If you are not able to choose between a Video SDK or Video API to integrate into your platforms, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will walk you through when a Video Editing SDK is a better fit for your needs or when you should integrate a Video API instead. We will also introduce you to why Picsart’s Video SDK or Video APIs is the best choice for you.
We will walk through:
- Understanding Video SDK and Video API
- Key Differences & similarities between Video Editing SDK, and Video Editing API
- Advantages of embedding a Video SDK
- Advantages of Embedding a Video API
- Video SDK Use cases
- Video API Use cases
- How to embed Picsart’s Video Editor SDK & APIs on your platforms
What is Video SDK?
A Video SDK (Software Development Kit) is a comprehensive collection of software tools and libraries that allows developers to create applications with advanced video functionality. It provides the necessary components to build features such as video editing and streaming within software applications.
What is Video API?
A Video API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols and tools that enables developers to interact with video services and functionalities programmatically. Unlike SDKs, which provide a more extensive set of tools and resources, APIs focus on specific functionalities, allowing developers to access and manipulate video data without having to build those features from scratch.
Comparison between Video Editing SDK, and Video Editing API
Similarities
Both Video SDKs and APIs have the same objective: to facilitate the integration of video tools and functionalities into different applications. They are both designed to help developers embed these features without having to create a tool from scratch.
Video SDKs and APIs typically work together within the same applications. Developers can use the SDK to embed a comprehensive video editing solution while utilizing APs to access other functionalities such as sizing, and slideshows.
They also offer support for several platforms such as iOS video SDK or API, Android video SDK or API, and web video SDK or web video API. This allows developers to have seamless cross-platform platforms with no limitations.
Finally, when developers choose to embed video SDK or API on their platforms, their main objective is to reach more audiences and engage users. By embedding an API or SDK, you will now be able to grow your audiences, ultimately growing your business.
Main Differences
Although Video SDK and API have similarities, they have many differences as well that you should consider before making your choice.
One of the main differences is that SDKs are easier to integrate into an application as they come with pre-configured tools and libraries. In addition to that, SDKs typically come with more extensive documentation, and sometimes direct support from the provider making troubleshooting and implementation much easier. Compared to video API for developers, they might require more complex integration especially when handling video streaming. They also often come with less documentation, and typically no support from the provider.
Another main difference is that Video SDKs usually offer a full suite of features. For example, Picsart Photo and Video Editor, not only offers several video features such as video trimming, dynamic audio and subtitles, add text, multiscene capabilities and different seamless transitions, it also provides photo editing features as well. On the other hand, even though APIs are extremely useful, they only focus on one core feature such as a slideshow generator or video resizing. To have a complete solution you might have to embed additional integrations.
One major difference is that APIs are a more scalable solution when compared to SDKs. While a video SDK might have more features, you can usually edit one video at a time. If you are searching for a more scalable solution, APIs are the way to go as you can edit 500+ videos at a time with a click of a button.
Finally, SDKs are usually updated and maintained by the provider which means this requires less maintenance from the development team that has used the SDK. Although APIs are also maintained and updated, they usually require more effort to maintain especially with integrated with other services. In addition, SDKs also come with built-in security features while APIs require additional effort to secure and can cause exposure of potential vulnerabilities.
Advantages of embedding a Video SDK
In addition to the above key differentiators, Video SDKs have advantages compared to an video API integration. The main advantages of embedding a video editor SDK are as follows:
- Customization flexibility: SDKs have configuration opportunities that allow you to tailor the editor’s look and functionality to match your platform’s identity to create a seamless user experience.
- Development Efficiency: SDKs usually come with pre-built components. This reduces the amount of code required from the developer’s end, increasing the speed of development and launching more quickly and easily.
- Offline capabilities: SDKs sometimes offer offline functionality where no internet connection is required only if the SDK processes videos offline, however, APIs always require an internet connection.
- Increase Engagement & Business Growth: By embedding a video SDK on your platform you will simplify content and video creation, attract a new customer user base, and keep your user base engaged. This will allow you to scale your business with much less effort required compared to creating tools from scratch.
Even though SDKs have several advantages, APIs are still very useful if you want a tool that focuses on one function, so it depends on what your needs are.
Advantages of Embedding a Video API
As mentioned, deciding whether you should embed an SDK or API truly depends on your specific needs. Here are some advantages of embedding an API vs an SDK.
- Optimized performance & consistency across platforms: APIs are often more optimized per platform, so if you are searching for a solution that can be used in any environment (ex: web, mobile apps, cloud services APIs offer better flexibility.
- Lightweight & reduced overhead: APIs are typically lightweight and do not require adding an entire framework or library. If you need to call a specific functionality without embedding extra code or tools, APIs are more efficient.
- Faster integration: Usually APIs are faster to integrate because they focus on a specific task like invoking a feature or a specific task.
- More scalable workflows: as previously mentioned, with APIs you can edit 500 videos at a time, making it a much more scalable solution.
- Low customization needs: Even though having customization abilities is an advantage for the SDK, not having those customization abilities can also be considered an advantage for APIs. If you do not need to make signification customization adjustments, APIs are a better fit as they provide you with pre-defined functionality.
