of technical knowledge to get started, which could be a hurdle for beginners or small teams without dedicated tech support. Furthermore, the platform's pricing structure can be a bit steep for some users, especially for startups or smaller businesses on a tight budget.

Wowza Pricing

Wowza's Video SDK offers diverse pricing options. The basic plan starts at $25 per month, providing affordable access to core features. For more extensive needs, the Streaming Engine is $295 as a one-time purchase for the first instance, with additional instances also priced at $295. Volume plans start at $12 per TB, extending to 90+ Points of Presence globally. Premium plans begin at $15 per TB, offering access to over 140 points. One-off streaming is available at $149. Custom pricing is available for enterprises, while the AWS marketplace charges $85 monthly, regardless of the number of instances launched. Remember, costs can add up, especially for large-scale usage.

Sendbird

Sendbird's Video SDK, despite its efforts to stand out in the crowded market of video communication solutions, leaves a bit to be desired. The SDK does bring a few notable features to the table. These include high-quality voice and video calls, easy integration into web and mobile apps, and even capabilities for live streaming. It can also be customized to some degree, allowing users to set specific video views for participants.

However, Sendbird's SDK has its fair share of shortcomings. For instance, it lacks the option to display avatars during video calls, which can limit the user experience compared to other platforms that provide this feature. Additionally, while it offers functions for implementing high-quality calls, the documentation suggests it may not be as user-friendly or as straightforward as one might hope. Lastly, the introduction of screen-sharing for live streaming is a recent development, which may indicate a slower pace of innovation compared to its competitors. These limitations could prove to be stumbling blocks for those considering Sendbird's Video SDK for their communication needs.

Sendbird Pricing

Sendbird's Video SDK pricing is structured to accommodate different usage levels. For businesses starting with up to 5,000 monthly active users, the Starter plan begins at $399 per month. This plan includes modern messaging essentials, basic moderation, and ticketed support. As usage scales upwards from 200-5K monthly active users, the API costs $0.05 per active user. The Calls API plans are priced based on usage, with voice calls ranging from $0.0010 to $0.0015 and video calls from $0.0014 to $0.0059. Similarly, the Live API plans for livestreaming range from $0.0037 to $0.0059. For apps with under 200 MAUs, the API can be used for free. Custom plans are also available for specific needs.

Digital Samba

Digital Samba's Video SDK, is another player in the video communication solutions market. On the positive side, it boasts useful features such as GDPR-compliant video chat, secure EU-based operations, and an allowance of 10,000 monthly free minutes for users to get started. Its capabilities extend to offering video conferencing and webinars with features like screen sharing, text chat, closed captioning, and virtual backgrounds.

However, Digital Samba's SDK doesn't come without its limitations. While it offers the power to control the embedded conference externally, the details regarding this feature are vague, leaving potential users in the dark about its efficacy. Lastly, their claim of providing a 'full-featured' video meeting solution might be overstated, as there's no clear information on advanced features such as breakout rooms or participant management tools. These shortcomings may leave users wanting more from Digital Samba's Video SDK.

Digital Sambal Pricing

Digital Samba's Video SDK adopts a fairly uncomplicated pricing structure. The Create S plan, designed for large video conferences, costs €99 per month, making it a somewhat flexible solution for diverse needs. An offer of 10,000 free minutes each month allows users to test the platform’s features before deciding on a paid subscription. However, these free minutes are strictly limited to call and conference services, excluding composer services such as cloud recording, re-streaming, or recorded video hosting. For more tailored requirements, Digital Samba suggests that developers get in touch for customized pricing plans. While this might appeal to some, it lacks the upfront transparency that many potential customers would appreciate.

HippoVideo

HippoVideo Video SDK is a tool that claims to offer easy integration and comprehensive documentation. It's marketed towards businesses seeking to add video capabilities to their platforms, with features such as screen capture, recording, and editing. However, while the product is touted as being user-friendly and a potential solution for 'coding woes', it's worth noting that the success of its implementation would still largely depend on the technical skills and proficiency of the user. Furthermore, certain features like the teleprompter are not available for screen recording, which could limit its usability for some users. There's also a lack of transparency concerning the pricing structure, which might deter potential customers who prefer upfront information about costs. Therefore, while HippoVideo Video SDK could be a viable option for some, it may not necessarily cater to everyone's needs or expectations.

HippoVideo Pricing

HippoVideo Video SDK's pricing is not explicitly stated on its website, which could be seen as a lack of transparency. Instead, potential customers are encouraged to book a consultation for pricing details. The company does offer a 14-day free trial, allowing users to test the service before purchase. However, such a short trial period might not provide enough time for thorough evaluation. HippoVideo's general pricing for other services ranges from $0 to $80 per month, with different plans available. Yet, it's unclear if these rates also apply to the Video SDK. Overall, while HippoVideo Video SDK might be a viable solution for some, the ambiguity around its pricing could potentially deter others.

Comparison of Top 20 Twilio Video Alternatives and Replacements

Final thoughts

If you are affected by Twilio Programmable Sunset, check out this Twilio Video Migration guide. And, if you need any help, just drop us a word. Twilio Enterprise Users also get credits up to $30,000 while migrating from Twilio Video to Dyte.

Despite the numerous video conferencing SDKs available, promises of low-code experience fall short for most. But you need not worry; Dyte delivers live experiences in under 10 minutes.

You don't have to take our word for it; check out our Quickstart guide and sample apps to put us to the test. Get started today and enjoy 10,000 free minutes. Need further assistance? Connect with our team by clicking here. Looking forward to seeing what you'll be building with Dyte!

FAQs

Why look for Twilio Video alternatives?

With Twilio announcing the sunsetting of its Programmable Video product by December 2024, many businesses and developers are on the lookout for reliable alternatives to ensure continuity in their video communication solutions.

What should you consider when looking for a Twilio Video alternative?

Outline key factors like pricing, integration capabilities, API flexibility, SDK availability, customer support, and specific features such as HD video quality, recording options, and other feature parity.

Are there any open-source alternatives to Twilio Video?

There are a bunch of free and open-source Video SDK platforms that can pose as a good alternative to Twilio Video, like WebRTC, Jitsi, Janus, OpenVidu, Jibri, etc. Open Source Video SDK platforms usually come with their own challenges, such as scalability, complex set-up, limited features, etc.

What are the security features to look for in a Twilio Video alternative?

Security features in Twilio Video alternatives vary across platforms but generally include end-to-end encryption, compliance with global privacy standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), secure recording and storage options, and robust authentication mechanisms.