Livepeer
Livepeer: An open video stack for developers building streaming, VOD, simulcast, and AI video applications. Ranked #16 of 36 in Video APIs by our editors (7.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for open video streaming and simulcasting.
At a glance
- Editor score7.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forOpen video streaming and simulcasting
- Free planYes
- Real-time videoYes
- Founded2017
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Live creation, playback, recording, VOD, and multistreaming in one stack
- React, React Native, Python SDK, API, and WebRTC support
- Free Sandbox tier with included transcoding, storage, and delivery minutes
Where it doesn't
- Sandbox is limited to 30 concurrent viewers
- Growth usage is billed by transcoding, storage, and delivery minutes
- Enterprise pricing is custom and volume discounts start at $2,500 monthly spend
Our verdict on Livepeer
Livepeer is open video infrastructure for developers building streaming, transcoding, video-on-demand, real-time video, and AI video applications. Its hosted Livepeer Studio services support stream creation, playback, recording, media uploads, transcoding, and delivery. The product fits teams that want programmable video capabilities through web and API access rather than a standalone video publishing workflow.
The pricing structure starts with the free Sandbox plan, which includes 1,000 transcoding minutes, 60 storage minutes, 5,000 delivery minutes per month, and up to 30 concurrent viewers. Growth adds capacity for 50,000 concurrent viewers, with usage-based charges for transcoding, storage, and delivery. Enterprise provides unlimited concurrent viewers, custom pricing for those usage categories, and volume discounts starting at 15% at $2,500 monthly spend. The practical distinction is clear: Sandbox supports evaluation and smaller workloads, while Growth and Enterprise are designed for higher-volume delivery.
Livepeer’s feature coverage is broad for developer-led video products. Teams can use adaptive-bitrate transcoding profiles, TUS resumable uploads, VOD playback, React and React Native components, Python SDK and API access, and WebRTC broadcast controls. Multistreaming or simulcasting is also included, making the stack suitable for applications that distribute live video across destinations. The network uses independent GPU operators, while hosted services are available through Livepeer Studio. Choose Livepeer when open infrastructure, programmable workflows, and simulcasting matter; consider an alternative if a tightly packaged creator platform or simpler fixed-price video service is the priority.
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Livepeer pricing
All 3 Livepeer plans and prices →
Livepeer fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Real-time video | Yes |
| Recorded video | Yes |
| Mobile SDKs | Yes |
| Maximum participants | Not verified |
| Recording storage | Both |
| Client platforms | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | livepeer.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Livepeer
- api.videoA broad video infrastructure API with a free sandbox and usage-based pricing.9.4
- Mux VideoA production-focused video API with analytics, protection, and live streaming.9.2
- DailyA broad video API platform for building real-time calls, recording, and streaming.9.0
See all Livepeer alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Livepeer is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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