WebRTC vs LiveKit
How do WebRTC and LiveKit compare? And what does Video SDK offer?
Livekit is a collection of SDKs that enables the integration of live video and audio into your native applications. It offers various notable features, including live streaming, in-game communication, video calls, and more. Livekit utilizes a modern, end-to-end WebRTC stack to deliver seamless and high-quality real-time communication experiences.
WebRTC is a free and open-source initiative that empowers web browsers with Real-Time Communications (RTC) capabilities through straightforward JavaScript APIs. The WebRTC components have been finely tuned to effectively fulfill this objective.
How Video SDK make a difference
Real-time communication has become integral to various industries, from online meetings and virtual conferences to healthcare and gaming. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) and LiveKit are two prominent players in this space, each offering unique advantages and disadvantages.
However, Video SDK introduces a transformative factor. But what makes it stand out? This page conducts a comprehensive comparison between WebRTC and LiveKit, unveiling the aspects that contribute to Video SDK's exceptional performance. An ideal solution tailored to meet your specific requirements!
Features comparison : WebRTC vs LiveKit vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | WebRTC |  VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Participants (Including Hosts) | âś• LiveKit supports limited participants. | âś• WebRTC supports 2-3 participants only. | âś“ VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants |
Ease of SDK Integration | âś• Development is moderately tough | âś• WebRTC SDK is Complex for integration. | âś“ VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration |
Adpative Audio/Video Quality | âś• LiveKit not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | âś“ WebRTC offers adaptive audio/video quality | âś“ VideoSDK provides best adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall/Private-Network | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | âś• Limited to host & participant roles | âś• WebRTC has limited Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates. | âś“ VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | âś“ Available | âś• No | âś“ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | âś• Not Available | âś• No | âś“ Available (No need for manual config.) |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | âś• In LiveKit collaborative features is not available. | âś• In WebRTC collaborative features is not available. | âś“ VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | âś• Not Available | âś• No | âś“ Easy Integration |
Webhooks | âś• Not Available | âś“ Yes | âś“ Available |
Pricing Model | âś• Subscription based | NA | âś“ Pay-as-You-Go Plan |
Interactive Live Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports interactive live streaming. | NA | âś“ VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming |
Cloud Recording | âś“ LiveKit offers cloud recording capabilities. | NA | âś“ VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities |
Interactive Whiteboard | âś• LiveKit not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś• WebRTC not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś“ VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature |
Multi-platform | âś• LiveKit not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś“ WebRTC supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś“ VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach |
Interactive Participant Support | âś• LiveKit provides limited support for interactive participants. | âś• WebRTC support limited Interactive Participants. | âś“ Upto 5,000 |
Mobile Browser Support | âś• LiveKit offers limited support for mobile browsers. | âś• 20% | âś“ Video support 91% mobile browsers |
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity | âś“ LiveKit supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ WebRTC supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | âś“ LiveKit is not dependent on open source. | âś“ WebRTC is dependent on open source. | âś• VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Full HD Recording | âś• LiveKit not supports full HD recording. | âś• WebRTC not supports full HD recording. | âś“ VideoSDK supports full HD recording |
Open Source Templates | âś• LiveKit not heavily rely on open source templates. | âś“ WebRTC heavily rely on open source templates. | âś“ VideoSDK rely on open source templates |
Full Custom roles | âś• LiveKit offer limited support for custom roles. | âś• Limited | âś“ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles |
HLS Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports HLS streaming. | âś“ Yes | âś“ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming |
Cost-effective | âś• LiveKit is not cost effective. | âś“ WebRTC is cost effective. | âś“ VideoSDK is Cost Effective |
Prebuilt SDK | âś• LiveKit not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | âś• WebRTC not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | âś“ VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration |
Fully Customizable UI | âś• LiveKit not allows for a customizable UI. | âś• Yes, but requires much efforts | âś“ VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI |
Metaverse Platform Support | âś• LiveKit not support Metaverse platform. | âś“ WebRTC support Metaverse platform. | âś“ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform |
Session Analytics | âś• LiveKit not offer session analytics option. | âś• WebRTC not offer session analytics option. | âś“ VideoSDK offer session analytics option |
Data Tracks | âś• LiveKit not offer data tracks option. | âś• WebRTC not offer track data option. | âś“ VideoSDK offer track data option |
features | LiveKit | WebRTC | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Participants (Including Hosts) | âś• LiveKit supports limited participants. | âś• WebRTC supports 2-3 participants only. | âś“ VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants |
Ease of SDK Integration | âś• Development is moderately tough | âś• WebRTC SDK is Complex for integration. | âś“ VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration |
Adpative Audio/Video Quality | âś• LiveKit not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | âś“ WebRTC offers adaptive audio/video quality | âś“ VideoSDK provides best adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall/Private-Network | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | âś• Limited to host & participant roles | âś• WebRTC has limited Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates. | âś“ VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | âś“ Available | âś• No | âś“ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | âś• Not Available | âś• No | âś“ Available (No need for manual config.) |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | âś• In LiveKit collaborative features is not available. | âś• In WebRTC collaborative features is not available. | âś“ VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | âś• Not Available | âś• No | âś“ Easy Integration |
