npm i @rendley/sdk import { Engine } from '@rendley/sdk'const engine = await Engine.create()await engine.addClip('intro.mp4')await engine.export() // WebCodecs
A real editing engine that renders in the browser.
Ship more video than you can with Shotstack
Shotstack renders JSON timelines in the cloud. Rendley gives you a real in-browser editing engine, a REST API, and a hosted MCP server, so you can embed the editor and render from your backend with one platform.
Unlimited exportsFree planBrowser-based
Shotstack is a mature cloud render API with a white-label editor front end. Rendley ships the same three surfaces developers ask for, an in-browser SDK, a REST API, and an official MCP server, with the SDK doing true client-side rendering rather than round-tripping every edit to the cloud.
One platform, three surfaces
Everything ships in code.
curl api.rendley.com/v1/agent/sessions \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $KEY" \ -d '{ "prompt": "30s launch promo" }' # poll the job, then pull a signed URL
Prompt to video from one deterministic endpoint.
# mcp.rendley.com — Apache-2.0claude mcp add rendley \ https://mcp.rendley.com "Cut a 15s teaser from these clips"
Hosted server, 18 tools, open source.
3
Surfaces in one platform: SDK, API, MCP
25+
AI models built in, added as they launch
18
Tools in the hosted MCP server
EU
Assets stored in Germany (Hetzner)
How they compare
Where Rendley Studio pulls ahead.
The SDK: in-browser engine vs cloud-backed editor
This is the biggest architectural difference. Rendley’s SDK is a real editing engine that runs in the browser. Shotstack’s SDK is a white-label editor UI whose rendering happens on Shotstack’s cloud.
Rendley Studio
- @rendley/sdk is a JS/TS engine that runs completely in the browser
- Renders client-side with WebCodecs and WebGL, with an FFmpeg (WASM) fallback
- Published on npm; it is the same engine that powers the Rendley app
- Add cloud rendering with a GPU export worker when you need it
Shotstack
- Ships a white-label Video Editor SDK (npm, FFmpeg)
- The editor is a UI layer; rendering runs on Shotstack’s cloud render API
- Source-available editor, but not a true client-side rendering engine
The render API
Both expose a REST API that returns a finished file. Shotstack’s is a mature JSON-timeline Edit API. Rendley’s adds a prompt-to-video agent endpoint alongside a deterministic edit spec.
Rendley Studio
- REST API at api.rendley.com/v1 with an OpenAPI schema
- Prompt-to-video agent endpoint plus a deterministic edit spec
- Long operations run as jobs; poll to done, then pull a signed URL
- Same engine is callable from the SDK, HTTP, and MCP
Shotstack
- JSON timeline Edit API plus a Create API for generative media
- Bulk rendering and a 99.9% uptime SLA
- Official SDKs for Node, Python, PHP, and Ruby
MCP and agents
Both ship an official MCP server, which is rare. Rendley’s is hosted and exposes 18 tools; Shotstack’s exposes about a dozen.
Rendley Studio
- Hosted MCP server at mcp.rendley.com with 18 tools
- Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Codex, and any remote-MCP client
- Drives the hosted editor and API; requires a paid plan
- Open source (Apache-2.0): rendleyhq/rendley-mcp
Shotstack
- Official MCP server with roughly 12 tools
- Mapped to its render and create APIs
AI generation models
Rendley aggregates 25+ models from many vendors inside one project. Shotstack offers generative media through its Create API and Director AI.
Rendley Studio
- 25+ models across video, image, voice, music, and translation
- Video: Veo, Kling, Seedance, Sora, Wan, Hailuo; image: Flux, DALL-E, Nano Banana, Imagen
- Voice and audio via ElevenLabs and more; new models added as they launch
- Every AI call has a matching /cost endpoint for predictable billing
Shotstack
- Create API generates AI media (images, video, audio)
- Director AI for prompt-driven generation
The details
Rendley Studio vs Shotstack, side by side.
| Rendley Studio | Shotstack | |
|---|---|---|
| In-browser editing SDK | Yes — @rendley/sdk renders client-side (WebCodecs/WebGL) | White-label editor UI; rendering via cloud API |
| Render REST API | Yes — api.rendley.com/v1, OpenAPI, jobs + signed URLs | Yes — JSON timeline Edit API + Create API, 99.9% SLA |
| Official MCP server | Yes — hosted, 18 tools | Yes — ~12 tools |
| Prompt-to-video agent | Yes — /agent/sessions endpoint | Director AI |
| AI generation models | 25+ aggregated (Veo, Kling, Seedance, Sora, Flux, DALL-E…) | Create API generative media |
| Max export resolution | 4K target (Pro and Business plans) | 1080p (4K on enterprise) |
| Object storage region | EU — Hetzner, Nuremberg (Germany) | Check vendor docs |
| Free tier | Free plan (720p, watermark) | 10 free credits, expire after 30 days |
| Pricing model | Plans + credits: Free, $15, $30, $70/mo (1 credit = $0.01) | Per minute: PAYG $0.30/min; subscription $0.20/min from $39/mo |
Competitor details are from public pricing and documentation and can change. Verify current specifics on the vendor’s own site.
Credit where due
Where Shotstack is the stronger choice
- Shotstack has run a production cloud render API for years with a 99.9% SLA and large enterprise customers. For proven, high-volume server-side rendering today, it is battle-tested.
- Its JSON timeline Edit API and Create API are mature and thoroughly documented for backend-driven, template-at-scale rendering.
- Official SDK coverage spans Node, Python, PHP, and Ruby. If your backend is PHP or Ruby, Shotstack’s first-party SDKs are broader than Rendley’s.
- If you only need headless, server-side bulk rendering and never plan to embed an in-browser editor, Shotstack’s per-minute cloud model is simple and predictable.
Best-in-class AI models, built in
Generate clips, images, and voiceovers without leaving the editor. New models are added as they launch.
KlingVeoSoraSeedanceNano BananaElevenLabs
FAQ
Asked. Answered.
Rendley’s @rendley/sdk is a real editing engine that runs in the browser and renders client-side using WebCodecs and WebGL, with an FFmpeg fallback. Shotstack’s editor SDK is a white-label UI whose renders are produced by its cloud render API. If you want editing and rendering to happen in the user’s browser, Rendley’s architecture is fundamentally different.
Create your next video in minutes.
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