How to Build a 1 on 1 Video Chat App with ZEGOCLOUD

Developing a 1 on 1 video chat app is an engaging project that aims to connect individuals through the power of real-time, personal communication. The key to success lies in choosing the right technology stack, ensuring high-quality video and audio, securing user data, and crafting a simple, intuitive user interface. Focusing on these critical elements sets the stage for creating a 1v1 video call app that delivers seamless and private communication experiences.

What is 1 on 1 Video Chat?

A one-on-one video chat is a digital communication format in which two individuals engage in a private video call over the Internet, allowing them to see and hear each other in real-time. 1on1 video chat is used for various purposes, including personal conversations, business meetings, telehealth sessions, remote interviews, or virtual hangouts with friends and family.

Unlike group video calls or broadcasts, 1vs1 video chats are intimate and focused, providing a direct and personal way for two people to connect, discuss, and share experiences from any location with internet access. These chats require devices with cameras and microphones, such as smartphones, tablets, or computers, and are supported by numerous apps and platforms that offer video calling features.

Why are 1-on-1 Video Calling Apps So Popular?

When creating a video chat 1-on-1 app, it’s crucial to grasp why 1on1 video calling apps are so popular. Their success lies in providing a personal touch that text or voice calls can’t match; seeing each other fosters a deeper connection, making conversations more meaningful. This visual interaction is invaluable in our digital age, where direct human contact is often scarce.

Additionally, the shift towards remote work and digital communication underscores the importance of video calling apps. They eliminate geographical barriers, enabling easy personal and professional interactions across distances. Understanding these factors is essential for developing an app that meets the demands of today’s users, focusing on simplicity, connectivity, and a rich user experience.

Things to Consider Before Starting Work on Your 1-on-1 Video Call App

A 1-on-1 video call app might seem simple on the surface, but delivering a seamless real-time experience requires careful planning across tech, infrastructure, and user expectations. Before you start building, here are some key factors to consider:

Pricing Model: Look for a pricing structure that fits your usage — pay-as-you-go, flat rate, or enterprise plans.
Latency & Call Quality: 1-on-1 calls need to feel natural and real-time. High latency or audio dropouts will immediately ruin the experience.
Cross-Platform Support: Will your app run on iOS, Android, Web, or all three? Choose an SDK that supports your tech stack.
Ease of Integration: Consider how much development time the SDK setup will require. Prebuilt UI and clear docs can save weeks.
Global Infrastructure: If your users are in different regions, make sure your provider offers reliable global coverage.
Scalability: Even if you only need 1-on-1 now, think ahead. Will you need group calls, recording, or screen sharing later?
Security & Privacy: End-to-end encryption and compliance (like GDPR or HIPAA) may be essential, depending on your use case.

Essential Features of Your 1-on-1 Video Chat App

When developing a one-on-one video chat app, focusing on key features is crucial to meet user expectations for a seamless and engaging communication experience. Here are the most important features to consider:

High-Quality Video and Audio Calls: Ensure the app supports high-definition video calls and clear audio calls, even in low-bandwidth environments, to provide users with a seamless communication experience.
End-to-End Encryption: Security is paramount. Implement end-to-end encryption to protect your users’ privacy and data, ensuring that their conversations are secure from any third-party interception.
User-Friendly Interface: Design an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that allows users to start, manage, and end their video calls effortlessly. A good user experience encourages repeat usage.
Real-Time Messaging: In addition to video calls, incorporate real-time text messaging within the app, enabling users to send messages, links, and files during a call for a more interactive communication experience.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensure your app is accessible across different devices and operating systems (iOS, Android, Web), allowing users to connect from their preferred devices without limitations.

Top 5 1vs1 Video Chat APIs

Looking to add 1-on-1 video chat to your app? Here are 5 top video chat APIs that offer reliable performance, low latency, and easy integration for real-time communication.

