Agora vs Twilio
A head-to-head comparison of Agora and Twilio, And what features and value does VideoSDK offer?
Agora
Live Video SDK aims to make live video calls and live streams inside applications easier. The SDK is very low-level and allows enterprise development teams to control every aspect of the live video experience.
Twilio
originally started by helping developers automate traditional phone calls and SMS text messages. But today, developers can use it to build business communication ( in-app and otherwise) across the customer journey.How VideoSDK make a difference?
Agora and Twilio Video are feasible SDKs for seamlessly integrating real-time video experiences into applications, providing different packages, features, and benefits. However, they are legacy video SDK providers and take months to completely integrate into your app, Without providing critical features like smart bandwidth switching or limitless interactive features.
And here comes VideoSDK. It’s quite easy and quick SDK that helps you deal with multiple features, such as chat, polls, breakout rooms, streaming capability, and RTMP out — all in a single SDK.
Let's examine VideoSDK in comparison to Agora and Twilio, highlighting the reasons why VideoSDK stands out as the superior choice for your diverse needs
Features Comparison : Agora vs Twilio vs VideoSDK
features | Agora | Twilio | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of participants (Including hosts) | ✕ Agora not supports more than 55 participants. | ✕ Twilio not supports more than 50 participants. | ✓ VideoSDK supports millions participants. |
Ease of SDK Integration | ✕ Agora generally requires more than 3 months for SDK integration. | ✕ In Twilio High coding effort required. | ✓ VideoSDK generally requires more than 2 weeks for SDK integration . |
Adpative audio/video quality | ✕ Agora not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | ✕ Twilio not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | ✓ VideoSDK offers adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall, Private Network | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | ✕ Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates not available in Agora. | ✕ Twilio offer limited Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates. | ✓ VideoSDK offer Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates. |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | ✕ Not available | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | ✕ Not available | ✕ Twilio needed manual configuration. | ✓ In VideoSDK no needed manual configuration. |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | ✕ In Agora collaborative features is not available. | ✕ Not available or Separate SDK | ✓ Collaborative features available VideoSDK. |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | ✕ Complex integration | ✕ Complex integration | ✓ Easy integration |
Webhooks | ✕ Only use cloud recording use-cases. | ✕ Only for recording states | ✓ Available |
Pricing Model | ✓ Usage based | ✓ Usage based | ✓ Usage based Price |
Interactive Live Streaming | ✓ Agora supports interactive live streaming. | ✕ Twilio supports interactive live streaming. | ✓ VideoSDK supports interactive live streaming . |
Cloud Recording | ✓ Agora offers cloud recording capabilities. | ✓ Twilio offers cloud recording capabilities. | ✓ VideoSDK offers cloud recording capabilities. |
Interactive Whiteboard | ✓ Agora provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | ✕ Not available or Separate SDK | ✓ VideoSDK provides an interactive whiteboard feature. |
Multi-platform | ✓ Agora supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | ✓ Twilio supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | ✓ VideoSDK supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. |
Interactive Participant Support | ✕ Agora provides limited support for interactive participants. | ✕ Limited support | ✓ Up to 5,000 |
Mobile browser support | ✕ Agora offers limited support for mobile browsers. | ✕ Twilio offers limited support for mobile browsers. | ✓ Video support only 90% mobile browsers. |
Automatic audio / video degrade, re-connectivity | ✕ Agora not supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments. | ✕ Twilio not supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments. | ✓ VideoSDK supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | ✕ Agora is not dependent on open source. | ✕ Twilio does not heavily rely on open source templates. | ✕ VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API for building specific features such as collaborative games, polls etc | ✕ No | ✕ Limited | ✓ Yes |
API to build social features such as merging rooms, battles, coins, gifts sending etc | ✕ No | ✕ Limited | ✓ Yes |
Full HD recording | ✓ Agora supports full HD recording. | ✓ Twilio supports full HD recording. | ✓ VideoSDK supports full HD recording. |
Open source templates | ✕ Agora not heavily rely on open source templates. | ✕ Twilio not heavily rely on open source templates. | ✓ VideoSDK heavily rely on open source templates. |
