COMPARISON
RTCExpress vs Agora: a simpler Agora alternative
Agora is one of the largest real-time engagement platforms, with a global network and usage-based pricing. RTCExpress is a smaller, independently operated alternative for developers and small teams who want flat monthly pricing and direct support.
At a glance
| RTCExpress | Agora | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plans with included usage | Usage-based, billed per 1,000 participant minutes |
| Free tier | Free in-app chat plan | Monthly free minute allowance |
| Voice calling | Starter: 10,000 voice minutes for $15/month | Listed at $0.99 per 1,000 participant minutes |
| Billing surprises | None. Plans renew manually and never charge automatically | Bill grows with participant minutes |
| UI | Bring your own UI | Bring your own UI, plus UI kits |
| SDKs | Web, Android, Flutter, React Native | Web, Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, Unity, and more |
| Infrastructure | Single region, independently operated | Global software-defined network |
| Support | Email straight to the engineer who runs the platform | Tiered support plans |
Agora's figures are from its public pricing page and may change, so check the current terms before deciding. Agora pricing · RTCExpress pricing
When RTCExpress is the better fit
- You want a predictable bill. A flat monthly plan is easier to budget than participant-minute math, especially for group calls, where every participant's minutes count.
- You're a developer or small team. Your email reaches the engineer who built and runs the platform, not a ticket queue.
- You already have a UI. The SDK handles signaling, media, reconnects, and TURN relays. Your app keeps its own design and user accounts.
- You're starting with chat. In-app chat is free to build with, and voice and video are added when you upgrade.
When Agora is the better fit
Choose Agora if you need a global edge network and very large scale, a wider set of SDKs, including iOS and game engines, enterprise contracts, compliance documentation, and SLAs. RTCExpress is a newer, independently operated platform and doesn't claim to match that scale.
What switching looks like
Most real-time SDKs follow the same pattern, so moving to RTCExpress is mostly a matter of mapping concepts:
// Your backend: request a short-lived token (App Secret stays on the server)
POST /v1/token { appId, appSecret, userId, roomId }
// Your app: connect, join a room, and call
const rtc = new RTCExpress();
await rtc.init({ serverUrl, appId, userId, token });
rtc.joinRoom("room-42");
await rtc.callUser("bob", { callType: "video" });Agora channels or rooms map to RTCExpress rooms, and your existing token server only needs a new endpoint. Read the quickstart and API reference, or follow the voice calling tutorial to get a working call first.
Try it before you decide
Open the live demo on two devices, or create a free account and test chat in your own app. Questions about migrating? Talk to us.