A video calling API lets you embed video calls in your own web and mobile apps while the provider runs the WebRTC infrastructure behind every call. Your backend creates a room and token, and a cross-platform SDK connects each participant.

The 10 top video calling API options in 2027 are Cloud2Voice for custom development, followed by Agora, Twilio Video, Zoom Video SDK, Vonage Video API, Daily, LiveKit, Amazon Chime SDK, Stream Video and Cloudflare RealtimeKit. Core features include group calling, screen sharing and cloud recording, and AI now adds voice agents and live transcription.

Most providers bill per participant minute, and many include around 10,000 free monthly minutes. This guide also shows how to choose the right video calling API and how to integrate it step by step.

What Is a Video Calling API?

A video calling API is an application programming interface that adds two-way, real-time video to web, mobile and desktop apps through vendor-hosted infrastructure and client SDKs. The provider runs the signaling servers, STUN and TURN relays, and media servers, so your developers do not build or maintain WebRTC infrastructure themselves.

How Does a Video Calling API Work?

A video calling API works by splitting each call between your backend, the client SDK in the user’s app and the provider’s media network. Most vendors build on the browser’s WebRTC API and its RTCPeerConnection interface.

6 steps of how a video calling API works are given below.

1. Room creation: Your backend calls a REST endpoint to create a room or session, with options such as recording and expiry.

2. Token authentication: Your server issues a short-lived access token for each participant, so only approved users can join a specific room.

3. Media capture: The client SDK captures camera and microphone streams, using getUserMedia in browsers and native device APIs on mobile.

4. Signaling and connection: The SDK exchanges Session Description Protocol offers, answers and ICE candidates, using STUN and TURN to pass NATs and firewalls.

5. Media routing: The provider’s selective forwarding unit (SFU) or edge network forwards streams to each participant and adapts bitrate to network conditions.

6. Events and post-call data: Webhooks report joins, leaves and recordings, and the API returns recordings, transcripts and analytics.

What Are the Top Video Calling APIs in 2027?

The top video calling APIs in 2027 are Cloud2Voice (custom development), Agora, Twilio Video, Zoom Video SDK, Vonage Video API, Daily, LiveKit, Amazon Chime SDK, Stream Video and Cloudflare RealtimeKit. Cloud2Voice comes first for teams that want a custom, branded calling product built for them, while the other 9 are managed APIs picked for SDK coverage, published pricing, AI readiness, compliance and live customer proof. Prices were checked on vendor pricing pages in November 2027, so confirm them before you commit.

The 10 top video calling API options are compared in the table below.

1. Cloud2Voice Custom Video Calling Development

Cloud2Voice is a global design and development agency that builds custom VoIP and video calling software on WebRTC and SIP. It is best for businesses that want a branded calling product built for them, not just an API.

Key features of Cloud2Voice video calling development are given below.

• Voice calling, video calling, conference calling and voicemail

• Call routing, IVR systems, call queues and call recording

• CRM, SIP, API and third-party integrations with your existing tools

• SIP architecture, WebRTC and cloud infrastructure, with call quality and performance testing

As a development partner rather than a per-minute API, Cloud2Voice builds on WebRTC and SIP or the managed APIs below, so AI features depend on that choice. Work runs from discovery to integration, testing and deployment, priced per project. The team has completed 250+ projects and holds a 5.0 Clutch rating. For Tellimon, a cloud communication platform, it delivered design and development, including VoIP and SIP integration.

Disclosure: This article is published by Cloud2Voice.

2. Agora Video Calling API

Agora Video Calling is a real-time video API built on Agora’s own Software-Defined Real-Time Network (SD-RTN). It is best for global, large-scale interactive video and live streaming.

Key features of Agora Video Calling are given below.