Full Custom roles | ✕ Agora offer limited support for full custom roles. | ✕ Twilio offer limited support for custom roles. | ✓ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles. |
HLS Streaming | ✓ Agora supports HLS streaming. | ✕ Twilio not supports HLS streaming. | ✓ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming. |
Prebuilt SDK | ✕ Agora not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | ✕ Twilio not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | ✓ VideoSDK provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. |
Fully customizable UI | ✓ Agora allows for a customizable UI. | ✕ Twilio not allows for a Limited customizable UI. | ✓ VideoSDK allows for a Limited customizable UI. |
Metaverse platform support | ✕ Agora not support Metaverse platform. | ✕ Twilio not support Metaverse platform. | ✓ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform. |
Session analytics | ✓ Agora offer session analytics option. | ✕ Separate charges | ✓ VideoSDK offer session analytics option. |
Data Tracks | ✕ Agora not offer data tracks option. | ✕ Twillio separate charges for data tracks. | ✓ VideoSDK offer track data option. |
features | Agora | Twilio | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of participants (Including hosts) | ✕ Agora not supports more than 55 participants. | ✕ Twilio not supports more than 50 participants. | ✓ VideoSDK supports millions participants. |
Ease of SDK Integration | ✕ Agora generally requires more than 3 months for SDK integration. | ✕ In Twilio High coding effort required. | ✓ VideoSDK generally requires more than 2 weeks for SDK integration . |
Adpative audio/video quality | ✕ Agora not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | ✕ Twilio not offers adaptive audio/video quality. | ✓ VideoSDK offers adaptive audio/video quality. |
Works behind the Firewall, Private Network | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Role Management, Permissions, Policy and Templates | ✕ Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates not available in Agora. | ✕ Twilio offer limited Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates. | ✓ VideoSDK offer Role Management, Permissions, Policy & Templates. |
Automatic video and audio track degrade due to bandwidth in-consistency | ✕ Not available | ✕ Not available | ✓ Available |
Dynamic Layout for Studio and RTMP Live Streaming | ✕ Not available | ✕ Twilio needed manual configuration. | ✓ In VideoSDK no needed manual configuration. |
Build collaborative features like chat, poll, Q & A, whiteboard etc. | ✕ In Agora collaborative features is not available. | ✕ Not available or Separate SDK | ✓ Collaborative features available VideoSDK. |
Virtual Background, Live Transcription & ML Middleware | ✕ Complex integration | ✕ Complex integration | ✓ Easy integration |
Webhooks | ✕ Only use cloud recording use-cases. | ✕ Only for recording states | ✓ Available |
Pricing Model | ✓ Usage based | ✓ Usage based | ✓ Usage based Price |
Interactive Live Streaming | ✓ Agora supports interactive live streaming. | ✕ Twilio supports interactive live streaming. | ✓ VideoSDK supports interactive live streaming . |
Cloud Recording | ✓ Agora offers cloud recording capabilities. | ✓ Twilio offers cloud recording capabilities. | ✓ VideoSDK offers cloud recording capabilities. |
Interactive Whiteboard | ✓ Agora provides an interactive whiteboard feature. | ✕ Not available or Separate SDK | ✓ VideoSDK provides an interactive whiteboard feature. |
Multi-platform | ✓ Agora supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | ✓ Twilio supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. | ✓ VideoSDK supports multiple platforms for a wider reach. |
Interactive Participant Support | ✕ Agora provides limited support for interactive participants. | ✕ Limited support | ✓ Up to 5,000 |
Mobile browser support | ✕ Agora offers limited support for mobile browsers. | ✕ Twilio offers limited support for mobile browsers. | ✓ Video support only 90% mobile browsers. |
Automatic audio / video degrade, re-connectivity | ✕ Agora not supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments. | ✕ Twilio not supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments. | ✓ VideoSDK supports automatic audio/video quality adjustments.. |
Audio & Video powered by AI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
Independent of Open Source Dependency | ✕ Agora is not dependent on open source. | ✕ Twilio does not heavily rely on open source templates. | ✕ VideoSDK is not dependent on open source. |
Customised RTMP, Cloud Recording, HLS | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
API for building specific features such as collaborative games, polls etc | ✕ No | ✕ Limited | ✓ Yes |
API to build social features such as merging rooms, battles, coins, gifts sending etc | ✕ No | ✕ Limited | ✓ Yes |
Full HD recording | ✓ Agora supports full HD recording. | ✓ Twilio supports full HD recording. | ✓ VideoSDK supports full HD recording. |
Open source templates | ✕ Agora not heavily rely on open source templates. | ✕ Twilio not heavily rely on open source templates. | ✓ VideoSDK heavily rely on open source templates. |