Feature	ZEGOCLOUD	Agora	Vonage	Daily	100ms
1-on-1 Video Call Support	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Cross-Platform SDKs (Web, iOS, Android)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Prebuilt UI / Templates	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅
Global Infrastructure	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Low Latency & Adaptive Quality	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅
Screen Sharing	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Recording Support	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
Noise Suppression / Voice Enhancement	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
End-to-End Encryption	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
HIPAA / GDPR Compliance	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
Easy Integration (Developer Friendly)	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅
Scalable for Future Group Features	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
Transparent & Flexible Pricing	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅

1. ZEGOCLOUD

ZEGOCLOUD 1 on 1 video chat SDK stands out as a premier solution for developers keen on integrating real-time one-on-one video call functionalities into their applications. Recognized for its exceptional performance and reliability, ZEGOCLOUD’s SDK guarantees a top-tier, high-definition video chat experience. This makes it a go-to choice for various sectors, including social networking, e-learning, gaming, and telehealth.

In building a 1-on-1 video call app, leveraging ZEGOCLOUD UIKits can streamline development. These UIKits offer customizable, pre-built components for one on one video calling features, significantly reducing development time and effort, and enabling a focus on creating a seamless user experience.

Key Features:

Cross-platform compatibility (Web, Android, iOS)
High-definition video and audio quality
Real-time broadcasting capabilities
Screen sharing feature for enhanced collaboration
Secure communication with advanced encryption
Seamless integration with third-party applications
Scalable for both one-on-one and group video chats

2. Daily

Daily Video Chat SDK has gained popularity among developers looking for a simple yet powerful solution to integrate 1-on-1 video chat into their applications. With a strong focus on fast integration and WebRTC performance, Daily offers a developer-friendly platform that streamlines the video call experience across web and mobile.

Key Features:

Lightweight and developer-friendly WebRTC API
Cross-platform support for Web, iOS, and Android
Prebuilt UI components and full customizability
High-quality audio and video with low latency
Screen sharing and recording options
Easy scalability from 1-on-1 to group calls
Web-first with excellent documentation and examples

3. Agora

Agora one on one video call SDK is a cutting-edge solution designed for developers aiming to embed real-time one-on-one video chat capabilities into their applications. Recognized for its high performance and reliability, Agora’s SDK ensures a seamless, high-quality video chat experience, making it a top choice for industries ranging from social and education to gaming and telehealth.

Key Features:

Cross-platform support (mobile, desktop, web)
Rich media messaging (emojis, GPS location, structured messages)
Advanced security (GDPR and HIPAA compliant)
Offline messaging and message recall
Read receipts and typing indicators
Content moderation tools
Automatic message translation

4. Vonage

Vonage 1-on-1 Video Call SDK, formerly known as OpenTok or TokBox, is a leading solution for developers who wish to integrate real-time video chat capabilities into their applications. With its roots in the cloud, Vonage’s SDK is renowned for its superior performance, reliability, and ability to deliver a high-definition video chat experience. Whether you’re in the realm of social networking, e-learning, or telehealth, Vonage’s SDK is tailored to meet diverse industry needs.

Key Features:

Supports Web, Android, and iOS.
Ensures crystal-clear communication.
Enables live streaming capabilities.
Facilitates collaborative interactions.
Provides end-to-end encryption for secure chats.
Integrates effortlessly with third-party applications.
Adapts to both individual and group video chats.

5. 100ms

100ms Video Chat SDK has become a popular option for developers building real-time audio and video applications, especially in social, education, and collaboration use cases. Designed for fast setup and flexibility, it enables developers to create scalable and engaging 1-on-1 video call experiences with minimal effort.

Key Features:

Prebuilt templates for common use cases (video chat, audio rooms, etc.)
Customizable UI with role-based layouts
High-quality, low-latency audio and video
Screen sharing and recording support
Built-in moderation and active speaker detection
Global infrastructure with auto-scaling
Simple API and strong developer documentation

How to Make One on One Video Chat App for Web, iOS & Android

ZEGOCLOUD offers a robust and full-featured video call SDK. You can build reliable and scalable 1vs1 video calling features into mobile, desktop, and web applications for various use cases, such as one-on-one and group video calls, online education, entertainment, etc.