• SD-RTN reach across 200+ countries with sub-second latency

• Video up to 4K at 60fps and audio up to 192 kbps

• SDKs for Android, iOS, Web, Windows, Flutter, React Native, Unity and Unreal

• ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 certified, with stated HIPAA and GDPR compliance

Its Conversational AI Engine starts at $0.1 per minute after 300 free minutes, alongside OpenAI Realtime API support, AI noise suppression and real-time translation. The first 10,000 minutes are free monthly, then rates start at $0.59 per 1,000 minutes, with HD tiers higher. Gabb Messenger uses Agora, and KUMU saw 30% longer sessions after enabling Adaptive Video Optimization.

3. Twilio Video

Twilio Video is a WebRTC-based programmable video API from Twilio. It is best for teams already using Twilio for voice, messaging or PSTN calling.

Key features of Twilio Video are given below.

• Native SDKs for JavaScript, iOS and Android, plus open-source quick-deploy apps

• Network Quality API and Bandwidth Profile API for poor connections

• PSTN dial-in and dial-out through Twilio Voice

• HIPAA eligible and GDPR compliant, with encrypted recordings and free Video Insights

AI features include noise cancellation and real-time transcription shown on screen in multiple languages. Pricing starts at $0.004 per participant minute, with volume discounts. Twilio announced the end of Twilio Video in 2024, reversed it on 21 October 2024, and now says the product is actively developed and open to new customers. Realtor.com, MDLive and Qualia use it.

4. Zoom Video SDK

Zoom Video SDK is a video API that runs on the same infrastructure as Zoom, behind your own branded interface. It is best for custom sessions that need Zoom-grade reliability on weak networks.

Key features of Zoom Video SDK are given below.

• Fully custom-branded sessions on Zoom’s infrastructure, with up to 1,000 participants

• Raw audio and video data access for custom processing

• In-session chat, screen sharing and annotation tools

• Cloud recording available as a paid add-on on pay-as-you-go plans

For AI, the SDK offers live transcription and translation for real-time captions. The Pay As You Go plan has a $0 annual fee, 10,000 included minutes per month and $0.0035 per minute after that. TaskHuman switched to it for steadier calls on weak networks, while Wall Street English and Tribe run online classes on it.

5. Vonage Video API

Vonage Video API, formerly OpenTok/TokBox, is an enterprise WebRTC video API from Vonage, which Ericsson owns. It is best for regulated industries that need compliance and data residency controls.

Key features of Vonage Video API are given below.

• SIP Interconnect, HLS and RTMP streaming, and broadcast to 15,000 participants

• Regional Media Zones that keep call media in the EU or US

• End-to-end media encryption and AES-256 transport encryption as add-ons

• SOC 2 Type 2 and HIPAA support with a signed BAA

AI options include Live Captions (0.015perparticipantminute),post-calltranscription(0.0451 per archive minute) and an Audio Connector that streams audio to AI services ($0.0052). Video costs $0.0041 per participant minute, with 100,000 free trial minutes and enterprise add-ons from $550 per month. Help Lightning’s CEO credits Vonage with reliable, scalable WebRTC.

6. Daily Video API

Daily is a WebRTC video API and the maintainer of the open-source Pipecat framework. It is best for fast web-first embeds and real-time AI voice and video agents.

Key features of Daily are given below.

• Daily Prebuilt call UI and a clean REST API for fast onboarding

• Cloud recording at $0.01349 per minute, billed by wall-clock time

• Realtime transcription at $0.0059 per unmuted participant minute

• HIPAA and BAA add-on at $500 per month, plus SOC 2 Type 2

Pipecat runs voice and multimodal AI agents, Pipecat Cloud hosts them, and NVIDIA, Tavus and Vapi build on it. Daily includes 10,000 free participant minutes monthly, then $0.004, falling to $0.0015 at 50 million+ minutes. Audio-only calls cost $0.00099. Cal.com, Kumospace’s virtual office and Tavus’s AI digital twins run on Daily.

7. LiveKit

LiveKit is an open-source WebRTC platform with a managed LiveKit Cloud. It is best for AI voice and video agents and for teams that want to self-host.

Key features of LiveKit are given below.