Full Custom roles | ✕ Agora offer limited support for full custom roles. | ✕ Twilio offer limited support for custom roles. | ✓ VideoSDK offer support for full custom roles. |
HLS Streaming | ✓ Agora supports HLS streaming. | ✕ Twilio not supports HLS streaming. | ✓ VideoSDK supports HLS streaming. |
Prebuilt SDK | ✕ Agora not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | ✕ Twilio not provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. | ✓ VideoSDK provides prebuilt SDKs for easier integration. |
Fully customizable UI | ✓ Agora allows for a customizable UI. | ✕ Twilio not allows for a Limited customizable UI. | ✓ VideoSDK allows for a Limited customizable UI. |
Metaverse platform support | ✕ Agora not support Metaverse platform. | ✕ Twilio not support Metaverse platform. | ✓ VideoSDK support Metaverse platform. |
Session analytics | ✓ Agora offer session analytics option. | ✕ Separate charges | ✓ VideoSDK offer session analytics option. |
Data Tracks | ✕ Agora not offer data tracks option. | ✕ Twillio separate charges for data tracks. | ✓ VideoSDK offer track data option. |
Price Comparison : Agora vs Twilio vs VideoSDK
features | Agora | Twilio | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | ✕ Agora not offer the volume discount. | ✕ Twilio not offer the volume discount. | ✓ VideoSDK offer the volume discount . |
Video Conferencing |
|
|
|
Analytics | ✕
| ✕ Separate charges | ✓ VideoSDK offer free analytics. |
Separate pricing for video and audio | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Free 10,000 minutes every month | ✓ Yes | ✕ Twilio not offer free 10,000 minutes every month. | ✓ Yes |
Minimum price for video calls | $0.0039 per participant minute | $0.004 per participant minute | $0.002 per participant minute |
Minimum price for audio-only calls | $0.00099 per participant minute | $0.004 per participant per minute | $0.0006 per participant min |
Advanced Firewall Control | ✕ Agora not offer firewall control. | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK offer free firewall control. |
Compliance & Privacy | ✕ Agora provides robust support only for HIPAA compliance, although it comes with associated charges. | ✕ Twilio provides robust support for GDPR & HIPAA compliance, although it comes with associated charges. | ✓ Secure real-time audio-video to your app or website with compliance and privacy.
|
Cloud recording pricing |
|
|
|
RTMP pricing |
| NA |
|
ILS pricing | Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing | NA |
|
Storage pricing | Extra cost |
|
|
features | Agora | Twilio | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Volume Discount | ✕ Agora not offer the volume discount. | ✕ Twilio not offer the volume discount. | ✓ VideoSDK offer the volume discount . |
Video Conferencing |
|
|
|
Analytics | ✕
| ✕ Separate charges | ✓ VideoSDK offer free analytics. |
Separate pricing for video and audio | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Free 10,000 minutes every month | ✓ Yes | ✕ Twilio not offer free 10,000 minutes every month. | ✓ Yes |
Minimum price for video calls | $0.0039 per participant minute | $0.004 per participant minute | $0.002 per participant minute |
Minimum price for audio-only calls | $0.00099 per participant minute | $0.004 per participant per minute | $0.0006 per participant min |
Advanced Firewall Control | ✕ Agora not offer firewall control. | ✕ No | ✓ VideoSDK offer free firewall control. |
Compliance & Privacy | ✕ Agora provides robust support only for HIPAA compliance, although it comes with associated charges. | ✕ Twilio provides robust support for GDPR & HIPAA compliance, although it comes with associated charges. | ✓ Secure real-time audio-video to your app or website with compliance and privacy.
|
Cloud recording pricing |
|
|
|
RTMP pricing |
| NA |
|
ILS pricing | Aggregated resolution based per participant pricing | NA |
|
Storage pricing | Extra cost |
|
|
Support Comparison : Agora vs Twilio vs Video SDK
features | Agora | Twilio | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | ✕ Paid | ✕ Paid | ✓ Yes |
Cost |
|
| Free |
Access to Testing | ✕ No | ✕ No explicit support for testing, quality measurements and reports. | ✓ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK. |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer |
| ✕ No | ✓ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs |
| ✕ No | ✓ Inexpensive SLA with 99.9% uptime |
features | Agora | Twilio | Video SDK |
|---|---|---|---|
Support | ✕ Paid | ✕ Paid | ✓ Yes |
Cost |
|
| Free |
Access to Testing | ✕ No | ✕ No explicit support for testing, quality measurements and reports. | ✓ All paid accounts get access to testing support from Video SDK. |
Access to TAM / CS Engineer |
| ✕ No | ✓ Dedicated CS & Solution Engineers |
SLAs |
| ✕ No | ✓ Inexpensive SLA with 99.9% uptime |
See why customers love VideoSDK
“I still remember when I was trying out the product and connected over discord with Arjun Kava, and he immediately responded. It is one of the things that we found less often. The team is super enthusiastic to make the product as next big thing. Easy integration is the beauty of it. Few lines of code and it's done.”
Ankur Chandra ,
Engineering Manager at Fynd
FAQ
