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gRPC VS WebRTC

Compare gRPC VS WebRTC and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

gRPC logo gRPC

Application and Data, Languages & Frameworks, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), and Service Discovery

WebRTC logo WebRTC

WebRTC is a free, open project that enables web browsers with Real-Time Communications (RTC) capabilities via simple JavaScript APIs. The WebRTC components have been optimized to best serve this purpose.
  • gRPC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-27
  • WebRTC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-19

gRPC features and specs

  • Performance
    gRPC uses Protocol Buffers, which are more efficient in terms of serialization and deserialization compared to text-based formats like JSON. This leads to lower CPU usage and faster transmission, making it suitable for high-performance applications.
  • Bi-directional Streaming
    gRPC supports bi-directional streaming, enabling both client and server to send a series of messages through a single connection. This is particularly useful for real-time communication applications.
  • Strongly Typed APIs
    gRPC uses Protocol Buffers for defining service methods and message types, providing a strong type system that can catch potential issues at compile-time rather than runtime.
  • Cross-language Support
    gRPC supports a wide range of programming languages, including but not limited to Java, C++, Python, Go, and C#. This allows for flexible integration in polyglot environments.
  • Built-in Deadlines/Timeouts
    gRPC natively supports deadlines and timeouts to help manage long-running calls and avoid indefinite blocking, improving robustness and reliability.
  • Automatic Code Generation
    gRPC provides tools for automatic code generation from .proto files, reducing boilerplate code and speeding up the development process.

Possible disadvantages of gRPC

  • Learning Curve
    The complexity of gRPC and Protocol Buffers may present a steep learning curve for developers who are not familiar with these technologies.
  • Limited Browser Support
    gRPC was not originally designed with browser support in mind, making it challenging to directly call gRPC services from web applications without additional tools like gRPC-Web.
  • Verbose Configuration
    Setting up gRPC and defining .proto files can be more verbose compared to simpler RESTful APIs, which might be a deterrent for smaller projects.
  • HTTP/2 Requirement
    gRPC relies on HTTP/2 for transport, which can be problematic in environments where HTTP/2 is not supported or requires additional configuration.
  • Limited Monitoring and Debugging Tools
    Compared to REST, there are fewer tools available for monitoring, debugging, and testing gRPC services, which might complicate troubleshooting and performance tuning.
  • Protobuf Ecosystem Requirement
    Depending on the language, integrating Protocol Buffers might require additional dependencies and tooling, which could add to the maintenance overhead.

WebRTC features and specs

  • Real-time Communication
    WebRTC enables real-time voice, video, and data communication directly between web browsers and other devices without requiring plugins or additional frameworks.
  • Open Source
    WebRTC is free and open-source, which allows developers to inspect, modify, and enhance the code to suit their needs without incurring licensing costs.
  • Peer-to-Peer Architecture
    The peer-to-peer architecture of WebRTC reduces latency and can be more efficient than server-based architectures for real-time communication, saving bandwidth and server resources.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    WebRTC operates seamlessly across different platforms (web, mobile, desktop) and operating systems, ensuring broad accessibility and reach.
  • Built-in Security
    WebRTC comes with built-in security features such as encryption of data streams (SRTP) and secure access to media devices, which enhances user privacy and data security.

Possible disadvantages of WebRTC

  • Network Traversal Issues
    WebRTC can face challenges with firewall and NAT traversal, which might require additional setup and infrastructure like TURN servers to relay traffic.
  • Browser Compatibility
    While most modern browsers support WebRTC, there may still be inconsistencies or issues with certain browsers or versions, necessitating thorough compatibility testing.
  • Scalability Challenges
    Handling large-scale implementations or group calls can be challenging with WebRTC's peer-to-peer architecture, often requiring additional signaling servers and infrastructure.
  • Lack of Quality Control
    WebRTC doesn’t have built-in mechanisms for monitoring and controlling the quality of service (QoS), which can lead to variations in audio and video quality especially under poor network conditions.
  • Complexity of Implementation
    Building a complete WebRTC-based application can be complex due to the need for handling signaling, session management, and potential browser-specific issues.

gRPC videos

+ Add

gRPC, Protobufs and Go... OH MY! An introduction to building client/server systems with gRPC

More videos:

  • Review - gRPC with Mark Rendle
  • Review - GraphQL, gRPC or REST? Resolving the API Developer's Dilemma - Rob Crowley - NDC Oslo 2020
  • Review - Taking Full Advantage of gRPC
  • Review - gRPC Web: It’s All About Communication by Alex Borysov & Yevgen Golubenko
  • Review - tRPC, gRPC, GraphQL or REST: when to use what?