You may wonder why you should use ZEGOCLOUD’s video call SDK to implement video chat features. The advantages of this SDK make it highly appealing to novice and experienced developers. For example, unlike the traditional method of building from scratch, which can take days, you can implement one-on-one video chat functionality in minutes.

ZEGOCLOUD’s video call SDK offers 10,000 free minutes. So, it is arguably the best platform for free one-on-one video chat. As a result, if you’re looking for a platform to help you get started with your video chat app feature implementation, use the free minutes to build your free 1-on-1 video chat app.

Apart from the benefits above, below are some excellent features of ZEGOCLOUD’s Video Call SDK:

Embedded features:

The out-of-the-box video chat interface
Customizable UI
Text chat
Screen sharing
Recording
Cross-browser compatibility
Built-in bandwidth management
Auto network reconnection

ZEGOCLOUD Video Call SDK Integration for Free 1-on-1 Video Chat

To get started, you must have the following:

A ZEGOCLOUD developer account —Sign up
VS Code or any IDE or text editor of choice.
A computer with audio and video support.
Basic understanding of web development

Now, follow the steps below to integrate the low-code video chat SDK into your project:

1. Log in to the Zegocloud admin console.

ZEGOCLOUD offers a powerful developer console where you can create your apps quickly. The first step to integrating the Video Call SDK for the free 1-on-1 call feature is logging in to admin console or signing up if you don’t have an account.

ZEGOCLOUD login admin console one on one video chat app

2. Add a new project

Click on “Create new project” to get started with our video call project creation.

ZEGOCLOUD dashboard 1 on 1 video chat app

After clicking the “Create new project” button, you’ll be prompted to select the type of app you want to build. Select “Video and voice” since we are using the Call Kit, and click “Next.“

3. Enter the project name.

After creating a project in step (2), the next phase will be naming our application.

Note: You can only name a project with numbers, letters, and underlines (_).

4. Choose a UI build method.

ZEGOCLOUD offers two UIKits build methods. You can use the prebuilt UIKits to provide responsive UI out-of-the-box for our one-on-one video call app. Then, choose SDK-level UI customization if you need more customization privileges.

Proceed with the building process. Wait for the project to be completed.

5. Pick a platform and download configuration files.

I will choose “Web” as the platform I’m building for. You can also select other platforms as needed.

After selecting the platform, click the 1-on-1 calls button in the top-right corner to enable one-on-one video chat.

6. Download the project.

Click on “Get configuration and integrate” to download project files.

Opening the application with development tools like an IDE or text editor reveals the following lines of code:

<html>
<head>
    <style>
        #root {
            width: 100vw;
            height: 100vh;
            }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div id="root"></div>
</body>
<script src="https://resource.zegocloud.com/prebuilt/crypto-js.js"></script>
<script src="https://resource.zegocloud.com/prebuilt/prebuiltToken.js"></script>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/@zegocloud/zego-uikit-prebuilt/zego-uikit-prebuilt.js"></script>
<script>
window.onload = function () {
    function getUrlParams(url) {
        let urlStr = url.split('?')[1];
        const urlSearchParams = new URLSearchParams(urlStr);
        const result = Object.fromEntries(urlSearchParams.entries());
        return result;
    }
        // Generate a Token by calling a method.
        // @param 1: appID
        // @param 2: serverSecret
        // @param 3: Room ID
        // @param 4: User ID
        // @param 5: Username
    const roomID = getUrlParams(window.location.href)['roomID'] || (Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000) + "");
    const userID = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000) + "";
    const userName = "userName" + userID;
    const appID = 839236438;
    const serverSecret = "Your Server Secret";
    const TOKEN = generatePrebuiltToken(appID, serverSecret, roomID, userID, userName);
        const zp = ZegoUIKitPrebuilt.create(TOKEN);
        zp.joinRoom({
            container: document.querySelector("#root"),
            sharedLinks: [{
                name: 'Join as a host',
                url: window.location.origin + window.location.pathname + '?roomID=' + roomID,
            }],
            scenario: {
                mode: ZegoUIKitPrebuilt.VideoConference,
            },
            turnOnMicrophoneWhenJoining: true,
            turnOnCameraWhenJoining: true,
            showMyCameraToggleButton: true,
            showMyMicrophoneToggleButton: true,
            showAudioVideoSettingsButton: true,
            showScreenSharingButton: true,
            showTextChat: true,
            showUserList: true,
            maxUsers: 2,
            layout: "Auto",
            showLayoutButton: false,
            });
}
</script>
</html>

