Ways to play videos in mobile apps

You can use Gumlet videos in mobile apps in three primary ways:

• Native player + HLS URL

  • Use the HLS URL from Gumlet with the platform’s native player (AVPlayer on iOS, ExoPlayer / MediaPlayer on Android).
  • Good for fully native UX and tight platform integration.

• SDK player + HLS

  • Use Gumlet’s mobile SDKs (where available) to simplify integration and get built‑in support for features like analytics and DRM.
  • Recommended path when you want the easiest and most robust setup.

• WebView

  • Load a web page that embeds the Gumlet player (same as web).
  • Useful when you want to reuse your existing web experience inside the app.

All three approaches ultimately rely on the HLS URL that Gumlet generates.

What works where (high level)

Android

On Android:

• All three approaches work:
  • Native player + HLS
  • SDK player + HLS
  • WebView with the Gumlet web player
• Gumlet analytics and JavaScript‑based features work inside WebView as long as the underlying WebView supports them.
• DRM (Widevine) works on Android for:
  • Native player integrations
  • Gumlet SDK player - https://github.com/gumlet/sample-android-app
  • WebView, as long as the WebView supports Widevine DRM.

In short, Android supports both non‑DRM and DRM playback.

iOS

• Non‑DRM playback

  • Works in native player (AVPlayer) using the HLS URL.
  • Works in WebView (Gumlet embed), including JavaScript, analytics, and most player features.

• DRM playback (FairPlay)

  • Requires valid FairPlay credentials to be configured in your Gumlet account.
  • WebView limitations:
    • FairPlay DRM does not work reliably when using a generic WebView with a web player.
    • You may see playback failures or a spinning loader even though DRM works on desktop or Android.
  • iOS SDK - https://github.com/gumlet/ios-native-video-player
    • Gumlet’s iOS player SDK supports DRM and is the recommended way to play DRM‑protected content inside iOS apps.
    • Use the SDK instead of plain WebView if you need FairPlay DRM in your app.

Once FairPlay is correctly configured in your Gumlet account, DRM‑protected videos work on iOS and macOS using supported players.

Recommended patterns

• If you do not use DRM

  • Android: Any of native player, SDK, or WebView is fine.
  • iOS: Native player or WebView are both acceptable for most use cases.

• If you use DRM (Widevine + FairPlay)

  • Android:
    • Use native player or Android SDK.
    • WebView can work, but relying on native / SDK is safer.
  • iOS:
    • Use Gumlet’s iOS SDK for DRM playback in apps.
    • Do not rely on a plain WebView + web player for FairPlay‑protected content.

For the most up‑to‑date browser and OS combinations that support DRM, see the DRM Compatibility page.

FAQ

Does DRM work on mobile devices?

Yes. Widevine DRM works on supported Android and other platforms, and FairPlay works on Apple platforms once you configure your FairPlay credentials in Gumlet.

Can I keep using WebView if I enable DRM?

• Android: Often yes, but native player / SDK is preferred.
• iOS: For FairPlay‑protected content, use the iOS SDK. WebView is fine for non‑DRM playback, but is not recommended for DRM content.