The 5 Best Live Streaming Platform APIs In 2024 [Free & Paid]

Live Streaming Platforms with API Toolkits

Are you planning to start a live-streaming business?

Well, if you’re, then you only have two options to get started.

The first option — piece together commercial or open-source components on your infrastructure and build your own live-streaming platform.

This can be a great option if you have the resources and the bandwidth.

However, this requires ongoing maintenance and associated costs.

The second option is to leverage a platform that provides a live-streaming video API (Application Programming Interface). This API simplifies the integration process by handling the technical complexities for you.

There’s one significant advantage to the second option. This way, you can focus on creating, editing, and sharing content. You don’t have to deal with the complexities of maintaining the streaming infrastructure.

It sounds simple. Does it not?

In fact, live-streaming video APIs are far more convenient and cost-effective than their counterparts— the conventional live-streaming platforms.
But there’s one problem.

A handful of live-streaming platforms on the market offer robust video API coverage.

The question that might linger in your mind is worth addressing.

Which live-streaming video API should you pick?
Should you prefer scalability over cost-effectiveness?

Let’s find the answer to this question in the next few minutes.

What Is a Live Streaming Video API?

A live video streaming API is basically software that enables real-time video streaming on websites, mobile apps, and other platforms.

It gives developers a set of tools and functionalities to embed or integrate live video streaming into their applications.

Some of the best live streaming sites use these video APIs and deliver high-quality video streams without buffering or lag.

Meanwhile, live stream APIs can also offer features like live recording, transcoding, and adaptive bitrate streaming.

In short, live-streaming video APIs afford you most of the benefits of a private live-streaming platform at a budget-friendly cost.

Live Streaming Platforms with Best Video APIs

We’ve put together a compilation of live-streaming platforms that provide video APIs.

The list below is curated from user reviews on leading product listing websites.

1. GUDSHO

GUDSHO is an all-in-one live-streaming platform with a video API. It simplifies the process of live event streaming across multiple platforms, making it hassle-free, convenient, and exceptionally fast.

The platform’s API aggregates a vast library of video content from various sources and provides it in a streamable format that can be watched on any device.

With GUDSHO, you can access a wide range of content from different channels and widen your video content offerings. Plus, you can also easily brand and customize the player to give it a unique look and feel — one that aligns with your brand image.

Signing up with GUDSHO is fast and totally free. And best of all, there are no hidden fees or additional charges.

If you’re scouting for a reliable and cost-effective live event streaming platform with support for video APIs, GUDSHO is definitely a great option to consider.

Notable GUDSHO Live Streaming API Features Include

• Fully Flexible API: Enables custom app development by integrating an enterprise-grade platform API from GUDSHO.
• Platform Independent: Works seamlessly across different platforms, providing compatibility and flexibility.
• 100% Secure Access: Allows API downloads only for users with verified channels on GUDSHO.
• 360° Video Analytics: Provides the ability to tailor video analytics according to specific needs and preferences.
• Developer-Friendly Integration: Facilitates easy and user-friendly integration for developers, streamlining the incorporation of GUDSHO’s Video Platform API into multiple apps.

2. OnTheFly

OnTheFly enables developers to integrate live video streaming into their websites and applications, with its robust live-streaming platform and multi streaming API.

The platform supports real-time chat, multi-streaming, custom RTMP, streaming in 4K quality, and branding customization.

Key Features of the OnTheFly Live Streaming Video API Include

Chat functionality: Instantaneous communication with viewers via chat, tips, polls, and comments

Stream report: a comprehensive analytics tool to monitor every single streaming session together with the number of viewers.

Custom RTMP: To increase viewership, broadcast multiple streams from one location to several locations using custom RTMP

Professional recording: Record the streamed material using studio-quality audio and store it to the cloud.

Re-stream: Using a pre-recording streaming tool, OnTheFly enables you to record and re-stream your video.

3. Vimeo Live Stream

The Vimeo live stream is a cloud-based live streaming platform.

It provides all the necessary live-streaming features to support, sustain, and grow a video-streaming business. Basically, the API lets developers build custom solutions to stream live content, manage playlists, and handle streaming recordings.

In addition, Vimeo’s video API also supports advanced features like low latency streaming, specifying the frame rate and bitrate of streams, and recording live streams.

The entire processing is done in the cloud, which makes the API scalable and efficient.

