The Most Popular Video SDKs in 2025: Features, Pros & Cons

Building video into your product isn’t just about embedding a call button—it’s about choosing the right infrastructure that balances performance, scalability, compliance, and user experience. With the expansion of the audio-video industry into telehealth, online education, social streaming, and enterprise collaboration, video SDKs (software development kits) have become the go-to way for teams to integrate real-time communication without reinventing the wheel. But the number of options on the market can feel overwhelming.

In this blog, we will explore the most popular video SDKs, their top features, what makes them great, and where they might fall short. 

Getting started with video SDKs

If you’re choosing a video SDK, your decision mainly comes down to latency needs (interactive vs. broadcast) and how much control you want (managed cloud vs. self‑hosted). For face‑to‑face, sub‑second interaction, pick a real‑time WebRTC SDK. For large audiences where a few seconds of delay is acceptable, use streaming (HLS/LL‑HLS). If speed‑to‑market matters, go managed, and if strict data boundaries or portability matter, consider open source/self‑host.

• Interactive calls, classrooms, telehealth: Zoom Video SDK, Daily, Agora, Twilio Video, Vonage, SDK
• Open‑source or self‑host: LiveKit, Jitsi
• Broadcast/live at scale: Mux, Wowza, Dolby.io

Pro tip: Write down your must‑haves (e.g., HIPAA/BAA, E2EE, <200 ms latency, raw‑track recording, regions). It narrows the shortlist fast.

Disclaimer! The companies mentioned in this article are listed in no particular order.

Quick glossary: “what’s what” in video tech

If you are new to the field, some of the terms used might be unfamiliar to you. For that reason, I came up with a short glossary section describing some of the most common/popular terms used in the field. 

• Video SDK: Prebuilt building blocks to add video/audio to your app (calls, screenshare, recording, moderation) without building media servers yourself.
• WebRTC: The web standard used for two‑way, sub‑second video calls. Think Zoom‑like experiences in your app.
• HLS / LL‑HLS: Streaming formats used for one‑to‑many broadcasts. HLS is a few to many seconds behind live; LL‑HLS reduces that delay to just a few seconds.
• SFU vs MCU:
  • SFU forwards media to participants efficiently (common today; good scale/quality).
  • MCU mixes streams into one (simple for clients, heavier on servers).
• TURN / STUN: Helper servers so peers can connect even behind firewalls or strict networks.
• Simulcast / SVC: Send multiple quality layers of the same video so the system can adapt to each viewer’s bandwidth.
• E2EE vs “encrypted in transit”:
  • Encrypted in transit = standard TLS; servers can still access media.
  • End‑to‑end encryption (E2EE) = only participants can decrypt; limits server‑side features.
• Recording types:
  • Cloud/composite: Server captures the meeting “as seen.”
  • Client/local: User device records locally.
  • Raw tracks: You get separate audio/video per person for editing and AI.
• Interactive broadcast: A hybrid: presenters are real‑time; the audience is large (often on HLS/LL‑HLS) with reactions/chat.
• Prebuilt UI: A drop‑in call UI for fast prototypes; you can theme it, then replace it with custom components later.
• Self‑host vs managed:
  • Self‑host (open source): Maximum control & data boundaries; you own reliability/ops.
  • Managed cloud: Fastest to ship; the vendor runs the media network.

How video SDKs actually work

Before diving into comparisons, it helps to understand what’s happening behind the scenes. Let’s go through the main steps of how video SDKs operate.

1. Your app embeds the SDK (web, iOS, Android).
2. Signaling sets up the call (who’s in the room, permissions).
3. Media servers (SFUs) route video/audio between participants, adapting quality to each person’s network.
4. Optional features: screen share, chat, live captions, virtual backgrounds, noise suppression, recording, and moderation.
5. Analytics and QoS (quality of service) dashboards help you spot issues (high CPU, dropped frames, packet loss).

We often hear the question, “What’s easier, to build from scratch or use SDKs?” While you could code all of this from scratch, it’s going to take months or even years of work. The SDK gives you the same results in the form of already proven building blocks. 

However, the SDKs themselves often come with limitations, so it’s important to define your priorities capability-wise and then move from there. 

Vendor options available in 2025

Once you’ve clarified your priorities, the next step is matching with the right provider. The video SDK market in 2025 is diverse, ranging from enterprise-grade managed platforms to flexible open-source frameworks. Each vendor comes with its own strengths, trade-offs, and ideal use cases.

1. Zoom Video SDK

• What it is: Zoom’s core media quality with a UI you control (not Zoom Meetings UI).
• Signature strengths: Familiar, reliable audio/video across devices; good diagnostics.
• Best for: Apps that want “Zoom‑grade” quality inside their own branded experience.
• Watch‑outs: Licensing differs from Zoom Meetings—pick the correct SKU.

2. Agora

• What it is: Full‑stack real‑time engagement (video, voice, interactive add‑ons).
• Signature strengths: Global media network, a large feature catalog, and a marketplace of plug‑ins (backgrounds, moderation, AI effects).
• Best for: Teams that want speed to market and many features under one roof.
• Watch‑outs: Proprietary stack; pricing can get complex at very high usage.