• Apache-2.0 open-source media server that teams can self-host

• LiveKit Agents framework with turn detection and interruption handling

• Built-in telephony with a free US local number on Build

• HIPAA support with a signed BAA on higher-tier plans

LiveKit Cloud powers ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, and the company raised a $100M Series C at a $1B valuation in January 2027. Build is free, Ship costs $50 per month for 150,000 minutes, then $0.0005, and Scale costs $500 per month for 1.5 million minutes, then $0.0004. Agent sessions cost $0.01 per minute in overage. Speak and Tinder also run on it.

8. Amazon Chime SDK

Amazon Chime SDK is a set of AWS real-time communication components for adding audio and video to your apps. It is best for AWS teams that want a low managed per-minute rate.

Key features of Amazon Chime SDK are given below.

• WebRTC media at $0.0017 per attendee minute, billed in 6-second increments

• Media capture pipelines for recording, at $0.0125 per minute for 1080p

• Native links to AWS services such as Kinesis, Transcribe and EventBridge

• No prebuilt UI, so your team builds the call interface

AI transcription and analytics come through Amazon Transcribe. Pricing is pay-for-use, with volume discounts. AWS ended support for the Amazon Chime meetings app on 20 February 2027 but states the SDK is unaffected. Slack Huddles, Samsung’s live TV chat and Hyundai NGV’s exam proctoring run on it.

9. Stream Video API

Stream Video is a video calling and livestreaming API from Stream, the chat and activity feeds provider. It is best for apps that also need chat, moderation and vision AI agents.

Key features of Stream Video are given below.

• Global edge network for low-latency video

• Moderation tools, geofencing and webhooks for controllable calls

• Recording from $1.50 (audio) to $6.00 (HD) per 1,000 call minutes

• Noise cancellation and AI video filters included in all plans

Stream’s open-source Vision Agents framework, launched in October 2025, builds agents that see and hear live video, and captions cost $8 per 1,000 call minutes. The free Build plan covers your first $100 of usage monthly, and audio costs $0.30 per 1,000 participant minutes; check the pricing page for HD rates. Campus Buddy shipped 1:1 calls in 72 hours, and It’s Complicated and Popup also use Stream.

10. Cloudflare RealtimeKit

Cloudflare RealtimeKit is Cloudflare’s in-app audio and video SDK, built on the Dyte team and product Cloudflare acquired in 2025. It is best for Cloudflare teams that want low rates and agent-ready meetings.

Key features of Cloudflare RealtimeKit are given below.

• SDKs for Android, iOS, React, React Native, Angular and Flutter

• Prebuilt UI Kit with breakout rooms, chat, polls and waiting rooms

• Recording, RTMP and HLS export at $0.010 per minute

• Runs on Cloudflare Realtime with managed TURN and a serverless SFU

AI features include Meeting AI (beta), Build for agents (beta) and transcription billed through Workers AI. After 10,000 included minutes monthly, it costs $0.002 per participant minute, or $0.0005 for audio-only. Legacy Dyte SDKs are in maintenance mode, with RealtimeKit as their successor. CoffeeMug built its networking video calls on Dyte.

What Are the Key Features of a Video Calling API?

The key features of a video calling API are the calling, recording, interface, network and security capabilities that turn media streams into a usable product.

The key features to look for in a video calling API are outlined below.

• One-to-one and group calling: Supports private 1:1 calls and group rooms with clear participant limits.

• Screen sharing: Lets participants share a screen, window or tab for demos, support and teaching.

• Cloud recording: Stores calls on the provider’s servers for playback, compliance archives or later AI transcription.

• Prebuilt UI kits: Ready-made call screens cut build time, while custom UI/UX design keeps calls on brand.

• Adaptive bitrate and network quality monitoring: Adjusts video to each user’s bandwidth and reports network health on weak connections.

• Cross-platform SDKs: Native and web SDKs for iOS, Android, web, React Native and Flutter share one backend.

• Live streaming output (RTMP and HLS): Pushes a call to large audiences without a separate streaming stack.

• Security and compliance: End-to-end encryption, HIPAA with a BAA, GDPR controls and SOC 2 reports protect sensitive calls.