Vimeo Live Streaming Video API Features Include

• Real-time Live Interaction: Facilitates immediate engagement with live chat and polls.
• Sound Mixing: Provides tools for adjusting and optimizing audio elements in live streaming.
• Multi-Camera Input: Supports integration of multiple camera sources for diverse live content.
• AI-Powered Video Scripts: Utilizes artificial intelligence to generate and enhance video scripts for improved content quality.

4. Mux

Mux is a live video streaming API developed by Mux Inc. It lets developers integrate live streaming video into their applications easily. The API streams videos from multiple cameras and handles recording, transcoding, and playback features.

Besides, Mux supports several different media formats, like H.264, VP9, and WebRTC.

The Mux API is written in JavaScript to be integrated seamlessly into web and mobile applications. So it is easily accessible for developers working across different platforms.

With Mux, developers can build faster and more scalable video applications for a high-quality, reliable live-streaming service.

Mux Video Streaming API Features Include

• Developer-friendly APIs (no need for expertise): Easily integrate and use APIs without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
• Faster time to market (in minutes): Enables rapid deployment and launch of live streaming services in minutes.
• Stream live from any source with RTMP: Allows live streaming from diverse sources using the RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol).
• Transition from live to VOD easily: Smoothly switch from live to video-on-demand (VOD) content without interruptions.
• Protect videos with token-based security: Ensure stream security through token-based authentication methods.

5. Brightcove

Brightcove live video streaming API allows developers to stream live video content from a Brightcove player to other live streaming platforms.

The API supports top-tier streaming platforms such as IBM streaming and Wowza. Developers can use the API to create custom workflows.

This way, they can automatically transcribe and publish live video content across multiple platforms. The API provides access to viewer engagement data, stream quality, and other performance metrics.

So, optimizing live video streaming workflows is far easier on this platform.

Brightcove Platform’s Video Streaming API Features Include

• Server-side Ad Insertion (SSAI): Seamlessly insert ads on the server side for a consistent viewing experience.
• AES-128 Encryption: Ensures secure content delivery through Advanced Encryption Standard encryption.
• DVR Capability: Allows viewers to pause, rewind, or fast-forward live streams for a DVR-like experience.
• Multiple CDNs: It uses multiple Content Delivery Networks worldwide for efficient and reliable content distribution.

6. Kaltura

Kaltura live video streaming API is a professional streaming suite from Kaltura Inc. It is designed particularly for developers, broadcasters, and video content providers looking for a reliable and scalable streaming solution for their streaming needs.

The API offers all the core functionalities, like video encoding, transcoding, video quality optimization, and analytics, making it easy for users to manage their live video streams.

Like Kaltura and Brightcove, it is compatible with various devices, like desktops, mobile devices, and TVs. Kaltura’s API offers customizable solutions and ensures technical support for a smooth and successful streaming experience.

Kaltura Video Streaming API Features Include

• Video Analytics: Measure and enhance user engagement with video content.
• Secure Video Workflows: Safely handle video ingestion, processing, distribution, and scaling.
• Dedicated Thumbnail APIs: Dynamically create thumbnails for video entries.
• Session Authorization: Secure API actions, granting access only to authorized users.
• Centralized Media Management from A to Z: Kaltura’s platform allows users to manage metadata, playlists, and ad campaigns in one place.

Read Also:

📖 Best Live Streaming Platforms for all Creators

📖 Top 12 Live Streaming Platforms [Updated List]

📖 5 Best Private Live Streaming Platforms for Video-driven Businesses

📖 10 Best Live Streaming Platforms in 2024 [Free + Paid]

Conclusion

We have reached the climax of this blog. It’s crucial to clarify that the above list is compiled based on user reviews on several top product listing sites, case studies, and client portfolios of the respective platforms.

So, what are the key takeaways herewith?
Which live-streaming platform has the best video API?

Well, there is no one best answer to being with.
If you’re scouting for one good platform that checks all the right boxes — has a fully flexible API, is platform independent, and is 100% secure with nominal pricing — you can choose GUDSHO.

On the other hand, if you prioritize brand reputation and want all the novel features but are ready to pay a premium, you can choose Vimeo or Brightcove.

Ultimately, the decision lies in your hands.

You can make an informed decision keeping in mind — your business niche, the characteristics of your target audience, and your long-term growth projections.

Happy streaming!