3. Twilio Video

• What it is: Programmable video with tight ties to Twilio’s messaging/voice stack.
• Signature strengths: Enterprise‑grade docs, ecosystem integrations, and built‑in features like live transcription.
• Best for: Customer support, CX, and companies already using Twilio.
• Watch‑outs: Cost at large minute volumes; heavier account model if you only need video.

4. Vonage Video API (TokBox)

• What it is: WebRTC video plus interactive broadcast modes and easy streaming out (HLS/LL‑HLS/RTMP).
• Signature strengths: Good for mixing small meetings with large event audiences.
• Best for: Education, events, marketplaces.
• Watch‑outs: Feature‑rich = more plan/line‑item choices to understand.

5. Daily

• What it is: Real‑time video with a Prebuilt UI, flexible recording modes, captions, and noise suppression.
• Signature strengths: Very fast prototype‑to‑pilot; dev‑friendly.
• Best for: Product teams racing to MVP while keeping future flexibility.
• Watch‑outs: Managed service; fewer knobs than self‑hosting.

6. LiveKit (open source + cloud)

• What it is: Open‑source real‑time stack with an optional managed cloud.
• Signature strengths: Control and portability (self‑host today, move to cloud tomorrow—or vice versa). Modern codec support and scaling primitives.
• Best for: Privacy‑sensitive apps, on‑prem needs, or teams avoiding vendor lock‑in.
• Watch‑outs: Self‑hosting requires DevOps, observability, and capacity planning.

7. 100ms

• What it is: SDKs for video calls (WebRTC) and live streaming (HLS) with customizable UI components and built‑in recording.
• Signature strengths: A good “middle path” between batteries‑included and custom control.
• Best for: Startups shipping modern, branded video experiences.
• Watch‑outs: Managed platform trade‑offs (you don’t own the media servers).

8. Dolby.io

• What it is: Real‑time video plus Dolby‑grade audio and event features.
• Signature strengths: Audio clarity, noise reduction, and spatial audio.
• Best for: Events and collaboration apps where audio quality is the differentiator.
• Watch‑outs: Premium positioning; check cost for always‑on workloads.

9. Jitsi (open source; JaaS available)

• What it is: Open‑source video conferencing (self‑host) with a managed option (JaaS).
• Signature strengths: Zero license fees if you self‑host; strong community; flexible embedding.
• Best for: Organizations needing strong data control or air‑gapped options.
• Watch‑outs: You own scaling, upgrades, and incident response.

Additional aspects to check out before making any decision

Even after narrowing down your options, the final choice often comes down to the finer details—how each SDK handles latency, compliance, scalability, and overall experience. Here are some additional aspects to explore before finalizing your decision.

Latency & format

• If you need true interactivity (teaching, support, telehealth), choose WebRTC (Agora, Twilio, Vonage, Daily, Zoom, LiveKit, 100ms, Jitsi).
• If you need to reach at scale (shopping shows, sports), choose HLS/LL‑HLS (Mux, Wowza).
• Hybrid events: Presenters on WebRTC; viewers on LL‑HLS.

Recording & compliance

• Composite cloud recording creates a single, ready‑to‑watch file.
• Raw track recording gives each person’s audio/video separately for editing and AI (diarization, summaries).
• Client‑side recording can help with E2EE or strict data boundaries.
• Check data residency, DPA/BAA needs (HIPAA, GDPR), and retention defaults.

Transcription & AI

• Real‑time captions help accessibility and support.
• Post‑call transcripts power QA, coaching, and search.
• Clarify accuracy, languages, and where the data is processed/stored.

Moderation & safety

• Look for audio activity detection, word filters, video background blur, report/kick flows, and waiting rooms.
• For UGC/social, ask about automated moderation and human review tools.

Quality of experience (QoE)

• Important metrics: join time, packet loss, bitrate, frame rate, CPU load, and reconnect rates.
• Ask vendors for dashboards, webhooks, and export to your data warehouse.

Scalability knobs (why they matter)

• Simulcast / SVC: Keeps calls smooth for users on poor networks.
• Selective subscription: Each client only receives streams they actually show.
• Server regions & CDN edges: Lower latency and better reliability globally.

Checklist for RFPs

Here’s a short checklist that covers most of the questions you should ask and include in your request for a proposal (RFP) if you're taking that route. 

• Real‑time or broadcast (or both)?
• Target concurrency (call size/viewer count)?
• Hosting model (managed vs self‑host)?
• Regions and compliance (DPA/BAA, data residency)?
• Features: recording type(s), captions, moderation, screen share, whiteboard, virtual background, noise suppression
• SDK platforms (Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter)
• Analytics & exports (webhooks, data warehouse)
• Support/SLA (response times, uptime SLOs)
• Pricing model (minutes, egress, storage, transcription, TURN)
• Roadmap alignment (your must‑haves in next 6–12 months)

SDK quality - The hidden factor that makes or breaks your video application

Last but not least, it's important to check how and if the companies test their SDKs. While vendors showcase impressive feature lists and performance claims, the real test comes when your app faces actual users on real networks with real devices.