WebRTC videos

+ Add

Google WebRTC project update & Stadia review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - WebRTC Tutorial - How does WebRTC work?
  • Demo - Use Case - WebRTC Bill Review Demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to gRPC and WebRTC)

gRPC

WebRTC

Web Servers
100 100%
Web Servers
0% 0
Communication
0 0%
Communication
100% 100
Developer Tools
87 87%
Developer Tools
13% 13
Group Chat & Notifications
0 0%
Group Chat & Notifications
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using gRPC and WebRTC. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare gRPC and WebRTC

gRPC Reviews

SignalR Alternatives
SignalR is basically used to allow connection between client and server or vice-versa. It is a type of bi-directional communication between both the client and server. SignalR is compatible with web sockets and many other connections, which help in the direct push of content over the server. There are many alternatives for signalR that are used, like Firebase, pusher,...
Source: www.educba.com

WebRTC Reviews

SignalR Alternatives
SignalR is basically used to allow connection between client and server or vice-versa. It is a type of bi-directional communication between both the client and server. SignalR is compatible with web sockets and many other connections, which help in the direct push of content over the server. There are many alternatives for signalR that are used, like Firebase, pusher,...
Source: www.educba.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, gRPC should be more popular than WebRTC. It has been mentiond 97 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

gRPC mentions (97)

  • Top 10 Programming Trends and Languages to Watch in 2025
    Sonja Keerl, CTO of MACH Alliance, states, "Composable architectures enable enterprises to innovate faster by assembling best-in-class solutions." Developers must embrace technologies like GraphQL, gRPC, and OpenAPI to remain competitive. - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • Getting Started With gRPC in Golang
    gRPC is a framework for building fast, scalable APIs, especially in distributed systems like microservices. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Should You Ditch REST for gRPC?
    Recently, I started working on extending the support for gRPC in GoFr, a microservices oriented, Golang framework also listed in CNCF Landscape. As I was diving into this, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share my findings through a detailed article. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Unlocking DuckDB from Anywhere - A Guide to Remote Access with Apache Arrow and Flight RPC (gRPC)
    Apache Arrow Flight RPC : Arrow Flight is an RPC framework for high-performance data services based on Arrow data, and is built on top of gRPC and the IPC format. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • JSON vs FlatBuffers vs Protocol Buffers
    Generally used in conjunction with gRPC (but not necessarily), Protobuf is a binary protocol that significantly increases performance compared to the text format of JSON. But it "suffers" from the same problem as JSON: we need to parse it to a data structure of our language. For example, in Go:. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

WebRTC mentions (49)

  • SSE, WebSockets, or Polling? Build a Real-Time Stock App with React and Hono
    For real-time communication used mostly for video and voice calls, check out WebRTC. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • 17 Reasons Why JavaScript is Essential for Real-Time Applications
    One of the most visible aspects of JavaScript for interactive web applications is its ability to make user interactions feel seamless and instantaneous. For example, form validation, auto-suggestions, and real-time data visualization are all powered by JavaScript, allowing users to engage with web apps more fluidly. These instant interactions reduce frustration and keep users engaged. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Mastering Real-Time Collaboration: Building Figma and Miro-Inspired Features with Supabase
    So before we dive into the implementation, I would like to share a few things about this project(my personal exp.). During this project I studying a ton about webRTC. I started studying webRTC from scratch, like what is webRTC? How is the connection formed? How the data transfer takes place. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Show HN: I built a website to share files and messages without any server
    WebRTC it is: https://webrtc.org/ Yes only the network layer encryption. No file encryption as it will cost client browsers a lot in case of encrypting and then decrypting that at other end. I have written more about it here: https://dikshantraj2001.medium.com/nat-stun-turn-and-ice-466dabbc2fdb Currently, I am using the public STUN servers only. If the IPs are not reachable, it would show an error and won't work... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • WebSocket vs. HTTP communication protocols
    You might also consider assessing complementary or alternative technologies; WebSocket and HTTP aren’t the only options when it comes to real-time communication, after all. WebRTC is similar to WebSocket, with the key difference being that it’s used to implement peer-to-peer connections without relying on a server. That can be especially helpful for video calls, allowing participants to communicate directly... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing gRPC and WebRTC, you can also consider the following products

Apache Thrift - An interface definition language and communication protocol for creating cross-language services.

Zoom - Equip your team with tools designed to collaborate, connect, and engage with teammates and customers, no matter where you’re located, all in one platform.

GraphQL - GraphQL is a data query language and runtime to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps.

WebEx - Cisco WebEx Web Conferencing, Online Meetings, Desktop Sharing, Video Conferencing

Docker Hub - Docker Hub is a cloud-based registry service

ClickMeeting - Collaborate with partners and clients using ClickMeeting professional web conferencing software. Try it now, FREE!

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