Live Streaming vs Video Conferencing | Which One Is the Best For You?

What is Live Streaming?

Live streaming refers to the concept of streaming digital video content over the internet. On a Live stream technology, one can watch, create, and share videos content online. It needs an internet connection, a smartphone, or a PC to enable the live streaming activity on a device.

It is an aid to big corporates and small businesses for branding, marketing, and advancement. Live streaming has become a modern technology to make a digital presence in the community. In contemporary living, going digital is the only way out to make a successful existence. Even live streaming has today been popular with gaming, content creation, and education.

Live streaming happens to broadcast media online over several social media platforms. A live streamer, at once can stream content over multiple platforms increasing reach with broader visibility. A live stream is organized by a host who invites the viewers to his streaming session. A live stream allows comment and chat facility on an ongoing streaming session. It also allows a huge number of viewers to participate in the stream.

Live streaming is telecasted with a delay or lag of 5 to 10 seconds for the viewers. It is encoded in different resolutions, enabling the support for Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABS) and the good part is that live streaming can be recorded for viewing later using the VoD facility, allowing video playback. It is a boon that with unstable internet connectivity too the streaming on our device doesn’t stop, as it adjusts the viewing quality of the video. Unfortunately, if a viewer faces disconnection, live streaming is a benefit in this case, as it allows playback of the recorded stream.

Introduction | videosdk.live Documentation

Live streming lets you stream your live videos with just few lines of code. Reach to your audience across the globe.

(https://docs.videosdk.live/docs/live-streaming/intro)

What is Video Conferencing?

Video conferencing is a technology that allows meeting in closed groups with close people. Video conferencing is today a prominent mode of communication in corporate houses. Video conferencing allows connecting people from all around the world on a single screen.

Video conferencing connects people over a low latency video and audio transmission over IP. It allows talk and chat features over conferencing where people can be verbally communicative and can discuss and generate solutions. A video conference generally has limited participants, who are the ones invited by the host. Generally, video conferencing systems are secured with passcodes initiated by the host for the participants.

A video conferencing system provides no lag in the delivery of messages to the participants. Under low latency streaming, video conferencing often causes participants a glitch, in case of poor connectivity. When a participant of a conference faces a power cut or a disconnection, the conference immediately stops for him. Concerning, he cannot view the previous discussions. A video conference can only be streamed on-demand when it is recorded.

Introduction | videosdk.live Documentation

Real-time comunication SDK is built with blend of webRTC and optimised UDP protocol. Our SDK helps developers to add real-time audio and video calls to any mobile app or web application.

(https://docs.videosdk.live/docs/realtime-communication/intro)

Use cases

LIVE STREAMING

1. Virtual summits and events
2. Public announcements
3. Webinars
4. Gaming
5. Education
6. Health care

VIDEO CONFERENCING

1. Business communication
2. Interviews
3. Education
4. Social media conversations
5. Retail
6. Telehealth

What does the blog explain?

This blog explains how live streaming contrasts with video conferencing. Both live streaming and video conferencing are real-time technologies. These are the modern technologies of the digitally trending community. Beyond par, we are increasingly consuming these forefront advancements. They have been among the most useful communication tools in recent times. In this blog, we will learn how these technologies have their pros and cons and how they are similar to and different from each other.

Live streaming - Pros and Cons

PROS

1. A huge number of participants can join a live stream
2. A live stream also works in an unstable internet connection
3. It allows the video playback option
4. A live stream can be recorded in HD quality
5. It supports on-demand services
6. A live stream supports streaming over multiple platforms at once
7. Supports screen sharing

CONS

1. Two-way communication is difficult
2. It does not support participants’ visibility to the host
3. A chat box is available only for comments

Video conferencing - Pros and cons

PROS

1. Possible two-way communication
2. Supports screen sharing
3. Allotted space for participants’ visibility
4. Saves time and money
5. Easy scheduling of meetings
6. Real-time communication without lags

CONS

1. A limited number of participants can join
2. Poor video quality in case of unstable internet connection
3. Limited streaming platform support

Similarities between live streaming and video conferencing

1. Live-action: Both the technologies work on live platforms. They stream the content live to the viewers, where the viewers can chat and converse to bring out conclusions.
2. Involvement of participants: These technologies are designed to draw maximum engagement. Participants are allowed to join the stream with their audio and video by the hosts.
3. Screenshare: Both live streaming and video conferencing allow screen sharing options, displaying pre-recorded content and images to the screen.
4. Chat features: These technologies allow chat options for the participants in ongoing streaming. The participants can comment/converse with the host via chatbox.

Dissimilarities between live streaming and video conferencing

1. Viewer screen space- Live streaming does not allow viewers to share screen space with the live streamer. One can only communicate via chat. Whereas in video conferencing, the participants have an allotted box where they can be seen as well as can see the other participants in the meeting.
2. Accessibility- Live streaming is accessible to a huge number of viewers at once, also on different platforms. Whereas, in video conferencing, only limited participants are allowed into the meeting, making it a kind of closed group meeting.
3. Communication ease- There is an ease of communication with video conferencing due to a limited audience in the meeting, where everyone can put their points to conclude. In a live stream, no conclusion can be derived as it is merely a stream where people can only watch certain content and comment on the same.
4. Scalability- A live stream is encoded in several resolutions to make it available in a manageable quality for each device type and its connectivity. Whereas in video conferencing, the video outcome becomes poor due to low latency.

What is a better option?

Both video conferencing and live streaming have their benefits and different use cases. It all depends on one’s need for the time. All you need is a mobile device and an internet connection whenever you think of using them.

For instance, a company has launched a product for which it is looking for a public announcement, and also to increase its branding and market value. In this case, the company opts for live streaming where it makes an announcement that gets into the knowledge of millions of viewers. The company excels in its strategy with live streaming. In the same situation, if the company opts for video conferencing, it may convey its product to only some thousands of people, which also tends to be costly as well as gives a low reach to the product. These states live streaming to be a better option for announcements and huge engagements.

Now for instance, if a company has to make some decisions with the team, which does not require external public at all. In this case, the company opts for video conferencing. The foremost reason is that video conferencing technology works in real-time, where the messages are delivered instantly to the receiver. This technology also keeps a window for each participant, which leads to the active participation of each one during the meet. Video conferencing is favorably a better option for small group communication, where the general external public is not kept as an ideal viewer.