Why SDK quality testing matters more than you think

Video SDK testing isn't just about checking if calls connect. It's about ensuring your application performs reliably when a user joins from a 2015 Android phone on spotty 3G, or when 50 participants join simultaneously during your product launch webinar.

The complexity comes from multiple layers that all need to work together perfectly. Your SDK needs to handle codec compatibility (not all devices support H.264, and older Safari versions have issues with VP8), adapt to network conditions that can change every second, and manage device resources without draining batteries or causing apps to freeze.

What areas need testing in video SDKs

Network resilience is perhaps the most critical area. Real networks aren't perfect—they have packet loss, bandwidth fluctuations, and latency spikes. Quality testing simulates network conditions systematically: 5% packet loss (typical public WiFi), 25% packet loss (poor mobile coverage), bandwidth drops from 2 Mbps to 500 Kbps mid-call, and latency variations from 20ms to 300ms.

Cross-platform compatibility goes beyond just "works on iOS and Android." Each platform version, device model, and browser combination can introduce unique issues. For instance, certain Android devices have hardware encoder limitations that affect video quality, while specific iOS versions may handle background/foreground transitions differently.

Performance metrics tell the real story of user experience. Key indicators include:

• Video startup time (should be under 3 seconds)
• Audio-video sync accuracy (desync over 40ms is noticeable)
• CPU usage (over 80% causes thermal throttling)
• Memory consumption patterns
• Battery drain rates
• Buffering ratio (target: under 2%)

Advanced quality metrics: Beyond basic testing

Professional video quality assessment uses sophisticated metrics that correlate with human perception. One of the most precise algorithms is VQTDL. It will help you understand the SDK's current state and compare it with the competition. 

Other important metrics include PSNR (Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio) for mathematical quality comparison, SSIM (Structural Similarity Index) for perceptual quality assessment, and BRISQUE for no-reference quality evaluation when you don't have the source for comparison.

Real-world testing scenarios that reveal SDK limitations

The most effective testing goes beyond laboratory conditions. Consider these real-world scenarios that often expose SDK weaknesses.

• The conference room scenario: Multiple participants in one location using the same WiFi network can cause bandwidth competition and echo issues if the SDK doesn't handle acoustic echo cancellation properly.
• The mobile commuter: Users switching between WiFi and cellular networks while maintaining a call test the SDK's ability to handle network handoffs without dropping connections.
• The global team meeting: Participants from different continents with varying network infrastructures test how well the SDK's server routing and quality adaptation work across geographical distances.

How we approach video SDK quality testing

At TestDevLab, we've spent years developing specialized testing methodologies for video applications. Our approach combines automated testing with real-world validation across 4,000+ physical devices in over 10+ locations worldwide.

We use AI-powered algorithms like our proprietary VQTDL (Video Quality Testing with Deep Learning) to detect quality issues that traditional metrics might miss. This includes micro-freezes in video and synchronization issues that impact user experience but are difficult to quantify with standard tools.

Our testing has helped clients achieve measurable improvements: 37% better user satisfaction scores, 41% reduction in buffering times, and 26% fewer synchronization errors. These aren't just numbers—they translate directly to user retention and product success.

What to look for in SDK testing documentation

When evaluating SDKs, examine their testing documentation carefully. Quality vendors should provide:

• Detailed performance benchmarks under various network conditions
• Compatibility matrices showing tested device/OS combinations
• Clear metrics on scalability limits
• Transparent reporting on known issues and limitations
• Regular updates on testing methodology and results

If a vendor can't provide comprehensive testing data, it's a red flag. The absence of detailed quality metrics often indicates limited testing or an unwillingness to share real performance data.

Conclusion: Choose wisely, test thoroughly

Selecting a video SDK is a critical decision that impacts your entire product experience. While features and pricing are important, the SDK's quality and reliability under real-world conditions ultimately determine your success.

Start by clearly defining your requirements using the RFP checklist provided. Evaluate vendors not just on their marketing claims but on their testing transparency and quality metrics. Consider working with specialized QA partners if you lack in-house expertise for comprehensive video testing.

The video SDK landscape in 2025 offers excellent options for every use case, from simple peer-to-peer calls to massive broadcast events. Whether you choose a managed solution like Zoom Video SDK or Agora for rapid deployment, or an open-source option like LiveKit for maximum control, ensure you have robust quality testing in place.

Your users expect video that just works—across all their devices, on any network, every single time. Meeting that expectation requires choosing the right SDK and validating it thoroughly. The investment in proper testing pays dividends in user satisfaction, reduced support costs, and product success.

The best SDK for your application is the one that meets your specific needs while delivering consistent quality. Take time to evaluate properly, test comprehensively, and your video application will stand out in an increasingly video-first world.