Zoom vs LiveKit

How do Zoom and LiveKit compare? And what does Video SDK offer?
Zoom Video SDK
The Zoom Video SDK provides a reliable video conferencing experience similar to the original Client, but with added flexibility. It encompasses a wide range of services, including audio, video, chat, screen sharing, data streams, server-side APIs, and webhooks. This extensive set of features allows developers to create customized and immersive video communication experiences within their applications.
LiveKit
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.
How Video SDK make a difference
While considering real-time communication solutions for your products, LiveKit provides a modern and user-friendly solution with easy-to-use APIs and built-in collaborative elements. On the other hand, Zoom is known for its reliability and scalability, offering a robust platform for handling a larger number of users.
LiveKit and Zoom shine with their low-latency and regional server support, ensuring smooth and responsive communication. However, they might lack some advanced features such as network degradation management and a low-code UI builder.
But fear not, Video SDK comes to the rescue, combining the best features from both LiveKit and Zoom while adding even more capabilities.
In this comparison, we delve into the facts about LiveKit and Zoom, and we'll explain why Video SDK is the ultimate solution for your real-time communication needs.

Features comparison : Zoom vs LiveKit vs Video SDK

Zoom Video SDK
LiveKit
VideoSDK
No. of Participants (Including Hosts)
âś•
Zoom Video SDK supports limited participants.
  • Basic: 100 participants
  • Pro: 100 participants
  • Business: 300 participants
  • Enterprise: 500 participants
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LiveKit supports limited participants.
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VideoSDK supports upto Million Participants
Ease of SDK Integration
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Avg. integration takes 3+ to 6 months.
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Development is moderately tough
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VideoSDK requires less than 2 weeks for SDK integration
Adpative Audio/Video Quality
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Yes
  • 720p on Basic plan
  • 1080p available for Business, Education and Enterprise plan
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LiveKit not offers adaptive audio/video quality.
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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
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Zoom Video SDK offer limited Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates.
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Limited to host & participant roles
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VideoSDK offers Role management, Permissions, Policy and Templates
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency
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Not available
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Available
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Available
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming
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Yes with custom RTMP streams configuration
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Not Available
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Available (No need for manual config.)
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc.
âś“
Only Whiteboard Availble
  • Need to integrate external SDKs for other collabrative features
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In LiveKit collaborative features is not available.
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VideoSDK offers a range of collaborative features
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware
âś•
Yes
  • Transcription only available in English
âś•
Not Available
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Easy Integration
Webhooks
âś“
Available
âś•
Not Available
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Available
Pricing Model
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Usage based
âś•
Subscription based
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Pay-as-You-Go Plan
Interactive Live Streaming
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Yes
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LiveKit supports interactive live streaming.
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VideoSDK supports Interactive Live Streaming
Cloud Recording
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Available
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LiveKit offers cloud recording capabilities.
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VideoSDK offers Cloud Recording Capabilities
Interactive Whiteboard
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Available from $2.49/month
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LiveKit not provides an interactive whiteboard feature.
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VideoSDK provides Interactive Whiteboard Feature
Multi-platform
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Zoom Video SDK supports not multiple platforms for a wider reach.
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LiveKit not supports multiple platforms for a wider reach.
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VideoSDK compatible with Multi-Platforms for greater reach
Interactive Participant Support
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Up to 300
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LiveKit provides limited support for interactive participants.
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Upto 5,000
Mobile Browser Support
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Limited (iOS users can't join using their phone or tablet internet browser)
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LiveKit offers limited support for mobile browsers.
âś“
Video support 91% mobile browsers
Automatic Audio/Video Degrade, Re-connectivity
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Zoom Video SDK not supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.
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LiveKit supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments..
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VideoSDK supports Reconnectivity with Audio/Video Quality adjustments..
Audio & Video powered by AI
âś•
No
âś•
No
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Yes
Independent of Open Source Dependency
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Zoom Video SDK is dependent on open source.
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LiveKit is not dependent on open source.
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VideoSDK is not dependent on open source.
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS
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No
âś•
No
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Yes
API for Specific Features (Collaborative Games, Polls, etc.)
âś•
No
âś•
No
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Yes
API for Social Features (Merging Rooms, Battles, Coins, Gifts Sending etc.)
âś•
No
âś•
No
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Yes
Full HD Recording
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Zoom Video SDK not supports full HD recording.
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LiveKit not supports full HD recording.
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VideoSDK supports full HD recording
Open Source Templates
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Zoom Video SDK not heavily rely on open source templates.
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LiveKit not heavily rely on open source templates.
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VideoSDK rely on open source templates
Full Custom roles
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Zoom Video SDK not support for custom roles.
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LiveKit offer limited support for custom roles.
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VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles
HLS Streaming
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Zoom Video SDK not supports HLS streaming.
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LiveKit supports HLS streaming.
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VideoSDK supports HLS streaming
Cost-effective
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Zoom Video SDK is not cost effective.
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LiveKit is not cost effective.
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VideoSDK is Cost Effective
Prebuilt SDK
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Zoom Video SDK not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration.
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LiveKit not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration.
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VideoSDK provides Prebuilt SDKs for easier integration
Fully Customizable UI
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Zoom Video SDK not customizable UI.
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LiveKit not allows for a customizable UI.
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VideoSDK allows for Limited customizable UI
Metaverse Platform Support
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Zoom Video SDK not support Metaverse platform.
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LiveKit not support Metaverse platform.
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VideoSDK support Metaverse platform
Session Analytics
âś“
Yes
âś•
LiveKit not offer session analytics option.
âś“
VideoSDK offer session analytics option
Data Tracks
âś•
Zoom Video SDK not offer track data option.
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LiveKit not offer data tracks option.
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VideoSDK offer track data option