How Is AI Changing Video Calling APIs?

AI is changing video calling APIs by letting software agents listen, speak, see and summarize inside calls. Vendors now compete on AI agent frameworks, not only media quality.

6 ways AI is changing video calling APIs are given below.

• AI agents join calls: LiveKit Agents powers ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode, alongside Daily’s Pipecat, Agora’s Conversational AI Engine and Cloudflare RealtimeKit agents (beta).

• Real-time transcription, captions and translation: Twilio and Daily transcribe speech live, Vonage adds Live Captions and Agora translates in real time.

• Post-call intelligence: AI summaries and transcripts arrive after each session through Cloudflare Meeting AI (beta) and Vonage post-call transcription.

• Vision AI and real-time avatars: Stream Vision Agents see and hear live video, while NVIDIA and Tavus build digital humans with Pipecat and Daily.

• AI media enhancement: AI noise suppression, Agora Adaptive Video Optimization and Stream’s AI video filters improve audio and video on weak networks or devices.

• AI-assisted integration: LiveKit, Agora and Vonage publish documentation MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that help AI coding assistants write integrations.

AI also brings a new pricing unit, the agent session minute, which LiveKit bills at $0.01 in overage and Agora’s engine at $0.1. The trade-off is that end-to-end encryption blocks server-side AI features such as live transcription.

How Much Does a Video Calling API Cost?

A video calling API usually costs a fraction of a cent per participant minute (participants multiplied by call minutes). Headline rates cluster between $0.0035 and $0.0041, with Zoom at $0.0035, Twilio and Daily at $0.004 and Vonage at $0.0041. Lower-cost options include Amazon Chime SDK at $0.0017, Cloudflare RealtimeKit at $0.002 and LiveKit Cloud overage of $0.0005 on Ship.

Free tiers of 10,000 minutes per month are common on Daily, Zoom and Agora. Recording, transcription, HIPAA ($500 per month on Daily) and paid support raise the total cost, and a custom-built product, such as one from Cloud2Voice, is quoted per project on top of any API fees. For example, 4 participants in a 30-minute call use 120 participant minutes, about $0.48 at $0.004.

How to Choose the Best Video Calling API?

To choose the best video calling API, match each vendor to your use case, platforms, budget, compliance needs and AI plans, then pilot it on real devices.

6 steps to choose the best video calling API are outlined below.

1. Define the use case and scale: Decide between 1:1 calls, group rooms, broadcast or AI agent sessions, and estimate peak users.

2. Check SDK coverage: Confirm native SDKs exist for every platform you ship, including iOS, Android, web, React Native or Flutter.

3. Test latency and weak-network behavior: Aim for under 200 ms latency, under 2 seconds join time and a 99.9% uptime SLA.

4. Compare total cost at projected scale: Model participant minutes at launch and at 12 months, then add recording, compliance and support fees.

5. Verify compliance and data residency: Check for a HIPAA BAA, GDPR terms, SOC 2 reports and regional media zones where needed.

6. Assess AI readiness and roadmap stability: Weigh agent tooling and vendor shifts like Twilio’s 2024 reversal, the Chime app shutdown and Dyte’s move.

How to Integrate a Video Calling API Into Your App?

To integrate a video calling API, you connect a backend token server, add the client SDK and test calls under real conditions. The flow is similar whether you build a VoIP app or add video to an existing product.

6 steps to integrate a video calling API are given below.

1. Create an account and get API keys: Sign up, create a project and store the key and secret securely.

2. Create rooms and generate tokens on your backend: Create rooms over REST and issue short-lived participant tokens.

3. Install the client SDK or a prebuilt UI kit: Add the SDK to your web or mobile app.

4. Request camera and microphone permissions and join the call: Ask for device access, then join with a token.

5. Add features such as screen sharing, recording and AI transcription: Enable them in stages and track events with webhooks.

6. Test on real devices and throttled networks, then monitor call quality: Cover low-end phones and weak networks, then track quality after launch.

