COMPARISON
RTCExpress vs ZEGOCLOUD: a simpler ZEGOCLOUD alternative
ZEGOCLOUD offers voice, video, live streaming, and in-app chat with prebuilt UI kits and usage-based pricing. RTCExpress is a smaller, independently operated alternative for developers who want a simple SDK, their own UI, and a predictable monthly price.
At a glance
| RTCExpress | ZEGOCLOUD | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plans with included usage | Usage-based, billed per 1,000 participant minutes |
| Free tier | Free in-app chat plan | Free minute package for new accounts |
| Voice calling | Starter: 10,000 voice minutes for $15/month | Listed at $0.99 per 1,000 participant minutes |
| Video calling | Pro: 5,000 video + 10,000 voice minutes for $29/month | Listed at $3.99 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 | Prebuilt UI kits or your own UI |
| SDKs | Web, Android, Flutter, React Native | Web, Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, and more |
| Support | Email straight to the engineer who runs the platform | Sales and support team |
ZEGOCLOUD's figures are from its public pricing page and may change, so check the current terms before deciding. ZEGOCLOUD 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 ZEGOCLOUD is the better fit
Choose ZEGOCLOUD if you need prebuilt UI kits for calls and live streaming, a wider product range, including live streaming and whiteboards, a larger global network and enterprise support. 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" });ZEGOCLOUD 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.