api.video vs LiveKit:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, LiveKit had more branded searches than api.video among video streaming APIs worldwide. LiveKit had about 74,000 branded searches, while api.video had 2,900. LiveKit made up 68.5% of all video streaming API searches we track, and api.video accounted for 2.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about video streaming APIs, LiveKit appeared in three of the five answers and api.video in one. LiveKit was mentioned before api.video in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
LiveKit, about 26 searches for every 1 for api.video
Who does AI mention more?
LiveKit, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, api.video in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
LiveKit, named ahead of api.video in 3 of 4 answers
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Top video streaming APIs in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, LiveKit was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. api.video was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. LiveKit was listed before api.video in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mux1st
Cloudflare Stream2nd- Amazon IVS3rd
- LiveKit4th
api.video5th
Wowza–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Mux5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Cloudflare Stream4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- LiveKit3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Amazon IVS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- api.video1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Wowza0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about video streaming APIs
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which video streaming API should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best video streaming APIs?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best video streaming API for a developer team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“video streaming api”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“live streaming api”
- 1Mux
- 1
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is api.video or LiveKit more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for api.video and LiveKit by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six video streaming APIs we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for LiveKit, api.video. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | LiveKit | Wowza | Cloudflare Stream | api.video | Mux | Amazon IVS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 66% | 16.1% | 10.8% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 66.6% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 66.5% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 69% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 69.2% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 68.5% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 69.2% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 68.7% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 1% |
| Jun 2026 | 69.3% | 13.9% | 11.3% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 71.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 1% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.2% | 26.5% | 9.7% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 0.86% |
| Sep 2026 | 68.5% | 16.8% | 9.2% | 2.7% | 2% | 0.81% |
How has the api.video and LiveKit comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- LiveKit was ahead of api.video in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, api.video’s share of searches among video streaming APIs worldwide moved from 2.5% to 2.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 2.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LiveKit’s share of searches among video streaming APIs worldwide moved from 66% to 68.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for video streaming APIs worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, api.video overtook Mux to rank 4th among video streaming APIs worldwide, with 2.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, LiveKit gained share of searches among video streaming APIs worldwide, from 59.2% to 68.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using api.video’s and LiveKit’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among video streaming APIs
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