Why MediaSFU Pricing Might Look Different (But Isn't More Expensive)

MediaSFU uses a user-centric pricing model. You pay based on the number of simultaneous producers (senders) and the number of consumers (receivers) interacting with those streams. This scales predictably with actual usage.

When comparing, consider these key factors that often make other providers seem cheaper initially but can lead to higher costs or limitations later:

• Concurrent Producer Limits: Many platforms heavily restrict the number of people who can send video simultaneously in large rooms (often below 25 or even 10!). MediaSFU supports thousands (e.g., 3000) of concurrent producers, enabling truly interactive large-scale events.
• Aggregate Pricing vs. User-Based: Some providers bill based on the total number of video minutes streamed across all users. This sounds simple but can become expensive quickly.
  Example: 50 participants watching 10 producers for 60 minutes might be billed as (50 users * 10 producers * 60 minutes) = 30,000 video minutes on an aggregate model. With MediaSFU's model (using the website), it's calculated based on 10 effective producers * 50 consumers * 60 minutes—with significant volume discounts applied—often resulting in lower costs.
• Free Tier Allowances: Remember to factor in any free monthly minutes or credits competitors offer when making comparisons, especially for smaller usage scenarios or testing. Always simulate costs beyond these free tiers for accurate budgeting.
• Resolution/Quality Impact: MediaSFU bills differently based on video quality. You can save significantly by using lower resolutions where appropriate (like QnHD for large grids). Ensure competitor pricing reflects the quality you need.

The Bottom Line: MediaSFU is designed for scalability and transparency. While a simple per‑minute cost might seem lower elsewhere, always check the limitations on concurrent producers and how aggregate streams are billed.