Top 10 Voice Calling & Live Audio Streaming APIs

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  • By Sandeep Kumar
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  • clock 10 minutes MIN READ
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  • calendar Updated: June 29, 2022

Voice calling has become an essential part of personal and professional communication. It provides an easy, convenient, and cost-effective way to connect with people across the globe.

Nowadays, most of the voice calling happens exclusively through smartphones. Landlines and cordless have almost become extinct. To further simplify mobile voice calls, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) can be used. An API is a programming code or a set of rules that allows two apps to communicate and exchange data.

Voice calling APIs help integrate calling features into a mobile app. It enables users to make, receive, and manage calls seamlessly through a third-party app.

Let’s look at an example to understand Voice Calling API better. We all have used a cab booking app such as Ola at least once. The app has a feature that allows you to contact and talk to the driver before they arrive to pick you up. It is a voice calling API that makes this possible.

There are tons of phone call APIs available for developers to integrate with their apps to enable voice calling features. However, sometimes having too many options at hand can add to the confusion and make the task difficult. Thus, to help you out, we have compiled a list of the ten best voice calling APIs and live audio streaming APIs that can help take your app to the next level.

Ten-plus best voice calling APIs and live audio streaming 2022

1. WhatsApp API

WhatsApp, arguably, is the most popular mobile communication platform in the world. It allows users to send text messages, make and receive voice and video calls, and share media and other file types.

The platform offers the WhatsApp Business API for developers to build powerful communication apps. The API enables users to communicate with others globally in a reliable, simple, and secure manner. WhatsApp has over a billion monthly users, and thus, integrating WhatsApp API into your application can help you achieve your communication goals.

The API is available for iOS, web, and Android platforms.

Features

  • Encrypted voice calling

  • Encrypted video calling

  • Share media and other files

  • Large user base

  • Easy to use

  • Cross-platform support

Pricing

The WhatsApp Business API is available for free.

2. Twilio API

Robust API that allows users to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and have a personalised communication experience on multiple, cross-platform devices. Developers can use the Twilio REST Phone Call API to integrate Twilio’s functions into their applications.

Features

  • Call logs

  • Call monitoring

  • Detect answering machines

  • Insights and Reports

  • Setup SIP

Pricing

Twilio API is available on a monthly subscription basis.

3. Viber API

Viber provides secure communication, including calls and messages, to anyone, anywhere, for free. Moreover, users can send multimedia messages, gifs, stickers, and emojis, to have a more engaging communication experience.

To help developers, Viber has provided detailed documentation and tutorials that help simplify the API integration process.

Features

  • Easy to use

  • Free voice calling

  • Free video calling

  • Share files

  • Cross-platform support

Pricing

The Viber Android Voice Chat SDK and API are free to use.

4. Telegram API

Telegram provides encrypted voice and video calling as well as text messaging. Developers can use the voice calling API to integrate Telegram’s features in their apps.

In addition to calling and messaging, the API also enables users to retrieve contacts from their contact book or external sources.

Features

  • Free voice calls

  • Notifications for incoming calls

  • Customised chats

  • Share audio and video files

  • Import contacts

  • Easy to use

Pricing

The Telegram API is provided for free.

5. Plivo API

Plivo enables developers to seamlessly embed their voice and messaging communication platform into their apps with their API and SDK. Users can do voice calls and send messages globally using Plivo API. You can learn more about Plivo API by reading the documentation here.

Features

  • Native SIP support

  • Audio conferencing

  • Call monitoring

  • Call transfer

  • Automated responses

  • Call recording

  • Voice alerts

Pricing

Plivo offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model. There are multiple paid plans available, some of which include volume discounts.

6. Facebook Messenger API

Facebook (now Meta) Messenger is a separate communication-only platform of the social network giant. The Facebook Messenger API allows developers programmatic access to all the application features.

Developers can use the API to integrate voice and video call functionality into their application using the user’s Facebook account details. Users can have a fun, engaging experience over voice and video calls using stickers, emojis, and other interactive content using the messenger API.

Features

  • Easy to use

  • Voice calling

  • Video calling

  • Stickers, emojis, and other interactive content

  • Free unlimited calls

  • Access to Facebook user credentials to create a more personalised experience

Pricing

The Facebook Messenger API is available for free.

7. Siri Voice API

Siri is the popular voice assistant offered by Apple. The Siri voice API or SiriKit is the framework that enables developers to access and integrate Siri features into their apps. Developers can integrate the voice command functionality into their apps with the Siri API. This lets users send voice messages or calls using the Siri assistant from within the app.

Features

  • AI assistance

  • Intelligent voice assistant

  • Users can carry out voice queries

  • Users can perform voice-related tasks

  • Smart answers

Pricing

The Siri voice API pricing differs according to the features used. Developers can choose the free plan or opt for a paid monthly plan that ranges from $4.99 to $99.99 per month.