Teams without in-house WebRTC skills can hire a partner such as Cloud2Voice, whose web development team builds video features into new and existing products.

Is a Video Calling API Worth It?

Yes, a video calling API is worth it for most teams because it moves the hardest parts of real-time video onto managed infrastructure. Raw WebRTC takes months of work on signaling, TURN relays and codec negotiation before the first stable call, while an API cuts that to days and lowers ongoing maintenance.

What Is the Cheapest Video Calling API?

LiveKit is cheapest if you self-host it, paying only for infrastructure, and its Cloud overage is $0.0005 per minute on Ship. Amazon Chime SDK is the cheapest managed option at $0.0017, followed by Cloudflare RealtimeKit at $0.002. Still, the lowest headline rate is not always the lowest total cost once add-ons are counted.

Is Building Video Calling on Raw WebRTC Cheaper Than Using an API?

No, building video calling on raw WebRTC is usually not cheaper than using an API because engineering costs outweigh the saved per-minute fees. You still need signaling servers, STUN and TURN relays, SFUs, scaling and on-call support, plus hiring and ramp-up time. Our breakdown of VoIP app development cost shows what the build side involves.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Video Calling API?

The pros and cons of using a video calling API are given in the table below.

How Does a Video Calling API Compare With Related Technologies?

A video calling API is most often compared with WebRTC, the standard underneath it, and with live streaming APIs.

What Is the Difference Between a Video Calling API and WebRTC?

WebRTC is the open standard built into browsers for peer-to-peer audio, video and data without plug-ins, while a video calling API is a managed service that wraps WebRTC. The API adds signaling, TURN relays, media servers, SDKs and recording. Teams that want full control over that layer often hire specialist WebRTC development companies.

What Is the Difference Between a Video Calling API and a Live Streaming API?

A video calling API connects participants who all send and receive video with very low delay, and it bills per participant minute. A live streaming API sends one feed to many viewers, usually over HLS with a few seconds of delay, at a lower cost per viewer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between a Video Calling API and a Video SDK?

A video calling API runs on your server, where it creates rooms, issues short-lived tokens and fetches recordings over REST. A video SDK runs inside the user’s app, where it captures and renders media. They are two halves of one product, and most vendors ship both.

Is There a Free Video Calling API?

Yes, there is a free video calling API option because many providers include free monthly usage. Daily, Zoom and Agora each offer 10,000 minutes per month, LiveKit Build includes 5,000 WebRTC minutes, Stream covers $100 of usage monthly and Vonage gives 100,000 trial minutes. Open-source Jitsi and LiveKit are also free to self-host, apart from server costs.

Is Twilio Video Still Available?

Yes, Twilio Video is still available because Twilio reversed its planned shutdown. Twilio announced the end of Twilio Video in 2024, then reversed the decision on 21 October 2024. Its product page now says Twilio Video is actively developed and open to new customers.

Which Video Calling APIs Are HIPAA Compliant?

Twilio Video is HIPAA eligible, Vonage offers HIPAA with a BAA through sales, and Daily sells a $500 per month HIPAA add-on. LiveKit supports HIPAA on higher-tier plans, and Agora states HIPAA compliance. HIPAA is a shared responsibility that requires a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA).

Can You Self-Host a Video Calling API?

Yes, you can self-host a video calling API because open-source options such as LiveKit, released under Apache-2.0, and Jitsi run on your own servers. Self-hosting gives you full data control, but it moves hosting, scaling, TURN servers and maintenance onto your team.

Final Thoughts

The best video calling API depends on your use case. Cloud2Voice fits teams that want a custom, branded product built for them, Agora suits global scale, LiveKit leads for AI agents and self-hosting, and Daily fits fast web embeds. Twilio Video suits existing Twilio stacks, while Amazon Chime SDK serves AWS teams and, with Cloudflare RealtimeKit, offers the lowest managed rates.

If you are still validating the idea, MVP development lets you test a lean calling product first.

When you are ready for a custom video calling app built on WebRTC and SIP, explore our VoIP development services and book a free consultation with our team.