Run a Demo

One-on-one video call UI configuration

As previously stated, there are two types of video calls: one-on-one and group. We’ll only focus on one-on-one video calling today.

 {
            turnOnMicrophoneWhenJoining: true,
            turnOnCameraWhenJoining: true,
            showMyCameraToggleButton: true,
            showMyMicrophoneToggleButton: true,
            showAudioVideoSettingsButton: true,
            showScreenSharingButton: true,
            showTextChat: true,
            showUserList: true,
            maxUsers: 2,
            layout: "Auto",
            showLayoutButton: false,
            scenario: {
             mode: "OneONoneCall",
            }
}

If you go through the codes above, you’ll notice the call mode in scenario parenthesis. which shows we’re in 1-on-1 video chat mode.

    scenario: {
             mode: "OneONoneCall",
    }

To test the application, open the file we downloaded in step 6 with any browser you choose.

If you want to develop live-streaming applications, you can download the sample demo source code in this article.

Conclusion

Video call is now one of the most used features in almost every modern communication and information transmission app. The one-on-one video call mode is often used for easy and efficient communication between friends and families. Building this app from scratch can be cumbersome, but you can do it easily with ZEGOCLOUD’s 1 on 1 Video Call SDK.

Read More:

FAQ for 1 on 1 Video Chat

Q1. Is WebRTC good for 1-on-1 video chat?

Yes. WebRTC is ideal for low-latency, peer-to-peer video chat across browsers and mobile devices without needing plugins.

Q2. How much bandwidth does a 1-on-1 video call use?

Typically 1–1.5 Mbps for 720p video. Using adaptive bitrate and modern codecs helps optimize usage.

Q3. Is WebRTC secure enough for video calls?

Yes. WebRTC encrypts media with DTLS-SRTP. You should also secure the signaling channel (e.g., WSS).

Q4. Can I build 1-on-1 chat with React or Vue?

Yes. WebRTC works well with both. Use hooks in React or reactive refs in Vue to manage streams.

How to Create a 1 on 1 Video Chat App

What is 1 on 1 Video Chat?

Why are 1-on-1 Video Calling Apps So Popular?

Top 5 Video Chat Apps for One-on-One Video Call

1. Zoom

2. Google Meet

3. WhatsApp

4. FaceTime (Apple Devices Only)

5. Signal

Things to Consider Before Starting Work on Your 1-on-1 Video Call App

Essential Features of Your 1-on-1 Video Chat App

Top 5 1vs1 Video Chat APIs

1. ZEGOCLOUD

2. Daily

3. Agora

4. Vonage

5. 100ms

How to Make One on One Video Chat App for Web, iOS & Android

ZEGOCLOUD Video Call SDK Integration for Free 1-on-1 Video Chat

1. Log in to the Zegocloud admin console.

2. Add a new project

3. Enter the project name.

4. Choose a UI build method.

5. Pick a platform and download configuration files.

6. Download the project.

Run a Demo

Conclusion

FAQ for 1 on 1 Video Chat