8. Skype API

The Skype voice calling API allows developers to customise and expand the features of the highly-popular Skype communication software. The integration is also relatively straightforward. Developers can integrate it into their Android, iOS, and web application with just two lines of code. There are no doubts about Skype’s popularity. It has more than forty million concurrent users.

Features

  • Voice calling

  • Group calling

  • Text and video messaging

  • Free Skype-to-skype calls

  • Content sharing, including photos and videos

  • Free to use

Pricing

The Skype phone call API is free to download and use.

9. CONTUS Mirrorfly API

Contus Mirrorfly provides an effective voice communication API and SDK solution for real-time messaging and video calling features. The API can be integrated easily into any iOS, Android, and web application and is highly customisable.

Contus Mirrorfly has been recognised as one of the best voice calling API solutions in healthcare, education, hospitality, call centre, and other industries. It has been used by over a billion concurrent users.

Features

  • Unlimited calling

  • Audio encryption

  • Call masking

  • Automated voice messages

  • IVR

  • Multi-user interface

  • SIP/VoIP calling

Pricing

Users can get a free trial of the API for 21 days. They can then opt for a pricing plan best suited to them.

10. Agora API

Agora is a real-time calling and messaging API and SDK. Developers can use the web, iOS, and Android Voice Chat SDK to integrate Agora into their apps.

Users can have high-quality audio calls with the Agora API. Agora is highly popular among users across the globe. It has an average of over forty billion minutes of connection per month.

Features

  • Highly flexible

  • Scalable

  • Voice calling

  • Users can share virtual gifts

  • Live comments

  • Send and receive text messages

  • Voice effects

Pricing

Agora has a pay-as-you-go model. You need to pay only for the services you use every month. There are also lucrative offers and discounts up for grabs. You can check the Agora pricing model here.

11. Enablex API

Enablex provides developers with the ability to build a scalable voice calling app across various platforms and devices using their API. Users can make and receive crystal-clear, high-quality voice calls without any lag or voice disruptions with anyone across the globe who has a phone number and internet connection.

Features

  • Call masking

  • Make calls to a SIP/PSTN using REST API

  • DTMF support

  • Voice broadcasting

  • IVR

  • Text-to-speech in over forty languages

  • Call broadcasts

  • Automated voice messages

Pricing

Enablex is available as a Software as a Service (SaaS) in the form of a monthly subscription. You can check the Enablex voice calling API pricing model here.

12. Sinch API

Sinch API enables users to make voice calls on Android, iOS, and web-based apps. The API can be integrated easily within an app. Users can have high-quality, cross-platform individual and group voice calls with Sinch. The API has a widespread customer base of over five billion customers globally.

You can get more information about the Sinch voice calling API here.

Features

  • Cross-platform support

  • Group voice calls

  • Number masking

  • Call recording

  • Text-to-speech

  • IVR menus

Pricing

Sinch is available on a monthly subscription basis. You can contact the Sinch team to get a custom quote for the API according to your business requirements.

13. Sendbird API

Sendbird is a well-known API in the field of real-time calling and voice calling SDK for mobile and web-based applications. The API provides high-quality voice calls and has a proven managed infrastructure. Users can have personal and group calls without any downtime or lag issues with the Sendbird API. Developers can use the iOS, web, or Android voice chat SDK to integrate Sendbird into their respective applications.

Features

  • Integrate user ID with chat

  • Built for scale

  • Cross-platform support

  • Call history

  • Secure

  • Multi-device support

  • On-device call recording

Pricing

Sendbird is available as a Software as a Service (SaaS). Customers have to pay a monthly subscription fee depending upon the features and usage.

Now that you understand some of the best voice calling APIs, let’s look at how to determine whether an API is a good choice for your app development.

The standards for measuring an excellent Phone Call API

Choosing an API without proper thought can lead to severe business losses. You need to look at the following four factors to determine whether it is worth investing in the API or not. The four primary standards are:

1. Features

The first thing that helps distinguish a good API from the rest of the crowd is the features it provides. The Voice calling SDK or API should allow users to make voice calls on any device, whether Android, iOS, or web, over any network connection, all over the world.

2. Cost

The cost of the voice calling API is also a critical factor in determining the API to be used. The cost of a good Voice calling API can range from tens to hundreds of dollars. You will need to analyse the features per dollar value to determine whether the API is cost-effective or not.

3. Popularity

An excellent real-time voice calling API will already be popular in the market and have many businesses and end customers using it. Thus, check the popularity and the clients of the API before making a decision.

4. Ease of use

A good phone call API can integrate with CRMs, helpdesks, and other mobile, desktop, and web-based apps. Moreover, the integration is seamless and highly adaptable. Thus, when you choose your voice calling API, ensure that you can easily integrate it with the app and it is easy to use.

Conclusion

Now you know our picks of some of the best voice calling APIs and live audio streaming 2022. However, the list we provided is far from exhaustive. There are many other voice calling APIs available in the market that provide similar features at similar price points. We hope that you will be able to make a better-informed decision regarding choosing a voice calling API, now that you have in-depth information regarding some of the best voice calling APIs available in the market today.

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