Webhooks | âś• Not Available | âś“ Yes | âś“ Available |
Pricing Model | âś• Subscription based | NA | âś“ Pay-as-You-Go Plan |
Interactive Live Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports interactive live streaming. | NA | âś“ VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming |
Cloud Recording | âś“ LiveKit offers cloud recording capabilities. | NA | âś“ VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities |
Interactive Whiteboard | âś• LiveKit not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś• WebRTC not provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | âś“ VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature |
Multi-platform | âś• LiveKit not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś“ WebRTC supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | âś“ VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach |
Interactive Participant Support | âś• LiveKit provides limited support for interactive participants. | âś• WebRTC support limited Interactive Participants. | âś“ Upto 5,000 |
Mobile Browser Support | âś• LiveKit offers limited support for mobile browsers. | âś• 20% | âś“ Video support 91% mobile browsers |
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity | âś“ LiveKit supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ WebRTC supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. | âś“ VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | âś“ LiveKit is not dependent on open source. | âś“ WebRTC is dependent on open source. | âś• VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.) | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Yes |
Full HD Recording | âś• LiveKit not supports full HD recording. | âś• WebRTC not supports full HD recording. | âś“ VideoSDK supports full HD recording |
Open Source Templates | âś• LiveKit not heavily rely on open source templates. | âś“ WebRTC heavily rely on open source templates. | âś“ VideoSDK rely on open source templates |
Full Custom roles | âś• LiveKit offer limited support for custom roles. | âś• Limited | âś“ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles |
HLS Streaming | âś“ LiveKit supports HLS streaming. | âś“ Yes | âś“ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming |
Cost-effective | âś• LiveKit is not cost effective. | âś“ WebRTC is cost effective. | âś“ VideoSDK is Cost Effective |
Prebuilt SDK | âś• LiveKit not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | âś• WebRTC not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | âś“ VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration |
Fully Customizable UI | âś• LiveKit not allows for a customizable UI. | âś• Yes, but requires much efforts | âś“ VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI |
Metaverse Platform Support | âś• LiveKit not support Metaverse platform. | âś“ WebRTC support Metaverse platform. | âś“ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform |
Session Analytics | âś• LiveKit not offer session analytics option. | âś• WebRTC not offer session analytics option. | âś“ VideoSDK offer session analytics option |
Data Tracks | âś• LiveKit not offer data tracks option. | âś• WebRTC not offer track data option. | âś“ VideoSDK offer track data option |
Cost comparison : WebRTC vs LiveKit vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | WebRTC | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | âś• LiveKit not offer the volume discount. | NA | âś“ VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount |
Video Conferencing |
| NA |
|
Analytics | âś“ Free | NA | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard |
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio | âś“ Yes | NA | âś“ Yes |
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month | âś• No | NA | âś“ Yes |
Minimum Price for Video Calls | $0.02 per participant minute | NA | $0.004 per participant minutes |
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls | $0.005 per participant minute | NA | $0.001 per participant minutes |
Advanced Firewall Control | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control |
Compliance & Privacy | âś• LiveKit not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś• WebRTC not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś“ Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
|
Cloud Recording Pricing | No accurate data available | NA |
|
RTMP Pricing | No accurate data available | NA |
|
ILS Pricing |
| NA |
|
Storage Pricing | No accurate data available | NA |
|
features | LiveKit | WebRTC | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | âś• LiveKit not offer the volume discount. | NA | âś“ VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount |
Video Conferencing |
| NA |
|
Analytics | âś“ Free | NA | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard |
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio | âś“ Yes | NA | âś“ Yes |
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month | âś• No | NA | âś“ Yes |
Minimum Price for Video Calls | $0.02 per participant minute | NA | $0.004 per participant minutes |
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls | $0.005 per participant minute | NA | $0.001 per participant minutes |
Advanced Firewall Control | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control |
Compliance & Privacy | âś• LiveKit not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś• WebRTC not provides compliance & privacy support. | âś“ Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
|
Cloud Recording Pricing | No accurate data available | NA |
|
RTMP Pricing | No accurate data available | NA |
|
ILS Pricing |
| NA |
|
Storage Pricing | No accurate data available | NA |
|
Support comparison : WebRTC vs LiveKit vs Video SDK
features | LiveKit | WebRTC | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | âś“ Yes | NA | âś“ Yes |
Cost | Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan | NA | Free |
Access to Testing | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | âś• Only accounts having Enterprise plan | âś• No | âś“ Affordable SLA with 99.9% Uptime |
features | LiveKit | WebRTC | VideoSDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | âś“ Yes | NA | âś“ Yes |
Cost | Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan | NA | Free |
Access to Testing | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer | âś• No | âś• No | âś“ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs | âś• Only accounts having Enterprise plan | âś• No | âś“ Affordable SLA with 99.9% Uptime |
SUCCESS STORY
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