So which one is better, API or SKD?
Honestly, it depends on what you are searching for! If you are searching for a full tool suite that provides efficient and better quality output for editing one video, and that can be customized as per your platform UI and branding, then you should go for an SDK.
For example, for developers building a B2B platform that will require regular updates, feature enhancements, and long-term stability, an SDK is a better option given the fact that SDKs are more regularly maintained by the provider.
If you are searching for one specific tool, that is a one-click solution that allows you to edit several videos at once, then you should go for an API. So it truly depends on what solution you are searching for.
For example, if a developer is creating a simple product that requires occasional video functionality, an API is more of a viable option. It requires fewer resources and offers a cost-effective way to integrate a specific functionality. For example, Picsart’s APIs offer a pay-as-you-use model using a credit system, so your credits are only used when a call is made. In this case an API is a better solution.
In our opinion, it is also extremely beneficial to combine both SDK and API. Using the SDK, you can create a template for example, and then use the API to produce at scale.
If you are not sure what your need is, you can contact Picsart’s support team and we will assist you to make the perfect choice based on your product.
Video SDK & API Use Cases: Driving Engagement and Functionality
Embedding a video SDK on a mobile or web platform is beneficial for several industries, with it’s easy-to-integrate and easy-to-use functionalities, it can be helpful in several fields as it streamlines the workflow. Common use cases for the video SDK are as follows:
- Advertising and marketing teams: by integrating the video SDK, marketing teams can now fully customize videos with branding elements, text overlays, and crop and resize any video for specific formats needed. The team will be able to create several variations for ads to target different audiences, channels, and formats. By embedding the SDK, the marketing team can have a more streamlined and efficient video generation process. If the marketing or advertising team is searching for a more scalable solution where they can edit several videos at once, then a Video API is a better solution.
- Marketing Automation & Content Management tools: Applying the video SDK to marketing automation and content management tools will allow marketers to create videos for emails, blog posts, and other marketing material in a more efficient way. A good addition would be to pair the creation of the material with an API so that the execution is more scalable, editing several videos all at once. This will increase the ROI of campaigns as less time, and resources are spent.
- Video Hosting Platforms: the video SDK is a perfect addition to any online video platform as it will allow your users to edit their videos right on your website. This keeps your current user base engaged and allows you to attract new users who are searching for an all-in-one solution. With the SDKs web and mobile support, this can be applied on web-based video platforms, or even mobile video platforms.
- E-commerce for Product Showcasing: E-commerce platforms can integrate Video SDK to allow sellers to create eye-catching product demonstration videos that attract more customers and increase sales. This will give the e-commerce platform a unique advantage and will attract more sellers ultimately increasing sales. If a seller does not prioritize unique backgrounds per video, then an API will allow them to edit several product videos at once.
How to integrate Picsart’s Photo and Video Editor SDK & Video APIs.
Picsart offers both Video Editor SDK, and Video Editor APIs depending on your needs. The variation of video processing API as mentioned focus on specific functionalities such as video filters, sizing, and slideshows.
The SDK however is a full-fledged tool combining both photo and video editing functionalities under one tool. Picsart’s Photo and Video Editor SDK has video trimming, audio and subtitles capabilities, text overlay and design, multi-scene capabilities and seamless transitions to name a few features. The good news is that Picsart’s Video SDK is extremely easy to integrate on your platforms.
- First, create a Picsart account – it is free for you to start!
- Using our detailed documentation, follow the instructions to get the API key, customize the essential configurations and export settings, and choose between feature selections and customization options.
- Purchase the subscription: starting at 299$ a month and including 10,000 credits, Picsart’s SDK subscription is an affordable way to scale your business.
- You are now ready to embed Picsart’s Video SDK on your platforms!
If you want to integrate one of Picsart’s Video APIs, you also follow similar steps such as creating an account, looking into our documentation, and copying the API key. One core difference is that our APIs have per call credit system, so you pay as you use. Picsart’s Credit System allows you to buy credits for as low as 10$ for 1000 credits. Each service requires a specific amount of credits per calling, so it is extremly easy for you to calculate how many credits you might need!
Picsart’s team also offers support in case you have any questions or need additional help in the integration process.
FAQ:
Can I customize the SDK to match my platform?
During the configuration and deployment process of our editor, developers can customize key settings to enhance the user experience. This includes the ability to choose between dark and light modes, changing the logo, and configure the measurement unites for templates (pixels, mm or cm). These configurations and customizations ensure a seamless integration on your platform, and user experience.
What video inputs are supported on the video editor SDK?
We currently support editing only one video with MP4, WEBM, AVI, MOV, HEIC format. The maximum size of the video should be 1GB.
What is the video output supported with the video editor SDK?
The exported video duration can be up to 10 minutes in MP4 or WEBM formats.
What are the layout options for the exported videos?
There is an option to choose the layout of the video from the size presets that are optimized for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Each layout corresponds to the ideal video size for that platform. The size of the video will be changed automatically based on the selected preset.
Supported aspect ratios:
- Square 1:1 (1080 x 1080 px)
- Portrait 9:16 (1080 x 1920 px)
- Wide 16:9 (1920 x 1080 px)
