A 1-on-1 video chat is a great way to connect and share information in real time in a visually appealing format. It is one of the most loved features in messaging apps, as modern computing devices are now built with enhanced data transfer speeds and improved multimedia processing capacities. This article will focus on implementing a free 1-on-1 video chat.
The Most Important Features of Your Video Chat App
A successful 1-on-1 Video Chat app should have a list of key features. First and foremost, it should offer high-quality video and audio for a real, personal experience. It should also provide an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to start chatting instantly.
Anonymity can be a crucial feature for those who wish to chat with strangers, while security measures are necessary to protect personal details. Lastly, additional features like language options, fun emojis, and the ability to send gifts can enhance the overall user experience.
The Pillar-features of Video Calling
Video calling has revolutionized the way we communicate, and there are a few pillar features that make it stand out. The ability to chat in real time is the cornerstone of any video calling app, making conversations feel more personal and real.
High-quality video and audio ensure that users can clearly see and hear each other, replicating face-to-face interactions. Lastly, the feature of connecting with people worldwide breaks geographical barriers, making it possible to meet and talk to anyone, anywhere.
Top 5 Video Chat APIs to Build Your Own Video Chatting App
1. ZEGOCLOUD
ZegoCloud Video Chat SDK stands out as a premier solution for developers keen on integrating real-time video chat 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.
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. Twilio
Twilio Video Chat SDK has emerged as a powerful tool for developers aiming to integrate 1-on-1 video chat capabilities into their applications. This SDK is designed to offer a seamless, high-quality video chat experience, making it a preferred choice for many businesses and developers.
Twilio Video Chat SDK Features:
- Unified cross-platform interface
- Customizable UI
- High-quality video/audio
- Screen sharing capability
- Advanced security with encryption
- Integration with Twilio services
- Scalable for various chat sizes
3. Agora
Agora’s Video Chat 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 API
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. PubNub
In the realm of real-time communication, PubNub Video Chat SDK emerges as a robust solution for developers. Designed to facilitate seamless video interactions, PubNub’s SDK is backed by a cloud infrastructure, ensuring high performance and reliability. Whether it’s for social platforms, e-learning environments, or business conferencing, PubNub offers a dynamic toolkit to embed video chat capabilities into diverse applications.
Key Features:
- Seamless integration across Web, Android, and iOS.
- Enables instant video streaming and communication.
- Ensures encrypted and secure video chats.
- Enhances collaboration with real-time screen sharing.
- Supports emojis, structured messages, and more.
- Monitors the online/offline status of chat participants.
- Access past chat records effortlessly.
How to Make a Video Calling App for Web, iOS & Android
ZEGOCLOUD offers a robust and full-featured video call SDK. You can build reliable and scalable 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. It also comes with a low-code pre-built SDK called UIKits to allow you to build one-on-one video chat in 10 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
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.
2: Add a new project
Click on “Create new project” to get started with our video call project creation.
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 Video Call SDK.
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