Cost comparison : Zoom vs LiveKit vs Video SDK

Zoom Video SDK
LiveKit
VideoSDK
Volume Discount
âś•
No
âś•
LiveKit not offer the volume discount.
âś“
VideoSDK offer the Volume Discount
Video Conferencing
  • $3.5 per 1,000 minutes
  • $20 per 1,000 minutes
  • Video HD: $4.00
  • Video Full HD: $8.00
  • Video 2K: $16.00
  • Video 2K+: $36.00
Analytics
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Available
âś“
Free
âś“
VideoSDK offer Free Analytics with Dashboard
Separate Pricing for Video and Audio
âś“
Yes
âś“
Yes
âś“
Yes
Free 10,000 Minutes Every Month
âś“
Yes
âś•
No
âś“
Yes
Minimum Price for Video Calls
$3.5 per 1,000 participant minute
$0.02 per participant minute
$0.004 per participant minutes
Minimum Price for Audio-only Calls
Starting at $1,200 per year
$0.005 per participant minute
$0.001 per participant minutes
Advanced Firewall Control
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Yes
âś•
No
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VideoSDK offer Free Firewall Control
Compliance & Privacy
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Zoom provides robust support for Only SOC 2 Type 2 compliance.
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LiveKit not provides compliance & privacy support.
âś“
Provide Compliance Standards and Privacy Regulations:
  • HIPPA Complaint
  • GDPR Complaint
  • Data Localization
  • SOC2 : Type 2
  • ISO:27001
  • VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing)
  • CERT-in (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)
Cloud Recording Pricing
âś“
$15 per participant per 1,000 minutes
No accurate data available
  • Video SD: $15.00 1,000 minutes (No limit on participants)
  • Video HD: $15.00 1,000 minutes (No limit on participants)
RTMP Pricing
$15 for 1,000 minutes of HD audio.
No accurate data available
  • $30 per 1,000 minutes
ILS Pricing
  • Zoom Webinars: $79/month
  • Zoom Sessions: $99.00/month
  • Zoom Events: $149.00/month
  • $69 per hour (upto 500 viewers only and doesn't support Full HD)
  • $0.002 per participant minute (Support Full HD)
Storage Pricing
  • $0.5/GB/month
No accurate data available
  • $3 per 1000 minutes per month

Support comparison : Zoom vs LiveKit vs Video SDK

Zoom Video SDK
LiveKit
VideoSDK
Support
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Live chat support
  • $50 USD/month subscription plans Live phone support
  • $200 USD/month subscription plans
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Yes
âś“
Yes
Cost
  • Plans upto $1900 per month
Only accounts having Standard or Enterprise plan
Free
Access to Testing
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Yes, All paid plans have access to testing support from Video SDK.
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No
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All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK
Access to TAM / CS Engineer
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In the Premier and Premier+ Plan Only
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No
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Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers
SLAs
âś“
In the Premier+ Plan Only
âś•
Only accounts having Enterprise plan
âś“
Affordable SLA with 99.9% Uptime

SUCCESS STORY

How Immigo empowered personalized language learning experience with Video SDK

Read the story
See why customers love Video SDK
Shilpa Jain-CEO & Co-Founder at Talk Your Heart Out
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“We switched from a major international player to Video SDK due to their responsiveness to feedback, superior product, and better service. They outshine bigger players in the market and have been excellent in resolving issues promptly.”

Shilpa Jain ,

CEO & Co-Founder at Talk Your Heart Out

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