Around vs WebRTC: What are the differences?
Introduction
In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Around and WebRTC technologies. Both Around and WebRTC are used for enabling real-time communication on websites and applications. However, there are several distinct differences between the two. Let's explore them below.
-
Workflow and architecture: Around is a cloud-based video calling platform that provides a simple API for developers to integrate video calling into their applications. It handles the entire video calling workflow, including signaling, media control, and peer-to-peer connections. On the other hand, WebRTC is a free and open-source project that provides a standardized framework for real-time communication using web browsers and mobile applications. It includes a set of API methods and protocols for establishing peer-to-peer connections, but developers need to build the application logic themselves.
-
Browser support: One of the significant differences between Around and WebRTC is browser support. Around is designed to work across different devices and web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. It abstracts the complexity of browser compatibility, ensuring a consistent experience for users. In contrast, WebRTC has broader browser support but may require additional work to handle browser-specific quirks, especially in older versions or less common browsers.
-
Features and functionalities: Around provides a comprehensive set of features and functionalities out of the box, such as screen sharing, recording, chat, and real-time transcription. These additional features make it suitable for various use cases, including remote collaboration and customer support. WebRTC, on the other hand, provides the basic building blocks for real-time communication, such as audio and video streaming, peer-to-peer data transfer, and device control. Developers need to implement additional features themselves or rely on third-party libraries or services.
-
Reliability and quality: Around offers enterprise-grade reliability and quality for video calling, thanks to its cloud infrastructure and advanced optimizations. It ensures low-latency, high-quality audio and video streaming, even in challenging network conditions. WebRTC, being a peer-to-peer technology, heavily relies on the network conditions between the peers. The quality of the communication can vary depending on factors like network bandwidth, latency, and available computing resources on the devices.
-
Security and privacy: Around prioritizes security and privacy by providing end-to-end encryption for video calls, ensuring that communication remains confidential and secure. It also adheres to industry-standard security practices and compliances. WebRTC, by default, supports secure communication using Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS). However, the specific security implementation depends on the application and how the WebRTC technology is used.
-
Ease of implementation: As mentioned earlier, Around abstracts the complexity of video calling and provides a straightforward API, making it easier for developers to implement video communication features in their applications. It handles tasks like signaling, media control, and fallback mechanisms, enabling developers to focus on their core application logic. WebRTC, while powerful, requires developers to handle low-level details like signaling, ICE negotiation, codec selection, and NAT traversal, which can be more complex and time-consuming.
In summary, Around offers a cloud-based video calling platform with comprehensive features and simplified implementation, while WebRTC provides a standardized framework for real-time communication but requires developers to handle lower-level details and build the application logic themselves.
