Agora
Real-time voice and video integration for apps.. [Contact for Pricing]
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What is Agora?
Agora is a real-time engagement platform that provides APIs and SDKs for embedding voice, video, chat, and live streaming into any application. The platform delivers ultra-low latency (<200ms global latency) real-time communication powered by Agora's Real-Time Network, which is engineered for intelligent routing and optimized performance across mobile apps, web, and phone calls.
Key features include Voice AI Agents with any LLM integration, Live Avatars for realistic virtual experiences, Interactive Live Streaming with real-time interaction, Video Calling, Voice Calling, Broadcast Streaming, Signaling, Chat, Interactive Whiteboard, and AI-powered extensions like AI Noise Suppression, Real-Time Speech to Text, Real-Time Translation, 3D Spatial Audio, and Recording. Agora also offers Conversational AI Engine for building AI voice interactions, Agent Studio for autonomous AI customer service agents, and the no-code App Builder for quickly creating video/voice apps without coding.
Agora is designed for developers and enterprises building real-time engagement applications across industries including telehealth, education, gaming, live shopping, media and entertainment, social apps, future of work/collaboration, and IoT devices. The platform serves 450,000 developers deployed on 3+ billion devices, powering 80 billion minutes of communication per month for 1800+ leading organizations including HTC, Talkspace, and KUMU.
The platform offers enterprise-ready compliance with SOC2, GDPR, and HIPAA regulations, 99.999% uptime guarantee, and 24/7 customer support with global team coverage in over 100 countries.
Agora pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Agora uses flexible pay-as-you-go pricing with free tiers. Free monthly allowances: 10,000 minutes for Video Calling, Voice Calling, Interactive Live Streaming, Broadcast Streaming, Interactive Whiteboard, Recording, AI Noise Suppression, 3D Spatial Audio, and Flexible Classroom; 10,000 minutes monthly for Convo AI Device Kit and IoT SDK; 300 minutes free for Voice AI and Speech to Text; 1 million messages/month for Signaling; 500 monthly users free for Chat. Paid plans start at: Video Calling $3.99/1000 minutes, Voice Calling $0.99/1000 minutes, Interactive Live Streaming $0.99/1000 minutes, Broadcast Streaming $0.59/1000 minutes, Interactive Whiteboard $1.4/1000 minutes, Voice AI $0.1/minute after free tier, Real-Time Speech to Text $16.99/1000 minutes, Real-Time Translation $8.99/1000 minutes/language, AI Noise Suppression $0.59/1000 minutes, 3D Spatial Audio $0.99/1000 minutes, Recording $0.99/1000 minutes, Signaling $59/month, Chat $349/month, Analytics $449/month. Conversational AI Engine, Agent Studio, and Media Gateway require customized pricing through sales.
Agora pros
- Ultra-low latency under 200ms globally
- 99.999% uptime guarantee
- Supports 450,000 developers on 3+ billion devices
- Comprehensive multi-platform SDKs (iOS, Android, Web, Unity, Flutter, React Native, Unreal, Windows, macOS, Linux, Electron)
- SOC2, GDPR, and HIPAA compliant for enterprise use
- 24/7 customer support with global team in 100+ countries
- Voice AI Agents integrate with any LLM
- No-code App Builder for quick deployment
- AI Noise Suppression for crystal-clear audio
- Real-Time Speech to Text with live captions
- Real-Time Translation breaking language barriers
- 3D Spatial Audio for immersive experiences
- Flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model
- 10,000 free minutes monthly for most products
- Interactive Whiteboard for visual collaboration
- Extensions Marketplace for easy feature integration
- Adaptive Video Optimization for slow connections
- Carrier-grade quality infrastructure
- Powerful analytics with real-time monitoring
- Supports conversational AI and Human-to-AI interactions
Agora cons
- Initial setup can be complex without prior experience
- Documentation can be thin for some advanced features
- Pricing adds up quickly at scale without volume discounts
- Some UI components feel outdated
- Extensions are priced separately adding to costs
- Customized pricing requires contacting sales for most AI products
- Learning curve for modular API architecture
- Some features require technical expertise to customize fully
Frequently asked questions about Agora
What is Agora and what does it do?
Agora is a real-time engagement platform that provides APIs and SDKs for embedding voice, video, chat, and live streaming into any application. It delivers ultra-low latency (<200ms global latency) real-time communication powered by Agora's Real-Time Network, supporting mobile apps, web, and phone calls across any device or channel.
Is there a free tier to start building?
Yes, Agora offers generous free tiers. Most products include 10,000 free minutes every month. Voice AI and Speech to Text offer 300 free minutes, Signaling is free up to 1 million messages per month, and Chat is free for up to 500 monthly users. You can start building for free without a credit card.
What platforms and SDKs does Agora support?
Agora provides SDKs for Android, iOS, Web, macOS, React Native, ReactJS, Windows, Flutter, Linux, Unity, Electron, Unreal Engine, and Core. This comprehensive platform support allows developers to integrate real-time engagement across mobile, web, desktop, and game engines.
Is Agora enterprise-ready and compliant?
Yes, Agora offers enterprise-ready compliance with SOC2, GDPR, and HIPAA regulations. The platform guarantees 99.999% uptime and provides 24/7 customer support with a global team supporting customers in over 100 countries.
What is Agora's Conversational AI Engine?
The Conversational AI Engine enables AI voice interaction with any LLM in any app. It allows you to integrate any LLM or existing AI agent with your choice of ASR and TTS to enable real-time voice conversations with interruption handling, noise suppression, and natural flow. It starts at $0.1/minute with 300 free minutes.
How does Agora's pricing work?
Agora uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model where you only pay for what you use. Most products include free monthly allowances (typically 10,000 minutes), then charged per 1000 minutes. Video Calling starts at $3.99/1000 minutes, Voice Calling at $0.99/1000 minutes, and extensions like Speech to Text at $16.99/1000 minutes. Volume discounts and customized pricing are available for high usage.
What is the App Builder?
Agora App Builder is a no-code tool that helps you build personalized video, voice, or live streaming apps for web, mobile, and desktop without coding required. It's the fastest and easiest way to integrate real-time engagement, allowing quick transition of codebases and easy management of customizations.
Does Agora support interactive live streaming?
Yes, Agora offers Interactive Live Streaming with ultra-low latency enabling real-time interaction via video or voice at $0.99/1000 minutes with 10,000 free minutes monthly. It also offers Broadcast Streaming for high-quality audio and video live streaming with low-latency for large audiences at $0.59/1000 minutes.
What AI extensions are available?
Agora offers multiple AI extensions: AI Noise Suppression ($0.59/1000 minutes, 10,000 free), Real-Time Speech to Text ($16.99/1000 minutes, 300 free minutes), Real-Time Translation ($8.99/1000 minutes/language, 300 free minutes), 3D Spatial Audio ($0.99/1000 minutes, 10,000 free), and Recording ($0.99/1000 minutes, 10,000 free).
How do I get support?
Agora offers multiple support plans: Starter (Free), Standard ($1,200/year with 4-hour P1 response), Premium ($2,900/year with 3-hour 24/7 P1 response), and Enterprise ($4,900/year with 2-hour 24/7 P1 response). You can submit support tickets through the Agora Console, access online documentation, or contact the sales team for guidance on selecting the right plan.